“Does this mean you’re going to get Silvie?” she asks, looking hopeful.
I chuckle and nod. “Yeah. I’ve been an idiot too long. I shouldn’t have let her leave.”
I tell her about how Jonah gave me the bar, and she wipes her eyes. “That Jonah has always been a good man.”
“Mom, I have to tell you something,” I say, frowning, unsure how to talk to her about this.
“Okay,” she says hesitantly, as if she knows this isn’t going to be an easy conversation.
“What happened six years ago when my biological father came toCoconut Beach? What happened to make you not want to leave the house anymore?”
She swallows and looks down at her hands in her lap. “How do you know he came here?”
“He found me this week and told me,” I tell her.
“He’s here?” she asks, looking at the door and back at me.
Holy shit, she’s scared. I want to pound that asshole in the face. But I need her to tell me what he did, so I need to stay calm. I need to figure out what broke her in order to fix her. I need her to let me in.
“Not anymore.” I shake my head. “In fact, I told him he’s never allowed on this island ever again.”
She breathes a deep sigh of relief. “That seems a little extreme. It’s not my island.”
“He won’t be bothering either of us. But I need to know. What happened?”
“He showed up one day after all these years.” She exhales and looks over at her bookcase. “He was with his family. They came into Cocktails & Chaos, and he was joking with his wife and kids. He looked over at me and said to his family, ‘That could have been your mother if I’d stayed here and not made a life for myself.’”
My jaw goes tight, and my fist clenches.
“I had a lot of shame at seeing him and his family laugh. They looked at me like I was just some server at the bar and not the woman who had you. It made me feel so ashamed. It brought back memories of when I was a single mom, pregnant, and just...alone. People judged me, and then I raised you alone, and that wasn’t easy. Him coming here and doing that just made me feel...bad. Staying home is my safe space.”
I’m going to kick that motherfucker’s ass.
“I’ve been going to therapy,” she admits. “Silvie’s helping me. I have had two sessions now, and I am talking about a lot of things I’ve kept buried. I think it’s helping.”
My heart squeezes. “I’m proud of you, Mom.”
I had no idea that Silvie was still helping my mom. Even though she went back to New York and she hasn’t reached out to me, she’s still helping my mom. That gives me hope that there’s still a chance for us.
Mom smiles. “Thanks. I’m proud of you, too. Which is why I wantyou to go live your life. Let me live mine. I’m figuring it out and getting better. I don’t want you to think you have to stay here for me.”
Damn it. Jonah and Wilby were right. I was hiding out here behind my mom. And she doesn’t want that, either. I might have lost the best woman because I was too afraid to live my life. How sad is that?
No more delaying. I need to go get my wife.
Me: Still okay if I come?
Wilby: Jet’s been in Coconut Beach waiting. Can be wheels up in two hours.
Me: I’m coming. Thank you.
Wilby: I think you’re making the right choice. She needs you. You need her.
Me: I know. Don’t tell her I’m coming, okay? I need to do a few things when I get there.
Wilby: You’ve got it.
The elevator ride up to Montclair Holdings feels longer than it should. I am so nervous right now but not letting anything get in the way of what I need to do. I know what I want, and I know what I need to do. The numbers feel like they’re climbing one by one. I adjust the cuffs on my sleeve and straighten my jacket. I’m wearing my dark navy suit that’s tailored with clean lines. Light-blue button-down shirt, no tie. I’m drawing the line at a tie. I don’t need one to impress the person I’m coming here for. I’m here to see one man.And one woman. And really, she’s the only one who matters to me.
