You could be right.Why is it some men need to hide their soft side, as if their toughness would disappear if they showed it?
No idea, happens all the time.
Unless you’re talking about someone like Harry Blacksworth.That man has no issue showing his feelings.Happy, sad, forlorn… I’ve seen those blue eyes spill tears when he hears a sad story.He’s not afraid of them.Not afraid to admit what hurts his heart either.Oh, no.He just pulls out a fancy handkerchief and swipes at his eyes, and then, wonder of wonders… he’ll talk about his feelings.
Ha ha ha.That’s something you don’t see very often.
But we should.I heard the Finnegan boy flat-out stated his feelings for Katie, admitted he’d never gotten over her.Not sure if I heard right, but I think he mentioned wanting to spend the rest of his life with her.
Really?You mean he wants to marry her?
That’s what I heard, but interpretation is anyone’s best guess.
If it’s true, are you saying she out-and-out rejected him?
I’m saying, if it’s true, she told him to leave town and stay away so she could pretend he never existed.
Goodness gracious.As if anyone could ever forget that man.
Right.No forgetting someone like Ian Finnegan.
But the real question is, does Katie know that?And if she does, will she admit it?
Life hasa way of presenting challenges and spinning a person around until they lose sight of what they want, what they need, and what they’re willing to do to get it.Katie had spent most of her life trying to find her way, build success, and create a life that would make her mother proud.The woman had taught her so much, but Angela Layton had never been able to find a way back to joy.Since the moment her husband died, she’d shifted to survival mode, doing whatever was necessary to protect her children and teach them independence.However, the lessons weren’t equally received.Katie became independent, while her sister remained protected from most difficulties, unpleasantness, and disappointments.
Katie learned that independence meant sacrifice, perseverance, and determination.Independence meant never giving up, never letting yourself believe you can fail.What her mother didnotdo was teach Katie the same about relationships.In fact, her mother lived a life that suggested relationships were not necessarily partnerships, and equals did not exist.There were the strong, the weaker, and those who let feelings dictate their lives.
But all relationships were not like that—at least, not the healthy, long-standing ones like Nate and Christine Desantro, Law and Ava Carlisle, Nick and Delilah Borado.Those relationships were real partnerships and Katie had either lived through or heard about the ups and downs, the sadness and tragedies of those couples.But somehow, they forged through and found a way to be together.
As equals.As partners.
Good for them.They deserved it because they were willing to risk the pain and hurt that comes with loving someone.Katie was not.Ian Finnegan had caused her too much heartache over the years, and this latest betrayal was the worst.
Lawrence Pickett had informed her that all future dealings regarding the business would go through him.The investor has removed himself from all interaction with your company.
What does that mean, he’s ‘removed’ himself?He’s not doing line-item studies anymore?He’s not spying on me?
A long pause, and then,It means he’s removed himself from knowledge of your company and you.In fact, I’m to give you assurances you will not be contacted again.A long sigh filled with sadness.He’s taken on a long-term project in Luxembourg.I believe he left three days ago.
Luxembourg?
Yes.As I said, he won’t contact you again.A throat clearing, another pause.Those are your wishes, correct?
She opened her mouth to blurt out “of course”, but the words wouldn’t come.
Katie?
Yes.
Very good.Now, let’s discuss yesterday’s numbers.
Later that night, as Katie lay in bed, she thought about what Lawrence had told her, and wished she’d asked a few questions.Why would he head halfway around the world?Maybe the real question was, why did she care?And why had she felt compelled to look up the distance from Magdalena to Luxembourg?But most of all, why on earth had the tears started when she hung up the phone and still not stopped?
From the moment she’d met Ian Finnegan ten years ago, her life had turned upside down, sometimes in a good way, often in a totally unpredictable and unexpected way.
Eight days after Lawrence told her Ian was heading to Luxembourg, Katie found herself in a situation that was unexpected and definitely turned her life upside down.She needed to talk to someone who might have a few answersandbe willing to share them.Dolly Finnegan was a kind soul who believed all problems could be solved with food.That’s why the second she opened the door and spotted the look on Katie’s face, she pulled her into the kitchen, made a pot of tea, and brought out the food.Chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread, pretzels with dip…tortilla chips with salsa…
Katie refused all of it except for the tea.“I don’t have much of an appetite.”
