Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Actually, he is on a plane to New Zealand right now.”
Alice’s head whipped around. “What? He didn’t say anything last night about going away.”
“He was contacted by the CEO of a company in New Zealand overnight and it’s basically the deal he’s waited his entire career for. Of course he had to go.” She didn’t mean to sound like she was trying to convince Alice, even though she was trying to convince herself of the same thing.
“How long is he going to be there?” Alice had risen now and was walking over to Josie, frowning.
“A year.” There was no way she could say that with a smile or in a chipper voice.
Alice dropped the stone in her hands so it made a soft thud on the earth. “That stupid sod. I can’t believe he’s just up and left like this. Is his head completely up his arse?”
Josie didn’t know what to say. Privately, she thought he did have his head up his ass. But she also understood why he felt he needed to go. “This deal is important to him,” she finally said. “And he has my full support.”
Alice rolled her eyes. “You shouldn’t need to give him your full support. He should know better. He’s done plenty of business deals in his life, but he’s never fallen in love before. If you ask me, he’s deliberately sabotaging your relationship.”
“Well, there’s no way he could have planned for a business emergency,” Josie pointed out.
“No, but he could have said no.” She kicked at the rock she’d just dropped. “I’m going to call and leave him a message so it’s the first thing he hears as soon as he lands.”
Josie said quickly, “No, please don’t. I don’t want him to think I asked you to do that.”
“I’ll tell him it’s entirely my opinion that he’s being an idiot.”
“I know you love him—I know all of you love him—but it’s his life. And he should get to live it exactly the way he chooses.”
Alice gave her a long, serious look. “Are you telling me you’re okay with this?”
Josie hated lying to a woman who had so quickly become a friend. But she could barely admit how she felt to herself, so how could she admit the depth of her emotions to Malcolm’s sister?
“I think if it’s meant to be between us, it’ll work out. And if it isn’t—” She couldn’t say the rest of the sentence, could barely hold back tears.
“I’m going to make you a cup of tea, and we’re going to talk about anything except my brother.” Alice glanced around the garden. “I really need his help. The garden looks okay, but I’ve found an old fountain that needs setting up too. I was counting on Malc to do it.”
“A fountain sounds wonderful.”
“Leave it with me,” Alice said. “I’ll have reinforcements here soon.”
Alice wasn’t kidding. By the time Josie finished her tea, Malcolm’s mother and father, along with Tom and Fiona, were there. Owen was in London on Mathilda Westcott’s business and couldn’t come until later that afternoon, but Mathilda herself had walked over to join the family. Mari was alone in the bookshop. The only other person missing was—
“I can’t believe my grandson has buggered off to New Zealand.” Mathilda Westcott looked furious. “I’m tempted to get on a plane myself and give him a piece of my mind in person.”
Josie hadn’t had any compunction about asking Alice to leave Malcolm alone, but she didn’t want to step on the older woman’s toes. Still, she had to say, “I’m happy for him. It’s a deal he’s wanted for a long time. And now with your family here to help, I think we’ll be fine on the timeline for the cottages.”
Mathilda nodded. “Yes, I always have been a fan of a certain level of stoicism. I appreciate your backbone. I knew it was there from the start. Mark my words, he’ll realize his mistake, even if none of us actually go read him the Riot Act.”
But Josie didn’t want to think about Malcolm anymore. She didn’t want to talk about it. She just wanted to get to work. It was easier when she could just bury her thoughts under long to-do lists. One of those to-dos was finding somewhere else to live, because she didn’t think she could stay on his boat for another night. She’d find a short-term vacation rental and go from there.
However, she wouldn’t make the mistake of telling his family that she was leaving the houseboat.
Mathilda made an excuse to get Josie alone outside, where she said, “My dear, I don’t like to interfere, but I was like you once. Very young. Very proud. I let the man I loved get away because I didn’t ask him to stay.” She looked off into the distance and smiled sadly. “I’ve regretted it my whole life.”