Pushed

Chapter 9

After a fitful night’ssleep with visions of Aurora commandeering both my waking and dreaming thoughts, I slammed my hand blindly over my alarm clock.

As tempting as it was to call in sick, I had too much to get done today. My goal was to get everything organized so I could work from the farm by the end of next week.

Stepping out of the elevators and into our office suite, I greeted each person I passed, complimenting them on how they looked, asking about their families, making jokes. My office felt like my home away from home—I’d spent enough time here to earn the designation, that’s for sure—and I treated my coworkers like family.

My assistant, Olivia, was definitely the mother figure in this scenario, at least for me. Stationed at her desk, as expected, her shoulder length auburn hair was streaked with gray, and her round glasses perched on the end of her nose. The epitome of professionalism, she wore a different color suit and skirt for each day of the week. Today was a blue day.

Olivia was the absolute best at what she did. She kept me on top of my game. Her very serious, stoic, no-nonsense nature balanced out my happy-go-lucky personality. Since we started working together five years ago, I’d made it my goal to break through her tough exterior, get her to let her guard down and relax a little. Maybe even smile. I’d only been mildly successful in that regard, but I kept trying.

“Top o’ the mornin’ to you, Olivia. I brought you a cinnamon roll this morning to show my appreciation for all that you do.” I handed her a small to-go box. “Hope you don’t mind, but it smelled so good I couldn’t help but take a bite. But how can you take just one bite of that cinnamony goodness?”

She peeked into the box at the half-eaten roll. Her face twisted in annoyance as her eyes rolled to the heavens.

“I’m just kidding. That one’s mine.” I replaced the box in her hands with another I’d hidden behind my back. “This one is for you. Did you really think I’d buy you something and eat half of it?” I put up one hand to stop her from responding. “Don’t answer that.”

“Thank you, sir. Your coffee is on your desk.”

I picked up the cup and took a big whiff. “Ah, coffee. Like a hug in a mug, but without the awkward physical contact. Thanks, Olivia. I feel the love.”

She shook her head and returned to her work.

“Hey, Olivia. How are we doing with the McCaffrey accounts?”

“They’re all squared away. The files have been updated. Everything you need is there.”

“Wonderful. And how about my meeting schedule?”

“I’ve contacted everyone and changed all the meetings to virtual. Even the board meeting for Cabot and Thorne will be online. It took some convincing to get them to agree to that. The only one that had a problem with that was Arthur Bannerly, who always insists on meeting face to face. But that meeting is not for another month. They’re all on your calendar.”

“You are a marvel, Olivia. What would I do without you?”

“Not much, I’m afraid,” she said with a flat tone but a twinkle in her eye.

“Ha! Look at that. You made a joke and almost smiled. Or at least, I could tell you wanted to. My day has been made.”

“Who said I was joking?” Her voice remained stoic, but I felt the love, anyway. She would miss me when I was gone. “I’ll still be here in the office, keeping everything in order for you.”

“I’m so grateful for that. Truly, I am.” I flipped through the files Olivia had stacked neatly on my desk. It was all there, and perfectly organized, as usual. “Is there anything I need to be here for this coming week?”

“No. I wasn’t sure how things were going with your dad, so I got all your accounts, files, and calendar organized so you can begin working remotely whenever you like.”

“You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get rid of me. You don’t have some other hot young thing lined up to take my place as soon as I walk out the door, do you?”

She looked at me like I was insane. A look I knew well.

I laughed. “Alright. Then I’ll start this week. If anything comes up, I can still come back for it, but I think it’ll be good to have a physical presence at the farm right now.”

She gave me a rare smile. “It’s a really wonderful thing you’re doing, sir. Moving home to be there for your parents. I hope this doesn’t sound condescending, but you’re a good boy, Jasper. He’s lucky to have you.”

“Thanks Olivia. I’m not sure my dad shares the sentiment. He doesn’t exactly want my help, or anyone’s, for that matter. But maybe if I’m there, I can gradually start to take some things off his plate.”

“It might not be easy right now, but I’m sure he will be grateful you’re there. Even if he doesn’t say it.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Once Olivia returned to her desk, I opened my computer to get some work done. It wasn’t long before there was a knock at my door. My best friend and colleague, Travis, leaned against the doorframe.

“So, how was the gala last night? Did you make some good contacts?”

“Not really.”

“Wasn’t there anyone there that you wanted to connect with?”

“There were, actually. The night just went differently than I planned.”

“What does that mean?” His eyes narrowed as he studied me. “You met someone there, didn’t you? I can’t believe you got distracted by a woman?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Well, then tell me.” Travis sat in the chair across from my desk.

“Remember that obnoxious woman that has been practically stalking me for the past year?” Travis nodded, so I continued. “She was there. And when she approached my table, I did the only thing I could think of, and kissed the woman next to me.” I tried to shrug it off but winced at the absurdity of the whole situation. “And then I might have let it slip that she was my fiancée.”

Travis burst out laughing. “Are you serious? Did your unsuspecting fiancée deck you? I would have loved to have been there to see that go down.”

“Actually. She played along. And the rest of the evening, we kept the charade going. It was the most amazing night of my life.” My gaze drifted out the window. I could still feel her in my arms, warm and laughing. We’d moved perfectly with one another, her following my every step without hesitation, and even though I’d only held her that once, I’d never forget the silk of her skin, the scent of vanilla on her neck, the bold intelligence in her eyes.

“Wow. The great Jasper Rhodes is smitten like a kitten. I never thought I’d see the day.” His face pulled into a smug grin. “So, when will you see her again?”

“Never,” I said with a groan. “Didn’t get her number.”

“Oof. That’s rough. So, you know nothing about her to even track her down?”

“Nope. My Cinderella didn’t even leave so much as a shoe behind for me to use to find her.” I released an exasperated sigh. “You know, it just figures, the one time I meet someone that I’d actually like to spend more time with and get to know, and it’s like she disappeared off the face of the earth.”

“That must have been some kiss to get you so twisted up.”

“You have no idea.”

“Sucks to be you, man. And now you’re moving back with your parents.” Travis rubbed his finger and thumb across his chin. “I don’t get it. You’re the most successful person here, and yet your life seems to be going backward. What’s up with that?”

“I’m not going backward. I have the freedom to work where I want, and I can do that from the farm and help them out at the same time. What good is all this money if we aren’t there for the people we care about? And I’m also working on buying a restaurant. I need to be there to get it going.”

“Okay. Fair point. It’ll be so boring here without you, though.”

“You can FaceTime me and walk me around the office so I can give everyone a hard time. Or maybe I can pass my fun torch to someone else while I’m gone.”

He shook his head. “Nobody else could pull it off like you can.”

“I can do it virtually then.” Even though we were joking, I was touched by what he implied. He would miss me. I would miss being here, too. But this was only temporary. “I’m not dying, you know. I’ll still be around. And I’ll have to come in once in a while for meetings.”

“I guess.”

“You can always come visit me on the farm. And you have to come to my restaurant when it opens.”

“I definitely wouldn’t want to miss that. You can count on it.”

After he left, I sank back in my chair with a heavy exhale and gazed at the ceiling. Was I making the right decision moving back home? I sure hoped so.

This new arrangement didn’t have to be forever. I could always come back here if things didn’t work out in Moonlit Lake. This was the right move to make right now. My family needed me, and I wanted to be there to help.

I’d always thought of life as a series of adventures, and it was time for me to move on to my next one. Mom always teased me about being in perpetual motion. It was true. I liked variety, and I needed to mix things up once in a while, or I got bored.

I texted my family to update them on my plans.

Hey guys. My amazing assistant got everything arranged for me to work from the farm from now on.

Dad

That’s not really necessary, Jasper.

If I want to start a restaurant there, it is. But I can also help out on the farm while I’m home.

Mom

I’m so excited to have you back here! Will you be home for supper tonight?

I’ve got things to pack up from my apartment, so I won’t make it for supper. But I’ll be home later this evening.

Junie

Yay! See you tonight!

Storm

Do you need any help packing up or moving?

Sure. If you want to come and help.

Storm

Never said I wanted to help. Just wondered if you needed it. I’m sure Skye is available.

Skye

Har har

Junie

Look at that. Stormy made a joke.

Storm

I joke all the time.

Skye

Don’t confuse yourself with Jasper. He’s the joker.

I can’t blame you for wanting to be more like me, Storm. Might even help your love life.

Storm

I assure you, I need no help in that department. Especially not from you, Jaswipe.

Hey, maybe we can all meet up and continue this fun when I’m home.

Junie

Sounds good!

Mom

See you tonight, Jasper. I’ll make up your bed for you.

Thanks Mom!

At the end of the day, I gathered everything I’d need from my office and headed back to my apartment to pack up my clothes and whatever else I’d need. I wasn’t moving out completely. Not yet. But I wasn’t sure when I would return.

The lukewarm response I’d received from Dad wasn’t a surprise, but it did make me wonder how this was going to go. I knew in my heart that this was the right thing to do, but Dad most likely wouldn’t make it easy on me. And getting him to relinquish some of his work to me might take a miracle.

Or an intervention.