Page 86 of Hold You Close
In every way, this promotion was a dream come true.
It just wasn’t my dream anymore.
My assistant gets me on a flight for the following morning, and at the end of the day, she gives me a hug and tells me she’ll miss working for me. We carry a few boxes out to my car, and I drive away from the office for the last time, feeling oddly empty and unemotional.
When I get home, I find a note taped to my front door. For a moment, my heart races hopefully. Could Ian have come to his senses? But when I unfold it, I discover it’s not from him.
Aunt London,please come over as soon as you get home. I need to talk to you.
Love, Morgan
I don’t even think twice.When one of those kids needs me, I have to be there. And I want to tell them about the job myself. I need to explain why I’m moving across the country and reassure them I love them and I’ll still be in their lives.
Without even bothering to change out of my suit, I go out the back door, cross the yard, and head around the house with the note in my hand. It’s been a while since I’ve knocked on Ian’s front door, but I don’t feel right just letting myself in the back anymore.
I knock three times and hold my breath, willing my face to remain neutral in case Ian answers. But it’s Morgan who pulls the door open. She looks happy to see me.
“Hi,” she says. “Come in.”
I hesitate. “Is your uncle here?”
She shakes her head. “He’s picking Ruby up from dance.”
Disappointment and relief all at once. “Oh. Okay.”
I follow her up to her room, where she sits cross-legged on the unmade bed. Dropping down next to her, I cross my legs. “How did it go today with . . . everything?” I glance toward the hallway bathroom where she’d been in crisis mode last night.
“Oh! Fine. Everything with that was fine. The housekeeper got me some things this morning.”
“Good.” Had Ian instructed the housekeeper to do so? That was thoughtful of him. My heart softens traitorously toward him.
“Aunt London,” Morgan begins, her eyes drifting sideways. “I have to tell you something.”
I put a hand on her knee. “You can tell me anything. Always.”
She takes a breath and meets my eyes. Hers are tearful. “I heard you and Uncle Ian last night. I know about the job offer and the move to New Jersey. I know everything.”
“Oh.” For a moment, all I can do is blink at her. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I was coming downstairs to ask you something, and I heard you talking in the living room.” She wipes her eyes.
“It’s okay, sweetie.” I reach for her. “Come here.”
“Don’t go!” she bursts out. “Please don’t leave us!”
My throat closes up and I’m on the verge of breaking down too, but I tell myself to be strong for her. “Oh, honey. I’m not leaving you. I’ll always be in your life.”
“But we need you here,” she wails.
“You’ll have your Uncle Ian here,” I say gently. “Your mom and dad wanted you to live with him.”
“I know, but—but—how can he just let you go? He loves you, I know he does!” She continues to sob on my shoulder as I rub her back and realize that even when your heart is already in a million pieces, it can shatter again.
“Well, it’s hard to say.” I give up fighting against tears, and weep along with her. “Your uncle and I have a lot of history, and our feelings for each other are complicated because of it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. You’re not old enough yet.”
