Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Mother and Father were in town and stopped by unexpectedly,” Jansen says, which still doesn’t explain why I’ve been called in here to join them as they stand around awkwardly.
Still, I’m happy for the opportunity to meet the people who raised Jansen, and it only takes a few minutes in their presence to understand him better.
Though I wouldn’t go so far as to say his parents are rude, they’re colder than a snowman standing outside at midnight in January, and by comparison, Jansen appears much warmer than he ever has. Though he also looks incredibly uncomfortable.
Gloria comes in, and it appears she’s already greeted them. She was probably the one to escort them in. “Would you like some coffee, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett?” she asks.
“No … thank you,” Mrs. Bennett sniffs, her face plainly displaying her disdain for coffee. I’m tempted to tell her that it’s actually good if you add a lot of cream and sugar, but honestly, I’m intimidated by the woman.
“I thought you might have had a bigger office by now, son,” Mr. Bennett says to Jansen as he wanders around the space.
“My office suits me fine.”
Mr. Bennett turns to face both Jansen and Derek. “I keep seeing things about charitable donations when your company shows up in my news feed. Are you two running a business or a nonprofit?”
“We’re running a business that gives back,” Jansen says, his jaw twitching.
“Your company could be so much bigger if you focused on what’s important. When you abandoned medicine for business, I’d hoped you’d at least be running a Fortune 500 operation by now.”
Jansen’s eyes narrow, but not so much that I don’t see the hurt that’s behind the anger. If it were anyone else talking to him this way, they’d be feeling his wrath right now, but he’s fighting to keep himself composed.
“It’s wonderful how Community Bean can be both financially successful and make such a difference for people in need,” I say. “The company’s growing at a steady pace, creating countless jobs, while also giving back. It’s really impressive, don’t you think?”
Mr. Bennett’s head swivels in my direction, and he arches a brow. I’m prepared for him to disagree with me, but he just makes a noncommittal sound. For Mrs. Bennett’s part, I’m glad she didn’t show up on a Bring Your Pet to Work Day, because she already looks like she smells something bad.
CHAPTER 45
JANSEN
I’m exhausted that night at dinner, and of course, Ana notices.
“Rough day?” Her eyes are soft as she covers my hand with hers and gives it a gentle squeeze.
“My parents are more tiring than a ten-mile hike.”
She smiles sympathetically at that and twines her fingers with mine. “I was surprised that you called me in to introduce me.”
It seemed like the right thing to do, and despite their limited role in my life, I still want them to meet people who are important to me. All I say to Ana is, “I just thought you should meet them.”
“They definitely help me understand you,” she says, and inwardly, I cringe.
Obviously, they’ve impacted me through both nature and nurture—or lack thereof—but I hope I’ll be a more tolerant parent than they are.
“Compared to the two of them, you’re a fuzzy ball of happiness,” she says, and I have to laugh, even if it’s a bitter sound. “Were they always so hard on you?”
Derek shoots me a supportive look; he’s heard all this before. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. My grades always had to be perfect. I was expected to excel at sports and hobbies. Nothing I did ever seemed good enough.”
“That’s so unfair, and I hate that they’re so disapproving of you, because you’ve accomplished amazing things. I meant what I said to them. You should be so proud—both of you.” She looks at both Derek and me as she talks. “Your business helps so many people—not just by providing employment, but also through the charities you support, and by helping to improve the lives of people growing coffee.”
I imagine my heart as a balloon, her words inflating it from a shriveled form into its proper shape. It could take flight with the way she makes me feel, and it’s something I’ve never experienced before—with anyone.
She’s so different from my family in all the best ways. She’s warm, open, caring, and infinitely supportive. She’s shelter from the real world—or rather, she is what’s real, and I want to make her my world.
CHAPTER 46
ANA
“Glad you could drag yourself out from under the covers and away from your undercover men to come and see us,” I tell Callie, our absentee roommate, as we sit down to share the chili and corn muffins Marissa and I prepared.
“From what Marissa tells me, you’re one to talk. Where have you been spending your nights?”
“I’ve been spending most of them here, but I have been having occasional sleepovers.”