Page 2 of Broken Love

“Just five more minutes, please,” I beg. I’m not ready to let her go, and no amount of time will ever be enough, but I’ll take what they can give me.

“I’ll come back to check on you,” the nurse says and leaves, closing the door behind her.

“I wish you didn’t have to leave me. I wish we could have gotten you proper help sooner. I wish for so many things, Mom.” I wish I could find my father and give him a piece of my mind.

Sisters.

I have two of them.

Maybe one of them knows where he is.

CHAPTER 1

Windsor

Entering the bank on Fifth Avenue, I anticipate the meeting won’t go as I want. For almost a year, I’ve been grieving and processing the loss of my mother. If it weren’t for her excellent business sense and her life insurance, I would be homeless. Thankfully, I’ve had the time I need and am finally out and in the working world again.

If only I could get this mortgage broker to release the title of Mom’s condo. I’m selling it to move to a loft in Manhattan. I hate being in the apartment all alone; the memories are suffocating.

“Windsor?” I turn at the sound of my name being called to find Boston Falco sitting in the waiting room. Six months ago, I hired him and his partner, Dare Waters, to find the sisters Mom told me about seconds before she died.

“Hi, Boston. How are you?” We got close during that time and remain in touch every once in a while. They both proved to be good listeners when I was left to grieve alone.

“I’m good. How are you doing?” He cocks his head to the side, and I can tell he’s wondering if I opened the envelope they gave me with my sisters’ information.

I haven’t. I’ve not been brave enough to open that door.

“Oh, fine. I’m back in the real world again today. I have an interview with a shipping company later this afternoon. It seems promising.” I crack a smile because I’m really looking forward to putting my degree to work.

“Good. We’ll catch up soon?” he asks at the same time someone else calls my name.

“Yes, I’d like that. I’ll see you later.” He nods, and I notice a pretty girl come out of an office and over to him. Her face shows both annoyance and desire. I’m not surprised. Boston is a handsome man; any girl who landed him or Dare would be very lucky.

“Mr. Turncoat, thank you for seeing me.” I greet the broker I’ve only spoken to on the phone. I dealt with someone else when I signed all the paperwork to have Mom’s possessions transferred into my name—which is a huge reason why I don’t understand what the problem is now.

“I’m sorry we haven’t been able to settle this sooner. The problem lies with an outstanding debt the late Mrs. James had. It was never paid in full,” he explains, shifting through some papers on his desk.

“What does that mean? Why was this not mentioned when everything was put into my name?” This makes no sense.

“That I’m not certain of. But if you could just pay the loan, we can get everything ready to sell within the month.” He grins as he pulls out what he is looking for and hands it to me.

Reading everything over, I learn that the company is a mechanic shop that went out of business nearly four years ago. “This company has closed.” I gaze up at him. They won’t be looking to collect; it’s not even registered with a collection agency.

“Yes, but the lien is there, so it has to be paid before the bank can remove it.”

“I’ll get it figured out myself,” I reply and snap up the other paperwork I see with my name and the word ‘copies’ on it. “I’ll call you once this is taken care of.” I leave, not giving him time to respond; I’m almost late for my interview.

Pinching the inside of my wrist as I walk briskly out of the bank, I wait for the tears to abate before heading towards the subway. I hate having the urge to cry when I’ve been focusing on moving on with my life. My mother was all I had, and at every turn, I’m left floundering. Every step in the right direction, I get knocked back three more.

Heading down into the subway, I arrive just as the train pulls up, and I slip through the doors in time, so I shouldn’t be late for my interview. I really need for this to happen with Graham Shipping & Exports. Mom’s life insurance is running low, and I’ll have to start saving again. I’m still living in her condo because there were so many medical expenses that insurance didn’t cover—the main reason I need to sell—and before I go searching for my sisters, I want to be in a good place. I want to be able to say, hey, I’m your sister and come to you complication-free, not with the need for a roof over my head.

I’ve wondered every day since Mom told me about them if they know I exist. Are they as curious about me as I am about them?

Are they as angry? Or will they be?

I’ve always known my father was a piece of shit, but this is next level, even for him.

The train jolts forward, forcing me to grab ahold of one of the rails or fall face-first onto the dirty floor, and I’d rather not do that. The stench of sweat and other bodily fluids I try not to think about is bad enough; I don’t need it on my clothes as well.

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