Page 44 of Love Is Brewing

“They are,” she said. “Room for lots more, but it takes time and I know that.”

“Glad to know you’re aware that things don’t just fall into your lap.”

She laughed. “I never thought that.”

“I know,” her father said. “Just making a statement. Tell me more about this guy you’ve been on a date or so with.”

“Figured Mom told you about that,” she said, rolling her eyes. Just like her father to wear her down to get to the root of his call.

“She doesn’t keep things from me. Especially when it's someone that your brother knows.”

“Mom told you all about Elias and his background?” she asked.

“She did. I know who his brother is. I know what he does for a living. Ben has some nice things to say about him.”

“About him or his beer?” she asked, joking.

“Both,” her father said. “And that is saying something for Ben.”

“It is,” she said. “What is it you want to know then?”

“How do you feel about him or what is going on?”

“We had a few dates. We are both very busy. You’re not normally this interested in my personal life. Why are you now?”

There was a pause on the other end and then her father said, “I think it has more to do with the fact you aren’t close by for me to see you daily. I have to go by how you sound more than what I can see.”

“Awwww, Dad. Do you miss me not being in the office daily?”

“I do,” her father said, “and I’m not afraid to admit that either.”

“I do miss you and Mom. Maybe not so much Matt.”

Her father laughed. “He’s a little lonely at times. I know he walks by your office and looks in, not used to it being empty.”

She smiled softly. “You mean you haven’t put another staff member in there? What, don’t you think I’m going to make it here?”

“I know you’re going to make it just fine, but you have to decide how long you’re staying. I also know my daughter personally and sometimes she has a hard time committing when she’s very uncomfortable about something.”

“We agreed on one to two years,” she said. “I can’t believe you’re going to keep my office empty that whole time when you can move another attorney in there. One you need to hire.”

“Maybe I’m holding out just waiting to see how you like it there,” her father said. “You know you can come back at any point.”

“Dad,” she said. “I appreciate it. And I’m trying not to be insulted that you think I can’t handle being about two hours away when I talk to you or Mom multiple times a week. For work and my personal life.”

“Don’t be insulted. You are still my baby, my only daughter.”

And she’d always been a Daddy’s girl too.

“I am those things,” she said. “But I’m almost too busy to miss anything that deeply. I enjoy being in charge too.”

Her father laughed. “That’s more like it. And now you’ve got the potential of a guy in your life so that makes staying there even more attractive.”

“I suppose when you put it that way,” she said. “Yes, it does.”

Phoebe hadn’t thought about returning home once since she’d been here. Which wasn’t long.

She wasn’t the type to throw the towel in quickly, or at all. Least of all in her career.

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