Page 80 of Visions of You

Dad’s words came out in a rush. “I’m hoping you can refinance it in your name. Use the profits you were talking about to make the loan payments. I’ll trade my shares with yours, so you’ll become the fifty-one percent majority shareholder.”

Hailey’s face flashed in my mind. There was no way I was taking on two million dollars in debt and risking her future like that. “Dad, I can’t take out a loan like that. I’ll never sleep again.”

“I know—you hate debt. You always have. Could you pay off the loan outright?”

I stared at the Glenlivet and set the glass down with a thump. “I don’t have two million dollars just sitting around.”

Dad’s voice was hollow, forlorn. “Gabe, if we don’t find a way to pay that balloon off, the bank will foreclose on the entire island.”

A wracking shiver took over my body as the consequences flashed in my brain, and I picked up my glass again. I knew what would happen, which was why I despised balloon loans so much. They were designed to be difficult to pay off. After foreclosing, the bank would put Calypso Key—all of it—up for auction. Some sleazy developer would buy it, raze everything, and build shitty condos to sell for top dollar. All this history—wiped out. We’d become homeless. All our employees would lose their jobs.

My breath froze in my lungs, and I dropped the glass. It tipped back and forth on the blotter but settled upright. I hardly noticed.

April would lose her job.

Nausea roiled my stomach as I sat forward and buried my hands in my hair. A deep groan issued from my chest.

I would lose April.

Forever.

She could get another job anywhere. Shewouldget another job anywhere.

A yawning hole opened inside my chest as a succession of memories flashed through my mind. Of interactions April and I had had since she’d arrived. How could I not have seen it? Everything I’d done since moving back here had been to make sure April stayed. At first it had been to cut finances as well, but I didn’t have to keep driving the boat now.

I wanted to. So I could work side by side with her.

I tried to imagine life without her, the board game and bedtime story flashing through my mind. I couldn’t do it, and the wound gaped open more.

I couldn’t let this happen.

“I’m so sorry, Gabe. I know you don’t deserve this.” Dad’s face was ashen. He looked ten years older than when he’d entered the room mere minutes ago.

“Neither do you, Dad.” My voice came out quiet and shaky.

“Is there anything you can do?”

Slowly sitting upright, I drummed my fingers on the desk. The lassitude filling my body drained away, replaced with resolute purpose. I knew exactly what I had to do. “Yeah. There is.” I looked at him. “I need to go to Miami. I may need to stay a couple nights, so can you and Nona watch Hailey while I’m gone?”

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

Whatever I need… I need April.

Even if she didn’t need me.

That was the other thing that was now obvious—that I’d avoided seeing. Every time we were together, I did everything possible to be different than those bastards she had dated. To show her I was faithful, caring.

That I’d be there when she needed me.

April might not want more from me, but I had just been hit fullforce with the fact that I couldn’t say the same anymore. And I’d been blind and in denial that I’d felt this way for a while.

Even if she refused me, I had to try.

I had to find a way to show her I was different.

I turned to Dad. “Thanks. I need to drive to Miami. I’ll set up a meeting with Jake on the way. Don’t worry, Dad—we’ll figure this out. Calypso Key’s been part of the Markham family for 150 years. There’s no way in hell that’s changing now.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

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