“Why don’t you talk to him?”
“I might.” Cami leaned toward her sister. “Did you see a doctor? You’re looking brighter.”
“I told you it was food poisoning from sushi.”
“For a month?”
“It’s not been a month.”
“Almost.”
Annalise raised her eyebrow, giving Cami that look, the one that said she wouldn’t say anymore.
Fine. She’d let it go. For now. “How’s things with the great wedding?”
“Going well. She’s calmed down a bit.” Annalise sipped her tea with a bit of a smile on her lips. “What’s going on with you? I can tell something is bothering you.”
“Did you hear me say Dad said ‘Please’?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. He says please all the time.”
“Not when it comes to an Akron deal. I’m telling you, he was contrite, soft-spoken… Not the usual bulldog Brant Jackson demanding his way.
“I don’t think he’s gotten over Mama’s death. He holds it all in,” Annalise said.
“He holds it against me.”
Annalise peered at Cami over the edge of her cup. “I know you think he does, but you’re wrong. You’re his daughter. If you really believe he blames you, talk to him.”
“And then have it confirmed that Mama’s death was my responsibility? No thanks.”
“How is death anyone’s responsibility? God gives and takes life.”
“Because I was there, Annalise.” Cami scooted back from the table and stared out the sink window. The image of Mama lying on the cottage floor had only dulled slightly with time. “I didn’t help her.”
“You were fifteen and your mom collapsed, not breathing. What were you supposed to do?”
“I tried CPR, I—” She turned to her sister. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring all this up. I’ve put it behind me, and it should stay behind me. I wanted to buy the inn as a memorial to Mama, but Dad clearly has issues with it.”
“Have you ever considered that he blames himself? That he wasn’t with her when she died. That he’d become a workaholic.”
Cami considered her sister’s insight. “I can’t see Brant Jackson blaming himself.”
“So, no inn? What about Ben?”
Ben, sweet Ben. Cami had tried to text him the truth a couple of times but couldn’t bring herself to hit Send. She’d let him and herself down by not telling him that night at Angelo’s. The last two weeks had also proved it would be impossible to have a long-distance relationship. Not that she was actually counting on an Australia-to-America romance.
Meeting up every Fourth would most likely not happen. Life would get in the way. But she had her memories of this summer.
“I met Ben for dinner to tell him I couldn’t buy the inn, but he’d already signed the contract. He said he could go to Sydney in peace knowing the inn was in good hands.”
“So you didn’t tell him?”
“No, and I feel really horrible about it. I’ve lost sleep over it.”
“That’s not fair, Cami. He’s been gone two weeks thinking the inn was taken care of. What’s he going to do when he comes home? Scramble to find a solution?”
“I know, I know.” She peered in her teacup as if to find an answer. “I’ve decided to call in every favor I have to get him a new buyer. One who will care about the place.”
