He clears his throat, interrupting my reverie. I can see his Adam’s Apple bob, and his brows are furrowed, one slightly arched. He folds his paper, places it on the table, and then adjusts his chair to sit at the table as if he is about to eat the untouched food on his plate. His face grows worrisome, and I instinctively straighten my posture. He sighs and places his elbows on the arms of the chair, clasping his hands together.
“Maeve, we have things to discuss,” he says, and my stomach turns with anticipation. We hadn’tdiscussedanything in years.
“The Egans will be joining us for dinner tonight, and you will be expected to attend.”
My heart drops instantly. I feel my mouth go dry as panic creeps over me.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” I ask, my voice unnaturally high.
“Maeve,” he says, his voice gentle, “I know it has been some time since you and Callum have… been around one another, but things between our families are shifting. You are my successor, like it or not, and you will need someone on your side if and when things go sideways.”
I feel my mouth drop open. This has to be a joke. It makes no sense. Our families, once business partners and the closest of allies, had been at odds for many years. I never really understood the reasons for the rift, but I knew it was serious. It was why I’d had to sneak around to see Callum all those years ago. What a waste of time that turned out to be.
He clears his throat again and goes on. “The Egans have been our allies for decades, and even during the… separation… they were there for us.”
Since when?What thefuckhave I missed here?
“Dad,” I start, trying to reason with him, “we haven’t spoken to the Egans in years. Or at least, that’s been my understanding. When did you and Niall even start speaking again? Why am I just now being made aware of this?"
He holds his hand up to cut me off.
“One question at a time, Maeve,” he says, removing his readers and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Things were going on at the time of the separation that you were not old enough to comprehend. We were forced to… to make the falling out appearreal,and we couldn’t have you or Callum aware of the situation at hand. Lives were at stake.”
“What are you saying? That the feud wasn’t… that it wasn’treal?”
He doesn’t answer me. He just stands up and walks to the window facing my mother's garden, a spot we'd both visited often after she passed. But we never walked through ittogether.He did make sure allof the rose bushes—her favorite—were kept pruned and pristine. I’d seen him walking the garden in the evening, pausing to inspect the roses, but never plucking one. I'd wanted so badly to join him, but for some reason, I never did.
He clasps his hands behind his back, and I briefly wonder if he’s thinking about her now, wondering what she would think of thismearadh.
After a few heartbeats, he continues. “Callum has been aware of the situation for a while. I wanted to hold off on telling you until you two mended whatever issues you had. Unfortunately,” he says, turning to stare at me, “that hasn’t happened. We can wait no longer.”
All this circular talk. I feel anger taking hold. “What kind of‘things’have been going on that you weren’t able to tell me?”
He sighs heavily. “We will have plenty of time to discuss the details, but I need you to prepare yourself before they arrive. You will be expected to be on your best behavior as my daughter and successor.”
I lean back in my chair. I feel dizzy, like the room is spinning wildly. I place a hand on my chest, trying to calm myself.
”Maeve,” he says, his gentle tone making me look back up at him. His eyes soften. “You and Callum have so much history. You two grew up together. You were there for each other through so much. Now, I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but I’m sure you’ll work through it. I’m not asking you tomarryhim, Maeve. I’m just asking you to be civil. It’s for the good of the families. The good of the business.”
I just stare back at him, lost for words. I can’t believe he’s placing this burden on my shoulders. I want to shake him, to tell him what Callumhad done to me, to scream at him thatI can’t do this. But instead, I sit there, still and silent as a statue.
“Just remember, Maeve,” he says, looking at me intently, “not everything is black and white. Sometimes, things are not what they seem.”
Well,that’scryptic.
Suddenly, his phone starts ringing, and he pulls it from his pocket to look at the screen briefly, then glances back at me.
“Just so you’re aware, Niall and I both knew you two were still seeing each other after the separation. Just like I know how often you sneak out to see Nessa."
I try not to react to that little tidbit. Here I was, thinking I was successful in my sneaking around. Looks likeI’mthe one who doesn’t know shit aboutshit. I feel my face go hot, and a wave of embarrassment washes over me. I feel so stupid, so blind. A fake rift between the families? How long did Callum know about this? My father knows about my nighttime escapades with Nessa?
“One moment, Cian,” he says as he answers. Ahh, Cian. His trusted enforcer. Probably calling to talk about even moreshitthat I don’t know shit about. Why am I always the last to know?
On his way out the door, he places the phone against his chest to cover the speaker and says, “I must take this, but please dress appropriately for dinner and be downstairs when they arrive at five this evening.”
And with that, he strolls casually out of the room, speaking into the phone in a low tone.
