The Best Goodbye (3 page)

Strep throat. This wasn’t going to be better in twenty-four hours. I would need to stay home with Franny for two days, at the very least, before the antibiotics did their job well enough for me to return to work. However, letting my boss know that made me want to cringe.

River’s—no, Captain’s—words had been it for me. There was no reason for us to stay. I couldn’t say this was a mistake. At least I knew what had become of the boy I had carried around in my heart for all these years. I wasn’t depriving Franny of a good father. Captain was an asshole. She didn’t need to know him. Besides, I wondered if he’d even believe me. I couldn’t take that from him. This was enough.

I peeked into the bedroom we shared, and Franny was sleeping peacefully, thanks to the medicine they’d given her. I collected the cup of melted ice beside the bed, before tiptoeing back out of the room. Calling Captain was next on my list. If he gave me a hard time about it, then I’d just quit before he could fire me. There were other jobs to be had in this town. I could get one of them until we had enough money saved up to move yet again.

Taking care of us was what I did, and I was good at it. This would not end in regret. This was simply a door that I could finally close so I could move on. The guilt I felt about dating other guys wouldn’t haunt me any longer. I wouldn’t see River’s face smiling at me every time a guy asked me out. From now on, I would say yes if I liked the guy. I wouldn’t live with self-blame and guilt another day.

I went outside to make the call so I wouldn’t wake Franny. If I was lucky, I’d get Elle, and she’d handle it incorrectly. Then I could just quit. Easy.

“Hello?” Captain’s deep voice vibrated over the phone. I hated the fact that I liked his stupid voice.

“Captain, this is Rose. My daughter has strep throat, and I’m going to need to stay with her for two days.” I blurted it out quickly and then tensed, ready for his response.

“OK, yeah. Take however long you need,” he replied.

I forgot to breathe a moment and stood there with my mouth hanging open. Had I heard the man correctly?

“And about my comment today,” he said. “I’m sorry. It was rude and shitty. I shouldn’t have asked you that. I respect the fact that you’re a hardworking single mom.”

Words I had been ready to shout at him all but evaporated as I stood in silent awe at what I was hearing.

“You there?” he asked. I managed to nod my head, although he couldn’t see that.

Swallowing, I opened my mouth again and managed to squeak out, “Thank you.”

Captain let out a heavy sigh and waited a moment.

Was he waiting for me to say more? He’d shocked me. I didn’t know what to say.

“Just give me a call when you know you can come back in. We’ll manage without you while you take care of your daughter,” he said, before ending the call. He didn’t wait for me to say more, but I figured he had given up on me replying.

I held the phone in my hand and stared at it blankly. Had that really just happened?

“Mommy,” Franny called from inside. I hurried back to her. I’d figure out Captain’s motives later.

Fourteen years ago

“You like to eat, don’t you?” he drawled, with an amused grin, from across the table.

If he wasn’t so nice to look at, I’d ignore him, but I liked seeing him smile. Even if he was teasing me. My cheeks felt warm with embarrassment for inhaling my food so quickly. I never knew when food was going to stop coming. As long as full plates were set in front of me, I intended to enjoy them.

I just nodded my reply.

“They won’t stop feeding you,” he assured me, as if he’d read my mind.

This kid, who had been given this life, didn’t know what it was like to be hungry. I did. I also knew that good things didn’t last. You had to soak it up as it was happening.

“I kinda thought they might eat with us tonight, but Dad didn’t come home in time for dinner. Mom’s off pouting. This happens a lot. You’ll get used to it.”

I put another forkful of mashed potatoes into my mouth. As long as they fed me, I didn’t care where they ate.

“You aren’t a big talker.”

I swallowed and put down my fork.

He was nice enough, although he liked teasing me. Maybe we could be friends while I stayed here, if I gave him a chance to get to know me.

“I like the chicken,” I finally said, because I wasn’t sure what else to say.

His face went from a grin to a full-blown smile, and he started laughing. My face burned this time, and he started shaking his head while he laughed. “No, that’s”—he let loose another cackle of laughter—“that’s good. I’m glad you like the chicken, Addison.”

“It’s Addy,” I replied in a whisper.

He went silent and leaned in closer. “What did you say?”

I pushed my embarrassment away and met his gaze. “My name is Addy.”

The corners of his mouth lifted, and the green of his eyes sparkled. “I like that. Addy.”

“Thanks. Me, too. Addison’s too long and sounds old.”

His smile stayed in place, and he shrugged. “I don’t think it sounds old, but Addy fits you.”

“My mom called me Addy,” I admitted, surprising myself. I’d never talked about her.

“What happened to your mom?”

I wanted to tell him. I never wanted to tell anyone, but I wanted to tell this boy. “She left me a long time ago . . . in a grocery-store parking lot . . .”

When my office door opened without a knock, I assumed it was Elle. She continued to confuse our having a sex life with her having some kind of power around here. “Knock next time,” I snapped without looking up. She’d pout, and I wasn’t in the mood.

“My hands were full with your coffee. I intercepted that tall, dark-haired girl you keep bringing around,” Blaire replied.

I jerked my gaze up to see my sister standing in the doorway with a smirk and a cup of coffee.

“But I’m thinking with that attitude, I might keep this coffee for myself.”

I had only met my sister a few years ago. I hadn’t even known she existed until my biological father came and found me. But from the moment we met, she’d gone out of her way to make sure we became a family. And she’d succeeded. Blaire Finlay was hard to say no to.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were Elle,” I explained.

Understanding lit her eyes, so similar to my own, as she walked over and set the cup on my desk. “In that case, I completely understand. She’s annoying.” Leave it to Blaire to be blunt. She always said what she was thinking.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked, taking my coffee and leaning back to study my sister, who was making herself comfortable in the chair across from my desk.

“Just missed you. I thought your moving to Rosemary Beach meant we would see each other more often, but you work all the time. I was complaining this morning, and Rush suggested I come see you and invite you over for dinner.”

Rush Finlay was her husband and the son of the drummer of the world’s most renowned rock band, Slacker Demon. They’d started releasing number one hits twenty years ago and were still at it. The world Rush came from was very different from Blaire’s, but they worked together. He worshipped the ground she walked on and was a surprisingly great dad to their son.

“This place has consumed every last second. This is my first time actually starting up a restaurant, and it’s more than I bargained for.”

Blaire tilted her head, and her pale blond hair fell over one shoulder. “So is this a no to dinner?”

I was busy, but I knew if I told her no, she’d be sad, and I’d feel like shit. Then I’d get another visit today. From Rush. That visit wouldn’t be friendly at all. I relented. “I’ll be there. Tell me when.”

She beamed at me, and I figured making her smile like that was worth finding the time to hang out with her family. “Great! How about tomorrow night?” she asked, clapping her hands together as if I’d just given her the best news ever.

“I can do tomorrow night.”

“Perfect. Seven o’clock. And don’t bring that girl. You can bring someone if you want, just not her. Or I can invite a friend or something . . .” She trailed off. I didn’t know any of Blaire’s friends who might be single, but I wasn’t about to trust her not to try to set me up.

“I won’t bring Elle, but I don’t want you to invite anyone else, either. It’ll just be a family thing.”

Blaire smiled as she stood, and something about that smile made me nervous. Her mind was already spinning. Dammit. “I’ll see you then,” she said. “Don’t overdo it. The place looks great, and I’m sure it’ll be a success. Just take some time for yourself.”

I nodded. In my entire life, only one other person had ever cared enough to give me these pointless little talks. I shoved the memory of her away. I was already dreaming about Addy again; I couldn’t let her into my daily life, too.

“Got it,” I assured her, just so she’d stop with the caring and leave. I didn’t want her to care. Not when I was so raw emotionally.

“Tomorrow night, then,” she repeated, as if I was going to forget. Then she left.

I took a long drink of my coffee and let it burn all the way down. There was paperwork to do and calls to make.

Moments after the door closed behind Blaire, someone knocked. Biting back a curse, I looked up. “Come in,” I said, louder than necessary.

It slowly opened, and Rose’s face peeked inside. “Sorry if I’m interrupting you. I just . . . I wanted to let you know I’m back and to thank you for understanding about Franny being sick. I’ll work extra hours the rest of the week.”

Being a detached hard-assed boss was easier when you didn’t know the details of others’ personal lives. But I knew now that Rose was a single mom, and that fucking changed things. She was so young, yet she had kept her kid and was raising her. I respected that.

Her large eyes blinked behind her glasses, and I wondered what she looked like without them. She was beautiful with them on, but I couldn’t imagine how much more attractive she would be if she wasn’t hiding behind them.

“Is she better now?” I asked, before I could stop myself.

Rose’s tense expression eased, and she smiled, her face lighting up, and my gut clenched like it had when I’d heard her laughter the other day in the kitchen. Something about her smile struck a chord in me.

“Yes, thank you. She’s much better and ready to get out and play again,” Rose said, obvious love and relief in her voice. She loved her kid. There was no question about that.

“Good. I’m glad she’s better. Don’t worry about overtime. You can go back to regular working hours. I don’t think we’re that far behind.”

She nodded. “OK. Do I need to find Elle to get my directions for the day?”

Elle would eat her up, so I shook my head no. Which was ridiculous, since Elle would soon be the head of the serving staff, and Rose would have to answer to her eventually. I couldn’t protect her from Elle forever, and I shouldn’t fucking have to, either. I’d have to fix that. Elle had no clue about Rose’s life. She needed to ease up.

“Go back to the kitchen and help Brad. He’s got another shipment in. At lunch today, the kitchen staff is going to prepare some of our signature dishes, and the serving staff will meet in the dining room for a tasting so you’ll all know how to describe each dish to the customers.”

“Yes, sir.” She replied a little too quickly, as if she couldn’t wait to get away from me, before she stepped back and closed the door, leaving me alone.

He hated my laugh, or maybe it was just the sound of my voice. Did he recognize it? Was that it? Did he hate the girl he thought had run off and left him? Was I a reminder of something he wanted to forget?

Stepping outside, I inhaled the warm breeze and took a moment to allow the pain in my chest to ease. Being near him was making the pain stronger. The things I had been able to push aside and the memories I had found a way to escape were now beating down my door. They’d begun slipping into my dreams; sometimes I couldn’t breathe.

I wasn’t sure what he thought had happened to me all those years ago. My choice had been swift, and I’d only had one thing in mind: protecting him. I’d caused enough trouble, and staying there would only have torn us apart in the end. She would have seen to that. She had left me with no other option. I had done what I needed to do.

It was obvious my laugh caused a reaction in him. His scrutinizing gaze locked onto me, and the coldness in his eyes robbed me of any enjoyment I was having. He could ruin my ability to smile with that look.

Brad had noticed it today at the tasting, too. I wasn’t the only one who saw River’s strange behavior when I laughed. Brad had leaned in and whispered something about Elle barely tasting the food, and when I’d let out a small chuckle, River’s eyes had zeroed in on me. Brad had looked annoyed and said, “What’s his deal?” under his breath.

If he was recognizing my laugh, I needed to be more careful. I wasn’t ready to come clean with him yet. He’d shown some kindness, and for a moment, I’d seen the boy I once knew under that cold exterior. But it wasn’t enough for me to allow him into Franny’s life.

Elle’s glare whenever she looked my way reminded me of what I would not let into my daughter’s life. If Elle was an example of the kind of woman River kept around in his life, he wasn’t good enough for Franny. Simple fact was, I didn’t trust him.

“You headed home?” Brad asked me just as I reached my car. I had been so lost in thought I hadn’t heard him walk up behind me.

“Yeah, my daughter will be waiting for me,” I said with a smile. I recognized the flirty attitude I was getting from him. I’d dealt with this from many men over the years. Sometimes I dated, but it never lasted, because men couldn’t deal with the fact that Franny came first. I was a mother before all else.

“Would you and Franny be interested in joining me for pizza on the beach?”

His question surprised me, and I looked up from my search for the car keys in my purse. “What?” I asked, even though I’d heard him.