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“In six weeks. Flying out tomorrow to see some apartments.”

“Great to hear. Are you sure you’ve tied up all your loose ends?”

I narrow my eyes. “Like?”

Priscilla pauses a moment before responding. “What are your plans for your family’s property?"

“I don’t have any.”

“Let me know if you’d like to sell it. Or bulldoze it. I’ll take care of it.”

“Why would you do that?”

“So you don’t have to. You never need to set foot on that land again if you’d prefer.”

I study her shrewd blue eyes, always so observant. Straight to the point. But her motives are never clear.

“Let me think about it?”

“Of course. You know how to reach me.” She stands, but before she leaves, she says, “And I’d keep that apartment if I were you. I heard the building owner may be selling the units as condominiums. It’s a good investment, worth your consideration… even if you don’t plan to come back to the East Coast.”

I’m still focused on the door, long after the click of Priscilla’s heels can be heard.

“You coming?” Clara asks, poking her head in, startling me.

I gather my things and follow her. This is the first meeting Rachel’s attended since I left on her birthday. She was too busy poisoning herself at a bar when we had our last one two weeks ago.

I brace myself before entering the conference room. When I glance to the back of the room, she’s busy sorting through papers with one of the project managers. I select a seat and turn it toward the front, putting my back to her.

There’s a brief moment at the end of the meeting when I think we may be able to work together and not let what didn’t happen between us affect our professional life. That lasts all of thirty seconds.

“I don’t want you talking to my daughter.”

Rachel doesn’t wait ‘til we’re the only two in the room. She doesn’t care who overhears. I do.

I approach her, with my back to the few who are still collecting their belongings. Fighting to keep calm, I lower my voice. “Don’t do this. If you want to talk, we can talk. But keep it out of this office. Got it?”

My hardened glare makes it clear there’s no room to test me. For the first time, she sees who I could become.

Rachel nods.

“Give me ten minutes. I’ll meet you at the park around the corner.”

I walk out of the room, leaving her speechless.

Fifteen minutes later, I’ve changed into my running gear, and I take my time getting to the park. Rachel’s pacing in front of a bench. She stops when she sees me, hands on her hips—ready to lay into me.

“What do you want?” The no-bullshit tone of my voice stills her.

“I don’t want you talking to Emily anymore.” It comes out as a request. Not how she planned to deliver that sentence, I’m sure.

“Do you talk to Emily anymore?”

“Of course I do.”

I nod, doubting it.

“I mean, she’s staying at Sara’s, but she’ll be back.”