Page 142 of Catching Sparks

His meddling paid off.

In those two months he pushed for, I met not only Poppy but many other people who I think helped me become a better person. I’m a far cry from a nice guy, but I’ve never wanted that description. I needed the time away from this place to grow and heal parts of my soul that I hadn’t known were so broken. I’ve learned what I want in life and that I’m more than capable of having it. Starting with the woman I’m in love with and haven’t seen in six days.

Poppy is worth every drastic move I’ve made this past week. I’m so close to being back at her side that every day I’m here seems to stretch to impossible lengths. The hours of the night are multiplying, making it nearly impossible to get through them without her sleeping beside me.

“Thank you for telling me that, Jocelyn,” I add, offering her a sincere smile.

Her head jerks back in surprise, and I laugh, standing. She follows suit, standing across from me in my office that lacks any sort of life. Its blandness has grown to frustrate me recently, but I won’t be here much longer now. There’s no point in changing anything.

“You’re welcome,” she says, the words a mix between a statement and a question.

“Before you go, I want to offer you my word that you will never deal with anything like what happened again. Mr. Beaumont, Nathan, will ensure exactly that while I’m in Calgary overseeing the expansion for the foreseeable future.”

“What? Mr. Beaumont?” she squeaks, eyes flashing with panic.

There’s no time to ask her about her panicked reaction when, right on time, there’s a knock on my open office door and Nathan sticks his head through the crack. “Can I come in?”

“Yes, I was just telling Jocelyn that she’s going be well taken care of under your supervision,” I explain. Nathan has grown pale, and I narrow my eyes at him. “Right, Mr. Beaumont?”

He clears his throat and tries to meet her fleeting stare but is unsuccessful. “Right. You’ll be in very capable hands.”

Jocelyn coughs, her face a deep scarlet as she diverts her eyes, looking everywhere but at Nathan. Alarms blare in my mind, but it’s already too late to change my decision on staying in Toronto. Whatever has happened between them needs to end now before we slide right back into the hole we’ve just crawled out of.

I straighten my back and gesture to the door. “My assistant will get you some water on your way out, Jocelyn. For now, I would appreciate you keep this news between us. I’ll be making an announcement to the entire building tomorrow.”

She blinks a few times and looks at me, more focused now. “You have my word.”

I incline my head. “Thank you.”

With quick steps, she leaves my office. I reach for the door and click it shut behind her before spinning on Nathan. His hands are clasped behind his head as he stares up at the ceiling.

“What did you do?” I ask.

He blows out a harsh breath. “You’re going to want to sit down for this.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask my father later that night. Mom is beside him, the both of them staring at me with calm expressions despite the seriousness of the conversation.

“We’re positive. I’m positive,” Dad answers.

Mom leans her cheek to his shoulder, nodding along. “I’ve always believed that home is with those you love, not a place, Garrison. That’s one lesson I’m very happy to have watched you learn.”

I reach across the table and cover her hand with mine for a few moments before leaning back. “I love you, Mom. But leaving Toronto will carry a lot of changes for the both of you. It means no more working with your favourite artists as often as you like to, Dad. Taking a step into retirement wasn’t your plan for a few years still,” I argue, my heart heavy in my chest.

“Retirement is a step I should have taken a long time ago. But I’m more than willing to take it now if it means I’ll get to spend more time with both you and your mother.”

“I know you want to believe that you’re forcing us into this, sweetheart, but you’re not. This is a decision we made very easily. There is no life in which I want to live far from you. Life is too short to spend it away from those you love,” Mom says, voice soothing yet confident.

“I’ll try to make it as easy of a transition as I can,” I promise.

Dad’s the one who says, “No, that will be my job. Your only concern is taking care of yourself and Poppy.”

“And you better take care of her, Garrison. That woman is your soulmate. I recognized it from the moment she stepped out of that car out front. She’s going to be my daughter-in-law someday.” She shoots me a wink, and I laugh at the way it contradicts her barely veiled threat.

“I will, Mom.”

And not because of her threat but because I would do anything to not have to leave her again.

I glance between my parents and exhale a long, heavy breath. Love pulses through me at a steady pace, becoming a second heartbeat in my chest.

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