“Call me when you get there,” Dad said, handing the driver my tattered suitcase.
“Will do.” I held back tears as I slipped into the car before my father could attempt any sort of affection.
While he had made more of an effort over the last few years, the strain between us lingered. He wasn’t there when I had needed him most, and now, although we had more in common than ever before, it was awkward. Fortunately, he was an amazing grandfather to my son, and that was all that mattered now.
As the car pulled away, I offered my father a quick wave before turning my gaze to the road ahead, pondering what laid in front of me. Three months at Harlow Manor. Three months without my boy. Three months until I finally got my life back on track.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, shoving my romance novel back into my handbag when the car turned into an open field.
“This is your transfer.”
“But I thought we were driv—” My voice faded as I squinted into the distance. “A helicopter?!”
“Yes.”
“How rich are these people?” My sister never went into detail about her boss’s family, and I didn’t bother asking questions. A job was a job and I needed this one desperately.
The driver chuckled. “Rich doesn’t begin to describe this family.”
My brow rose, but my shoulders eased. The guilt I felt about accepting such an incredible wage from an elderly man had been gnawing at me.Not anymore!
“Enjoy the perks while you can.”
Once the car slowed to a stop near the slick black helicopter, I let myself out. I had no intention ofenjoying the perksof a high-society lifestyle, and that included chauffeur-driven cars. The only man I wanted opening my door was gone.
“Thank you,” I said to the driver as he handed my luggage to the pilot.
“Tico will take you from here.”
With a parting nod, I tucked my long waves behind my ears and gawked at the blades above. “Wow.”
“I’m guessing you’ve never flown in a helicopter before,” Tico said, ushering me through the open door.
My nervous laughter filled the cabin as I climbed into it and swiftly buckled up my seatbelt. “No. This is all very new to me.”
“Don’t worry.” His smile was warm. “You’ll be fine. It’s just like an elevator that goes up, down, back and forth, and sideways.”
My teeth clenched. “Sounds…fun.”
“You’ll love it. It’s much better than a plane.”
“I’ll have to take your word on that,” I murmured as I slipped on huge headphones, much like the ones Reed gifted Finn last Christmas for his gaming.
Little did Tico know I’d never even been on a plane. The only travel experience I had consisted of epic cross-country drives between my dad’s place and my grandmother’s house on the West Coast.
With a pounding heart, I peeked out the window as we lifted off the ground. I couldn’t decipher whether I was scared or excited, but once I caught sight of the beautiful countryside, my lungs filled with air. All I needed to do was distract myself with the picturesque landscape to keep the intrusive thoughts of me plummeting to my death at bay.
At my first glimpse of water, all my fear subsided. I hadn’t seen the ocean in months, and it was one of the things I missed most from home. The water may have been cooler out here, but it was just what I needed, and I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in its healing properties.
While living with my grandmother in Venice Beach, I spent every morning and afternoon at the beach, recharging. It kept me balanced, and I longed to get back there. But until then, the Hamptons would have to do.
I never wanted to return to New York, but death kept drawing me back. It wasn’t my home anymore and hadn’t been since I was seven. Thankfully, in the ten years we lived with my grandmother, she taught us everything she knew about spiritual healing. Reiki, crystals, and aromatherapy were only some of the alternative therapies she used to ease the ailments of her friends and neighbors. Some considered her a witch. But to Amy and me, she was our savior.
My father never believed in my grandmother’s ‘voodoo’ and persuaded my mother to sever ties with her before I was born. Unfortunately, my mother had a gift, too, but with no guidance, it swallowed her up and tore her apart until she couldn’t take the pain any longer. She took her life only days before my seventh birthday.
I grew up that day. I was left to take care of my little sister while my dad drank himself into a stupor almost every night. It wasn’t until I found my father on the bathroom floor, surrounded by vomit, that family services sent us to live with my grandmother. To us, she was a complete stranger, but she ended up becoming my best friend, my confidant, and my teacher.
As the helicopter lowered just over a half hour later, my heart mimicked the beat of the blades.Now I was scared.I thought I would have a few hours to prepare for my arrival at Harlow Manor, but I didn’t even have time to read my book. Reading relaxed me and promised a cool, calm facade upon arrival, but now I was an anxious and fidgety mess.