As if by magic, a server appeared as we walked through the wide, double front doors, taking everyone’s murmured orders before he disappeared again. Abram led us straight through to the dining room, where Nate sat down beside me. His knee brushed mine under the table every now and then like he was just reassuring himself that I was still there.
Dad and Abram talked through most of the meal, often pulling Nate into the conversation too. He handled it effortlessly, confident without being arrogant and thoughtful without sounding rehearsed. I watched the two older men, knowing exactly what they were seeing.
Reliability. Stability. Legacy. Everything they’d wanted for me tied neatly into one very capable package. I couldn’t argue with any of that, but I still hadn’t quite forgiven them for the way they’d gone about it.
At one point, Nate glanced at me, catching me staring, and he leaned over immediately. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I said, but I couldn’t fight the smile that curved on my lips.
He arched an eyebrow at me, quiet laughter twinkling in his eyes. “Right. We’ll talk about it later.”
I nodded and went back to my food, aware that my mother seemed to be waiting for me to talk to her, but I wasn’t quite ready for that yet either. Nate and I were here, but we’d comefor the deal, and frankly, just being present was about the best I could do right now.
Honestly, we’d been so busy that I hadn’t worked out what I wanted to say to her yet, so I let the men carry the conversation. Everything was friendly and pretty normal for it being a dinner between my dad and Abram, but after the plates were cleared, the mood quickly went from light to professional.
Paperwork appeared like magic. Pens were produced. Eyeglasses were slid on and drinks glasses were refilled but sat untouched for the moment.
“Alright, gentlemen,” Abram said, looking at Nate first. “Let’s get this done.”
Nate nodded, deftly picking up the pen he’d been offered and signing for Alex without hesitation, his expression calm but focused. He didn’t even reread the documents, having gone over them meticulously one last time on the flight over.
Dad signed next, then Abram, each of them leaning over the same table like this was some kind of ritual. Maybe it was. I didn’t know anymore.
All I knew was that I’d gotten a husband out of this deal and I wasn’t as mad about it anymore as I probably should’ve been. Mom stepped back and lifted her phone while they flipped through to initial every page.
“Hold still,” she said.
All three of them looked up at the sound of her voice and her phone clicked, capturing the moment forever. Then, just like that, it was done. Westwood and Sons were the new owner of Hinds Global.
Dad clapped Nate on the back as he stood. “Well, now that it’s done, we should celebrate.”
Abram shook with both Dad and Nate, then tipped his head toward the terrace. “Cigars?”
Nate looked at me, his expression resigned before he turned back to them. “Sure. Why not?”
Dad immediately looped an arm around his shoulders. “Excellent. Let’s go, son. Abram’s cigars are unlike anything you’ve ever had.”
They dragged Nate away into whatever strange, cigar-smoking, bonding ritual men apparently performed when deals closed and daughters got married. I watched them go, equal parts amused and frustrated about being left out, but then Mom appeared beside me.
“Well, they seem happy,” she said quietly.
I turned to face her, seeing that careful expression on her features she always wore when she was afraid of saying the wrong thing. Realizing this meant she and I were now going to have some time alone, I shrugged, responding more to buy myself time to think than because I actually had something to say about her comment.
“They should be. They’ve all just made a whole lot of money and everyone got the best part of the deal for their own future. If that didn’t make them happy, I’m not sure what would’ve.”
She nodded slowly. “I suppose you’re right. I’m glad they’ve gone off to do their manly things now, though. It gives you and me a moment to talk.”
I swallowed hard. “So talk.”
Mom’s eyes, so like my own, drifted from one of mine to the other. There was a hesitance in her gaze I didn’t think I’d ever seen there before. “Thank you for being here, darling. I realize you could’ve sent Nate to come and sign the paperwork without you.”
“It was my deal too,” I reminded her quietly. “I worked too hard on it not to see it through all the way to the end.”
“Right, well, I wasn’t sure if you’d ever forgive us. I’m still not sure you have, but it means a lot that you didn’t avoid seeing it through just so you wouldn’t have to spend time with us.”
The words hung between us for a moment, softly spoken and painfully honest. Hurt twisted in my chest when I thought back to that day in the diner. The day they’d taken my agency away and had acted like it was nothing more than my duty unless I wanted to be personally responsible for our downfall.
That day, I truly hadn’t known if I ever would forgive them, but I also hadn’t known that the man I’d be marrying was the one I was in love with anyhow. Back then, I’d honestly thought they were making me sacrifice CB, my one true love, even if they didn’t know it.
