Page 51 of Knot Really Engaged
“Dad?”
She nods.
“You know, it’s weird that you two get along now that you’re not married,” I muse, trying to lighten the mood. I force a smile, but it feels strained and unnatural.
“Life and love aren’t simple. I . . . I guess we weren’t meant to be together that way. We just had a hard time admitting it,” she says, and I wish they had realized that way before I left for college. My childhood would’ve been less crappy if that had been the case.
“Well, Mom, as much as I want to stay and chat, we have to leave,” I say, my hand findingAudrey’s and giving it a squeeze. “Ready to go, babe?”
“Thank you. Bye, Ms. Cohen.”
“Mom smiles. Call me Susie, you’re practically my daughter now,” she says, then turns to me. “Call your dad before you leave. He’s been meaning to ask you a favor, but with all the commotion, he forgot.”
“Can I call from San Diego?”
Mom shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s important.”
A wave of nerves washes over me, my stomach twisting with anxiety. Why do they keep hiding things from me? I just hope it’s not someone else who’s sick or . . . I swallow hard, trying to push down the rising panic in my chest.
I pull out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I dial Dad’s number. I head toward the living room, seeking privacy for the conversation. Audrey follows and I can’t help but take her hand.
“Liam, glad you finally called me.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, my heart hammering in my chest. I grip the phone tighter, my knuckles turning white with the force of my anxiety. As I wait for his response, I can feel Audrey’s hand on the small of my back, and just that touch alone is calming me down a little.
She looks at me with concern. But then there’ssomeone at the door, and she moves, leaving me with Dad on the other side of the line. I feel a pang of loss at her absence, my chest tightening with an inexplicable sense of dread.
Like I have a bad feeling. Something is just not right.
“Not really . . . It’s the bookstore,” Dad says, his voice heavy with worry.
“What’s going on with it?” I ask, trying to sound normal, but the nagging feeling increases.
The bookstore belonged to Grandma’s parents. When they passed, my parents bought it from Grandma, and it became their business. After the divorce, Dad kept it . . . If we lose it, it’d be like losing a piece of history—ancient history. I swallow hard, trying to push down the rising panic in my throat.
“I need someone to look after it while I’m with my parents,” Dad explains, his tone urgent and pleading.
“Don’t you have people to manage it? Employees?”
“Not really, but it’ll only be for a week or two?—”
“What do you mean, not really?” I interrupt, my heart sinking with each passing second. “You should at least have someone to help you.”
“Things haven’t been going that well lately,”Dad admits, his voice barely above a whisper. “So I’m the only one handling it.”
“Dad . . .” I trail off, at a loss for words—my mind races with the implications.
It is obvious that he needs me to stay behind and look at what’s happening with the business. That’s the family business that has been passed down for generations. We can’t just lose it or . . .
It’ll be fine, though, I can make sure that the place doesn’t close. Audrey loves books. Maybe I can convince her to stay with me, and together, we can figure out what we need to do to make it bloom again. The idea takes root in my mind, a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.
Without hesitation, I say, “You can count on me. I’ll change all the reservations.”
“Thank you. If you can come over to get my—” I stop listening because suddenly, there’s a commotion in the foyer of the house. Loud voices and accusations fill the air, making my blood run cold.
“You lied to us,” a male voice shouts, the words laced with anger and betrayal.
I’m running before I even realize it, my feet carrying me toward the commotion with a speed I didn’t know I possessed. My heart pounds in my ears, a sickening sense of dread washing over me as I round the corner.
