Patrick sat beside her on the bench. “Do you like it?” he asked quietly.
Kathleen turned to study his profile. When she’d first met Patrick, she’d been drawn to his quiet competence and unexpected gentleness. But this morning, she was seeing something deeper. He was a man who understood that the most meaningful gifts came from seeing what mattered to another person.
“Patrick,” she said, reaching for his dirt-stained hand and lacing their fingers together. “This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”
The relief that washed over his face was so profound that Kathleen realized he’d been genuinely worried about what they’d done in her backyard.
“James wrote to Florence about wanting to be worthy of her courage,” Patrick said, his thumb brushing across Kathleen’s knuckles. “I wanted to show you that what you’re doing is important. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
Kathleen gripped Patrick’s hand. “Thank you. This means so much to me.”
In Florence’s garden, surrounded by the community that had become her chosen family, Kathleen understood what James had been trying to tell Florence in those beautiful letters.
Love wasn’t just about romantic gestures or pretty words. It was about standing beside someone through their most important work and supporting them even when it was difficult.
Chapter 32
The wine bottle in Noah’s hand was worth more than most people earned in a month, Patrick realized as he opened the front door. It was the kind of thing his grandson would have chosen for a board dinner at Wilson Enterprises, not a casual afternoon visit to his grandfather’s modest home in Sapphire Bay.
“Either you’re celebrating something extraordinary, or you’ve developed very expensive taste in guilt gifts,” Patrick said, stepping aside to let Noah enter.
Noah’s laugh was genuinely amused. “We’re celebrating,” he said. “This is my last week as CEO of Wilson Enterprises, and I wanted to mark the occasion properly.”
The words hit Patrick with an unexpected force. He’d known this day was coming, but hearing it stated so matter-of-factly made it real in a way that weeks of planning hadn’t. His grandson—the man who’d built a ninety-million-dollar empire before his thirty-fifth birthday—was walking away from his company’s day-to-day management.
“No second thoughts?” Patrick studied Noah’s face for any trace of the anxiety that had consumed him during the Meridian crisis.
“None.” Noah’s smile was unguarded. “For the first time in years, I know exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
They moved to the living room, Noah settling into the couch while Patrick grabbed two wine glasses from the kitchen and poured them a drink. “Are you still flying back to Manhattan tomorrow?”
Noah accepted the glass of wine and nodded. “I leave on the six o’clock flight.”
“How are you feeling about it being your last few days at the helm?”
Noah sighed. “Relieved, mostly. The employee stock ownership plan worked even better than we hoped. Not only will it prevent any future hostile takeover attempts, but it’s given every employee a real stake in the company’s success. Morale has never been higher.”
Patrick smiled, remembering the late-night phone call when Noah had first floated the idea. It had taken weeks of legal work and financial restructuring, but it was brilliant in its simplicity. By selling thirty percent of the company to the employees at below-market rates, Noah had created a block of shareholders who would never sell to corporate raiders. The remaining seventy percent stayed in family hands, ensuring Wilson Enterprises would remain true to its founding principles.
“And Craig’s ready for the transition?”
“More than ready,” Noah said with obvious pride. “While he has been in charge, our third quarter profits are up twelve percent over last year. The board’s noticed.”
Patrick had known Craig Dobson for nearly five years, ever since Noah had promoted him to Chief Financial Officer. He was sharp, methodical, and had an intuitive understanding of the luxury market that Wilson Enterprises served. More importantly, he genuinely cared about the company.
“I heard the board has shortlisted three candidates for the permanent position,” Patrick said.
Noah nodded. “Craig, obviously. Plus Penelope Lee from our Seattle operations, and an external candidate with experience at Bergdorf Goodman. But as far as I’m concerned, Craig’s the clear frontrunner. The final interviews are next week, though I think it’s more of a formality at this point.”
“You’ve built something good there,” Patrick said quietly. “Wilson Enterprises will be in excellent hands.”
“What about you?” Noah asked. “Do you have any regrets about staying in Sapphire Bay instead of returning to the board?”
Patrick considered the question. There had been moments during the crisis when he’d wondered if he should have been more directly involved. But watching Noah navigate the challenges and come up with viable solutions had been more satisfying than attending board meetings.
“I don’t have any regrets,” he said firmly. “You didn’t need me to fight your battles. You needed me to believe you could fight them yourself. Besides, if I’d rejoined the board, I would have missed the most important part of this whole story.”
Noah frowned. “Which was?”
