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She looked at Cody again. “Nate proved her wrong.”
Cody grinned. “Yes. He did. In a very big way.”
“Good for him.” She looked so proud of her dad. Then her eyes turned stormy again when she looked at Charles. “You and I are going to have a long talk about this, Pappy.”
Cody caught himself before he laughed at the nickname Summer used only in private.
The look Charles shot him told him to keep his damn mouth shut. “I look forward to it, Ladybug. Chocolate cake, liquor-laced hot chocolate, and a heated discussion. My favorite kind of evening.”
“Over a game of chess,” she added, and gave him a cocky grin.
He rolled his eyes. “I should have never taught you how to play.”
“I wouldn’t want your over-inflated ego to go unchecked.”
“Huh,” he huffed out, and sat back deeply in his chair, content that the two of them would be fine in the end. Oh, she’d have her say, put him in his place, and whip him at chess, but she’d already decided to forgive him. She was still his little girl.
Summer sighed before turning back to Cody. “When do you want to leave?”
Cody stuffed his hands in his pockets. “As soon as you’re packed.There’s plenty of room for you at the house. Stay as long as you like.”
“You can’t be serious about leaving with this man!” Jessica protested. “You don’t even know him.”
“I’m going. There’s nothing you can say to stop me.”
“But I just got back. Roger and I want to celebrate our marriage. I thought we’d throw a huge party at the house. You have to be there.”
“I’ll be at the next one,” Summer said in all seriousness.
This time Charles had to catch himself before he laughed.
“No offense, Roger.” Summer truly didn’t mean it as a joke or a jab. It was just reality when it came to Jessica. “Enjoy being a newlywed, Mother. After all, this is your favorite part.”
Jessica turned to Charles. “Dad, you can’t just let her leave. She has responsibilities to you and this company. She can’t just leave!” Jessica leaned into Roger for support. “You can’t do this. You can’t pick Nate over me. Daddy, stop her!”
“She’s a grown woman. She knows her own mind.” Charles had expected Summer to want to meet her family once she found out about them. He’d hoped she’d make the discovery without him getting caught meddling, but everything was in the open now.
As much as he wanted to hold on tight to Summer, he needed to let her go and do this on her own. He’d steered her into working for him, knowing full well one day the company would be hers. But he wanted her to want it. And lately, he’d seen how she went through the motions with efficiency and an expertise she’d gained being by his side all these years. But she wasn’t happy.
And he wanted her to be.
Personally, and professionally.
Summer proved him right by laying out her next steps. “Amanda and Leslie will cover for me and hire temps to see to their other duties,” Summer said emphatically.
“It takes two people to cover for you?” Cody asked.
Summer gave Cody an appraising look. “Yes. It does.”
Charles’s chest puffed out with pride. “And those two won’t be half as good as you.”
Her eyes went wide with surprise at his rare praise. She deserved it. “Of course, you’ll be able to reach me on my cell for anythingimportant.”
“When do you think you’ll be back?” he asked, because although he’d never admit it, the office wouldn’t run smoothly without her here. And he’d miss her.
“I have thirty-two days of vacation time saved up. Maybe that’s enough time to make up for the twenty-five years I missed with my father. Maybe it’s not. We’ll see.”
Jessica stood. “You can’t possibly think to spend... what? Like six weeks with your father. Summer, please. We need to talk about this. Give me a chance to explain,” Jessica pleaded.
