I’ve taken the first step to making my dream come true. Now, it’s up to Ethan.
He puts the folder down on his desk.
This is it. Moment of truth.
“You don’t want to be in business anymore?” Ethan asks me.
“No,” I answer. “Frankly, I’m not sure I ever wanted to be. I’m not saying I don’t like it here or that I regret being here. I’ve learned so much in the past seven years. But I think I came here because it was the easiest place to be. You know how I used to follow you around? I think I ended up following you here. And now, I realize I don’t want to do that anymore.”
Ethan nods. “I see.”
“I’m not quitting the corporate world entirely. I just want to be on the philanthropic side. I want to give away money, not make money. I want to make sure that the money you and Asher work hard to bring in is put to good use. I want to use it to help transform this world into a better place.”
Ethan falls silent. He taps his fingers on the folder.
What is he thinking? Is he mad? Is he looking for a reason to turn down my request?
“I know establishing the Hawthorne Foundation isn’t going to be easy, but frankly, it’s an idea we should have thought of before.”
“We did,” Ethan says. “Actually, Dad said Mom was thinking about it a lot before she died.”
She was?
“Maybe she wants you to be the one to do it.”
“But you don’t think I should?”
“Actually…” He gets up from his chair and walks around his desk towards me. “I can’t think of a better person for it.”
My eyes grow wide. “You mean it?”
Ethan nods. “I’ll tell the Board about this and Dad, too. I’ll make sure everyone gets on board before I take my leave.”
My jaw drops as joy fills my chest. I go over to him and give him a hug.
“Thank you.”
Ethan pats my back and shakes his head. “No need to thank me. I may be your boss, but I’m also your big brother, and it’s my job to look after you and make sure you get the life you want.”
“Still, thank you,” I tell him. “And I’m sorry that I have to go back on what I said about helping Asher run the company while you’re not here.”
“Don’t be. Asher will be fine. He’s been more reliable since Violet showed up.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “You just go and be happy.”
I nod and turn to leave.
“Ryker?”
I turn back to face Ethan. “Yes?”
“I’m proud of you. Asher and I and Dad all are.”
Pride floods my chest, filling the void left by the weight of people’s expectations that somehow just disappeared. I smile.
“Thanks, big brother.”
“Take care, little brother,” he says. “And have fun in Jamaica.”
“I will.”
I walk out of his office with my smile intact. I feel like a new man, a free man. I feel like a man with a purpose. And it’s all because of Claire.
I’m going to Jamaica to get her back.Chapter Twenty-OneClaire
“You’re here!” Natalie throws herself into Joel’s arms as he appears on the beach. “You’re finally here.”
“Yup.” Joel hugs her tight. “And I’m ready to get married.”
They kiss. I start to walk away so I can leave them alone.
“Hey!” Joel calls after me. “Aren’t you going to say hello to your brother?”
“Hello,” I tell him without much enthusiasm.
Truth be told, I don’t have much enthusiasm for this wedding or for anything else lately. Not since Ryker and I broke up.
“Just leave her alone,” Natalie tells Joel. “She’s tired.”
I am tired. Tired of hurting, and yet I can’t seem to find a way to make it stop.
“Okay,” Joel says.
“Is Ryker with you?” Natalie asks him.
Just at the mention of his name, my heart stops. Why? Why can’t I forget about him?
“Yes. He went to his cottage.”
So he came. I was afraid he wouldn’t come. And then there was a part of me that hoped he wouldn’t so I didn’t have to see him.
Natalie wraps her arm around Joel’s waist. “You want to see ours?”
“Sure.”
Joel puts his arm around Natalie’s shoulder and they walk away, leaving me alone on the beach. Alone.
I walk along the shore.
Here I am on this beautiful beach where the sun has just set and the sand is soft beneath my feet and the breeze is blowing through my hair. And I’m all alone.
Natalie has Joel. The other women I’ve seen have their own men to kiss and swim with and walk on the beach with. And I’m all alone.
I’m starting to wonder if maybe I’m going to be alone all my life.
The loneliness makes me consider going to Ryker’s cottage to talk. Who knows? Maybe we can still get back together. Maybe we just misunderstood each other. Maybe he loves me after all.