Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Holland sucks in a lungful of air and lets it out with a nervous laugh. “Sorry. That was quite the info dump.”
“You hardly speak to me for a week and a half and now you say so many words, I don’t know where to start.”
I feel her rumbling laugh against my chest. “That felt good to let loose.” She sounds completely put out as she grumbles an admission that has me smiling. “You were always a good sounding board.”
I’m pleased that she still considers me someone she can talk to about matters that cause her uncertainty. She can vent all she wants that she no longer trusts me but the fact she’s letting me see her turmoil has me hoping there’s a softening of her hard shell.
“How much of this do you think stems from the betrayal your mom feels from your dad?”
“Because he left the shop to me?” she asks.
“Yeah. I mean… she did whatever he wanted. She was devoted to him, not you. You weren’t devoted to him and yet, he rewarded you with the printshop.”
Holland drums her fingertips on my stomach as she considers it. “He didn’t do it to snub or hurt her, I’m sure of it. I think he just knew what I’ve figured out… she just can’t do it. If anything, I bet he left it to me thinking I’d keep it going and support her with it.”
“You don’t owe her that,” I say, a little harsher than intended.
Holland lifts her head, turns it my way. Her eyes are clear, focused and determined. “I know that. But no matter how little she did for me, I can’t let her flounder. Luckily, he had a good life insurance policy and that went to her. The house is paid off and she gets that. She should be just fine, but what I haven’t discussed with her is that I don’t want a damn thing from him. So my choices are to sell it or give it over to her. I think it’s best if I sell it and give her the proceeds. Then I can go back to Zurich without any regrets, knowing I did everything I could to help her.”
I don’t like the talk about Holland returning to Zurich, but I put it aside. “What do you need to do in order to sell it?”
“I talked to a broker today and I’ve got to get the financial records in order and then do a business plan summary to show the income potential. The broker will find a buyer.”
I don’t press her on a time frame as it’s self-serving and she knows it. Instead, I ask, “What can I do to help?”
“Keep fishing with me,” she says, giving me a sly grin.
“Gladly,” I say, and she rests her head back on my chest. I move my hand to stroke her hair. “If you go back to Zurich, will you leave behind any other regrets?”
It’s a bold question, forcing a personal answer. “You know I won’t.”
That doesn’t deter me. “Want to know a regret I have?”
Holland sighs and lifts up off my body. I expect her to roll away to stop the conversation, but she presses her palm into the mattress to stare down at me. “I already know you regret the decision you made back then. You told me, you apologized and I forgave you.”
“You didn’t forgive me to the extent I need, otherwise you’d possibly be willing to give us another chance.”
“What’s the point?” she asks in exasperation. “I’m going back to Zurich. Your life is at Blackburn Farms.”
“Maybe I’ll go with you,” I say, taking stock of my sincerity, and yeah… I’d follow Holland if she’d have me.
“Don’t talk stupid,” she chastises with a glare.
I grin at her. “You want to know a regret I have?”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine.”
“I regret the lost time, because had I not made a very stupid choice back then, you and I would be married by now and we’d have children.”
Holland’s eyes sadden and she looks away. I knew that would hit deep because we talked about getting married after she finished college, and I knew she wanted three kids—two girls and a boy.
“Don’t you think that maybe you and I were put on a path to reconnect?” I ask, wanting to press her while she’s vulnerable. “It’s serendipitous.”
She tucks her hair behind her ear, eyes sliding to me. “You really believe that?”
I take her hand in mine, relieved she doesn’t pull away. “I don’t believe fate killed your dad, lured you here and gave me an opportunity to pounce. But I do believe in the possibility of second chances and I believe people deserve them.”
I brace for the inevitable denial and condemnations that she can’t trust me, but instead she says, “Your sister gave Gabe a second chance.”