At some point—I don’t remember when—I fell asleep.
No more insomnia, no more bad dreams.
Alex looked up and sighed with relief when she saw me. Then she stood, walked over, and stopped me in the hall.
“Where have you been all morning? Your father won’t stop asking about you. He’s losing his mind because you weren’t at the PR meeting.”
“Is he in his office?”
“Yeah, but if I were you, I wouldn’t go in. He’s in a terrible mood, and he said no one should bother him.”
“Luckily I’m not no one.”
I walked past her and opened the door without hesitation, not even bothering to knock. My father was sitting at his desk. When he looked up, I saw his expression change to furrowed brows, squinting eyes, disgust, impatience, and behind them, a fear and insecurity I’d never known how to make out before.
“What do you think I’m paying you for? To do nothing? Don’t think you’re special. You’re an employee like anyone else. You can’t just come and go as you please. You have obligations, and this morning’smeeting was a wash because you didn’t show. Are you never going to do anything right?”
I took a deep breath and didn’t break eye contact with him. It was hard, but I kept a grip on myself.
“I’m quitting. And I’m moving out.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m done.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Maybe. It’s possible.”
“Harper, I’m advising you…”
I shook my head and walked toward him.
“Do you never get tired of being so bitter all the time? Isn’t it exhausting, being so angry?” He opened his mouth to reply, surprised at my resentment, but I didn’t give him the chance to speak. “It’s not my fault Mom died. It was her decision. She never regretted it, and I’m not going to regret being alive now. She was right when she said you were a man who couldn’t handle pain and suffering. They made you sad and selfish and they blinded you to all the good things life’s given you.” My voice was trembling, but I didn’t let up. “I’m going to live my dreams, and I’m going to be happy. For her and for me. Because, in case you didn’t know, that’s what life is—trying to be happy. That’s the whole point. I’m…I’m sorry you never learned that. And I’m sorry you think it’s my fault you’re miserable, but there was no way I could have changed anything!”
He didn’t say a word. He’d gone pale, and his hands were shaking.
“I give up. I’m not going to keep trying to win your affection. I know it’s impossible, and I’d rather swim alone than sink with you.” To my surprise, I managed to smile at him. “I’m going to be a writer, and I’m going to do whatever I can to get my grandmother’s bookstore back. That’s my dream, and it was Mom’s dream, too.”
I turned around and walked out without looking back.
“Harper?”
Dustin’s voice stopped me just as I reached the elevator. He walked over with that same patronizing, condescending expression I’d always hated and, when he reached me, grabbed my elbow and tried to drag me off somewhere more private. I jerked away as if his fingers burned like acid, and I didn’t care if it hurt his feelings. The poor idiot. If he didn’t get away from the Westons, he’d soon be a lifeless puppet with no backbone whatsoever.
“Harper, you can’t keep doing this. You need to grow up. You need to start focusing on the things that really matter: your dad, the company…”
“You’ve got something in your teeth.”
“Really?” He hid his mouth with one hand and started digging around with the other. “Where?”
“No, I just wanted you to shut up. Now listen. You’re the one who needs to grow up. No one here gives a damn about you. Least of all my father. You’ll never be good enough for him. Do you honestly think he wants us to be together because he likes you? I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but he only wants to see me unhappy and he knows with you I will be. You’re a good guy deep down. I know you are. Get out of here while you still have time, before it eats you alive.”
The elevator doors opened and I walked inside. Dustin just stood there gawking at me. As the doors slid close, I raised my hand and said, “Bye now!”
That same afternoon, I got my things from Léry and moved to a modest apartment on the Plateau that I found in the classified ads online. It had a little living room with a kitchen, one bedroom, and one bathroom, but that was all I needed.
I called Hoyt and Hayley to give them my new address and tellthem not to worry. Then I called Mr. Norris to make an appointment. I’d need his help to get Shining Waters back.
