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His assurance made me smile.
Our tacos arrived, and I bit into mine—delicious as always. “I wanted to thank you for bringing me food every day, but it really should stop after this.”
“Okay,” he said after finishing chewing.
Okay? Did that mean he’d finally accepted that we couldn’t be together and would soon be across the pond where he belonged? Where he could fulfill his destiny?
“Is this goodbye?” I asked.
I’d been the one to bring this about, but even so, the reality of it hit me hard. Still, I knew it was the right thing and the only way forward for him, because there was no way forward for us.
He looked up, unaware of the turmoil running rampant in my mind. “Yes and no. I told you I’m leaving Rossi’s. Today is my last day, actually.”
My stomach rebelled. I put down the taco I held lest I choke on it. If this was his last day, I wouldn’t even be there for everybody when they announced Wenzel would be taking the reins. They’d need someone to console them, to assure them things would work out. I’d do my damnedest to see that they worked out. But they’d face the announcement alone because I wouldn’t be there, not today.
I pushed the plate away.
“Something wrong with the tacos?”
“No.” I decided to be as honest as he’d always demanded. “The conversation.”
“Yeah, I get it. Let’s talk about something happier—at least I think it’s happier.”
I drank my Coke and waited for the inevitable.
“I got everything straightened out. It’s all going to be fine.”
And there it was, the latest feeble attempt to tell me everything would be okay when I knew it wouldn’t. It couldn’t.
“I don’t believe you. It can’t work.”
One plus one could never equal three. The constraints could never be met.
“I thought you might say that…again.”
I had been a bit of a broken record. “Yes, that’s because I’m being logical. I won’t start down a road that only leads to heartbreak.”
Josh placed his phone on the empty place setting. “Then let’s hear it from the horse’s mouth.” He tapped the screen a few times.
“Hello, Nicole.” Lloyd’s voice came out of the phone. “This is Lloyd Benson, and I wish I could speak to you in person, but I’m on my way to Europe— London, actually—today, and so this recording will have to suffice.”
“What is this?” I asked, speaking over the recording.
He stopped the audio. “You promised to stay for the entire meal, and this is the rest of it. If you’ll listen, I think you’ll understand.”
I crossed my arms and huffed.
He backed it up and started it again. “…have to suffice. Josh thinks you’ll object.”He got that part right. “But please indulge an old man and listen to what I have to say before you make up your mind.”
I guess Josh hadn’t told him I’d already made up my mind.
The message continued. “As you know, I have been after Josh to take over our London office for a little while now, and he used to be looking forward to that. But after meeting you, that changed for him. Now that we’ve had the pleasure of meeting you, ourselves, his mother and I agree with his choice to stay here with you. Robin, by the way, sends her regards. Now, back to the subject at hand. Josh has explained to me your trepidation that his not taking the London assignment will cause friction between him and me. Well, I’ve solved that particular issue. Josh’s sister Serena—who is quite the accomplished management consultant, I might add—has requested that she be considered for the London posting. And—”
I put my hand up.
Josh stopped the playback.
“He’s letting your sister into the company?” I’d thought it was a men’s club of sorts.
