Page 51 of Come to Me

He paused, his gaze drifting to the window as he gathered his thoughts. "I worked so hard to carve out my own path, to make a name for myself. And now, with everything that's happened with Julia..." His voice trailed off, the guilt and shame he felt still raw.

Sydney reached across the table, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "I know, Patrick. But don't you think it's time to stop punishing yourself? Your sister's actions weren't your fault."

He noted how she wouldn’t say Julia’s name. “I, of all people, should have seen the signs.”

“I’m a doctor and didn’t see them.”

“No offense, but you’re an OBGYN. It’s quite the same.”

She shook her head. “You’re not a mind-reader. You're human, just like the rest of us. You don’t owe her or your parents anything. The person you owe is yourself. I hate that you seem to be determined to punish yourself forever. You need to forgive yourself for whatever you blame yourself for."

Patrick fell silent, his gaze fixed on the tabletop. He wanted to believe her, to absolve himself of the guilt that had been weighing him down. But the truth was, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed his sister, and that failure had cost him dearly. It had nearly cost Mitch, the love of Sydney’s life, his life.

“I don’t have a career anymore. I’ve failed Julia so I don’t have her. All I have is my parents and their belief and desire that I run the business.

Sydney's eyes softened with understanding. "But is it what you really want, Patrick? Or are you just doing what is expected of you?"

The question hung in the air, and Patrick felt the weight of it pressing down on him. He thought of Michaela, the vibrant, passionate woman who had captured his heart, and a pang of regret shot through him. Could they have had something real if he had just allowed himself to let go? How? With his career in shambles and his family duty looming, he didn't see how he could ever pursue a relationship with her. Not unless she came to New York, and he knew that wouldn’t happen. It shouldn’t happen. Her home, her life, her very soul belonged at Kincaid Lake.

"I don't know what I want." His voice was laced with frustration. "I can’t even figure out what I want."

Sydney’s eyes softened into sympathy. “You know I’m here for you, Patrick. Whatever you decide, I'll support you."

Patrick managed a grateful smile, his heart heavy with the weight of his decisions. As he and Sydney finished their meal, he came to the conclusion that the source of his inner conflict was the idea that maybe there could something else for him. He was fighting what he knew he needed to do; take over the business. Maybe it was time to let go and accept his future wasn’t the path he wanted but was the one that he could follow.

As lunch ended, he paid the tab.

“By the way, we’ll be at the Fourth of July event at the lake,” Sydney said as they walked out of the restaurant into the humid mid-June day. “It’s always a great event they put on. People who stay at the lake are there, but locals attend as well.”

“Sounds fun.” He wondered if he’d be invited. By this point, he’d alienated all his hosts.

She gave him a hug. “You think too much, Patrick. For once, listen to your heart. Go with your gut.”

He gave her a wan smile. “Take care, Syd.”

The drive back to the resort was a quiet one, but Patrick's mind was anything but. He had decided, or in reality, accepted that he would join the family business. It wasn't his life's passion, but it was a path where he could do meaningful work, helping people with mental health issues. In fact, he could develop programs that offered support beyond simply treating with medication. There was so much research that could still be done. He could expand the grant program. He could make it work.

With that weight lifted, there was a sense of lightness. It wasn’t satisfaction, but the decision freed up space in his mind. Space he could use for something else for the next few weeks before stepping into his destiny. Michaela. She came to his mind as the perfect way to celebrate his last few weeks of freedom. To help him enjoy and savor life. To distract him from the coming career he’d give his life to.

Of course, the odds of her helping him with that were next to nil. He’d hurt her deeply. He didn’t deserve her forgiveness or a second chance at a summer fling. But that didn’t stop him from knowing that he needed to apologize and make amends. Perhaps there was something he could do to help with the Fourth of July preparations.

As he pulled up to the resort, Patrick took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. He needed to find Michaela to apologize and to let her know that he valued her and the connection they had shared, even if he couldn't fully embrace it.

Stepping out of his car, Patrick scanned the grounds, searching for any sign of Michaela. He spotted her on the roof. As he approached, he smiled, remembering finding her there on the day he arrived. It was a déjà vu. A second chance to get it right.

CHAPTER 16

Micki wiped the sweat from her brow, the sun's relentless glare off the roof shingles making it difficult to focus on the dubious patch job before her. As she surveyed the aging roof, a familiar pang of concern tugged at her heart. The resort, her family's legacy, was showing its age, and the endless list of repairs and upgrades were beginning to drown her. Micki tried to hold onto her optimism, but the reality of their financial struggles was making it difficult. She couldn’t ever get ahead of the work that needed to be done, and slowly she was falling behind. The threat of the resort's closure loomed like a dark cloud on the horizon.

Shielding her eyes, Micki spotted a familiar SUV pulling into the resort's driveway. Dr. Patrick Andres. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of interest in his afternoon venture. Micki chastised herself for the involuntary reaction, reminding herself that he was simply a guest. Patrick had made it clear that he was here to sort out his own life, not to entangle himself in the complications of hers.

Too bad she hadn’t been able to completely cut off the pull he had on her. Even after all the horrible things he’d said, she still found herself drawn to him. Micki shook her head, willing herself to focus on the task at hand. The resort needed her attention, not her wayward emotions.

Micki paused mid-repair, feeling the prickle of Patrick's gaze from below. She glanced down. He stood at the edge of the ladder in his casual yet expensive clothes and dark sunglasses. He made her think of the men’s ads in magazines. He could be selling sunglasses or maybe overpriced watches.

“Is everything alright?” She hoped her voice was pleasant, like the host she needed to be.

“No. Can you come down?”

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