Page 118 of True Honey
“Promise.” He said quickly. “I uh…gotta go, Coach is screaming.” He sounded confused.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Go.” I let him hang up and took a breath, looking around at the busy street, just trying to compose myself before coming face to face with the other massive problem in my life.One down, two to go.
Board members.
Drew Courtney.
Grandpa stood in the main lobby talking to one of his friends with a smile on his face and his good mood gave me hope that today would go over well.
“There he is!” Grandpa shook my hand, giving me a pat on the back. “What no coffee?”
“Came on the bike,” I said, my voice tense.
“Time to learn a new party trick,” Grandpa teased with a loud laugh.
I nodded. “How's the energy up there?”
“I can’t promise anything but you’ve done good.” He offered. “Everyone is waiting, you ready?”
"Don't have much of a choice," I joked, following him over to the elevator.
“Soon you’ll have control of everything boy, how does it feel?” Grandpa asked, waiting for the doors to open. I went to answer but he coughed loudly into his handkerchief and worry gripped me. It wouldn’t be long before he was gone and everything would be on my shoulders. It felt suffocating.
“Great,” I lied as the elevator dinged open.
“Silas!” August’s voice pulled my attention around to the front doors.
What the hell?
Arlo marched in behind him, “he was coming with or without me.” He said when I opened my mouth to ask.
“She’s going to run,” he said, out of breath. My eyes flickered from August to Arlo who looked as confused as I felt.
“No,” I said, “everything is good, Auggie. It’s fine.” I assured him, trying not to make a scene in the lobby. But August wasn’t having it.
“It’s not okay!” He said a little louder, “I’ve seen it a hundred times, I know when she’s going to run and it’s happening.” He pushed. It broke my heart how scared he looked.
“She went to work today,” I tried reasoning.
“She stopped singing!” August fought. “And she’s packing, she thinks she’s sneaky but I know it, Silas. You have to do something!”
Arlo shrugged, “he busted in before practice Si.” I swallowed tightly. I couldn’t let her run, she had to know she was safe here. She wasn’t going to run… was she?
“This is my fault,” I huffed. I told her I loved her and she’s scared. I caused this.
I rubbed my hands over my face.
“Silas,” Grandpa’s voice was low and demanding. “There are people waiting for you.”
Very important people. He didn’t have to say it. I understood the weight of the two decisions. Losing Harbor versus losing everything. I couldn’t lose her. Nothing else mattered because when she was with me, everything was alright. I didn’t need money or control to save Harbor, to provide for my family. I looked at August and could see Drew in him, right down to the worry that racked through his body. It wasn’t just about us anymore, I wasn’t willing to lose either of them. They were everything. I swore under my breath and stepped toward Arlo and August.
“Don’t be daft, boy,” Grandpa snapped. “Get on this elevator.”
“I’m sorry,” I turned to him, sincerely sorry for everything before backing away and having them both follow.
“Time to make a fool of yourself.” Arlo clapped my shoulder as we flooded out the front doors.
COURTNEY
