Page 85 of Pillow Talk
‘What’s stopping you from retiring? You could promote Drake to manager. He could run it. And you could live your life with Mom as planned.’
Her father didn’t look convinced.
‘Dad, have you ever felt passionate about something? When I sit down to design a wedding veil or dress, I feel my heart explode with joy. I feel alive. Dad, do you feel alive in this shop?’
‘It’s not that simple, Shona,’ he said, a tone of sadness creeping into his voice.
‘Tell me. Why is it not simple?’
‘What would I do? Can we afford it?’
‘Dad, these are just excuses. What would you do? How about spend time with Mom. Travel. Take her on that holiday with her brother that we never got to go on?’
‘You remember that?’
She nodded slowly.
‘As for money, you’re not giving up the shop. You’re promoting Drake to management so you can retire. Dad, I’ve been managing the shop’s finances for years. Even if you give up the shop, you have enough in the bank to live comfortably,’ she explained.
Her father thought for a while and finally sighed.
‘Can you come back here tomorrow to help me speak to Drake about his new position?’
Shona dashed round the desk to her father and hugged him.
‘Daddy, I love you,’ she blurted out.
He patted her back.
‘Shona. I’m really sorry for never standing up for you, for your mother and Aru. I shouldn’t have given up…because that’s what I did. I’ve always hated this shop. My mother was obsessed with it even when I was a kid. I had a life planned out with your mother… a good life and then…Laksh…’
He sat back in the creaky old office chair and shook his head.
‘His death ended my life, Shona. But that’s no excuse for just giving up. I should have stood up to my mother. I should have taken you all away from it,’ he said.
Tears streamed down Shona’s face.
‘Shona, don’t cry please. After you left I started doing research on that computer you insisted we get. I’m learning that I can heal too.’
‘How?’ she whispered.
‘I found a therapist on that computer. I’ve signed up for a few sessions,’ he explained.
Shona wiped away tears with the back of her hand. Her daddidwant change. He just needed to know how.
‘I love you daddy,’ she murmured.
‘I love you too, my girlie. Now tell me about this new shop inthe city.’
‘So you just called it quits?’
Sen ignored his cousin and handed her a bowl of lightly salted popcorn. Kaavi was considering giving up modelling full time, but until her final decision was made she still counted calories and watched with envy as Sen ate whatever he liked.
He stuffed a handful of extra-butter popcorn in his mouth and sat down.
It was another scorching day in Rally so he was in shorts and a T-shirt and the air-conditioner remote had become an accessory in his pocket.
‘You’re not going to answer?’
