Page 48 of The Gathered Fragments of Us
I climbed the stairs, already planning my approach with Brad. A little wine on my breath, an apology for being distracted, maybe some pointed attention. Men were so predictable.
But as I reached the top of the stairs, I could hear Brad on the phone in our bedroom, his voice muffled but clearly agitated. I paused outside the door, listening.
"—told you, the timeline moved up. We need those permits approved by Friday or the whole deal falls through."
Work call. Perfect. That would put him in a mood, but it also meant he'd be distracted from tonight's dinner drama. I could work with that.
I pushed the door open, giving him an apologetic smile as I mouthed "sorry" and pointed toward the bathroom. I kissed his cheek and left my wine in front of him, my hands still a little unsteady. He nodded curtly, taking the glass for a sip, he remained focused on his conversation.
In the bathroom, I took my time with my cellular rejuvenation routine, letting the familiar ritual calm my thoughts. La Prairie— Platinum Rare. Obscenely expensive, yes—but absolutely worth it. Sleek with a soft scent and clinical, the texture a whisper against my skin. I’d once read about how the formula was designed to restore what age and stress tried to steal. Going through my routine, I also felt shaking ease in my hands.
Good. Let it restore everything.
I dabbed the serum beneath my eyes, smoothing it upward. Felicity could keep her coffee dates and her soft laugh and her stories about books Macy “just had to read.” She could keep that garden and her sad little kitchen and her whole pretending-to-be-warm routine.
But she couldn’t keep my daughter.
And she wouldn’t win.
By the time I emerged from the bathroom, Brad had finished his call and was sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through his tablet.
"Sorry about tonight," I said, moving to sit beside him. "Macy's been testing boundaries lately, and I thought it was important to address it right away."
He looked up from his screen. "What kind of boundaries?"
"Sneaking around, not following rules when we're out. You know how eleven-year-olds can be." I leaned against his shoulder. "I just don't want it to escalate."
"Makes sense." His voice had softened. "How'd it go?"
"Good, I think. We had a productive conversation about respect and consequences. I think she understands now."
Brad nodded, setting his tablet aside. "That's important."
"Exactly." I kissed his cheek. Climbed astride his lap. A good distraction may be just what's needed. "How was your call? You sounded stressed," I asked, kissing along his neck.
"City's dragging their feet on a major project. But we'll figure it out." He pulled me close. "I'm sorry I was short with you at dinner. I know you have a lot on your hands."
His hands tightened on my hips. “Speaking of which—did you hear back from your broker friend about that loan? The bridge financing I mentioned?”
My stomach clenched. “Still working on it.”
“Jess, we’re cutting this close. If the permits don’t come through by Friday, and we don’t have the capital to carry us through the delay...” He sighed, pulling away a bit. “We could lose everything we’ve put into this.”
“I know. I’m handling it.”
“How much more time do you need?” The question hung in the air like smoke.
“Not much. I should have an answer this week.”
He kissed my forehead, but I could feel the tension in his body. “Good. I know you know what you're doing."
Chapter 21: Is This for Me?
~Felicity~
I woke, looking around the guest room—it felt foreign still. I missed my room. I missed Caden—if I was being honest.
The rain was pelting the windows. Great. It's going to be a shit day. It rained every day in Miami, but it was never a dull rain—not like in New England. I heard Caden moving around downstairs. I wanted to run down and talk to him—something held me back though—probably how effing early it was. Why was he out and about already?
