Time for a shower and to begin working on a plan. I had a little over two hours to make it happen.
“Was that the Noch boy?” Mom asked as she pressed her hand against her mouth and looked down the hall in the direction Jack had run.
I’d heard his parting words. He’d said he loved me. If I wasn’t sitting in bed naked with the sound of my dad approaching… Oh, hell, my dad.
Jumping from my bed, I ran for the bathroom. Slamming the door behind me, I quickly flipped the lock. My heart was thumping so loud that it sounded like someone was knocking.
Then it dawned on me, someone was knocking.
“Naiva… please open the door,” Mom called through the door.
Remaining silent I waited and hoped she’d grow tired and leave.
“I only came to talk to her about the B&B, Liam. I didn’t expect to find…”
“Nora, you should have knocked. She’s a grown woman. That’s why we decided to sell in the first place.”
“I know we wanted to allow her to have a life of her own, Liam, but –”
“No, buts, Nora. You should have knocked,” Dad’s voice was firm.
“I did!” I swear it sounded like Mom stomped her foot and was probably pouting.
What did they mean they were selling because of me? Letting the thoughts run through my mom I washed up and took care of the basic morning necessities. Luckily, I had a robe in my bathroom which I slipped on before slowly cracking the door and looking into my room.
A groan escaped as I saw my dad sitting in the chair in the corner of my room.
“Can we chat a bit, baby girl?” he asked and gave me a grin as he motioned to my bed.
“Dad, I’d really rather not talk about –” My stomach felt queasy as I looked at my messed-up sheets and then flicked my gaze to my dad.
“Naiva, sit,” Dad ordered, no longer trying to sweet-talk me.
Automatically I walked over and dropped to the bed with a huff. I was fully willing to admit that I was being petulant. But seriously, I had a good reason. Not only was my dad most likely going to give me the talk but he was going to discuss the selling of the B&B by what I heard him and my mom say to each other. I didn’t want to discuss either subject.
“Sweetheart,” Dad sighed. “Selling this place wasn’t an easy decision. Your mom and I have discussed it on more than one occasion over the years.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised by his admission. “I didn’t know you were unhappy here?”
“It’s not that, Naiva. It’s more…” Dad waved his hand in the air as he searched for the right words. “All of us have given everything to this place. When your mom and I took over, your great-grandmother and grandparents were still alive and they all helped out. Things were different back then as well. Life was simpler. It was easy to make ends meet.”
Dad’s gaze grew distant and I could tell he was thinking of something fondly.
“But, Naiva… you could run this place if you have a staff but you can’t make it and pay them. Does that make sense? Your mother and I have noticed how much you’ve given up to be here and help us. But we want you to have a life of your own, sweetheart. We want you to be able to follow your dreams.”
“And what if my dream is to run this place?” I sulked.
“I’m not blind, sweetheart, I can tell you don’t enjoy the hotel side of things. Now the kitchen… now that you enjoy.” Dad grinned at me as if to let me know it was okay — that it didn’t bother him that I didn’t like running the hotel part of our family business.
It was true. The cafe was my life. It gave me joy.
“Baby girl, your mom and I are going to give you a nest egg. We want you to use it to follow your dreams. If that means you go back to school, travel, or start your own cafe somewhere else, then we will be happy for you. But we want it to be something you decide. Not something you do out of duty.” Dad patted my leg and we sat in silence for a while.
“What are you and mom going to do?” I finally asked.
A grin crossed his lips and dad turned to me – “We’re going to travel Europe first and then we’re thinking of settling in Hawaii.”
“Oh, Dad. That sounds amazing.” My heart lightened as I took in his excitement.
“Yeah, for once we’ll be the ones being taken care of,” he laughed.
“Well, you deserve it,” I assured him.
“Now, what about this boy?” He sobered and looked at me closely.
My cheeks flared with heat and I was positive they were bright with my embarrassment.
“Can we not discuss this, Dad?” I pleaded.
“Naiva, you know those boys like him only want one thing,” Dad reprimanded.
“Jack’s different, Dad,” I whispered and dad huffed.
“Men are all the same and none of them are good enough for my baby girl.” Dad crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the wall.
“Dad…” I wasn’t sure what to say, I could understand how this situation could be difficult for my dad. We’d always been close and Jack along with the upcoming changes at home… well, we wouldn’t be able to be so close anymore.
“You sure he’s different?” Dad’s gruff voice betrayed his emotion.
“Yes. He told mom he loved me before he ran down the hall.” A smile curved up my lips and I heard Dad
