Page 142 of All We Need

His eyes narrow before he huffs a breath. “Okay.”Thenhe triggers a stampede in my chest with his next words. “I’mproud of you,Silv.Reallyfucking proud of you.”

Oh, stop that,Ichastise my rampant heart.

Beeping his horn obnoxiously,Iwave at him as he drives away.

Without him, the rest of the morning drags into early afternoon.

I’m scanning through the performance reports of a potential investment when my ringtone blares through the office.I’vekept it facedown on the desk all day.

It rings three times beforeIsuck in a breath and answer.

“Hey,Martin.”Myvoice wobbles, but mentally,I’mpoised for whatever’s coming.Myskin is thick, toughened from past disappointment.Theworst is thatHarveydoesn’t want to know me.No.That’sthe second.Himnot givingMartina chance might strike me harder.

“Alessandra, hi.”Histone gives nothing away.

“How did it go?”Mylaptop snaps shut andIpush back from the desk to pace the room.

Years and years of regret and self-resentment are felt through the phone when he sighs heavily. “Helistened.”

My lip trembles at the joy in his words.

“And?”

“He stayed.Wespoke.Itgot emotional at times.It’snot all water under the bridge, butI’mjust grateful he stayed and listened…”Hepauses. “He’sstill here.”

I cup a hand over my mouth. “That’swonderful.God, that’s just so wonderful,Martin.”

“He andSandra—that’s his wife—are staying for lunch.”

I suddenly don’t want to make this about me.Martin’slost so much, and after just hours with his estranged son, there’s a lightness to his voice.Idon’t want to taint it with the question screaming to be asked.Itrattles against my skull.Fistsbanging so loudly, it drowns everything out.

Blood roars in my ears and my knuckles crack asIgrip my phone. “Did…”

The words get caught in my throat.

Martin’s intuition shines through.

“I told him about you.”Itsounds like he’s smiling. “He’dreally like to meet you,Aly.Maybeyou could join us for lunch?”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

booth

“Roy,you’ve saved the day once again, my fine fellow.”

My upbeat tone is lost on the red-faced, surly man snarling at me.Ifyou didn’t know him, you’d think he was about to swing at you with one of his meaty fists, but this frown is his happy one.

“Get gone,Sadler.You’retoo cheerful,” he grumbles and reties his white butcher’s apron.

“All from seeing your handsome face.”Igive him a two-finger salute. “Thanksfor sorting everything out so quickly.Catchyou next time.”

Roy has been providing fresh, high-quality meat to the restaurant sinceIwas a kid.Notone to mince his words, he gruffly explained over the phone that the sirloin steaks due for delivery tomorrow were contaminated.Hesuggested it was easier ifIcame in person to resolve the problem—probably because of his aversion to technology.

I was ready to deliver every excuse under the sun to not come out here, butAlywas adamant.Mygirl was holding strong, butIwanted to be on hand should she need anything.Ajoke.Ahug.Akiss.I’dgive her the world if it put her atease untilMartintouched base.Sofar, she hasn’t texted or called.

Waving in his direction,Ihead toward my truck at the back exit of the butcher house.Thebuilding is large, covered in corrugated steel, an hour away from town.It’sonly whenIstep outside that the incessant beeping coming from my pocket reminds me what shitty cell service it has.

AndI’vebeen here for almost two hours.

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