Page 58 of Passion and Privilege

Paisley. It was time to get things situated in my life. No more drama. It was time to move forward. Regina and her bullshit were in my past.

With a reluctant sigh, I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the contacts until I found the number I never wanted to call again, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Catherine

THE SOFT CHIME OF THE doorbell echoed through the workshop as I walked in after my trip to Albany. Dad looked up from his workbench and smiled.

“Hey, kiddo,” he greeted, wiping his hands on an old rag. “I wasn’t expecting you to come back tonight.”

I offered a tired smile. “I thought I would cook dinner for us. You’ve been working late, and with this project, I have not been keeping very good tabs on you. You need a good, home-cooked meal.”

He chuckled. “Well, I appreciate that.”

“I’ll be upstairs. Don’t stay down here too late.”

“Alright.”

I walked into the kitchen and tied my apron around my waist. I got busy cooking the grilled chicken and brown rice meal. I knew my dad had not been eating right.

I heard his footsteps coming up the stairs just as I was prepping his plate. We sat down at the small table and started to eat. I was hoping he wouldn’t look directly at me. I knew he was going to ask why I was at his house. No matter what I told him, he was going to know better.

“Why aren’t you up at the manor?” he finally asked, his tone gentle but laced with concern.

I hesitated, debating how much of the truth I should tell him. I didn’t dare tell him I let myself fall for someone who wasn’t available.

“I’ll be going up in the morning,” I told him. “I was thinking about staying here tonight if that’s okay?”

“You know it is,” he said.

I pasted on a bright smile. “Amber’s taking over at the manor,” I told him. “She needs all of us out of the way so she can do her thing.”

“I bet it’s going to look good,” he said, smiling.

“It does,” I said, nodding. “I can’t wait to see the finished product. I’m ready to get back to my normal life, though. I need to call my landlord and see how the remediation is coming along.”

The decision to distance myself from Gloriana Manor felt like a necessary step. I needed to get back to my regular life. Timothy was not going to be mine. It would be easier to move on if I didn’t have to see him. The bulk of the work was done and there was no reason for me to go back. Sex with Timothy had been a mistake.

“Speaking of your living arrangements, I have something for you. A surprise.”

“A surprise?”

He chuckled and got up from the table. He handed me an envelope. I opened it and froze as I stared at the real estate listing for a house.

“Dad, what’s this?”

“It’s your dream house.”

“Really, Dad? A house?” I stammered, the unexpectedness of the gesture catching me off guard.

“It’s a fresh start for you, Catherine,” he explained, excitement lacing his words. “A place you can turn into your own, away from the complications up at that manor.”

“How?” I asked. “You can’t afford this. You should take it. You deserve to live in a house instead of this tiny apartment.”

He shook his head. “No, no,” he protested, waving off my concerns with a hearty laugh. “It’s my surprise to you. I want you to have it. I don’t need or want a house. It’s too much work. I like the simplicity of my apartment. No yard work.”

“But, Dad.”