The trouble is, I don’t have time to think about that because I have a meeting to attend, and I need to be focused because this is my future. It’s so important for me to impress my father and prove I’m a worthy successor.
As I shower, my mind wanders back to Flynn, and I wonder if he slept well last night. Will I see him today and how long will he stay?
As I soap my body, it hums with a need for something that can never be mine and, as the frustration hits me, I force myself to concentrate on something else. Anything else, even my sister, because I can’t allow myself to dream the impossible.
* * *
I headto breakfast and am not surprised that it’s just my father and me and as I take my seat opposite him, he looks at me sharply.
“I had a call last night.”
My heart sinks like a stone tossed in a river.
“I figured you might.”
“What did you need to know?”
My father appears concerned, and I sigh. “I feel bad for Flynn. He was so cut up thinking Massimo is his father and wondered if his uncle had told Vivian the truth. He is doubtful about that, so I asked Uncle Pedro for help to see if he could tell me anything.”
“There is nothing you need to know about that man.”
“I’m not a child, dad.” I huff impatiently. “I know he’s your brother, and you fell out.”
“Then you know everything I want you to.”
He turns his attention to the newspaper, and I sigh with frustration.
A movement by the door diverts my attention and my heart lifts when Flynn enters the room and hesitates. “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
I feel bad for him and smile my encouragement and as my father looks up, I watch a thousand emotions cross his face as he says kindly, “Take a seat, Flynn. Perhaps we should have that conversation now.”
I look at him in surprise and he smiles. “You’re right, Louisa. There are things that need to be said, and it’s wrong of me to shut them down.”
I’m more surprised at that than anything so far and a surge of love for my father hits me. He’s such a decent man and I couldn’t love him more than I do at this moment.
I catch Flynn’s eye and smile reassuringly and don’t miss the caginess in his own expression.
As I pour him a coffee I wave to the spare seat beside me and as he takes it, I settle down to listen to a story I am desperate to learn has a happy ending.