My sister.Hopefully not a hurdle. I puff out my cheeks to blow out a breath. “Depends. If the rumor mill works as fast as I think it does in this town. Then, yea, she knows.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
I pause, because there’s a lot I can’t tell him. Plenty, in fact, but the most relevant is that I’m about to change my life, and the woman who is the catalyst for it has no idea.
“She’s not really one to commit. You know this about her. I think for as long as she’s been in this town, I couldn’t tell you a single person, guy or girl, who she’s considered long term.”
“But you think she wants that with you?”
Well, fuck, when he puts it like that. “I don’t know, Dad. I hope so. It’s going to take some time, but if I know her the way I think I do, then I’m thinking she wantsthis. Wants a life with me.” I have to laugh at the next thought. “But she’s so stubborn that she’s going to fight me on it, regardless.”
“Good.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Nothing worth it ever comes without a little pain in the process. And she’s worth it.”
We make our way back upstairs, some weight on my shoulders lifting.
“Speaking of pains in the ass, your brother is going to be shocked about all of this. You think he’ll want to take my spot in a few years? Michael has been very clear he doesn’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. But I think Law could.”
“Dad, are you kidding? Law will shit himself if he ever hears you say that.”
“Like agoodshit himself?”
“When is shitting yourself ever good? I don’t think there are categories for that.” We both laugh hard and while I can’t wait to hear that conversation, there are a few people I need to talk to before I can move forward with my own plans.
“Think they’re going to be pissed I’m leaving now too?”
“Let me ask you this, were you mad when Everly left?”
“Not at all, but I also didn’t know how much would be dropped in my lap once she was gone.”
“Leave that piece up to me. I can offset that. But your brothers only want what’s going to make you happy. I think they’ll be surprised, but not mad.”
I hadn’t planned on doing this today, but I might as well rip off the band-aid. Time to tell my brothers what’s going on. “Thanks, Dad.”
He claps my shoulder and then says, “Don’t keep that girl waiting. You two have already taken long enough.”
I give him a longer hug than usual. I know this is going to put more pressure on him, maybe even prolong any retirement plans he started thinking about, but I know my dad. He’d never say it. So I hold on a little longer.
“You might want to have a talk with Kathryn over at Brews & Books. Jack mentioned she’s a bit overwhelmed with the longer hours. Maybe there’s something there you two can work out.” He waves his hand in front of himself. I know he’s trying not to overstep, but when it comes to business and his kids, my dad likes to over-stride. “Just a thought. I know she’s busy tonight with the Hot Toddy Stroll, but it might be worth you stopping in.”
I give him a smile and a nod. I’m not ready to discuss much more yet, but I’ve already had the same thought about that space. I planned to have a discussion with Kathryn later about how we might be able to fix each other’s problems with a mutually beneficial solution. And now’s as good a time as any.
47
Giselle
“Benny,Benny, Benny. You got hotter. I didn’t think it would be possible, but you did. You went ahead and turned yourself”—I tweak my voice to do a British accent—“into an eleven. You go toeleven,now.”
He doesn’t get it. I’m met with a smile, but a stare as if I’m a bit crazy.
“Anyway, that Costa-Rican life treated you well?” I ask.
He smiles at me, and it’s not lost on me that the kid has a little crush. I mean, I don’t blame him. I am a catch. If I wasn’t hung up on the oldest Riggs sibling, then I would consider showing this little pup a few things about satisfying a woman. Heisover eighteen now.
“It was an experience,” he says it with a twinge of exacerbation. But a beat later, he follows it up by saying, “You know, Giselle, I’m always on the hunt for a life lesson. I had a couple when I was down there.” He smiles wider. “I’d be down to learn a few more, now that I’m back home.”
“No.” Everly leans forward. “Benny! She’s got, like, fifteen years on you.”
Everly elbows my side. “Ow!”