I pressed my lips together, trying to take in what she was saying. I swallowed. “And this has no end date?”
“That’s right. It’s for the rest of Michael’s life.”
It was as if she’d unlocked a brace from around my chest and suddenly there was more room to breathe.
“Thank you,” I said. “I just don’t remember ever making the application, so it’s a lot to take in.”
“I understand,” she replied. “Other charities and third parties refer cases to us from time to time. That must be it.”
I nodded. “I guess. I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Just let us have the forms and we’ll make all the necessary arrangements.”
I put the phone back down. My father’s eyes were wide. “It wasn’t a hoax?”
“I don’t think so,” I replied. “I guess we fill out the forms.”
“That means you don’t have to go to Miami,” he said.
I’d never told my dad the only reason I did the yachting season was to take care of Michael, just like he never told me he didn’t want to retire because it meant the cost of health insurance premiums would skyrocket.
This donation gave us both hope for a different kind of future.
I stood and pulled him into a hug. “I still have to go to Miami. I’ve made a commitment and anyway, I’d like to see this Lycan thing actually happen before I think about making any big changes.” My whole life had been about working to care for my brother. If Michael was really going to be looked after, where did that leave me? My entire focus had been on making enough money to look after my family.
If I didn’t have that focus, I wasn’t sure I knew who I was. I’d never allowed myself to think about what I was missing or how life might have been. I wasn’t sure if I knew how to do that.
“If this is really happening, Avery, then promise me you won’t stay doing a job you don’t like. Promise me you’ll do what you want to do, wherever in the world, whatever that is.”
I had no idea what I wanted. Hayden had been the only thing in my life I’d had just for me in seven years and to him I was nothing, just some woman who’d betrayed him.
My heart swelled at my father’s desire to have me happy and at the thought of finally being able to do something for me. Although I was excited, I wouldn’t let myself believe something so wonderful could be happening. I’d been there before. I’d thought Hayden and I would carve out a future together. Believing things could be different had caused me misery and disappointment. This time I’d hold myself back, protect my heart until I’d seen the change it promised.
Thirty-Six
Avery
Another day, another blue sky, another superyacht, but it might be my last first day of the yachting season. I glanced across the marina from the upper deck of the Venus. The view always looked prettier just before the guests arrived.
At the start of my last season, I’d been standing on a deck waiting to meet the man who would break my heart. I couldn’t help but wonder what Hayden was doing right now. At the beginning of the last season I hadn’t even met him, which seemed ridiculous since my feelings for him were so strong, as if we’d been joined together in a previous lifetime then found each other again. Yet he’d discarded me so easily. He couldn’t have felt as strongly as I had—still did. I hated myself for being in love with him. He’d betrayed me, yes, but I couldn’t hate him for it. Couldn’t switch off my love for him just like that.
My radio crackled. “Avery, Eric and Josh. This is the captain. Preferences meeting in the crew mess.”
I pulled the radio from my belt. “Roger that.” I turned and headed inside to the main salon. The guests were due to arrive within the hour so this was late for a preferences meeting, but we received it whenever the guests filled it in.
“This is pretty standard stuff, but we don’t have much time,” Captain Moss said, starting the meeting before we’d all sat down. “Six guests. They have three more for lunch today who will be leaving tonight. They’re combining business with pleasure, so they may have guests on and off the boat during the course of the charter.”
Charters that combined business entertaining tended to be a little easier. They’d want to spend a lot of time eating and drinking and all the bedrooms wouldn’t be occupied.
“One of them is a vegetarian,” the captain continued. “And one of them doesn’t eat meat, but eats fish. Another doesn’t eat carbs.”
Josh rolled his eyes but we all knew the dietary requirements could be far worse.