Page 67 of Finding Love

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

The following morning, they headed down the coast with their bags packed in the van. The rest of their things, everything Brook had deemed worthy to move, would be carefully packed up and shipped by the moving company.

All of the cars had been sold and shipped out. The Bugatti was going to a buyer overseas and was being shipped later that week.

They had accepted an offer on the house on Hunt’s Point and would close in the coming month.

The board of directors had agreed to allow him to act as CEO and run the business from Pride. He had three months to prove to them he could make it work.

He knew that he’d have to head back to the city once in a while, which is why they had decided to keep his sea plane, which was being flown to Pride by a hired pilot and parked at the town’s docks for now.

His life in Seattle was finally at an end.

Later that week, he planned on trading in the travel van for a truck. The beast had served him and Willy well over the past year. He was going to miss it. But his wandering days were over.

Brook mentioned that there were several good dealers in Edgeview, a town near Pride. They talked about heading there once they were settled so they could pick out a truck that would suit their needs better.

He couldn’t wait to get back to the small town. It was strange. His entire life, he’d lived in cities. But after last year, he’d become accustomed to the quiet and the slower pace of the country.

He parked the van at a restaurant by the river in Portland where they were going to meet his half-sister, Faith.

A wave of nerves hit him the moment they stepped into the restaurant.

He hadn’t even really given his brother a second glance. After all, the man had done so much damage that Ryder didn’t even want to think about him. But meeting Faith meant more to him, even if they weren’t full siblings.

“Hey.” Brook took his hand. “I’m right here.” She leaned up on her toes and kissed him.

“Ryder?”

They turned and saw Faith walking towards them.

John hadn’t looked like him, he’d looked like his father. Ryder had always wondered if he’d taken after his mother more than his dad. Here was the proof of that.

His sister’s features were so like his, it was instantly obvious they were related.

He rushed to meet her and wrapped his arms around her as she cried against his chest.

“You… we…” She laughed. “I’ve been looking at pictures, but I had no idea how alike we looked,” Faith said when she finally pulled back.

He chuckled. “Yeah, I always knew I hadn’t taken after my old man.”

Faith nodded. “John?”

“Looked just like him. It was a wonder I didn’t pick up on it earlier.” He shrugged.

“We have a table.” Faith motioned, then turned to Brook and held out her hand.

Brook surprised her by hugging her. “Thank you,” Brook said softly. “This could have gone on a lot longer if you hadn’t contacted Ryder.”

Faith smiled and then they followed her to a private table overlooking the water.

“I don’t know how much you know about our mother’s family,” Faith started after they had all ordered drinks.

“Nothing,” Ryder admitted. “Just that I came from good stock. Or so my father once told me. I don’t even know her maiden name.”

“Reginald was my father’s last name. My mother kept it after his death, but she was born Grace Lenore Montague,” Faith answered.

Brook gasped as Ryder stiffened.