Good thing you were there. You probably saved his life,” he said, his gaze steady on mine.
“He’s my life,” I said adamantly. “I love him so much. He’s all I have.”
Shadows darkened Journey’s eyes. “You told me in LA that your parents are both gone. What happened?”
“My mom left us a long time ago and went back to Thailand. We never heard from her again. My dad raised me and my brother on his own, but he had a heart attack three years ago, here while he was working on the apartment grounds. He was a landscaper and was doing some gardening down by the pool. Mrs. Nowak found him and called nine-one-one. But by the time they arrived, he was gone.”
“How old were you when this happened?” he asked, his features pinched.
“Nineteen.”
“Not so long ago.”
“No.” I shook my head sadly. “Sometimes it feels like it was only yesterday.”
“He was a good father to you?”
“He was the best. He was one of those people who didn’t just talk about doing nice things, but he actually did them. He was patient, wise, and gentle. He’s the type of person I aspire to be. I try to put into practice everything he taught me, not only his wisdom, but with the gardening I do now too.”
“Oh, Li . . . Lotus. I’m so sorry.” Journey’s eyes were bright, and he looked like he wanted to cry too.
Blinking back my tears, I tried to lighten the heavy mood. “As you’ve seen, I can be high-strung when I’m upset. I’m sorry I dumped all this on you.”
“I asked, and I appreciate you sharing. I wish . . . well, anyway.” Journey swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “You are something, all right,” he said cryptically. “Losing a father like he was, you lost a lot. Taking care of Cork, you have a lot of responsibility. Is there no other family around to help you?”
“A few distant older relatives on my dad’s side,” I said. “But no one who’s interested in being involved in our lives. I don’t mind being responsible for him. I wanted to be his guardian.”
“I can see that. And I can see that he loves you too. He’s protective. He’s actually glaring at us right now through the glass.”
I looked and nodded. “So he is. Sorry about that. I’ll explain to him later.”
“No need. It’s good you have each other.” Journey exhaled. “So, it’s just you providing for and taking care of him twenty-four/seven?”
I nodded.
“And you work for Ash, bartend at the Deck Bar, and you have your own business?”
“Yes, it takes all three to make ends meet. But if one little—” I bit back on that thought.
I made the ends meet this month. Day by day, I did what was possible. I refused to let my fear of failure keep me from doing what needed to be done.
“Who helps you when you have a scheduling conflict?” Journey tilted his head. “Or if you’re just tired?”
“Ash and his wife, Fanny,” I said. “Sophia occasionally.”
Journey gave me a pointed look. “When do you get a break?”
“I don’t do breaks. Not from family.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t even know what that’s like.”
“You mentioned being estranged from your family.”
“Yes, and now I understand why you looked so sad for me. Our backgrounds are so different. I certainly had no one in my household growing up to emulate.”
I reached up like I had a right to, laid my palm against his cheek, and stroked it with my thumb. His whiskers were long, but soft.
“Who helps you?” I asked. “When you have a problem, or you’re just tired.”
“A good point.” Journey’s eyes locked on mine, and he leaned into my palm. “The answer is no one.”
Storm
“WELL, YOU DON’T have no one anymore,” Lotus said emphatically. “You have me.”
“Lotus.” I was floored by her, completely in awe of the amazing woman she’d become.
All she’d been through, yet here she stood, offering to be my friend without reservation, when she was the one who most needed someone to count on. She’d said her wish was to emulate her father, but in my eyes, she already had. She was beautiful too, but just like when we were kids, the bulk of her beauty, the most precious part, lay inside her.
My heart rattled against the rusty bars of the cage I kept it in, wanting out, wanting her.
Giving her a stern look, I said, “You can’t connect with everyone you meet and give them everything you are without reservation.”
“I