Batter of Wits (Green Valley Chronicles #22) - Smartypants Romance Page 0,86
was almost as if I needed the surprise of someone I didn't know very well to put things into perspective. Grace at the fairgrounds propelling me to break up with Magnolia, Grady uprooting his life to start a passion project from scratch, Maxine Barton forcing me to look at bravery and honesty in a different way.
Honesty would come. Maxine was right, it was too big a risk to not tell her the truth. But I couldn’t do anything about it until Grace and I were together later. I wouldn’t have this conversation with her unless I could look her in the eye, explain J.T. to her. Explain my relationship with Maggie in a way that I never had before.
But for right now, I could talk to my parents.
It might not seem brave to some people, to quit a job they didn't love, but it was for me.
As I got in my truck and started back into town, I thought about calling Grace and telling her that I was going to go talk to my dad, but I knew she was helping Grady hammer out some details of his business plan before he went to the bank for a loan.
The drive went quickly, probably because I was practicing what I would say and how I would say it.
Dad, I've got an idea that can help both of us out.
No, not firm enough. This was past the idea stage. I'd been ruminating on this for years, it went far past an idea.
This happened because of me, and the way to fix this is remove me from the equation. Also, I detest this job.
I sighed. The words would come, whether they were perfectly phrased or not was a different matter.
My parents would be fine. So would the law firm. Maybe a new partner wouldn't have the same last name, but it would continue on just fine with or without me.
The parking spots in front of the building were empty when I pulled my truck in, and I jogged up the cement sidewalk, stopping to pluck a weed from one of the cracks. The bell over the door jangled as I entered, the same sound I'd heard my entire life.
"How was your meeting?" Mom asked, and I stopped short when I noticed Dad was leaning against the corner of her desk.
"Fine." I shoved my hands into my pockets and rocked on my heels. "Dad, can I talk to you for a couple of minutes?"
He glanced at my mom and patted her hand. "Actually, son, I was hoping to ask you the same question."
"Do you want to go in your office?" I asked him.
"No need." He gestured behind me. "Why don't you flip the sign to closed though. I think we could do with some privacy."
My mom smiled encouragingly, but my stomach bottomed out with nerves as I did what he'd asked.
"Your mother and I sat down with our financial planner last night, and we came up with a solution."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about too," I told them.
"We never wanted you to have to worry about your future," my mom said. "That's why your father always worked so hard, and his daddy did the same."
I rubbed the side of my face and felt a small twinge of guilt. "I know. You both worked hard, Mom."
"Oh," she clucked her tongue, "I just answer phones and keep your schedules."
My dad shook his head. "You run this whole place, Glenda, don't downplay it."
"Your financial planner," I prompted. Something inside me coiled up uncomfortably, but it's not like I could blurt my news and run.
Dad looked at Mom, who smiled, then nodded. When he turned his face to me, I knew exactly what he was going to say. His face looked lighter. The exhaustion that always seemed like a permanent fixture was all but gone.
"I'm retiring, Tucker." He blew out a relieved breath. "The practice is yours."
The words came instantly. "I, I don't want the practice to be mine."
His face creased in confusion, and I felt sweat dot my forehead at my unfiltered response.
My mom laughed. "Oh, goodness, we could've broken that to him better. He's not leaving today, Tucker."
My dad peered at me carefully before he spoke again. "Son, it was always the plan to have the practice be yours. I know it's a handful of years early, but … your mom and I will be just fine. We may downsize to a condo, but that's nothing we need to decide now."