Always With You (The Connor Family 6)

I bit down a smile. She was nervous. She hadn’t shown one ounce of nervousness when she’d come to my office the very first time, and I’d been as cooperative as a rock. But meeting my parents made her nervous.

“You’re beautiful, Hailey.”

My parents came in just as I stood up as well. Mom’s eyes widened as she looked between us.

“Ooooh, we didn’t know you had company.”

Hailey shook hands with both of my parents, who looked thrilled when she told them her name.

“Oh, you’re the girl who’s shaken up his life a bit.”

Hailey blinked, looking at me questioningly.

“Well, we were about to talk him into dinner, but we don’t want to interrupt you kids,” Dad said. I gave him points for trying, but we both knew Mom wasn’t done.

“So, what other plans do you have for tonight?” she asked.

“Well, we were just going to play it by ear.” Hailey was biting down a smile.

“Not locked up here in this office, I hope.”

“Mom,” I warned. She ignored me.

Hailey laughed. “Don’t you worry, Mrs. Davenport. I’m not done shaking up his life. Would you like to join us for dinner? We can order more food. The chefs here are very quick.”

“Well, if you don’t mind,” Mom said. I was sure she was already thinking about grandkid names again.

“Of course not,” Hailey assured her.

Ten minutes later, we were all sitting around the coffee table.

“Mrs. Davenport, where did you find that top? I love it.”

“Oh, online. I love shopping online. I don’t remember the store, but I can look it up.”

“Thank you.”

I was relieved that Hailey wasn’t put off by Mom’s eccentricity in the slightest. Mom talked loudly, and her choice of clothes usually included at least one neon color—like the bright orange top—but Hailey was chatting with Mom as if they were old friends.

“I got my hands all dirty,” Hailey said after she finished. “I’ll go to the ladies’ room to clean up.”

“I’ll come with you,” Mom said.

The second they left, Dad leaned forward in his chair. I expected him to ask about ROI and the P&L statement, as he usually did when he stopped by.

“That’s a fine woman.”

I was shocked. Dad rarely said anything about my personal life. “I know.”

“Glad we got to meet her.”

“Dad....”

“Son, I know the pressure you’re feeling. I felt that too, in my time. I thought the only way to make it work was to give the business my all. It didn’t do me much good. Not just health-wise, but I didn’t do right by your mother. I didn’t give her nearly as much attention as she deserved, left everything related to raising you to her. In some ways, the stroke was a blessing. I had a second chance with Bianca. But you felt all the pressure instead. I didn’t set a good example, I know that. But for the love of God, don’t follow too closely in my footsteps.”

I didn’t know what to say. I liked taking care of my parents’ legacy, but I wasn’t a workaholic. I used to be, in the early years, but that had been necessary, until I could understand the business inside out, until I found a routine that worked. Now, I put in normal work hours, just had a very strict schedule. Could I enjoy life more? Probably. But I could honestly say I’d never felt as if I wanted things to be different.

Until Hailey, at least.