Page 64 of Lavender Lake
“What’s going on?” he asked. “And what the fuck is that God awful smell?”
“I guess you haven’t talked to your fiancé,” I said with a laugh. I got up from my seat and headed to the porch. “Bowman can give you a rundown.”
“Where are you going?” Declan asked.
“I need to make a call,” I said.
“I’m gonna head back to the hospital,” he said.
“Don’t forget the yarn,” I reminded him. “And some of the food in the fridge.”
“Thanks for the reminder.”
I headed up the stairs to my bedroom and closed the door. And then I pulled out my phone to call my boss.
“Salem,” he greeted. “How are you?”
“I’m hanging in there,” I said honestly. “Dad made it through surgery, but we won’t know more for a few days. If all goes well, they’ll try to wake him up.”
“What do you need?” he asked.
Jack was ten years older than my father, with salt and pepper hair, and he’d taken me under his wing when I’d started working at Beckett & Bastion.
We had an honest relationship that most people didn’t have with their bosses. I liked and respected him, so I had no qualms about being forthcoming.
“I don’t know how this is going to go,” I admitted. “I mean, when they wake him up. There might be . . . mental deficiencies.”
It was the first time I’d said it out loud. Neither Muddy nor Hadley had even talked about it. Maybe they couldn’t, but we had to be realistic. There was a chance he wouldn’t even wake up, but that was too much, even for me to consider.
“There might be,” Jack said slowly. “But he’s healthy. There’s a good chance that he wakes up without any issues.”
I sighed. “Either way, I don’t—I can’t say what the future is going to look like.”
“You don’t have to know. Take as much time as you need, Salem.”
“Thanks. You don’t know what that means. But . . . Rudolph Lancaster. They’re not going to wait forever. Not after their botched marketing campaign. They’re chomping at the bit and I don’t think they’re going to want to wait on me.”
Things moved fast in New York. If you didn’t jump on opportunity, there were ten people behind you ready to take your spot, and all ten of them were fighting to be the best in their field.
That had been me. Ready to prove myself. Determined to succeed and clawing my way to the top.
But now . . . none of it seemed to matter. Not with Dad in the hospital.
“I’ll talk to them,” Jack offered.
“I’d appreciate that. I don’t have the bandwidth to be diplomatic or placate anyone right now.”
“Understandable, considering the situation.” He paused. “I was going to tell them you had a family emergency and you’re unavailable for the time being. Is that okay?”
“Tell them the whole story,” I said. “They seem to appreciate authenticity.”
“It’s your family business. You sure you want that out there?”
I shrugged even though he couldn’t see me. “It is what it is, Jack. I’d rather they know everything, and then they can decide what to do.”
“Your call. I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
