“Oh no?” He raised a brow. “You think they’re better off without you. Safer. Happier. That if you push them away they’ll find the life they deserve. One without you failing them at every turn.”
I turned away. Maybe he understood better than I’d given him credit.
“They are better off if I’m as far away from them as possible.”
“Get over yourself, Hollingsworth.”
I snapped my gaze toward him. He wore a very unimpressed look.
I shoved off the bench. “Even if her parents are no longer a threat, you have no idea what my father is capable of.”
“So you’re going to let him keep you from living your life with them?” He looked at me as if he expected better. “The best way to protect Lexie and Eric is to be there. Mistakes and all. If she loves you, it’s not just because of the put together illusion. It’s all of you. Especially your faults.”
He slapped my shoulder, but I barely felt it. His words were far more of a blow. “Stop being so stubborn. If you wait too long to realize I’m right, you may get what you wish for. They may have already moved on.”
I nearly doubled over at the thought.
I wanted them happy . . . but not with someone in my place.
I yanked on my hair. You have no right to think that way. They deserve the best. I’d let them go because I couldn’t be that for them.
I crumpled my water bottle aggressively and hurled it at the trash can. It bounced off. Another miss.
I expected Daniel to call me out on it, but he was gone.
The best way to protect Lexie and Eric is to be there. Mistakes and all.
His words echoed in my head. I had been there. And I’d still let them down.
So you’re going to let him keep you from living your life with them?
Did I have a choice? Father always got his way. Always.
Hadn’t I vowed not to be his puppet any longer? If I allowed him to keep me from them, I’d already broken it.
I sat back down and put my head in my hands. The misery. The worry. The hurt I’d caused all of us. Would it go away over time?
Or could I fix it?
“What are you doing up here? I saw Daniel leaving.”
I started at Beau’s voice.
“Just . . .”
“Sulking,” she finished when I couldn’t find the adequate words. She joined me on the bench. “You know how to fix this. But I might as well talk to that basketball.” She motioned toward the ball a few feet away on the floor.
I stared at it, irritated she was right.
She nudged me with her elbow. “I have some good news.”
“What is it?” I asked hesitantly. One could never be certain when it came to my sister.
“I got your building in the Bowery. I’ll transfer the deed as soon as you give me the all clear.”
I straightened. “You closed?”
She stretched her legs out. “Since you enjoy leaving me in the dark, I thought I’d show you the same courtesy.” She scowled. “But you’ve been so irritable since Lexie and Eric left, I wanted to cheer you up.”
I was glad, though it felt hollow. Maybe this was how I could make up for my failure to them. They’d never know what we’d do with the building, but all of it would be in their honor.
“I want to find temporary housing for all the current tenants. When we’ve rebuilt, if they want to come back, they can do so at the same rent rate.” Or maybe cheaper depending on what I found when I delved into the actual numbers of their current rent prices.
“Lincoln, I think the building has to go. I went by there again after I got the inspection report.” She shook her head. “If the city gets hold of that report, they’ll displace those people immediately.”
“Will you help me do this? I—” I gripped my knees. Helping these people wouldn’t atone for my mistakes, and it wasn’t completely about that. I wanted to give people a home they would be glad to live in, not somewhere they were stuck.
She covered my hand with hers. “I’ll help you.”
Relief coursed through me. “Thank you. I will pay you back.”
She smacked my hand. “Nope. I don’t want your money.” She stood. “I’d better start looking for somewhere to relocate thirty tenants.”
I pushed to my feet and hugged her. “We’ll find somewhere.”
She gave me a quick hug back before she shoved me away. “I expect open communication.”
“I can do that.”
She grinned as if she’d just gotten me to agree to something I wasn’t aware of. “Good.” She pinched my cheek. “You can practice with yourself. About how for such a smart guy you can be really dumb.”
Chapter Forty-One
Lexie
“Garrison?”
I nearly dropped the phone as I stirred the broth and vegetables.
“Um, hi, Lexie.”
“Hey, Garrison. Long time no see,” Eric called from across the kitchen.
“Hello, Eric.”
I didn’t bother to tell him he wasn’t on speakerphone so Eric couldn’t hear.
“Is there something I can do for you?” I wasn’t exactly friendly, but I couldn’t be rude. There was a time when I’d liked the man. I still did, even though it hurt that he had been prepared to testify against me.
“Can you come by the shop tomorrow? I have something I’d like to discuss and feel it would be better in person.”
I set the spoon on the counter. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I feel comfortable with that.”
I wasn’t concerned about Garrison’s motives, but I didn’t want to go back to the scene of all that ugliness. We needed to move forward.
“I understand.” He cleared his throat. “It appears I owe you an apology.”
I agreed but didn’t say so. He wasn’t wrong in what he did. He went with what his eyes had seen, and I couldn’t fault him for that. I appreciated he had his convictions.
I had mine too.
“A friend of yours told me what happened . . . with that man. I-I didn’t hear what he said to Eric. If I had, I’d have slapped him myself. And you know my stance on violence.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that.”
“I was wrong. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but please know how deeply sorry I am.”
“You’re forgiven.”
That’s what Eric would want. And I did too. If I held a grudge, it would hurt me the worst, and I needed all the positivity we could find.
“Thank you. I hope you and Eric stop by sometime soon.”
A bit of pressure released from my shoulders. “We’d like that.”
“Is it too soon to make another order? My customers have been going crazy without your dog food so I need to double it. And I fully support businesses who stand up for justice.”
Eric was my brother. I hadn’t done anything spectacular, but I appreciated Garrison recognized that.
“I think we can manage. We’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
I gave Eric a thumbs-up.
“Looking forward to it.”
I hung up and grinned. “Get out some more carrots. Garrison is doubling his order.”