“Thanks, Donna.”
She had been my administrative assistant for well over half of my career. Flighty, yet organized, she was the perfect companion to my workday. She was always the utmost professional in her dress pants or pencil skirts and pressed button-up shirts. Never a wrinkle in sight.
“Hi, Dad. What are you up to?”
“Baby girl, I actually wanted to see if you could come by this weekend. Your mother and I have some things we need to talk to you about.”
“Sure.”
“Saturday would be best. Your mother and I have plans on Friday and then Sunday, you know how our day gets full.”
“Okay, Daddy, I’ll be there. But is everything okay?”
“It will be.” He said and then cleared his throat.
“That worries me…”
“It is nothing for you to worry about it. I just need to fill you in. It’s something I was just made aware of.”
“All right. If you say so.”
“See you this weekend. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I had conference call after conference call today, and although I hated them, I was thankful for them today. I was in a state of mind that seemed as if I was in a fog. I didn’t know it was from the lack of sleep, the relentless thoughts today, or the release I had last night that my body so badly needed.
Then, of course, my father. I hoped he and my mother were okay. He wasn’t one who liked to tell my sister or me things that would make us worry. My sister and I didn’t talk very often after her move up north. Her husband was one of those who wanted her to himself. Sad really.
My phone dinged as I was falling asleep from boredom.
Cash: Emma, thank you for last night. Thank you for letting me in, for letting me make love to you, and for giving me a reason to be the best man I can be. I know, you are probably rolling your eyes at that sentence, but truly, that is what I want to be. I have a lot of things to change, but being dropped on my ass by my father was a big wake-up call that should have happened long before now. I will fill you in more on that at another time. I wish you would have woken up in my arms, rather than leaving for work before I was awake. I have to say, I haven't slept that soundly in weeks. Possibly months. I hope you sneaking out isn't a sign you felt it was another mistake, and you didn't want to face me. I could sense after our time together last night, you were beginning to regret you letting me in. Please don’t.
I hope to see you soon.
I found myself smiling ear to ear. What did one say to that sweet text? I hated to bash him and be a royal bitch, but then I also had to remember all the things he had done to me in the past. Was it really just a night of weakness? Of passion? Or was it more?
I wasn't answering that text until I knew. I had already wasted too much of my time trying to find what I longed for to be stepped on, especially by Cash.
10
CASH
I met my mother at Casa Madre, which happened to be one of my aunt Rhonda’s favorite restaurants. I hadn't frequented it often when she was alive because she wasn't a fan of mine. Rightfully so. But today that was what Mom had wanted. Who was I to say no?
Since everything happening with Galloway Investments, I had begun to spend more time with my family: my brother, his wife and daughter, and my mother. There was a part of me that realized I had already missed a lot, but I knew there wasn't anything I could do about that now. Life was life, and sadly when you finally grasped what you had missed it was too late to do anything about it.
Yeah me coming to that conclusion shocked the hell out of me as well.
I secured a table for us, and while waiting for Mom, I texted Emma a short text.
Cash: Thinking of you today. I hope I get to see and feel your lips soon.
The message was delivered but that was about all I received. Pushing the send button had never been an action that worried me, until I started to text her and that all changed.
I had transformed into a completely in love idiot and I wasn’t sure how to navigate my actions, much less my words.
“Hi, Cash.” Mom walked up to the table and as I stood gave me a quick hug before I pulled out the chair for her to sit.
“Lookie there, I had hoped you would put some of the good manners you were taught to good use one day.” My mother smelled the same all of my life, Chanel No. 5. Anytime I smelled it I thought of her, sometimes that was good, other times… not so much.
“No offense, Mom, but you weren't the one who taught us the good manners, or Dad for that matter.”
“Touché, Son. You are correct, nevertheless you have been taught them so that’s all that matters, wouldn't you agree?”
I took a sip of my water and shook my head yes in agreement. Some things were not worth the argument.
“You look pretty today,” I complimented her.
“Thank you, Son.” The waiter immediately came up to us, taking her drink order.
My mother always took good care of herself. She spent more time on herself than us boys, but I guess that was what happened when you had money. I couldn’t put the fault all on her. Today, she actually looked far more casual than her usual painted face. She was dressed in her horse riding gear, appearing to have a date with an equine after our meal.
“What a delight it is to get to spend time with you. I honestly didn't
