Chapter 62

CHAPTER 62

SIMON

I sat across from Marsha at our favorite coffee shop in Houston. She had come to do a little shopping now that she had officially quit her job and had a lot of free time. It was a cozy little place that always smelled of freshly ground beans and cinnamon and no one bothered me. It was one of the places I could go without being harassed.

She was stirring her latte absentmindedly, a distant look in her eyes. I took a sip of my black coffee and leaned back in my chair, waiting for her to tell me why she was really in Houston. She could go shopping in Dallas just the same.

"So, tell me about this job limbo you're in," I said, breaking the silence. "Where's your head at with that? I know I ran out in the middle of our conversation last time, and we haven't had a chance to talk about it again."

Marsha looked up at me. I could see a hint of fear, like she was afraid of what I might say. I understood why she felt that way. I had not been kind to her over the years. I had been judgy and cranky and a little resentful she wasn't immediately thrust into the role of a CEO at the ripe age of twenty-one.

"What is it, Marsha?"

"I've been thinking a lot, actually. I might go back to school and start over."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "School, huh? What are you thinking?"

A glint appeared in her eyes, and she smiled. "Law school."

I couldn't help but grin. It was perfect for her. "Law school, really? That's just the right fit for you. Merciless. Relentless in the pursuit of what you want. Clever. Educated. Bold. I can see it."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Thanks, Simon. That means a lot coming from you."

I leaned forward, my expression serious. "I mean it, Marsha. You'll be great. And if you need help with school fees, I can cover it."

Marsha waved her hand dismissively. "No, I appreciate it, but I want to do it myself. I have the money. And if I need a backup plan, you'll be the first person I call."

I nodded, respecting her decision. "Fair enough. Just know the offer stands."

She gave me a genuine smile. "Thank you, Simon. Really."

She had always been independent, wanting to forge her own path. I was sure that was why she chose not to go into the family business. She wanted to do it on her own. I envied her and was a little jealous.

There was a moment of comfortable silence as we both sipped our drinks. Then Marsha tilted her head, looking at me with concern. "So, how's Rylee?"

I hesitated, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. I hadn't told anyone about our break, but Marsha was my sister, and she deserved to know. "We're on a break," I admitted, my voice low.

"A break?" she asked. "What is that?"

"The last month has been a lot for her." I sighed. "Getting egged and she was at the house when they threw the brick through the window. Then I had her holed up in the penthouse for too long. She knows people hate me. Then the family drama. It was too much. She asked for some space to get her head straight."

"I'm sorry." She sighed. "It's a lot to take in, but I think she's strong enough to handle your life."

"I guess Mom must've known I'd screw it up somehow. She warned me, and I still lost her."

Marsha gave me a small smile. "Don't give up hope, Simon. Rylee is a strong woman. I think, when push comes to shove, she'll trust her gut and her heart. You just have to give it time. She's tough. I have a feeling it's just such a different way of life for her. She seems like a pretty humble woman that is used to hard work and doing for herself. She's not used to the kinds of demands that are on you in your position."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I sure hope so. For now, I just have to wait."

"And waiting will be the hardest part," Marsha added with a sympathetic look.

"Yeah, I'm not exactly patient," I admitted, swirling the last of my coffee around in the cup.

"Take the time to focus on yourself, too. It's not only about Rylee. Remember you're a person as well. You need to do a little soul-searching. If you're going to be with this woman, you need to be all-in. You're going to have to make some changes to the way you do things. Be a good boyfriend."

"You're right as always," I agreed. "It's just so hard not knowing what's going to happen next. I'm used to being in control. I make the decisions. In this situation, I'm just along for the ride."

"Well, that's life, isn't it?" Marsha said with a shrug. "Sometimes we make the decisions, and sometimes the decisions are made for us. Besides, this could be a good time for you to learn patience."

I smirked at her comment. "Patience has never been my strong suit," I confessed.

She leaned back in the chair, studying me. "But maybe it's time to make it one," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Patience allows you to watch people and how they react instead of steamrolling over them."

I didn't reply immediately. I digested her words, wondering why I hadn't listened to her before. Probably because she wasn't really talking to me. "You're right," I agreed.

"You'll never guess who I hung out with the other night," she said.

"You're right." I laughed.

"Matthew and Carmen. They had me over for a game night with some mutual friends. You'll never believe it, but they actually said something nice about you for a change."

I looked at her, surprised and full of disbelief. "Oh?"

Marsha laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Matthew is impressed with how you've handled the oil spill. He says you've changed."

A rush of pride filled me. "Really?"

"He followed it up by saying you were still an arrogant ass who clutched his coin purse tighter than an elderly cat lady at the grocery store, but still," she added, laughing. "It's progress."

I laughed too, shaking my head. "I'll take it. It's definitely progress. I don't think I'll be invited to game night anytime soon, but I guess we can call it baby steps."

"Exactly." She nodded. "By the way, I saw the press release."

"Which one?" I asked.

"The one about you paying off mortgages," she said. "Is that true?"

"Yep." I nodded.

We both stood after finishing our coffee.

"Why?" she asked. "I'm sure you could have settled for a lot less. If I was your lawyer, I would have negotiated with them."

I laughed. "Well, once you're an official lawyer, I'll eagerly hire you. However, my legal team did try and give me negotiation tips, but it was the right thing to do. That's all they asked for. And when you think about it, it's fair."

"I agree, but I never would have thought you would think that," she teased.

"I know. And now I get to help with the cleanup."

"Not actually you," she said.

"Yes, me. The whole office. We're all getting into the muck. This needs to be a lesson we all learn. Did all of us have an actual hand in the mess? No. But we all work for the company, and we all have to take responsibility."

"I'm guessing not everyone shares your sentiments."

I grinned. "Not so much, but they'll figure it out. I think this little punishment will make all of us just a little more aware of what's happening."

"I admire your initiative, really," Marsha said. "Just don't push yourself too hard. It's commendable to want to set things right, but you can't wave a magic wand and fix the world."

As we walked down the street, I felt a sense of contentment. My relationship with Marsha had come a long way, and I had Rylee to thank for that. She had opened me up to letting people in, and now I was seeing the benefits of that vulnerability. It just sucked Rylee wasn't around to see the result of her hard work.

Marsha and I continued to chat as we walked, talking about everything and nothing. It felt good to be close to her again, to share these moments without the tension that had once existed between us. Rylee had helped me see the importance of family, and I was determined not to let that go. In the end, Marsha was really the last ally besides my mother, and I wasn't foolish enough to ignore the fact she was getting older.

We paused in front of a music store with a baby grand in the window.

"Remember when we were kids and Mom used to make us take lessons and then drag us to those terrible piano recitals?" Marsha said, grinning.

I groaned, laughing at the memory. "How could I forget? I was awful."

"You weren't that bad. You just hated it so much."

"True," I admitted. "But you were great. Always showing me up."

Marsha rolled her eyes. "Please, I was just as miserable as you. But we got through it together."

"Yeah, we did," I said, smiling.

I walked her to her car. We parted ways with a hug, and as I walked back to my car, I felt a renewed sense of determination. I would wait for Rylee, and I would fight for her. Our relationship was worth it. I would give her the week she was asking for but then I was going to reach out. I was going to prove to her I was ready to fight.

I drove home, thinking about how much life had changed since she had come back into it. I had grown, and I hoped that Rylee could see that. That she would see the drama was manageable. There was always going to be something, but it didn't mean it had to dominate my life.

When I got home, I found myself scrolling through my phone, looking at pictures of Rylee. Each photo was a reminder of the happiness we had shared. I was confident we could find that again. It would just take time and patience. The big P word. If there was a pill I could take daily to give me patience, I would take it in a heartbeat.

I set my phone down, made myself a drink, and settled onto the couch. The house was quiet as usual. I sipped my drink, letting the warmth spread through me. I wanted to do something for Marsha. She was so strong, so determined. I admired that about her. She was ready to jump into something new. I knew she wouldn't take money from me, but maybe I could get her a nice gift. My first thought was to ask Rylee what I should get her. Then I remembered I couldn't.

It was crazy to think about how much I had come to depend on Rylee. I valued her opinion. I loved being able to talk things through with her. She had become my other half. I refused to even think about what happened if she decided she didn't want to be with me. My mind refused to accept that possibility, instead focusing on the hope that she would see the growth in me and want to stay.

Staring into the glass in my hand, I thought of all the things we had shared, the moments of laughter, and the exploration of historical sites. She had become the anchor in my life. I was a better person because of her.

She had to come back to me.