“You are terrified.”
Silence fills the air between us.
“You think if you stay here and hide behind taking care of your mom,” Jonah continues, softer now, “it hurts less when Silvie leaves for good.”
That hits somewhere deep and ugly.
“She told me in the beginning she’d leave,” I say quietly.
“She told you she’d leave because she didn’t think you’d be real. Everyone knows this is real.”
My jaw tightens and I glance away.
Jonah reaches into the drawer behind the bar andtosses a folder onto the counter between us.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
I flip it open. It’s the deed to Cocktails & Chaos with my name on it.
I look up. “What is this?”
“You’re the owner now,” he says.
“What do you mean? Why are you doing this?” I ask, confused. “Did something happen?”
“No, nothing has happened. I’ve been meaning to transfer it.Paperwork’s done. It’s yours. If we’re being honest, it’s been yours for a while now. We just needed to make it official.”
“Jonah, I can’t take this,” I say, closing the folder.
“You can.”
“I don’t want...”
“You don’t want what?” he interrupts. “Responsibility? Freedom? You can go anywhere when you own this bar. Marina is going to run it, and you know that she’s more than capable.”
My heart pounds in my chest.
“You’re not tied here,” he says. “You never were. I don’t need you, and your momma doesn’t need you. We all look after her.”
“You don’t get it...”
“I do get it,” he says. “I’ve got it. Marina’s got it. The damn Bees got it. Your mom will be fine.”
I swallow hard. I think about what Wilby said.
“Carly doesn’t need you hovering,” he continues. “She needs you to live your life.”
The bar suddenly feels smaller.
“I love you, son. You mean the world to me. It’s my pleasure to give you this. But if you make me get all sappy, I swear I’ll push you off the dock. Just take it.”
I nod and give him a big hug. He tenses up first, then leans into it and pats my back.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“Silvie’s not just another summer escape,” Jonah says firmly. “She’s your wife.”
