scuba diving, or skydiving. She yearns to help others whenever she can.
She’s perfect in so many ways, yet still stubborn at times, and elusive whenever faced with her past. I sigh. If only she were willing to share that part she’s hiding. Together we could fight against whatever is creating so much pain inside her.
“I’m not afraid of anything, Mom,” I finally answer.
“You’re afraid that you’re not meeting your father’s expectations,” she says as her voice trembles. “You’re afraid that Abigail won’t love you the way you love her.”
“Mom,” I mumble.
“William spent all his life building that company. I felt so lonely that I decided to foster children because we didn’t have enough money or time to have children of our own,” she pauses, but I hear a sob on the end of the line. “He lived for the company—not for us, or even himself.”
What is she talking about?
“For years I felt alone,” she continues. “You were a godsend, and Sterling is my little miracle. You can’t live your entire life trying to please someone who didn’t even know how to live fully when he was alive. I loved him with all my heart, but I hope that you stop following in his footsteps.”
I’m speechless at the revelation. He was an extraordinary man, a visionary, and an icon. He was a good father, but it was Mom who attended our baseball practices. She’s the one who cheered for us during football games and made sure we practiced our music lessons every single day. Mom never missed an event, a graduation, or a recital. Dad had too much to do at work to spend any time with us.
I hear a roaring in my ears, making me lose track of what she’s saying. My chest squeezes when I remember our last conversation. He was angry and disappointed in me. I had told him that his company wasn’t my dream nor what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. He built something from scratch and wanted his ungrateful sons to continue his legacy.
My palm stings from digging my fingernails into it. I’m angry at myself, at him. Fuck, I only want to make him happy, and I will never know if what I do is enough to make up for the last days of his life—the fights and trying to quit Ahern Inc.
“If Abby doesn’t love you, make her fall in love with you,” Mom’s voice is loud and clear, yet it doesn’t make sense.
“You say that as if it’s possible.”
“It’s that simple, darling boy.”
Nothing is simple. I take a deep breath before knocking on Abby’s door. Mom’s words continue to ring in my head.
Make her fall in love with you.
“Hey,” she opens the door slightly, staring at the rose I’m holding.
“Are you on your way out?” She switches her gaze from the flower to my face several times. “I thought you texted me inviting me to dinner.”
“Dinner is ready,” I announce, grabbing her hand and kissing it.
“What’s going on, Wes?” She eyes me suspiciously.
I hand her the rose and pull out the blindfold I have in my pocket. “Do you trust me?”
She nods and closes her eyes.
“Hold onto my hand and walk with me,” I whisper in her ear, kissing the back of it.
She shudders and sighs. I’ve got no idea how to gauge her reaction. I should’ve started with something simpler—a simple date, like a movie and some pizza. We walk toward my place, and I direct her as we go up the stairs and out onto the terrace.
“This is exciting. It reminds me of the last time you took me bungee jumping,” she says with a laugh. “I feel like we’re back in China and Sterling is begging for his mommy.”
“He’s such a baby,” I say as I take off the blindfold, kissing her bare shoulder.
“This is so much better than Macau.” Abby smiles at the table but then frowns and looks at me. “But as lovely as it is, I’d prefer to eat in the kitchen.”
“Why?”
“Maybe you don’t see it, Wes, but this—” she points at the table. “—is a romantic gesture. A dinner for someone you’re dating. Not for—”
“Not for a woman who I’m hoping will give me a chance to show her that I like her more than as a friend?”
Her eyes open wide, her lips part, and I’m almost sure she’s holding her breath.
“Look, maybe this is too straight forward, but constantly keeping in how I truly feel about you is hard. Too