Page 45 of A Family Affair: The Plan
“You’re leaving already? When?”
There was no denying the concern or the emotion in his voice. “A few days.”
“Can’t you stay a little longer?” He cleared his throat. “Can’t youtryone more time?”
“If I thought there was even a tiny chance that Sam would reconsider things between us, I would wait for him, and I’ve never waited for anyone in my life.” She stared at a Gerbera daisy, homed in on the yellow center. “But waiting isn’t going to change anything, and it’s time for me to leave. Things might not have worked out the way I’d hoped, but I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I finally realize who I am and what I will and won’t accept…” The yellow center of the Gerbera daisy turned brighter. “One day I’ll find where I belong…”
“What about your job?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet, at least not one hundred percent. I resigned, but Martin can be quite persistent. He’s asked me to stay on as a consultant, told me I could do it anywhere…in the mountains…at the ocean…” She forced a laugh and tried to pretend nonchalance. “Who knows where I’ll end up?”
“Joyce and I hoped it would be in Magdalena.”
A surge of regret and pain shot through her, but she would not give in to it. “I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.”
“You deserve someone who appreciates how special you are. I’m just sorry my son wasn’t that person.”
Sam had been aboutto take his afternoon break, when the front desk buzzed him. “Dr. Harrington, there’s a gentleman to see you. He said it’s urgent.”
“Who is it? And what’s going on?”
Pause and a hesitant, “His name is Martin Southerfield. He said it has to do with the project Hope Newland was working on.”
The way she stumbled over Hope’s name said she knew all about Hope, including the fact that they were no longer seeing each other. Why would Hope’s boss be here and what could he possibly have to say? No idea, but Sam had a few things to say to him, beginning and ending withHow dare you try to destroy our town.“Show him in.”
Sam dragged a hand through his hair, blew out a sigh. Why couldn’t everyone just leave him alone? All he wanted to do was concentrate on expanding the practice, making sure his dad was okay and not too stressed, and renovating the farmhouse… And working on the plans for future add-ons such as a pet sanctuary, a rehab and therapy center, more outbuildings, and whatever else made sense down the road. He did not want to talk aboutheror how sorry she was or how he had to forgive her for what might have been or?—
The door to his office opened and a middle-aged man entered. Medium build, gray hair, glasses, expensive suit. “Hello, Sam. Martin Southerfield. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Sam stood because politeness dictated he do so, but he did not extend a hand. “And I’ve heard about you.” He gestured to the seat on the opposite side of his desk. “Have a seat.” Sam eased into his own chair, placed both hands on the desk, andstared at the man. “I’m not sure why you’ve come, unless it’s to offer an apology for causing my dad undo stress—the kind that landed him in the hospital.”
An expression of what looked like pain crossed the man’s face, and when he spoke there was regret in his voice. “I’m very sorry about your father. I never intended to cause anyone harm.”
“No one everintendsto cause harm, but it happens anyway, doesn’t it?” Hope hadn’t intended to cause him harm, and yet she’d gouged his soul and ripped it to shreds in a way no woman had ever done before, not even his ex-wife.
“I deserved that. I’m truly sorry for all that’s happened and I want to give you my personal assurances that we won’t touch this town in any way—not the bed-and-breakfast, not your father’s place, not one thing.” He cleared his throat, continued, “Magdalena is special, and should be honored, duplicated, if possible, but never infringed upon by anyone or anything that would change it.”
“Thank you, however, it wasn’t necessary to make a trip to relay the message. A phone call would have sufficed.”
“Itwasnecessary. I owed that much to you and your family—” he paused, his blue eyes turning bright behind his glasses “—and I also owed it to Hope. I’m not sure if you know or not, but she resigned. I couldn’t talk her out of it, and if I had to lose her, I wanted to see the town and the man I lost her to…”
Sam tried to ignore the ache in his chest, kept his gaze fixed on Martin’s, and spit out the truth. “I’m not part of that equation. If she resigned, it has nothing to do with me.”
“You’re quite wrong about that.You’rethe reason she left, I’m sure of it, even though she would never admit it. This town is equally responsible, though she may never tell me that.” His voice turned hoarse, cracked. “Hope’s like a daughter to me, and I always looked out for her… Until this time. She begged me to stop pushing, and she was shocked when I told her I planned toconsider Kent’s proposal regarding the Heart Sent. I don’t know why I did it, and I wish I hadn’t.” He shook his head, rubbed his right temple. “Kent is my nephew, and he can be very persuasive, but he loses sight of what’s important, and his values are sometimes skewed. I should have seen that…should have taken the time… I should have trusted Hope, and I didn’t. That error in judgment might have cost me our relationship.”
Hope had told him how much Martin meant to her and it was obvious he cared about her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
A tiny nod, a frown, and then, “She was excellent at her job, and I thought that’s what she wanted. I guess I thought maybe that wasallshe wanted after she broke things off with my nephew. It wasn’t her fault. It was his and—” another head shake, more frowning “—he stole her ability to trust and I didn’t know when or if she’d ever open up again. And then she started talking about you. I heard it in her voice, in the words she spoke, even though she never straight-up admitted to having feelings for you. It was there, pulsing between us. I should have realized she was not going to stay with the company and live that life… Should have seen she wanted to be here with you, helping build your practice and sharing in your dream, because the more she talked about what you planned to do… I could see she wanted that dream, too.”
Martin cleared his throat, but his voice still spilled a ton of regret. “I hurt her and I hurt you, and I cannot be responsible for destroying your chance to be together. You see, from where I’m sitting you two love each other but you’re not sure if you can ever trust her again or if you want to… You should. She’s a good person. She loves you and has given you her heart and Hope has never really done that before.”
Hope loved him? Sam stared at the man, tried to keep his emotions inside. She wanted a life with him? Wanted to sharehis dreams because they had becomeherdreams? “And how do you know all of this? Did she tell you?”
“No, she hasn’t spoken to me since she resigned, but as I told you, she’s like a daughter to me, and a father always knows. Please, go to her if you think there’s even a chance you still love her and want a life with her. She’ll shut down and then you’ll never reach her again. Don’t let that happen.”
Martin Southerfield wasn’t the only person who had an opinion regarding Sam and Hope, one that included forgiveness and meant-to-be. Later that week, Sam was making notes for the pet sanctuary project and enjoying a turkey Reuben smothered with sauerkraut and thousand island dressing when Lily Desantro made her way to the back of Lina’s Café and set a grocery bag on the table. “Hi, Sam. How are you?”
“Hey, Lily, what are you up to these days?” He smiled at her, pointed to the seat across from him. “Care to join me? The fries are extra crispy today.” Lily had selected a few favorite customers to chat with and often wriggled a meal from them. Of course, she always offered to pay, but who was going to let her do that? She was one clever girl. And?—
