Using the heel of his hands, Noah wiped his eyes. “I’m exhausted, that’s all. I haven’t had much sleep.”
His grandfather patted Noah’s shoulder. “When did you last talk to Cassie?”
“Two weeks ago. I tried calling her, but she’s either not home or not answering her phone.”
“Has she pulled out of the contract?”
Noah shook his head. “She’s still working on the collection. The person I asked to be her liaison is impressed with what she’s done. The marketing team will start promoting her first collection in January.”
“They’ll catch the Valentine’s Day market.”
“That was the plan.”
Patrick studied Noah’s face before picking up his cutlery. “Jack told me you’d made other plans, too.”
He didn’t know what his brother had told their grandfather but, at a guess, Noah would say Jack had told him everything. “I told Cassie I love her, that I’d like her to be my girlfriend.”
“What happened?”
“A reporter told her about Emanuel. She also told Cassie about our decision to make her the face of our prestige store.”
“I’m assuming she wasn’t happy?”
“Cassie told me I’d betrayed her trust, that she couldn’t forgive me for what I’d done to her father.”
Patrick’s knife and fork froze above his dinner. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“It doesn’t matter. I was the chief executive. I decided to go ahead with the trial.”
“No one knew what would happen once the media got hold of the story. Cassie seems like a level-headed person. Surely she realizes you weren’t responsible for the fallout from the charges.”
“Her family was left with nothing.”
“And her mom died not long after they moved to San Francisco.” Patrick left his dinner, untouched, on the table. “I don’t know what to say.”
Noah handed his granddad the cup of hot chocolate. “Have a drink. I’ve heard it helps you feel better.”
“Did it help you?”
“No, but having you here does. Thanks for coming, Granddad.”
With a heartfelt sigh, Patrick stood and wrapped Noah in a hug. “I’m not as good as your grandma at showing you how I feel, but I love you.”
“I know you do.” Noah closed his eyes and memorized the feel of his granddad’s arms wrapped around his chest. The last time they’d hugged each other was at his grandma’s funeral.
When they separated, Patrick had tears in his eyes. “Mary used to tell me I had the roar of a lion and the heart of an angel. Your grandma saw through my gruffness when a lot of people couldn’t. I might be eighty-one years old, but it’s time I changed.”
The determination on his granddad’s face worried Noah. “You’re not going skydiving, are you?”
“Skydiving? Good grief, no. I might be ready to turn over a new leaf, but I’m not crazy. I’m going on a vacation.”
Noah waited for his granddad to say something else, but he sat in his chair, looking incredibly pleased with himself. “A vacation?”
Patrick picked up his knife and fork. “That’s right. I’ve heard it’s the best way to get in touch with your feelings. I’m not combining it with any business meetings or market research. For one week, I’ll go somewhere I’ve never been and have fun.”
Noah’s eyebrows nearly shot off the top of his head. It sounded as though his granddad was going through a midlife crisis. Except Patrick was about thirty years too late. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got no idea, but I’ll think of something before Sunday.”
