“Likewise.”
“Son?” I call before he gets to the door. “You heard from Sinclair today?”
My daughter calls me every day. But it’s mid-afternoon and I haven’t heard from her yet.
My phone rings, her smiling face lighting up the screen with her picture. “Never mind.” I wave him off as I hit accept.
“You okay, Sweetheart?”
“Dad!”
Her voice brims with excitement, making my chest swell. Twenty-three years old and she’s still my little girl, no matter how much she tries to tell me otherwise.
“What are you doing?” I ask, nodding at the bartender as he comes to refill our glasses with brandy.
“I’m on Fifth picking up something. I have a surprise for you!”
I chuckle. “Did Monty get hired to do his own calendar again?”
“No, this is even better.” She sounds breathless as if she’s rushing. “We’ll be at your place in half an hour? You’ll be home?”
I look at Mal, sipping on his brandy as he watches Vincent rehearse on the stage.
“If you need me there, then that’s where I’ll be.”
“Thank you,” she squeals. “You’re going to love it.”
“Mm-hm.”
I hang up with a smile. Whatever makes my daughter sound happy and carefree gets my automatic approval. Diamond dog collars, crystal covered cars, her own penthouse on Park, even when I said she could live with me as long as she wanted to.
Anything that makes the nights I stayed up holding her as she fell apart with grief in my arms fade into a distant memory is fine with me.
“I’ve got to go,” I announce, leaving my second brandy untouched. “Sinclair has something to show me at my house. See you tonight for dinner?”
“Sure.” Mal lifts his drink. “Trudy and I will meet you at the restaurant.”
I relay some quick plans with the club’s manager on duty as I leave.
My driver’s waiting for me as I exit. I look up at the green canopy over the doorway of the club as I slide into the cool leather interior of the car.
It’s easy to lose track of time inside Seasons. Like an animal in hibernation, safely nestled inside its warm embrace. A place where the outside world doesn’t exist if you don’t want it to.
A place to forget what pain feels like.
It started as a small dream. A sanctuary. But two years ago, when things changed, I needed it more than ever. And so did others. What was once one private member’s only club, has expanded into five exclusive, invitation-only places of solitude for those searching for peace inside its walls. New York, LA, Chicago, Hong Kong, and Sydney. And that’s only the beginning. Plans are being drawn up for two new premises, with more to come.
Seasons kept me going. Loving me back when I needed it.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, urging the familiar gnawing pull in my gut away.
“Let’s go,” I signal my driver. “My daughter will be waiting.”
3
HALLIDAY
I flitaround my new apartment, humming as I unpack. Sinclair wasn’t joking when she said she would set me up somewhere nice to stay while I’m here. I feel like I’m living someone else’s life.Their very glamorous life.
