Quinn, bless her heart, kept her word and didn’t tell him the sad truth, because he seems clueless about my past.
The phone buzzes in my bag, saving me from giving him another vague answer.
I step away, giving Mike and Quinn some space, and take the call.
“Next week. The weather’s great.” Jackie forgets to switch off the bossy tone. I let it slide. I know how busy she is.
“I want to come but, honestly, I don’t want to see Carter. I know he’s your brother and it’s not fair of me—”
“One second.” I hear her typing. “A week from now his calendar says he’s away for a few days.”
I exhale deeply. A visit to New York is long overdue.
“You promised to help me with the final orders.” She reverts to normal-voice Jackie. “I’ll ask Michelle to book us a private viewing, whenever you’re up for it.”
Sometimes I forget the weight this family can throw around. The thought of having the showroom to ourselves has my skin humming with excitement. “I did promise.”
I can’t believe how much my life has changed in half a year. Some days are hard because it’s so easy to slip back into my comfort zone. But the end game is so enticing I keep working hard. And I remember a pair of soft gray eyes looking at me like I could conquer the world.
That’s why, even if I’m tired to the bone from driving to Portland and taking the train for over seven hours, I have so much energy I could run a marathon.
I meet Jackie at the showroom and the city already smells funny by noon. The changing season is late to reach the hot concrete, but I take it in and almost lose track of time gawking at the shop’s windows.
“How’s living alone working for you?” Jackie asks while we peruse the store.
“It’s something I didn’t know I needed. The peace that comes with being on my own and doing what I love.” I sift through a pile of soft carpet samples. “I needed the wake-up call to figure out how codependent I was.”
“You can’t blame yourself for your ex’s mistakes.”
“It’s more of a realization. It was unhealthy and if it didn’t happen that way I might have carried on for years.” Got married, started a family with Jared. What a terrifying thought.
Jackie picks up some brass ornaments for the hundredth time. Michelle, her assistant, takes notes of everything Jackie touches.
“How do you even have time for this? You know I could have come here and sent you pictures.”
“Unlike my brother, I don’t think killing myself over work is what’s best.” She plops on different leather chairs, testing them. “He might not think it either anymore though,” she says, looking at me strangely.
I don’t want to ask. I shouldn’t. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s take these samples to the office,” she tells the alert salesperson, who’s been hovering ten steps behind us the entire visit. Then she turns back to me. “His therapist is making him try something new.”
I’m speechless. The man guarding his secrets and pain with the determination of a cornered badger is going to therapy. The part of me that still loves him is so proud of him. He deserves to be happy and find his peace.
The office building stretches upwards in a flawless display of glass and steelwork, almost blinding.
“Yeah, I know. Our father valued appearances above all else.”
When we reach the top floor, Jackie takes me through the open space, pointing out different people who smile politely at us. I nearly pass through the large glass door to her office when my gaze catches on the golden letters.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
I’m confused. “Isn’t Carter the CEO?”
“Oh, yes. He gave that up,” she tells me casually.
“Why? Is he OK? Is it his heart again?”
A devious smile blooms on her face. “It’s his heart for sure,” she says, peering over my shoulder.
