Page 67 of Crumbling Truth
The truth doesn’t always set you free.
With a history like that, one thing was certain—I could never, ever expect him to stay here.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Theo
LettingEstherintomysordid past hadn’t been on my radar, not after the drama she’d endured, but once it was done—and when she didn’t recoil from me in horror—it felt like the heavy burden of carrying that around had been lightened.
The doorbell cameras, motion lights, and two security cameras pointing toward the driveway and backyard helped, too.
Though I offered my sidekick assistance for her upcoming orders, I really just ended up keeping her company while she worked. Occasionally, while waiting for the timer to go off, she’d move past me and brush her fingertips along my jaw, a silent show of support and affection.
When that finally boosted my mood enough to recover from explaining my past, I tugged her into my arms and slow-danced around the kitchen to the continuous Christmas music she liked to play.
With her,everythingfelt lighter.
Still, there were times when I knew she needed space, so as the week crept by, I retreated to my parents’ house and inventedthings to do. I built a shelf for the garage out of planks I found in the basement, read through a couple books I found on the side table in the family room, and sketched out some landscape designs I’d been thinking about.
Through it all, I tried to figure out what would need to happen if I decided to move back to Spruce Hill.
It still felt like a nebulous prospect. However amazing things were with Esther, I knew better than to assume she wanted something long-term. There were times when she still seemed almost skittish, like she was in too deep already and starting to flounder as she tried to recover her footing.
I wasn’t sure how to bring up the possibility of something more without scaring her off.
By the time the week ended, leaving another crazy few days of preparations for the next food truck booking at the Carolcade, our little bubble burst on its own. We’d just finished cleaning up after dinner when my phone started ringing from the kitchen counter. I’d updated my parents on the bare minimum of what had happened, mostly because they’d find out about the cameras as soon as they returned, but I thought I’d convinced them it was nothing to worry about.
Frowning, I grabbed the phone. Billy’s name flashed across the screen, igniting a sick sort of dread in my gut. I shot Esther an apologetic smile and said, “It’s my business partner, I need to take this.”
She waved me off as she disappeared into the family room, probably to curl up on the couch where we planned to watch a movie. Hopefully Billy’s curt, concise manner would keep the phone call short.
“Billy boy, what’s happening?”
“Hey, boss,” he began. Given that we were equal partners, he only called me that when he knew I wouldn’t like what he wasgoing to say. My stomach clenched as he continued, “We have a situation down here.”
I rubbed at my forehead, leaning back against the kitchen counter. “Tell me.”
“Remember that zillionaire, Orlando Wylie? Guy’s got a mansion that rivals the Biltmore and gardens to match.”
“I remember,” I said slowly. “He hired Brooks to redo the gardens, didn’t he?”
Billy gave a low hum, then said, “Brooks just shattered his hip falling off a ladder. Out of commission for months, and his partner retired last year to move to Mexico. Guess his team can’t manage without him and tried to push off the job until summer, so Wylie fired them on the spot for breach of contract. He wants us to take the job.”
“Shit,” I breathed. That job was not only a goldmine, but an absolute dream for a landscape architect. “We’d have to do a little shuffling with other jobs, maybe hire a few more guys.”
“Yeah. Problem is that Wylie wants us both there to meet with him before he’ll sign a contract, and he wants the meeting to happen this week. Apparently zillionaires are used to getting what they want.”
Shit.I could drive down and back, which would mean at least three full days away from Esther, if not more. I knew she didn’t need my help with the baking—hell, she didn’t really need my help on the truck, either, but given the potential threat inherent in what had been happening, I didn’t want to leave her alone at a crowded event.
“Okay. I’m going to check out flights. See if he can fit us in for Wednesday, maybe. Keep me posted,” I said, blowing out a breath.
Billy agreed and ended the call, leaving me staring blindly down at the phone. This was a huge opportunity for our company, for me, but I felt curiously blank. I forced my brainback into action, pulling up an airline site to see if I could get down there and back without spending a small fortune two weeks before Christmas.
Esther was curled up in her favorite spot on the couch when I walked in a few minutes later. She gave me a soft smile and asked, “Trouble on the homefront?”
I laughed, sat down with my back against the arm of the couch, and tugged her until she sprawled along the length of my body. Once she’d settled comfortably against me, I stroked my hand along her spine.
“I have to go home for a couple days to meet with a client. There are some direct flights, I’m just waiting for Billy to set up the meeting before I pull the trigger on booking. I’ll fly back right after, so I’ll be back before the Carolcade.”
