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I reach the last of Ben’s texts in the thread and read it with tears brimming in my eyes.
You know, son, I think I might have been wrong all these years. I’ve been so focused on work and material success that I failed to ever take into consideration how you feel about your life and what would make you happy. I’m sorry about that. Let’s talk soon.
I glance up at Ainsley and find a knowing look there. “You can see why I thought he had a brain tumor. The man has never once in his life admitted he was wrong.”
I toss the phone at him and stand, walking over to the window. “I don't see what this has to do with me.”
“Are you kidding me? It has everything to do with you. You guys got together right after I left, and since then, he’s been morphing from T-Rex Control Freak Dad into a human being who wants to get to know me. You expect me to believe that’s a coincidence?”
“Maybe not, but it doesn't mean he’s going to forgive me. I lied. I deceived him.”
“That’s not why he left. He respects people going after what they want in unorthodox ways. You may have surprised him, and embarrassed him, but this doesn’t have to be the end.”
I sink down to the floor with my back to the wall, the curtains blowing in the breeze above my head. “I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know how to do it. He said it was over. He left. And you think I can just…what? Go to New York and demand that he give me another chance?”
Ainsley sits up, pocketing his phone and fixing me with a sly smile. “I’ll make you a deal.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ben
It doesn’t take long to go from my decision outside Victoria’s door to bumping toward the dock in the green golf cart.
There’s not a lot of crossover between my life in the States and my life on this island, so once I pack up my few toiletries and electronics, I’m out the door.
The helicopter is waiting for me as usual, the pilot coming out of the small, metal paneled aviation office strapping on his helmet as I park.
“Where’s the lady?” he asks, the first dagger in my side coming much sooner than expected.
“Just me today,” I answer, keeping my face and voice emotionless.
It’s a damn good thing I spent years perfecting this poker face. I’m going to need it. I’m a tornado of feelings right now and the last thing I need is for anyone to pick up on that. Not until I get my steel walls back in place.
The walls Victoria shattered.
My first stop on Faraday probably isn’t the best choice considering my uncharacteristically fragile emotional state, but I don’t have a lot of choice. These guys have all shown up for me over the years, in their own ways, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to return the favor.
Sam’s house is close to The Sands, but down a narrow, coral sand road through the jungle that makes for slow going. He bought this property the first year we owned the resort, wanting to have a place to fix up and make his own.
We tried to talk him out of it, me especially. We had just acquired a ghost resort on an island in the middle of nowhere. It seemed like plenty of project for any man. But Sam wasn’t going to be deterred. He wanted to make a home for himself, and I guess he saw it in this run-down acre of near swamp land, with its three one-room shacks and dilapidated outbuildings.
I was perfectly aware at the time that purchasing anything nicer would have required taking yet another loan from one of us guys. And, while we would have been happy to hand over the money, it’s understandable that Sam didn’t think that was a great option.
We’ve all got something to prove in life, and for Sam, that amounts to showing everyone, us guys especially, that he can stand on his own two feet after being the recipient of handouts from our families for most of his life.
I can’t even imagine how I would have turned out if I was in the same position. My independence and pride weigh heavy on my shoulders. I would’ve ended up in jail or worse. Not Sam. He grew up to be the kind, gracious manager that absentee investors can only dream of. He’s everyone’s favorite person, something that’s painfully obvious when all of us guys are out together.
I turn the final corner onto his property and park next to one of the many carts already there. I know Ainsley isn’t here yet, because I just left him at the house, but I can see Dom and Ave’s vehicles, as well as a dozen others I don’t recognize.
This many people turned up on a random Wednesday afternoon to help Sam dig out his flooded yard and rebuild his outbuilding.
I doubt this many people would come to my funeral.
I shake off the thought, cursing my mind for lowering itself to such base concerns and plaster on a calm but sympathetic face when I come down to the crowd of guys hard at work in Sam’s yard.
He spots me right away and waves, wiping sweat from his face with his dirty tee before walking over. “Hey, man. I didn’t know you were coming by.”
My brow furrows as I nod and glance around once more at the men hard at work. I wish I’d stopped by to help, not just to say goodbye, but I suppose it’s better than nothing. “Yeah. I was headed to the water taxi and thought I’d stop by and see how things are going here.”
