Page 60 of Come to Me

Patrick opened his mouth to deny it, but what was the point? But it didn’t change their situations.

"I have a duty. I can’t abandon my family.”

Sydney’s expression was one of distaste. "You're not abandoning them. You're choosing to live your own life. If you’re parents and Julia cared one-tenth of how much you care for them, they’d support your love for Micki. You've done enough for them, now it's time to do something for yourself."

He glanced back at Michaela, his heart swelling with possibility.

“I need to help Michaela,” he said standing.

“Think about what I told you.”

When it came time for the main event, Patrick joined Michaela on the other side of the lake. He worked alongside her to set off the fireworks, watching as the vibrant bursts of color in the night sky over the lake elicited delighted gasps from the crowd.

“We work well together,” Michaela said as they walked back toward the main beach once the fireworks show finished.

“We do.” He took her hand, not caring if her family or anyone else saw them. All afternoon, Sydney’s words reverberated in his brain. As he felt the warm night air around him, the lapping of the water on the lake, cicadas chirping, and the hand of the woman he loved, he felt a profound connection to this place, to these people. The laughter of the children, the camaraderie of friends – it all seemed to seep into his bones.

Patrick's gaze drifted to Sydney, who was snuggled against Mitch, their son Brian nestled between them. Her words from earlier that evening echoed in his mind, challenging him to confront the truth. Could he really walk away from this? From the sense of belonging he’d finally found, from the undeniable pull he felt toward Michaela? A part of him longed to stay, to embrace this life, to let go of the burdens he carried for so long. The thought both thrilled and terrified him.

Yet, the weight of his family's expectations and his sister's fragile condition loomed heavily over him. Could he truly abandon them, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness?

Patrick's gaze drifted back to Michaela. The way she effortlessly navigated this world, the way she had welcomed him with open arms, it all spoke to a depth of character he admired, that he yearned to know more about.

Patrick's gaze drifted upward, taking in the endless expanse of stars that twinkled overhead. It was a sight he had long taken for granted. Michaela had helped him appreciate them.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Just taking it all in.”

Her shoulder brushed against his as she tilted her head back to gaze upward. "It's breathtaking, isn't it?"

Patrick nodded, his eyes lingering on the serene lines of her profile. "It’s amazing."

Michaela turned to face him, amusement in her eyes. "Dr. Andres finally sees the stars.”

The use of his formal title felt like a reminder of the distance that still lay between them. Patrick swallowed hard. "I came here for answers, but…” How could he explain what he was thinking? What was in his heart? How could he tell her that he saw the answers in her eyes?

Michaela reached out, her fingers gently brushing against his arm. "You don't have to have all the answers, you know. Sometimes, it's okay to just... be."

As he gazed into Michaela's eyes, the warmth and acceptance he saw there, the unwavering support, it called to his very soul. Perhaps, for once in his life, he could choose his own destiny, rather than succumb to the expectations of others.

I love you. I want to stay with you. The words sat on the tip of his tongue.

She smiled up at him almost as if she was expecting him to say the words. He opened his mouth. The shrill ring of his cell phone shattered the moment.

“Sorry.” Patrick extracted the device from his pocket, his heart sinking as he recognized his mother's number. “Hello?”

"Patrick, oh, thank goodness I reached you," his mother's frantic voice crackled through the line. "It's your father, he's in the hospital. You need to come home, right away."

Patrick's grip on the phone tightened, a sudden wave of panic washing over him. "What happened?”

“It’s his heart. They're running tests…all that doesn’t matter right now. We need you home. The business needs you. Tonight, Patrick.” She hung up the phone not waiting for an answer.

Glancing up, he found Michaela's concerned gaze fixed on him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. In that moment, he was torn – the duty he felt toward his family, the responsibility he had always carried, clashed with the newfound sense of peace and belonging he had discovered here.

"I have to go.” The words felt like sawdust on his tongue. "My father is in the hospital. I need to be there."

Michaela's expression softened, and she gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "Of course, Patrick. Go, be with your family. We'll be here when you get back."

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