Page 57 of Hearts of Wealth

Catherine

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I WALKED INTO MY DAD’S room and found him sitting up in bed, his eyes fixed on the television screen. It was an old John Wayne movie, one I happened to know he had watched at least a hundred times. I could see the tension in his shoulders, a sign that he was still recovering.

“How are you feeling, Dad?” I asked, approaching the bed with concern etched on my face.

He glanced at me and offered a small smile. “I’m fine, Catherine,” he replied, his voice reassuring. “Just ready to get back to work, you know.”

I frowned, not entirely convinced by his words. “Dad, you just had a heart attack,” I reminded him gently. “You need to take it easy for a while.”

John waved off my concerns with a dismissive gesture. “I don’t need to be fussed over,” he insisted, his tone firm. “I’ll be back on my feet in no time.”

I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with him when he was in this stubborn mood. Instead, I decided to broach the topic that had been weighing heavily on my mind. “Timothy told me he talked to you about me moving into Gloriana Manor,” I said.

With the two of them spending so much time together, they were talking—a lot. It was nice to have someone checking in on Dad while I worked. And it was good for my dad to get to know Timothy and see he was more than just some rich guy using me for entertainment until he could go back to his life in New York.

“He did.” He nodded. “He told me that was why he was at the shop that day. I have to say, I’m pretty glad he was.”

“You and me both,” I muttered. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know, I’m not going to be moving in there.”

“Because of me?” he asked.

“No.”

“Liar,” he scoffed.

“It’s not like I can’t move in there after you’re back on your feet,” I said. “Besides, I’d like to finish the house. You’re moving in here.”

“I never said I was going to be moving in here,” he retorted.

“Dad! It’s a beautiful house. If I move in with Timothy, we don’t want this house sitting empty. Why would you keep staying in that tiny apartment when you could have this house?”

“Because this is your house,” he said.

“But if I live with Timothy...”

“We’ll see. For now, I want you to move in with Timothy. You can’t put your life on hold for me. I can see how much Timothy means to you.”

I felt a surge of emotion well up inside me at his words. “But Dad, I can’t just leave you here,” I protested, my voice catching in my throat. “You need me.”

He shook his head, his gaze steady as he met mine. “Catherine, you have your own life to live,” he said gently. “I don’t want you to spend all your time taking care of me. You deserve to be happy.”

I swallowed back the lump forming in my throat. On one hand, I longed to be with Timothy and start a new chapter of my life with him. On the other hand, the thought of leaving my dad behind filled me with guilt and apprehension.

“I am happy,” I said. “I don’t need to live with Timothy to be with him. He’s still going to love me. We’ll spend time together.”

“Listen, sweetheart,” he said softly. “I’ll make you a deal. Move in with Timothy, and I’ll come with you. I’ll stay at Gloriana Manor until I’m back on my feet.”

I blinked back tears, deeply touched by his offer. “But Dad, are you sure?” I asked, my voice trembling with emotion.

“I’m not an idiot,” he said. “I know what Timothy has been angling for. He’s made it very clear the house is big enough for a small army. I know he wants you under his roof. I’ll stay there for a little bit, but as soon as I get a clean bill of health, I’m going home.”

“Home is here,” I said. “When you’re back on your feet, this will be your home.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you are one very stubborn young lady?”

I laughed. “I’ve heard that. I’ve also been told it’s an inherited trait from my father.”