Page 61 of Something Borrowed

“Please. He always talked about how good your documents were, how little edits he had to give them.”

Judging by the amount of red and track changes on the version she was currently fixing, that was bullshit, but she didn’t care, so she kept her mouth shut.

“I can’t believe you quit, though. Just to go to a wedding? Way to kill your career.” He laughed, a mocking sound.

She stopped typing and fixed a steady stare on him. “Why do you care, Terrence? You now have a clear shot at the promotion. It was always between you and me. Have at it.”

“Yeah, I should be happy, and I am. But why are you doing it?”

He sounded truly puzzled by her decision, and she had to laugh. She settled back in her chair and smiled. “I want more out of life than my job. Don’t you?”

“Don’t you want to be a partner? Isn’t that everyone’s goal? Why would you give that up?”

She smiled, thinking of Grady and her friends. “You’d never understand. If you did, you wouldn’t have to ask. Now, please leave so I can finish this up, unless you want to do it?”

And Terrence scooted out as he always did when work was mentioned. She just laughed and finished, monitoring the ferry schedule. She was definitely getting the last laugh there. Peterman would regret promoting Terrance when it came time for work to be done.

* * *

Because of a major car accident on the highway, Brigid missed the last ferry, leaving her stranded in Galveston overnight, missing the rehearsal dinner. She tried to call Caroline, Matthew, anyone, but all cell phones went directly to voice mail. Whether that was because they all had their phones off or were avoiding her call, she had no clue. But she was going to be on the first ferry over and doing her best to make up with her friend. Groveling was sure to be involved, and a lot of it.

If Caroline ever forgave her.

Of course, Caroline would forgive her. She always forgave everyone. That was Caroline. The real question was, did she lose her shot with Grady?

She spent the night at a seedy motel, the only place available at the height of vacation season in Texas. She ate at a little diner, scrunched in a corner at the bar, drinking a beer and eating a burger. It would take her stomach some time to heal from the stress and recover from the shock of quitting her job and not knowing what happened next, but she was good with her decision. For the first time in months, she was relaxed, her body not tied in knots, her stomach not shooting pains, and she was starving. But she was itching to get back to the island, as much as she was dreading the coming confrontations.

She probably should call her parents, but they wouldn’t understand, and she refused to live her life according to their demands any longer. She wanted to tell the people who truly cared about her what her decision was. Those were the people who would be there for her as she navigated a new world without a job and living life out of her car when she became homeless in a few months if finding a new job was difficult. It wouldn’t be that bad. She had saved a significant portion of her salary, thanks to her father drumming into her the need for investments and savings, and that she rarely had time to spend any money because she was working all the time. But she couldn’t pay her student loans and pay bills forever on her savings, and her parents would certainly not provide an ounce of help.

The only outstanding question she had was what to do about Grady. She had hurt him. Horribly. Explaining everything to Caroline would be far easier because she knew Caroline would forgive her.

What would Grady do? Would he welcome her back with open arms or reject her?

Was it all for nothing, quitting her job, giving up her life’s goal?

No, it was for something. It was for her. Even if Grady rejected her, it was the right decision. Because that was what Grady had been telling her. He wanted her to be happy for what she wanted, not what anyone else wanted, even him.

She’d win him back. She had to.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Saturday dawned bright, and Brigid was on the first ferry crossing to Whitby Island. She stood at the bow, facing her future head-on, hands clenching her overnight bag, her stomach rolling. She hadn’t been able to stomach even a cup of coffee that morning, not because of her dawning ulcer but the butterflies that danced inside, wreaking havoc on her system. She hadn’t been able to sleep much last night, tossing and turning in the narrow, lumpy hotel bed, as she mentally rehearsed everything she wanted to say to Grady, and she still had no idea what she would say, what she could say, that would make him forgive her. She had rejected him at every turn, leading him on, then turning him away. She was ashamed at how she had treated him, as if he were nothing more than a toy, a plaything for her amusement when she needed a date, to use when convenient. All he had wanted was time with her, consideration, and love. He supported her and believed in her, and she turned her back on him. Maybe it would be best if she just walked away.

Dammit, she didn’t want to. She finally knew what she wanted out of her life and he was a critical part of that, the only thing that mattered to her.

The water rushed alongside the ferry and dolphins played in the water, leading the ferry to the island, to her future. The day had dawned glorious and bright, a perfect day for a wedding. After the storm that week and the associated stress, Caroline deserved this. Brigid didn’t know what damage had been done to the island. She had left in such a hurry, focused on her own life and issues, that she hadn’t even stayed to make her friend’s day the best it could be. Yet another sin she’d have to atone for. If she were a practicing Catholic, she’d be saying Hail Mary’s until the second coming. As it was, she’d better practice groveling because Caroline might forgive her, but she’d demand a good apology, and Brigid didn’t have Anna’s acting ability or flare with words. She’d have to wing it, speaking from the heart, something Brigid completely sucked at. Emotions, feelings were not her wheelhouse. Logic, analysis, knowledge. Those were her strengths.

She pressed a shaky hand to her stomach. How would they ever forgive her?

The island came into view and she made her way down to the exit, hoping to find someone who could drive her to the inn or the Masters’ house. She didn’t recognize anyone milling about the ferry exit. Most of the wedding guests had come the night before and stayed on the island. Brigid had had to leave her car at the parking lot since she couldn’t drive on the island anyway, so she was stranded unless she could find a ride. Fortunately, the island had a shuttle, so she followed the crowd off the gangway and toward the shuttle stand. As she stood there, a voice called out to her.

“Brigid? I didn’t expect to see you here. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the wedding?”

Brigid turned to see Janine Edgerton, the woman who had been helping Grady at the cottage, leaning out the window of a beat-up pickup truck.

Brigid shrugged. “I had to go back to the mainland for work. I’m trying to head over to the house now.”

Janine studied her, and for a moment, Brigid thought she’d drive on. Then the other woman nodded. “Hop in. I can give you a ride.”

---