“As do I,” Dr. Montgomery says. “I’ll see you outside, Holden.”
As he leaves, I look down at Sophie. There are a hundred questions dancing through her eyes. I wonder if she can see them in mine.
I reach out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her skin is so soft. The way her head shifts in the subtlest way and leans into my hand almost has me grabbing her and hugging her.
But I don’t. Because this has already gotten more complicated than it should’ve.
“See you tonight,” I say softly.
“See you tonight.”
I press a kiss against the top of her head, and it hits me . . . This really could be my life. This could be my every day. With Sophie.
Someone to say goodbye to each morning. Someone to let me hold them through the night. Someone who wants to cheer me on.
Someone to come home to.
Our bodies stay separated, our hands to our sides. My lips linger a few seconds longer than necessary as I say a silent prayer for whatever is the best answer to this quandary to happen.
I back away, giving her a final smile, and watch her move backward toward the table. With a final wave, I turn down the hallway and walk out the front door.
Dr. Montgomery is waiting for me on the porch.
“I’ll see you at the clinic?” I say, running a hand over my hair.
He sets his bag on the floor and looks at me. “No.”
“No?” My head spins. “I . . . Okay. Um . . .”
He sticks out a hand. I take it, my brows furrowed, and give it a shake.
“Holden,” he says, blowing out a breath. “I’ve seen enough to know that you would make an excellent asset to Montgomery Farms. My gut tells me that you and Sophie are good people—the kind of people I seek out for my team.”
My mouth goes dry as his words permeate the confusion in my brain.
“This is not public information,” he says, “but I have been looking for someone for a very specific position. I need someone to mold, to shape, to take over the CEO position in five, maybe ten years. I can’t work forever.”
I join his merriment, chuckling along with him. But in reality, my heart is trying to climb out of my body and find Sophie.
Why? I don’t know. I just need her. Now.
My temperature rises, something inside my head starts screaming, and I can’t make sense of it.
“My children have carved out their own ways in life. I’m so proud of them. Both of my daughters and one of my sons work at Montgomery, but none want my job. None want to be CEO. John, my oldest, is expanding into aquatics. My daughters are working in social outreach. That leaves no one to keep everything together, and I’m not just going to hire someone off the street to take over my life’s work. That leaves me in a predicament.”
“Dr. Montgomery . . . ,” I begin, but he waves me off.
“If you would prefer to take the role that you applied for, it’s yours.”
My head spins. I try to make sense of all the information, and opportunities, that were just dropped in my lap. But the longer I try to come up with something coherent to say, the harder it becomes to speak intelligently.
“Okay. Thank you. I just, um, I’m not sure. This is a lot to process.”
He nods. “I know it is. Take a couple of days to think about it. In the meantime, I’m still going to Kentucky to see the final applicant. It’s always good to know who is out there.”
I try to speak, but nothing comes out. Luckily for me, Dr. Montgomery laughs.
“Please give my secretary a call and let her know what you’ve decided. I fully expect you to talk this over with your wife. I make no decisions without my wife’s—Rose’s—approval,” he says. “I called her last night and told her about you and Sophie and dinner, and she had the same reaction I did: ‘These are our people.’ You are our people.”
“I . . . Dr. Montgomery, I’m honored. A bit shocked, I have to admit, but so honored to have someone of your caliber say such nice things and have so much faith in me. Truly. Thank you.”
“Holden, of course.” He picks up his bag. “If you have any questions at all, get in touch with me. I’m happy to talk things out and answer any questions you may have. But time is of the essence here. I have a trip to Africa next week, and I really hope you can join us.”
Africa? Is my passport up to date? Does Sophie even have one?
Shit.
My throat squeezes shut as reality hits me.
This job means Sophie stays here. And I go to Orlando.
I look over my shoulder.
Taking this job means leaving Sophie. It means we move on like we planned.
But what if I don’t want to move on without her? What if leaving her feels like a grand fucking mistake?
It’s not that easy, though, because the Honey House means everything to her. She was willing to marry me to save it. I would be a complete and utter asshole if I asked her to leave it.
Would she, anyway?
I look back at Dr. Montgomery. “I’ll get in touch soon. Thank you again.”
He nods and heads to his car. The gravel crunches as he backs out of the driveway and speeds off toward Tank’s.
I stand on the porch like an orphan with nowhere to go. Somehow, going back inside feels wrong. It feels like an asshole move. But going to the clinic feels wrong too. Like I don’t belong.
Rubbing my temples, I realize that no matter what I do from this point on, I’m screwed. Somehow, I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve bent over backward to acquire a job offer better than the one of my dreams, and now I feel shitty about it.
I glance over my shoulder again.
Maybe because I woke up this morning and realized that maybe, just maybe, I have other dreams too. Dreams of things like having a partner in life. Dreams I didn’t even really know existed.
Until now.
And it might be too late.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
SOPHIE
Here you go.” Jobe plunks the ladder against the wall in the foyer before coming inside my office. “Anywhere you want me to put it, specifically?”
I sit back in my chair and watch him take a seat across from me.
His red flannel shirt makes him look slightly older and wiser than he is. It reminds me of a picture I found of my dad in my mom’s Bible. He was probably Jobe’s age in it and wearing a similar shirt. He had the same smile and same build, and I wish every time I think about my father that I’d known him more.
Would my life be different with a strong male presence? I don’t know. Jobe has done his best—more than he ever had to or probably should’ve—to make sure I was protected and loved. And Gram was strong enough for both her and my grandfather, a man I never knew. But would having a father, a guiding male force in my life, have given me a better understanding of the male mind? A little insight on how to read men?
Men, meaning Holden.
I sat all day and wondered how it’s going with Holden and Timothy. It’s going amazingly well, I’m sure. And I’m happy for Holden. He deserves this. I can’t help but feel like a jerk when I daydream that he won’t get the job. It’s not fair. I know that. But still . . .
I’ve willed myself not to put too much into Holden saying that his pap offered him the clinic. He said it offhandedly, after all, and not like it was something he genuinely wants to do. Over and over, I keep reminding myself that Dr. Montgomery is here to recruit Holden for a position that he wants. That he’s dreamed of. That he’s been pining for longer than I’ve even known him as an adult.