“It’s do-or-die time,” Brendan says. “And it sounds like that’s true about more than one thing in your life. You have to decide today so we can close the deal. And we need the house cleared out immediately so she can start restoration work. In a little over a week, Shelby’s heading to Paris for the rest of the summer. We’ve waited long enough. And the damage from the storm makes this even more urgent. You know as well as I do that the pool house and the roof can’t remain the way they are, and that’s just to start. It makes zero sense for us to continue to go forward with repairs if someone else is going to take the restoration in a different direction.”
“In a week? How?” Ryder asks. “We still have all of Grandmother’s things here.”
Brendan waves a hand. “We can have this place cleared out tomorrow. We’ve already catalogued everything of value. It sounds like Daisy’s done an amazing job with Grandmother’s clothes. And we can arrange for everything else to be stored.”
Brendan puts his hands on the table and leans forward. “I know you love this place more than I do, but you can’t have it both ways. I’m warning you. If you decide you don’t want to sell, then I’m out. You can have it all. It will be your responsibility. I don’t have the time or, frankly, the inclination to keep making this drive on the regular. I’m busy enough without having to worry about fucking contractors. And my assistants don’t have the time either. So if we don’t sell to Shelby, I’m dropping this place in your lap. It will be yours to manage, restoration and all.”
This is all temporary. I’m the pet sitter. None of this is mine for good, including Ryder, I remind myself, as I listen to them debate. And all too soon, I’m not even going to be the pet sitter. The last week…more…has been a dream. One I willingly and full-heartedly embraced. I didn’t want to wake up. Ever. But Brendan just threw cold water on me, and now there’s no denying reality.
I stand abruptly. “Um. This feels private. I’ll leave you two to work it out. I have to go to the post office anyway, to overnight Avery’s dress.” I shoot Brendan a distracted smile. “It was nice to see you again. Will you be here when I return?”
Brendan nods. “I’ll be working here all day.” His brow lifts with an ironic smile. “Awaiting a decision.” He turns to me. “Daisy, if you’re worried about your job or a place to staywhenthe sale goes through, don’t worry. I’m sure I can find a position for you in Boston. I could use Mrs. Halle at my place as well. I’ve never been able to find a reliable house manager.”
“Daisy’s not fucking going to Boston. I’ll take care of her.” Ryder looks at me. “You know you don’t need to worry about your salary or a place to stay. We’ll figure it out.”
Tears prick behind my eyes, and it takes every bit of control to will them away. I could really use a nice pair of sunglasses right about now. Maybe in oversized tortoiseshell, the type thatcovers half your face. I shake my head, needing to reclaim some dignity.
“Thanks for the lovely offers, boys, but don’t worry about me. If you sell the house and I’m out of a job, it just means that I can get to Europe a little early. I’d love the chance to do some traveling before I start my pet-sitting job in London. I’m thinking about the Italian Riviera. Positano is always a good idea, right?” I have extra money from Avery’s generous dress purchase. I could spend some of it on a holiday.
I swallow the lump in my throat and walk back toward the house with as much dignity as I can muster.
“Daisy,” Ryder calls to me before I slip through the French doors.
“Yes?” I say, my heart stuttering.
“Where is Avery?”
“Avery?” I ask, confused at the abrupt change in topic. “In New York City.”
“Aren’t you worried about shipping the dress, that it could get lost or damaged?”
I frown. “It’s not ideal. But I’m not one of those fashion houses that can deliver dresses on red-eyes by their handlers.”
“You can take my plane.”
“I can’t.”
“Hell, Daisy. It’s just sitting at a private airfield nearby. This is too important for you to trust it to FedEx.”
“He’s right. If he wants to offer you a flight, take it,” Brendan encourages.
“Please,” Ryder says. “I want to do this for you. If you leave in an hour, you can be back tonight before it’s too late. Duncan will make all the arrangements to get you to Avery’s. And he can travel with you, so I know you’re safe.”
I bite my lip, debating. I have someone offering to fly me and my dress baby to New York City. It’s not a hard choice.
“Okay,” I agree. But I can’t muster up my usual smile. Not with the likelihood that when I return, I’ll find that the house I’ve fallen in love with is sold. And Archie is headed to a new—and wonderful—home. “Thank you.”
Ryder tips his head in acknowledgment, his eyes somber. I want him to stand up and wrap his arms around me. To kiss me senseless. To tell me he wants us all to stay right here, for good, forever.
But that’s just me dreaming. Again.
“I’ll send Poppy your number,” I say. “She’ll call you about Archie. And just for the record, she is sunshine personified. She could run someone over with a car, and they’d thank her for the opportunity. You and Archie will be putty in her hands.” I look down at the dog and try to be upbeat. To think positive. “We wouldn’t even have to say goodbye. Because we can always visit him there.”
Archie follows me when I slip into the house.
I feel disoriented. So much has changed in the last hour. I thought we had a week. And now, it looks like, with the sale of the house, everything could disintegrate.
I kneel and pick up the corgi, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, his ears tickling my nose. “I love you. So damn much. But don’t worry,” I whisper into his soft fur. “Change might seem scary. But that’s no way to look at it. This is an opportunity for fun and new people to love. You’ll see.”
