Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“What? I thought we agreed we couldn’t have a honeymoon? You’re too busy and—”
“We did.” He passed his phone to me. “But somehow, I have leave booked for three weeks. Starting tomorrow.”
“How?” I scanned the email, then jolted as a message from Colin popped up. “Colin’s just texted you. He says to call him.”
He frowned and took back his phone. “What the hell is he up to?”
I shrugged. “Better call him and find out, I guess?”
With a worried look, Zander pressed Colin’s number and put the phone on speaker between us. It only rang once before Colin picked up.
“Now…before you get mad at me, there’s a reason I didn’t tell you.”
“Why would I get mad, Col?” Zander cracked his knuckles as if his friend was here to punch him. “What did you do? Are you behind the fact that I have three weeks off when I didn’t ask for any?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because you wouldn’t have taken the time off if it wasn’t for me. You would’ve let your poor little wife go without a honeymoon all because you’re a workaholic.”
“I have a few important surgeries coming up. I can’t just—”
“You’ll always have important surgeries coming up, Zan. That’s the point. There will never be a break from the work. There will never be a good time to get away. Not one, do you hear me? When you’re on your deathbed and someone asks what you most regret, you know what you’ll say? You’ll say you regret not spending more time with your delectable wife and so…you’re welcome.”
Zander flinched as Colin struck a nerve. Before he could reply, Colin added, “There are other doctors. Other surgeons. Your patients won’t suffer, and you aren’t letting anyone down by putting yourself first for a few weeks. Didn’t you tell me you wanted to find a better work-life balance now that you’re hitched? Well…this is me fulfilling that wish.”
“I don’t understand how they let you ask for it off. Isn’t there some sort of—”
“Yeah, about that. I kinda had help. Of the legal kind.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“It wasn’t entirely Colin’s fault, Zander,” a woman cut in, a smile in her voice. “I’m half to blame.”
“Christina?” Zander scowled at me before looking at his phone again. “Why are you with Colin? What the hell is going on?”
No one spoke for a second but then Christina blurted, “I’m at Colin’s place because we’re kind of…you know. Seeing how it goes. And before you start, Colin arranged your leave because, the day after you two got married, the family lawyer called me. He delivered a document that demanded your presence at some secretive location, and when we showed it to the hospital, they were only too happy to give you time off.”
“Wait. Why did the family lawyer contact you? I’m the one in charge of the Norths’ affairs.”
“Because he had strict instructions from Gran to tell me over you.”
Zander sat back, a dazed, almost hurt look on his face. “Why?”
“Because she knew you better than you knew yourself and probably figured you wouldn’t do what she asked.”
“What did she ask?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Christina laughed slyly. “You’ll know when you get there. But…you have to take a trip. You and Sailor.”
“A trip?” I asked when Zander didn’t say anything. “A trip where?”
“All I can tell you is it’s in Costa Rica.”
Zander and I made eye contact.
Growing up—when both sets of our grandparents were alive—they’d often go as a happy foursome on holiday to Costa Rica. It’d become a bit of a tradition. Every year, they packed their bags for a few weeks of double-dating vacation before returning browned, happy, and ready to work again. They’d promised to take us with them, but then Zander’s grandfather passed away, and they’d stopped going.
“Your flight leaves tonight. You have four hours before take-off, so I suggest you start packing and get to the airport.”
“What the hell?” Zander raked a hand through his hair. “You can’t just spring this on us. What about Peng? We haven’t got—”
“Lily has already agreed to move into Sailor’s for three weeks and cat sit him. You know her boyfriend Aubrey is helping with the renovation for you. It’s a perfect opportunity for him to assess the pros and cons of each house so he can figure out how to link them for you. Because we both know stuffy architects can get it wrong, and you want to get it right.”
“Why do I feel like we don’t have a choice in this matter?” Zander huffed.
“That’s because you don’t. You’re getting on that plane and you’re going to the address that the transportation service has when they pick you up. Just…go with it, Zan. For once in your life, lean on someone other than yourself. Trust us, alright?”
Zander slouched, all while my phone started ringing with Lily’s name.