Page 19 of Take This Heart
He looks up, eyes sharp despite the weariness dragging his face down.
“Count me in. For all of it. Whatever you need. With the property. With your plans. I want to help as much as you want.”
His face breaks out into a huge smile. “Thank you, Milo. It’s great to have you officially onboard.”
I have no idea how I’m going to clear this up with Bruce, but I meet Everett’s gaze and say the one thing I know is true.
“You believe in this place and I believe in you.”
He claps his hand on my shoulder. “All right then. I believe in you too. Have from day one.”
Later, after the house is quiet, I can’t sleep. I sit on the deck with my laptop open, light from the screen making me squint. I go back through all the emails from Bruce. There’s nothing in there about this particular piece of property, so that must be a relatively new development. I just hope and pray that Everett gets this land, not Bruce. If Goldie thought I was an opportunist out to squash history with the new and flashy, she’ll really despise my uncle’s vision. He’ll have goldstatues leading to the golden brick path to a massive resort if he gets his hands on it.
A crack of light shines across the deck, and I hear the door shut.
Goldie pads out, barefoot in leggings and a hoodie. Her hair’s loose, haloed by the moonlight. She curls into the chair next to me without speaking.
We sit in silence for a long time, the waves lapping against the rocks.
Finally, she says, “Thank you.”
I look at her, startled. “For what?”
Her smile is small and sad. “For being here. I know my dad must really like you for him to invite you here this weekend while the rest of us are here. It says a lot that he wants you around. He doesn’t allow just anyone in…”
I swallow hard, feeling like there’s a stone in my chest.
“He’s a good man,” I say.
“The best.”
“The best,” I echo.
I ache to reach out and touch her, reassure her, but I fight it. We sit there for a long time, watching the stars burn holes in the sky.
“Couldn’t sleep?” I finally ask.
She startles slightly. “Too much on my mind.”
“You don’t have to carry it all alone, you know,” I say.
She turns to look at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight. “Maybe you’re not so bad. Dare I hope that you’re going to stop this foolishness about Spoonbridge and Cherry?”
“Oh, my plans haven’t changed, but we don’t need to worry about that tonight.”
“What a disappointment.” Her eyes flash and she gets up and walks away.
Dammit, why does this woman get to me?
CHAPTER SEVEN
IT’S BEEN A WEEK
GOLDIE
When I wake up the next morning, Milo is gone.Good riddance.I’m happy to not see that arrogant, history-destroying man.
On the drive home Sunday night, my eyes won’t stop leaking. They haven’t all weekend. Cancer. And I know it’s the least of things to be worried about, but my dad’s beautiful, thick, white hair is one of his most striking features.
