Page 143

“And? You have nothing to say about this good news? Nothing to say about all the work I put in to make it happen?”

Winnie swallowed. She had to play this carefully, almost like it was a business transaction. After all, that’s all she was to Dad.

“I do have a lot to say,” she began, pulling on her best consultant tactics and remaining calm. “But first, I wanted to talk to you about the festival and the success we found today. Mr. Wintour was so pleased that he’ll be starting me up at Foxwood at the beginning of next week.”

“If you can even trust what he’s promised,” Dad retorted. “Who’s to say he wouldn’t just change his mind and put you over some other menial task again?”

Dad was a lawyer for a reason. He was always so convincing, knowing just how to plant noxious seeds of doubt into her heart, even though she knew he was wrong.

She stood from the bed and wandered toward the window, eying the grounds covered in the late evening sunshine. She tried to pull that sunshine into her heart, but her dad’s words continued to darken the light around her.

“I can’t believe you’re not thanking me right now,” he said. “I’m putting my neck on the line for you—again. Will you please, for once in your life, do the sensible thing?”

She chewed her lower lip. “But, Dad, I promised to help Mr. Wintour. How can I leave and completely ignore my agreement with him?”

“How? Because there’s nothing holding you there.”

Nothing holding her there? Everything was holding her there. Matthew. The Wintours. Her word.

But what would Dad know about any of that? “Won’t that make things awkward between you and Mr. Wintour as friends?” she asked, hoping to play to his senses.

As if that could have ever worked.

Dad sighed, his voice taking on a slightly softer tone. “The only reason I reached out to him after all these years was to get you a job I had hoped would give you some prestige. Arthur is a very nice man. He always has been. And I’m glad you’ve been able to help him and his family. But working for him has done nothing for you.”

She winced. That was the furthest thing from the truth. If only he knew all they had done for her—all Matthew had done for her.

“Dad…” she began, wanting to share with him the truth, but he interrupted.

“Listen,” he said, “I’ve got to run, but we can chat about it later, okay?”

“Wait,” she said, desperate to keep him a moment longer, to get him to see reason. “What if…what if I want to stay here?”

Silence met her on the other end.

“Are you serious?” Dad finally asked.

Winnie looked up at the ceiling as she prayed for strength. “I really like the work here…and those I work with.”

More silence. Winnie shook her head, knowing Dad was already compiling all the reasons she ought to agree with him.

He sighed, his voice taking on a softer tone. “Look, I’m sorry to spring this on you all of a sudden. I know it’s a lot to wrap your mind around, but I really thought you’d be excited about it. It’s such an incredible opportunity.”

She nodded, her defenses crumbling, just as they always did around Dad. “I know.”

“I was going to wait to tell you this,” he continued, “but I guess you may as well know. I have it on good authority that if you do this job, and do it well, I’ll have an in with Kris & Sons. Your mom and I would become their go-to firm. I don’t have to tell you how much credibility their company would lend to ours. Knox Family Law would be put on the map in ways we’ve only dreamed of. And it would be all thanks to you. Right? Winnie?”

Be like Fort Knox. She winced, discomfited by the phrase returning to her mind. “I guess.”

“You’re still not convinced?”

How could she be? How could she ever be convinced to leave the life she wanted to pursue in England, with the person she wanted to pursue it with?

“I guess I just don’t get it,” she said, doing her best to speak up, though her courage had all but fled. “Why would they bring you on as their permanent lawyers only if I agree to be their consultant? I’m nothing special.”

Dad was silent for a minute. “It’s complicated.”

An inkling of indignation slid through her veins. “I’m sure I can understand it, Dad.”