Page 80 of Finding You
The judge enthusiastically shook my hand as Astrid explained to me, “Declan, I clerked for Judge Forsythe for a year after law school.”
“Astrid, I’m thrilled you finally found someone who can keep up with you,” he said, smiling at her.
I laughed. “I try, sir, but I’m only human.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “I like this one.”
I left Astrid dancing with the judge and headed toward the bar, feeling pretty good.
As I grabbed my drink, I felt the air around me change. I turned and found Justice Wentworth standing next to me. That woman moved like a ninja.
“So are you and my daughter serious?”
I was unnerved by her presence. “Yes ma’am,” I replied, taking a sip of whiskey.
“And how did you meet?” Her tone was not the least bit friendly. I could only imagine how terrifying she was in a courtroom.
“In Havenport. She is my neighbor.”
“I see.” She paused, studying my face. “And what do you do for work, Mr. Quinn?”
“I’m a fisherman. I joined the family business after serving in the navy.”
She nodded and gestured to the ballroom. “You see, Mr. Quinn, this is our world. My daughter was born into it, and this is where she belongs.”
I stood, sipping my drink, trying not to react to whatever she was trying to do.
“Her brilliance, her talents, they are appreciated here. She is not normal. She is not regular.”
“I agree with you there. She is exceptional.”
“Exactly. That’s why she will not be happy in your seaside town doing whatever it is you people do there. She has an incredible mind that needs to be challenged.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that. Astrid was brilliant, that was abundantly clear, but I didn’t like the way she was disparaging my hometown, like it was some backwater filled with hicks.
“I admit you are very handsome, so I can see the appeal. But this is just a fling. She had to get this out of her system before buckling down and getting serious. This relationship cannot progress any further. You will bore her, and she will resent you.”
I was struck by her casual cruelty. There were so many things to get angry about. But this woman would never see someone like me. She would never hear someone like me. My heart sank into my Italian leather shoes.
I stood up straight and looked her in the eye. “Thank you for your input. But I love your daughter.”
“Then this will be even worse than I thought,” she complained, draining the rest of her martini. She placed it on top of the wooden bar and took a deep breath.
“Let me tell you something about my daughter. She is a shark. She gets bored easily and needs constant challenge. She is not content; she is not grateful. She doesn’t want to sit with a mug of tea and a good book. She needs to be accomplishing things. Moving forward, achieving her goals. It’s just the way she is.”
I sipped my whiskey, sad that Astrid had this total cow for a mother. She didn’t understand one single thing about her daughter and truly had no clue. If anything, I felt bad for her. How could anyone be so self-centered and blinded by their wealth and privilege?
“I know she’s had her issues and I thank you. Whatever you have been doing has worked. She looks sharper and more alive than I’ve seen her in years. I know that she is rested and ready for whatever challenges lie ahead. But it may be time for you to exit.” As much as I hated her and knew that she was wrong about Astrid and about me, I could recognize a kernel of truth in her words. How many times had I suspected that Astrid would get bored with me? How many times had she made it abundantly clear that she couldn’t wait to get out of Havenport and back to her legal career?
Before I could recover from the sting of that statement, Astrid was making her way over to me, smiling broadly. “Declan, please come dance with me,” she begged. I looked at her beautiful face and couldn’t say no, even though I wanted to throw up.
31
ASTRID
So far thisnight was shaping up to be better than expected. First, Declan rocked my world up in the hotel room. And I mean Rocked. My. World. It was like he knew exactly what to do to get me out of my head for a little while so I could face this night head-on.
That was one of his strengths, helping me get out of my own head for a bit. He could tell when I was about to bubble over and knew just how to release the pressure. And he had found multiple ways to do it.
