Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
I said so to Luc, who shook his head.
“Anyone who knows Richard knows how he looks after his family. I’m not shocked he did that. The bottom line is that you can’t worry about Grace’s reaction. The issue is hers, not yours, love. She is just reacting.” He paused. “So are you. You look for reasons to fight that might not be there.”
I furrowed my brow as I thought over his words. I had entered all my interactions with them in a combative fashion. Ready to walk, prepared to dislike them. And I compared their life to mine every chance I got. Everything they had that my mom and I didn’t.
Oh my God. Was Luc right?
I swallowed, pulling my legs tighter. “Well, I think I pushed them all away for good now.”
He shook his head. “Give them and yourself some space. Time is a great healer.”
“Not sure in this case.”
He hunched closer, his gaze intense. “Ashley, I love you.”
“I love you,” I replied.
“Step back and think hard over this. You have always wanted a family. You’ve been given one. Try to move past your anger and accept them for what they are now. People wanting, trying, to get to know you.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Then I think you’ll be missing out on some great people. Some wonderful memories.”
I wasn’t sure how to reply.
He kissed me, his lips pressing on mine with tenderness. “Try, love. Let them get to know the Ashley I love so much. They’ll love you too.” He paused. “I think they want to, but you keep stopping them.”
His words stayed with me for days.
Luc’s phone went off again. It had been doing so all evening, and he was getting impatient. He’d brought over his things, and we were unpacking them in between phone calls. He answered, listening and asking some rapid-fire questions. Finally, he sighed.
“Fine. I’ll book a flight out as soon as I can.”
He hung up and scrubbed his face.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Where are you going?”
“There’s an issue in the BC office. I have to go and take care of it myself.”
“Will you be gone long?”
“Hopefully not.”
“You’ve just moved in, and you’re already escaping?” I teased. “Joyce has only been gone a few days, and you’re done with me?”
He chuckled. “Trust me, love, I don’t want to. And I’ll never be done with you.” He frowned. “I hate the thought of going, but I need to be in that room working on the situation. No one else can figure it out, and the problem keeps recurring. I told them they needed everything centralized. Maybe once I solve this, they’ll give me the budget to do it.”
“Well, you book a flight, and we’ll repack a case for you.”
He kissed me. “Okay. I’m sorry.” He frowned. “With everything going on, I don’t want to leave you.”
I waved my hand. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
I hadn’t heard from anyone, and I didn’t expect to. My bank manager said he had no way of returning the funds and now that the loan was paid, it couldn’t be reopened. I removed all the extra money in the account and had it put into a bank draft which I mailed back to Richard, along with a repayment schedule for the money he’d paid off on my behalf.
He hadn’t replied.
I had spoken to Anne a couple of times, and she had been cordial and friendly. There had been no more calls or texts from Heather or Grace.
I should be happy.
Yet I wasn’t.
I hated to admit it, but I was beginning to think Luc was right. My fear of rejection was strong. It overrode my desire to get to know Richard and his family in case they found me lacking. By rejecting them first, I had the upper hand.
Except it felt as if I had lost something.
And I wasn’t sure how to get it back.
30
ASHLEY
A couple of days later, I looked around at the few unpacked boxes Luc had brought over before he’d left on his business trip. His clothes now hung in the closet, his T-shirts and underwear in the dresser Joyce had left behind and we had moved into my—our—bedroom. He hadn’t brought any furniture, laughing and shaking his head as he assured me none of it was salvageable after the years of him and his wild roommates abusing it.
“We’ll pick out some new pieces together when we’re ready.”
Joyce had left her few pieces of furniture behind, taking only her clothes and personal items. I had offered to buy them, but she refused, saying she was happy to know they were being used and to consider them a gift. So, the spare room was now a guest room, and I didn’t have to replace the side tables or the TV stand. The sofa and chair, I had purchased, as well as the TV, so it was an easy transition for everyone.