Even though he disliked what they’d done with some of the story elements, he would sign it. Soon. But he enjoyed taking his time and making them think he might not. Lucinda, his agent, didn’t enjoy it nearly as much, but she’d made enough money off him in the last decade or so that she knew not to say anything.
As much as he hated what the company had done to his storylines, the money was exceptional, and he had Kyle to think of. No matter what his son thought of him, Mitch planned to leave him a good inheritance. Maybe that would make things right between them again. Or at least right enough that Kyle would remember his father fondly.
It was worth a shot. Even if it felt a little like trying to buy his son’s affection.
Someday, he and Kyle would be on speaking terms again. He hoped. In the years since Jeanie’s passing, he’d tried calling. He still did on Kyle’s birthday, but his son hadn’t answered the phone once.
He also sent Kyle a letter and a signed copy of every new book Mitch had out. They never came back as undelivered, but that didn’t mean Kyle was reading the letters. For all Mitch knew, he tossed them in the trash and sold the signed books on eBay.
Arlington had always told him he should go see Kyle in person. Make it impossible for the boy not to at least acknowledge his presence, but Mitch had tried that once. Six months after the funeral, he’d gone to Kyle’s college and waited outside the dorm.
Kyle had definitely seen him. Then he’d turned around and walked the other way.
Mitch had gone to Kyle’s graduation, too, but they’d never crossed paths.
Except for the birthday phone call and the signed book, Mitch had stopped trying. He knew enough to know when he wasn’t wanted.
Kyle had reason to be upset with him. Mitch had thrown himself into his work in the last year of Jeanie’s illness. He hadn’t known how to cope with the love of his life dying. And part of him had held out hope that if he continued on as if everything were all right, Jeanie would somehow be okay, too.
It was only in the last couple of months that he’d pushed everything aside to be with her day and night.
It had broken him to see her waste away. To see the cancer ravage his beautiful bride. He would have given anything in the world to take her place. He’d wept more in those days than he had his entire life. So much so that after her passing, he had nothing left.
A part of him had definitely gone with her. Kyle’s estrangement only deepened the wound. He hadn’t been the best husband to Jeanie when he’d been focused on his work instead of her. And he certainly hadn’t been a great father.
Now he was sleeping in the bed he’d made and there was no way out of it. The podcast droned on in his ears, but it was a repeat episode. Not worth his attention.
Mrs. Chatterjee was in the driveway kissing her husband goodbye as he went off to the hospital. Dr. Chatterjee had been a great help, recommending Jeanie’s doctor to them, a renowned oncologist, but even the most cutting-edge treatments had done nothing.
Mrs. Chatterjee waved to Mitch. He kept his eyes on the road and pretended he hadn’t seen her. He was in no mood to chat. He was never in a mood to chat. If his neighbors hadn’t figured that out by now, there was no helping them.
Sweat trickled down his back. His muscles were warm and loose. He picked up his pace a bit.
He really ought to move.
But leaving Hideaway Bay meant leaving his last connection to Jeanie, so as much as he despised this place and the mostly fake people who lived here, he would take his final breaths in that house.
And as far as he was concerned, that day couldn’t come soon enough.
ChapterSeven
Harper hadn’t slept well and as a result, she’d slept in a little later than she’d meant to. Maybe she could get a nap before Frankie arrived.
Besides waking up frequently just because she wasn’t in her own bed, she’d had some strange dreams. Not nightmares. Just odd collections of images and thoughts. Some of them about Ford. She was glad it was morning. Glad to see the gorgeous view. It was a great way to erase the bad night.
Hard to be unhappy with all that sky and water out there. It was like living in paradise. Actually, itwasliving in paradise.
Didn’t mean she’d forgotten her life was in shambles, but it was still nice to look out and see all that beauty. Made her realize there was a lot to be grateful for. This house was a prime example of that.
And Frankie would be here today. Even better.
Archie’s nails clicked on the floor as he came over to the side of the bed.
“Ready to go out, baby dog?”
He woofed softly, his fur a little unkempt on top of his head.
With a smile, she ran her fingers through it. “I guess you slept all right, huh?”
