Page 98 of Bonus Daddy
“Her teacher is going to continue to work with her virtually,” I explained. “And my brother is restoring an old piano so she can play at home.”
What I didn’t mention was that there would be no showcases with the best and brightest and no specialized program at school. I could probably negotiate with the local junior high to get her some practice time, but we wouldn’t be footsteps away from world-class musicians and teachers.
I closed my eyes.
My nose burned, and tears pricked at the backs of my eyes. “Sorry.” I dabbed at my face with my napkin. “It’s hard. Moving would be so good for all of us. It would give us a support network and allow the girls an idyllic childhood. But in moments like these, I start to doubt myself.”
Lana grasped my knee and squeezed.
I sniffled and shook my head, straightening. “My daughters were born in the city, and part of me will always love New York.”
Sloane nodded slowly. “I can relate. For a while there, I was unhappy. I’d lost my identity, and Sully and I even lost our way. During that time, I convinced myself I needed big changes. A totally fresh start.”
My heart ached for her and her husband. I didn’t know the entire story, but I’d heard enough to understand that they had come very close to divorce.
“I was convinced I needed space from Sully in order to grow and find the person I was destined to be. But in the end, I found my fresh start with him. He supported me and encouraged me. He cheered me on as I rediscovered who I was and helped me figure out what I really wanted.”
“That’s beautiful.” I patted her hand. She was truly blessed to have ended up where she was now. What must it feel like to be loved so deeply?
“Just take your time and think things through,” she cautioned. “Inmy case, what I discovered when I really took the time to reflect was that my marriage wasn’t holding me back. I was holding myself back.”
I nodded politely, cleaning up to avoid making eye contact.
Her words stung. But I’d needed to hear them. I’d spent the last few years completely focused on Vermont, believing that moving there would be the answer to all of my problems.
But I was beginning to think that I’d missed the forest for the maple trees.
And that maybe the girls and I didn’t need Vermont to have a fresh start and follow our dreams.
Chapter 35
Brian
“Do you like it?” I asked, stuffing my sweaty hands into my pockets. I hadn’t set foot in here in months, and given that I’d lived in this house for seven years before I was forced to relocate to Jersey, that was strange.
But somehow, even through the rat infestation and the maggots and the giant cat that practically suffocated me each night, I’d come to think of Jersey as home. A strange home, but still home.
“This is your house?” Jess turned in a slow circle, her lips parted in what I’d like to think was awe.
Tired of renting, I’d purchased the brownstone in Carroll Gardens. I’d fallen in love with this leafy block and the one-hundred-year-old building that, at the time, needed a lot of TLC.
“I feel like I’m in a romantic comedy,” she said. “This neighborhood is like a movie set. And this house. How is this even possible? It looks so skinny from the outside, but inside, it’s so spacious. And there is so much light.”
“I can’t take credit.” I peered out the window at the street. “Terry set me up with an architect friend who helped me figure out how to make the most of the space.”
“Is that a backyard?” She scurried deeper into the living room. “In the city?”
The garden was the width of the house and extended to the block behind us. It was flanked by brick walls, and I’d had a small patio installed, where a grill I used on occasion sat. There was even some decent shrubbery. It wasn’t much, but it was my own little slice of paradise.
“Wow.” She walked around, muttering to herself. “This is not what I expected.”
“Because I hired an architect and a designer,” I explained. “They did the work, not me.”
“You know what I mean.” She turned to face me, her hands clasped in front of her. “I would have taken you for a new-construction skyscraper, modern-minimalist type of guy.”
I stalked over to her and tipped her chin up to kiss her. “Nope. I like what I like.”
She smiled at me, her dark eyes warm, before she took off to explore the rest of the house.
