Page 118 of Take This Heart
“She told you about him?” His eyes widen and then he smiles and pats my back. “She trusts you more than you think.”
“I hope so. I know some things are stacked against me—that I’m a Granger being high on the con list and especially that I didn’t own up to it right away—but I care about her, Everett. I care about her a lot.”
“I know you do. She’ll come around. Don’t give up on her. She cares about you too. I can tell by the way she looks at you.”
“Yeah?” I say, smiling.
“And I can tell you’re in love with her…”
“Iam,” I say in wonder.
“Was there any doubt?”
“Well, no. I-I can’t really say I’ve been in love before, but yes…I loveher. I really do.”
“I mean, you shaved your head for her!”
“That was to support you!” I argue, but I’m laughing.
“Mm-hmm. And bluebirds are pink.”
I snort and he squeezes my shoulder.
“You haven’t been to your office lately. Are you sure you don’t need to make a visit home to see what’s going on there?”
“I take it you think I should?”
“Absolutely.” He leans closer. “Goldie’s not so much a roses kind of girl. She appreciates quality time. When she was little, she’d start acting out sometimes if she didn’t get some one-on-one time with me or her mom. It didn’t take much—maybe a walk, just the two of us, or a trip to Taco Bell, and then she’d be back, right as rain.”
“You, my friend, are brilliant. Thank you.” I hug him and head to the door.
“What did I do?” he calls.
“Just gave me a great idea on how to win your daughter back.”
“I’ll text you the Summit house address.” He winks.
As soon as I wrap up a few things at Windhaven, I drive to Minneapolis. Once I’m in my penthouse, I make a few calls, and last but not least, I text Goldie.
Do me a favor?
Goldie
Depends on what it is.
Meet me at the Walker tomorrow night at 7.
It takes a few minutes for her to respond, and then it comes and I grin. It sounds like my girl is back.
Goldie
What are you up to, Lombardi?
Hopefully something that will show you how much I love you.
I hope you’ll come tomorrow night and find out.
And then I turn on some music and get to work.
