Pieces of Us - Carrie Elks Page 0,81
about that man?”
“Why does it have to be about a man?” She shook her head. “It’s about me. What I want. What makes me happy.”
“You left because of Josh. And now you want to stay here because of this captain. That doesn’t sound like you’re using your business sense to me.” He sat on the edge of the desk in front of her. “You’ve had a hard couple of years, sweetheart. I know how tough the divorce was on you. Plus losing the business. And I can see the lure of escaping somewhere new and leaving all your troubles behind. But if you stay here, you’ll wake up one day and realize what a huge mistake you made. You’re my daughter. I know you better than anybody does.” His voice quieted. “And I really want you to come home. I miss you.”
Her eyes welled up. “I miss you, too.”
“Then sell the pier. You could fly home with me tomorrow, and leave all this behind. Let me take care of this for you.”
Her stomach dropped at the hope she saw in his eyes, because to her the situation felt hopeless. No matter what she did, somebody was going to get hurt. Her dad, Griff, and even herself. She hated that thought.
“I can’t,” she whispered, giving him a watery half-smile.
“Why not?”
“Because I love Griff. I want to stay here with him.”
Her dad shook his head. “That’s not love. It’s infatuation.”
“How would you know? You haven’t even met him.”
“I don’t need to. I know you, sweetheart, and that’s enough. I know how ambitious you are. Or how ambitious you used to be, before you came over here and seemed to give up. I know how much you loved working in Manhattan, how much you enjoyed running a big business.” He leaned toward her, and touched her face again. “The Autumn I know would never be happy living here for the rest of her life.”
“Then maybe you don’t know me at all,” she said softly, a tear sliding down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and stood, looking at the door. “I need to get back out there and check that everything’s okay.” And she wanted to talk to Griff, too. “You can stay here if you want, or come and enjoy the charity day.”
“I’ll come.”
“Okay then.”
It was almost a surprise the pier was still full of people when she stepped outside. It felt like she’d been in the office for hours, long enough for the sun to go down and come up again. Lydia was leaning on the rail, her face serious as she caught Autumn’s glance.
“You okay?” she asked, looking warily from Autumn to their father.
“Yeah.” Autumn gave a quick nod. “Um, where did Griff go?”
Lydia took her arm and pulled her away from their dad. “It’s all my fault, she whispered, walking Autumn over to the side of the pier. “Well, it’s Dad’s fault really, for bringing Josh. He’s such an asshole. I never knew what you saw in him.”
“Did Josh say something to Griff?” Autumn felt her stomach churn.
“He was just being his usual self. Making things ten times worse than they already were.” She took a deep breath. “He told Griff you only bought the pier because you were drunk. That it had been a mistake.”
“How did he know that?” Autumn felt her breath catch in her throat.
Lydia bit her lip. “I told Dad, who must have told him. I’m so sorry, I should never have said anything. But Dad’s always talking about you as if you’re some kind of perfect daughter. I wanted him to know you’re human, but you’re also perfectly able to manage your own problems.” She sighed. “I know I’ve made things ten times worse.”
Autumn squeezed her eyes shut. “All right,” she said softly. “So that little sordid secret’s out. It’s okay, isn’t it? What else did Josh say?”
“Nothing. But Griff left looking pissed. That’s when Dad asked Josh to take the buyer on a tour of the pier.”
“He looked pissed? Why? Because I actually do stupid things when I’m drunk?” She didn’t understand. Not at all. Why was it even an issue?
“I don’t know. I asked him to wait for you.” Lydia’s voice was small. “I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot. I should think before I speak.”
“No, you shouldn’t. I like you the way you are, loose lips and all.” Autumn hugged her. She’d fallen out with enough people already, there was no way she was going