Page 25 of All My Heart

“When are you coming home?”

“I decided to stay a little longer.” I'd found that being vague with my family was the best play.

“And where are you staying?”

“I told you, in Maryland with my friend, Violet.” They didn't need to know I'd rented a cabin in the middle of the woods. My brothers and my father would be on a plane and headed my direction as soon as we hung up.

“Why are you gone for so long? We need you here.”

“Dad, everything I do for the business can be done remotely.”

“I thought you wanted to be more hands-on with the business?”

I huffed out a laugh. “You've told me more times than I can count that my position is in the office.”

“In Florida, not in Maryland.”

“I needed a break. I need to figure out what I want in life. Especially since you're not going to teach me the construction side of the business.” I wasn't going to talk to my dad about my ex cheating on me, but he'd probably heard about it by now.

Dad cleared his throat. “That's not exactly true.”

“You know it is. You have no intention of making any changes because you want me to help Mom out so she can work less. If I go on the construction side, Mom will have to pick up the slack.”

“We can discuss this when you're home.”

I sighed. “Maybe you should think about what you would do if I wasn't in the office.”

“What are you saying?”

My heart pounded. Was I really going to threaten to leave? I hadn't done that since I was a headstrong sixteen-year-old, desiring more freedom from her family. “I'm not happy, Dad, and if things don't change, then I'm going to need to make some decisions.”

“I don't like ultimatums.”

I laughed without any humor. “I just want you to know that I'm unhappy.”

“I've said we'll see.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing he couldn't see me. “We all know what that means. And maybe it's my fault. I shouldn't have worked for family.”

“What are you saying?”

“I'm doing my job while I'm here, but when I get back, if things haven't changed, then I'm going to start looking for other options.”

Now, Dad laughed. “There aren't that many on the island. Are you going to move?”

“If I have to.” I was enjoying my time in Maryland. I missed the beach, but this was nice too.

Dad's voice hardened. “You're being?—”

“Ridiculous?” I asked, irritation climbing up my spine.

“I don't like this,” he said gruffly.

“I'm sure you don't.” Dad liked everything lined up in neat boxes. Luna worked in the office. The sons worked in construction. Everything worked until it didn't.

“You need to think about what you're saying.”

“I have. I get the sense that nothing's going to change.”

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