Page 82 of Not Another Beach Read
I watched as Dad turned away from the camera, relaying the message. The easy domesticity of the moment struck me—how natural it felt to be discussing recipes and family connections, how different from the tense conversations we'd had in the past about Rachel.
Dad turned back to the screen. "Your mother's been planning what to cook when we come down for the hearing. I think she's up to a seventeen-course meal at this point."
"Tell her Holly's a teenage girl, not a small army," I laughed.
"I've tried. But you know your mother—feeding people is her love language." He paused, his expression growing more serious. "How are you doing with all this, Peanut? Really?"
My chest tightened at the childhood nickname. Dad had always seen through my brave faces.
"I'm good," I said, then amended, "Mostly good. Sometimes I feel guilty, like I'm taking Rachel's daughter. But then I remember that I'm not taking Holly. Rachel left her. We're just... catching her."
Dad nodded, eyes soft with understanding. "You've always been a safety net for your sister. Now you're one for her daughter too."
"The difference is, Holly appreciates it," I said, more bitterly than I'd intended.
"Oh, Elyse," Dad sighed. "Rachel's disease?—"
"I know, Dad. I know it's a disease. I know it's not her fault. But knowing that doesn't make it hurt any less when she disappears again and again." I took a deep breath, pushing down the familiar anger. "But this isn't about Rachel. It's about Holly."
"You're right," he agreed. "And you're doing right by that girl. Your mother and I couldn't be prouder of you and Drew."
The front door opened, and Eden's nails clicked excitedly across the hardwood floor as she rushed to greet Drew. Moments later, he appeared in the doorway of my office, briefcase in one hand, mail in the other.
"Hey, is that Dad?" Drew asked, crossing to look over my shoulder.
"It is indeed," my dad replied. "Just checking in on the adoption plans. Your lawyer thinks we're still on track for next month?"
Drew nodded, setting his things down to join the conversation. "Barring any unforeseen complications. The home study went well, Holly's on board, and Rachel..." He glanced at me, hesitant.
"Rachel's still in the wind," I finished for him. "The judge is prepared to proceed with the abandonment angle if she doesn't respond to the notices."
Dad's expression clouded. "I hate that it has to be this way. But Holly deserves stability, and you two are giving her that."
We talked for a few more minutes about logistics—my parents' travel plans, what documents to bring to the hearing, Holly's upcoming school registration for fall. The conversation flowed easily, unmarred by the tension that had characterized so many of our family discussions in the past.
When we finally hung up, Drew pulled me into a hug from behind, bending over to rest his chin on my shoulder. "You okay?"
I leaned back into him, drawing comfort from his solid presence. "Yeah. It's just weird, you know? All these years, I thought I couldn't have a child, and now..."
"Now we're both becoming parents through a different door than we expected," Drew finished.
I turned in his arms to face him. "Exactly. And I keep waiting for something to go wrong. For Rachel to show up and contest everything. For Holly to change her mind."
"That's not going to happen," Drew said firmly. "Holly wants this as much as we do."
"I know, I know. Old habits." I'd spent so many years preparing for disappointment with fertility treatments, with Rachel's recovery attempts. Expecting things to actually work out felt dangerously optimistic.
Drew kissed my forehead. "By the way, this came today." He reached for the stack of mail he'd set down and handed me a thick envelope with an official-looking seal.
My heart skipped as I recognized the return address. "It's from Meredith."
My hands trembled slightly as I opened the envelope and pulled out several documents. On top was a letter written in Meredith's elegant handwriting.
Dear Elyse,
As discussed, enclosed please find the official offer for you to purchase Back in the Day Books. After twenty-seven wonderful years, I'm ready to pass the torch, and there's no one I'd rather see continue the legacy than you.
The terms are as we discussed some time ago, with the five-year payment plan outlined in the attached documents. Take your time reviewing everything with Drew and your financial advisor.
