Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“That’s okay,” she replied. “I’ll try again.”
“I’ll call Luc and arrange a double date. We’ll keep it light and easy,” Reed offered. “She’ll get to know you, Richard. All of you. As far as found families go, she’s struck gold.”
“Thanks, Reed.”
Heather regarded me. “You were worried about my reaction.”
“Yes. Penny, Gavin, and Matthew were accepting once they got over the shock. Gracie was the wild card,” I admitted. “The two of you are so close, I was worried you’d take her side.”
“I don’t think there is a side. We need to stick together.”
“You’re right.”
“And Mom?” she asked quietly. “How did she react?”
“It was difficult at the start, but we talked it through. Your mom is pretty damn amazing.”
I stood, pulling her to her feet and hugging her. “You too, my girl.”
“It’s all going to work out, Daddy. I promise.”
I hugged her again, grateful for her love. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
23
ASHLEY
I scanned the screen, double-checking all the details for the event I was handling on Friday had been accomplished. It was a huge gathering of almost five hundred people. There were two massive ballrooms, eight bars, ten food stations, and endless staff to ensure everything went off without a hitch. This company had used us before and always requested me. The venue was one of my favorites, their service top-notch, the food delicious, and their added touches always made the event spectacular. It helped that the company had such a big budget. They hosted this party every year for their employees, and it was always a good time. A ton of work, but enjoyable.
Satisfied, I turned to the pile of messages and other items waiting to be handled on my desk. I flipped through the messages, noting with a small grimace I had two from Heather Morrison. At first, I was mystified by the name then realized it was Heather VanRyan using her newly married name now.
I hadn’t returned her calls from the messages, nor the two voice mails she had left on my phone. I wasn’t quite ready to see her face-to-face. She sounded friendly and upbeat on the phone, but I was still struggling with everything that had happened. I knew I had to call her, text her at least and ask her to give me some more space, but I had yet to do that. I had liked Heather a lot, and we had begun what I thought was a nice friendship. If there was anyone in the VanRyan family I wanted to have a relationship with at the moment, it would be her.
Still, I wasn’t certain I was ready to face that just yet. I pushed aside her messages and concentrated on the business-related ones.
Richard had remained quiet after his attempts to reach out through Halton and Luc, and I was grateful for that at least. Although, given what I had witnessed and what I knew about him, I wondered how long it would be before he reached out again. I wasn’t certain if I was prepared. If I would ever be prepared.
Coming back to work had been the best thing for me. I was busy and productive and could forget the turmoil of the past while and concentrate on what I did best. I made a few phone calls, scheduled meetings, and started some new files. In between, I dealt with issues with an errant caterer, a snarky flower shop vendor, and arranged to interview two new candidates to replace some staff members who had left recently. Change was a constant in the business I was in, and I had learned quickly to spot the right person for the job, get them trained, and treat them well so they hung around awhile. I hated losing good workers, but it happened a lot.
As I scanned a résumé, my cell phone rang, and I looked at the number with a smile, recognizing my roommate’s cell number.
“Hey, Joyce.”
“Hey, kiddo. How’s it going?”
“Never boring,” I responded.
“I’m in town.”
“Great. How long for?”
She laughed. “Not long. You home tonight?”
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
“No hot date with the sexy Luc?”
I chuckled. “He’s in the middle of some IT catastrophe. Something crashed or exploded. So, I’m on my own tonight.”
“Awesome. We can catch up. I’ve got news, and I’m sure you have lots to fill me in on. I’ll order in a pizza, and we’ll crack a bottle or two of wine. Six?”
I glanced at my desk. “Make it seven.”
“Okay, see you at home.”
“See you.”
I hung up with a sigh. Joyce hadn’t been home in over a month. She traveled extensively with the airline, taking full advantage of far-flung destinations. She loved to explore and discover new places and used her flights and time wisely. It was rare she was around more than once or twice a month, sometimes less than that. It would be good to see her and catch up.