Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
“What is that?” Gabe asks.
“The letter Mom wrote me before she died.”
“I’m not reading that,” Reid says sharply.
Gabe picks it up and starts reading, and it’s not long before he’s walking to the living room to be alone. Reid focuses on me. “We need a criminal attorney in the firm.”
“Then hire one.”
“We need someone we trust.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “What’s going on?”
“Dad wants to make peace.”
“So he sends you, who hasn’t made peace.”
“I’m here.”
“Because he sent you.”
“No.”
“Yes,” I say.
“I think you’re wasting your skills.”
“I think you’re a jerk who doesn’t care about anything but your own agenda,” I say. “Why do I matter?”
“It’s a family business. You’re my sister.”
“What is really going on here?” I demand.
“Dad might have had a mini-stroke.”
“What?” I shout, feeling as if I’ve been punched. “When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks ago?!”
Gabe comes walking back in the room. “Reid, you have to read this.”
“Dad had a stroke?” I demand of Gabe.
“Fuck, man,” he says to Reid. “You couldn’t wait on me?”
“You weren’t here,” Reid says.
“You didn’t have a friend with a tragedy,” I accuse of Gabe. “It was Dad.”
“Both,” Gabe says. “I had both happen.”
“Why didn’t both or one of you call me?”
“He wouldn’t let us,” Reid says. “And he’s fine. He’s back at work.”
“He doesn’t want me back in his life, does he? You two just think you can use this to get me back into the circle.”
“This should be a wake-up call,” Reid says.
“You asshole!” I yell. “Mom died of a stroke. You don’t use this as leverage.”
“I told him that,” Gabe says. “I think you should keep doing what you’re doing.” He looks at Reid. “Read the fucking letter.”
Reid snatches it up and starts reading while Gabe looks at me. “Dad’s been stressed, on edge more than usual. We don’t know why, but maybe it was the stroke coming on. He’s fine though. He’s going to take a trip with some woman he’s seeing for the holidays and take time off work.”
“If you don’t agree with Reid, then why are you here?”
“To tell you that I don’t agree with Reid, but he was coming at you anyway.”
“Have you told Daniel?” I ask of my younger brother. “I assume he’s shut out too, since you guys don’t speak to us outsiders?”
“We wanted to tell you first. I’m going to call him when we leave, unless you want to call him.”
“No. You call him. He deserves to find out and ask questions I can’t answer.”
Reid lowers the letter, scowls, and starts walking. Gabe grabs me and kisses my cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He takes off too, and when the door shuts, I realize they took the letter. Damn it. I grab my purse and keys, and then my jacket off the coat rack, and go after them, but it’s too late. I reach the elevator and the lobby and they are gone. I flag a cab and head to the restaurant. I’m early, but I don’t care. I’m going to drink more wine, and one thing I know with certainty: Reese will carry me home if I need him to. He’s the one man in my life I know really will catch me if I fall. I don’t need a man to catch me—I can catch myself—but it’s nice to know that he would right about now.
Reese
I’ve just finished dressing in a black button-down and black slacks, and have pulled on a jacket, when my phone rings with a call from security. “Sir, you have a visitor at the front desk.”
“Who?”
“She says it’s a surprise and asked if I can send her up or if you could come down. I can escort her up if you like.”
It has to be Cat. “Just send her up.”
I end the call, and as much as I want to see Cat, it hits me then that she’s cleared with security. I walk downstairs and pour a drink, downing the rich stout whiskey, while remembering Cat’s stout coffee comment. I laugh and there is a knock on the door. Cat has a key. I set my glass down, and walk to the door, pulling it open. And the woman standing there is not Cat. She’s the last person I expected to be here right now.
Chapter thirty-three
Cat
Isit in the restaurant waiting on Reese. And waiting. He’s late, but I know how this goes. You get with a client and can’t get out. He must still be at work. This night sucks. I’m not mad. Not at him. I don’t have that capacity right now. I’m too focused on my father’s stroke. I have a glass of wine. That makes three. My limit is really one. But I eat a bunch of bread and I’m remarkably okay. Funny how anger can sober you right up. Reese is still not here. At nine thirty, I decide maybe I’m angry. He can’t be at work. I’m not going to make excuses for him. Then I get worried. My dad had a stroke. What if Reese had an accident? I call him. It goes to voice mail. I hang up.