He leaned on the counter in front of her. “You kids make me happy. I’ve never wanted more than that.”
A door slammed, Forbes, and one of the twins, padded down the hall in boxer shorts, scrubbing at his face with his hands. “You making me breakfast, Dad? I’m starving.”
“I didn’t think I’d see you at this early, Forbes. You boys didn’t get in till some ridiculous hour.”
“At least I came home.” He glanced at his sister and grinned. “Fun night out, sis?” He wiggled his hips and pretended to croon to her.
She swiped at him but he swerved out of her way.
“Mind your own business.” Aggie missed the boys, but that didn’t give them the right to question or make fun of her.
Forbes laughed and took a glass from the cupboard over the sink and filled it with water. He leaned against the counter and drained it before refilling it. “Great wedding. Wish we could’ve talked Liam into singing more. That guy can belt out a tune.”
Their father shared a glance with Aggie. “He can. Always been great at parties. Drew was lucky to get him to move back here when he bought the practice. That boy had a stellar future on the mainland.”
She squirmed under her father’s gaze. “Dad, stop trying to sell me on him. I know he’s a super guy, okay? Just maybe not for me, not now.”
“How’s the bakery going, sis? Still making lots of dough?” Forbes chortled with laughter, oblivious to the death stare Aggie gave him. Her brothers could be so not-funny sometimes. Luckily they hadn’t changed because as much as they were annoying, familiarity was comforting. Not that she’d tell them that.
“If that’s all you’re learning in college, Dad’s wasting his money.” She grinned when a hint of pink washed over her little brother’s cheeks.
“I’m doing fine. My grades are good. What more can you ask for?”
Aggie shared a glance with her father. “Maybe an indication of where you plan to go from there would be good. You only have a year left, if that. Don’t you think it’s time you settled on a plan for the future?”
He bristled under her words. “No. You didn’t; why should I be any different?” Forbes put the glass in the sink. “You worked in a pub. I might do the same or I might go travelling. Take a year off.”
“I wouldn’t be counting on me to fund that, son. Paying for college is my limit. You want to go travelling, you’d better have the money in the bank. As for working in a pub like your sister did, I have no problem with that either but your brain needs more stimulation than that. Computer science is too good a career choice to take up a job in a pub because you can. I’d hate to see you waste your education pouring beers.”
Forbes pushed his hair from his face. “So it was okay for Aggie to do it and then end up making bread instead of having a life, but I can’t do the same? That sucks.” He stormed off to the bedroom and slammed the door.
“That went well.” Aggie poked at a scratch in the countertop. She couldn’t look her father in the eye. “Is that what you all think? That I have no life?”
“It seems to be the truth, honey. Last night was the first time you’ve been anywhere with anyone since you came home, and I’m betting if it wasn’t for the wedding, you never would’ve gone out at all.”
“That’s not true. I went out with Liam before the wedding.”
He held up the spatula like a baton. “Ah, but that was only because Drew wanted to discuss wedding plans. Admit it: it’s time you did something about your life.”
As much as the words pained her, Aggie knew they were true. She’d enjoyed the wedding. Even catching the flowers hadn’t fazed her as much as she thought it would. In a small corner of her heart, she’d held those flowers and the dream they inspired until reality had set in. Before she could get too emotional over them, she’d handed them to her Aunt Gigi.
“I like doing what I’m doing. I’m a successful businesswoman. What’s wrong with that?” She was being defensive and it irked her that she couldn’t control her attitude. “Would you rather I was still cleaning up after drunks?”
Her father turned off the stove top, moved the skillet off the heat, and looked at her. “What I would like is for you to stop locking yourself away and have more than your job. You’re too young to be turning your back on life, Aggie. I want to see you happy, not merely surviving.”
“I’m fine, Dad. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Even as she said the words, Aggie wanted to scream out her frustrations. Here she was, two years later, and still she was punishing herself for one man’s deed. It wasn’t fair but no matter how much she dissected it, discussed it with April, she couldn’t move on and let the past be that. The past. It leaked into every single facet of her life, making her wary of even those she loved. It wasn’t fair and Aggie had no idea how to move on with her life.
Chapter 12
Liam walked the beach, his mood as gray as the clouds heading along the coastline. Last night had been amazing. Things couldn’t have gone any better if he’d planned it, and heaven knew he’d tried. The one thing he hadn’t allowed for was sleeping with Aggie and now he had to try and figure out how to make amends. She must be angry with him. Why else would she have snuck away before he woke up?
No note, no kiss goodbye. She must have been unimpressed with how the evening had gone. He
