“It is. Today I’d like to go through all of the changes Cassie and I have decided on for the venue change. But that isn’t all. We also need to go over what we need to do to make this feel like we’d always planned to have the event there. There’s a lot we need to go over, but one of the most important is everyone knowing where guests are allowed and where they’re not.” I glance down at my list of reminders because I know I’m forgetting something. “Oh, yes, Collin, I sketched out the driveway and parking area so that you can make a plan for the valets. Remind me at the end if I forget to cover that.”
It takes half an hour of back and forth with the group to get all of the kinks worked out and bring everyone up to date on the changes. There are a lot of them, but at the same time, it should go off much like originally planned.
Finally, after every detail is talked about until we’re all clear, the rest of the group heads out to make my vision a reality while I fall back into my chair, resting the base of my head on the top of the chair. This is exhausting.
I’m about to kick my shoes off and just relax for a minute when I hear a voice that often puts me on edge.
“You look wiped out,” my father says to me from the doorway of the conference room.
It’s not really a conference room, but it’s the room we use for such things. I snap my head up and take in the man that I look so much like. His dark hair is perfectly coiffed and looking into his eyes is like looking into a mirror. My personality comes from my mother because he’s on the colder side. He loves me as any father would, but I’ve never gotten warmth and snuggles from him. My father’s why I work as hard as I do. Mom might’ve been the one who should’ve comforted me in darker moments, but I’ve always been here in Northern Ireland with my father. Yet somehow, I managed to still keep some of my American roots.
“I am,” I tell him.
“Your mother called me today,” he groans. He and I avoid speaking to her as much as possible.
“She did? What did she want?” She and I have never had a normal relationship. Not by a longshot, but then again, when I was in America, I was always with my grandparents.
“Same old shite she always does.”
“Did she sound like she was doing okay?” We don’t have a good relationship, but it doesn’t mean I still don’t love her in my own way.
“Yeah, guess so. You could call and talk to her yourself. Nip the middle man in the bud and all,” he tells me, and I know he’s not wrong.
I cringe. It’s been a little too long since I’ve talked with her, and that’s both of our faults. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to go weeks without talking to those you care for.
“I will,” I promise. “What brings you in today?”
“Thought I’d take you to lunch. I feel like we haven’t seen each other in a while.” He leans against the door jam and folds his arms over his chest. “Are you free?”
My stomach grumbles at the mention of food. I didn’t have much chance to eat breakfast this morning and the protein bar I had earlier only lasts so long. I’ve been starving for a couple of hours now.
“I’m free.” I stand and grab all my materials so I can drop them on my desk on our way out. “Where are you thinking?”
“You choose.” He follows me down the hallway until I stop at my office. Once again, he hangs in the doorway while I pull my purse out and slip it over my head.
My choice for lunch? That’s an easy one. “John Long’s,” I tell him.
Dad lets out a chuckle. This is the restaurant I’ve chosen whenever given the chance since I was a kid. But it was the best then, and it’s the best now.
It’s also the longest-running fish and chip shop in Belfast. But they have so much more than fish and chips. They also have the best burger I’ve ever tasted in my life.
“Of course you choose John Long’s.”
“It’s the best,” I tell him as we head down to his car.
“You know I could’ve saved myself a lot of money if I’d have bought that place years ago.”
I snort at the idea. “As if they’d sell it.”
My father had done that sometimes. When we found something that we really liked, he’d buy the place. It was an unusual way to grow up, that’s for sure. But no owner of John Long’s Fish and Chips would choose to sell. Especially once the outside world got word of how fantastic their food is.
Once we arrive and get seated, Dad and I make small talk until we put our order in. I decide to go with that delicious burger today. Add some chips and a drink, and I’m all set. He ordered the fresh battered fish, which is what they’re famous for.
Though I suspect there’s more to this impromptu lunch, I keep the topic light. I ask about his clothing business, and he asks about my personal life.
I tell him nothing. I know he won’t approve of Keenan, and until I figure out a way around that part, I won’t discuss it with him.
It’s not until the food arrives that he brings up anything else.
