Chapter 2 Colson
COLSON
SEVEN YEARS OLD
Dear Cole,
Go to the garden after school, Martina says there’s a surprise for you. – Love, Mom
Dear Mom,
Dad says the grden is not where I shuld be and I need to stop gowing in there…when are u coming home? – Luv Cole
Dear Cole,
I’m sorry your father said that. I’ll talk to him. I am coming home soon; I’m feeling much better. Eat some berries for me. – Love Mom
Dear Mom,
Dad says u had a bad week agin…so I will wach ur grden for you. I found the bunnies, I named one after you. – Luv Cole
I needed a fucking stress ball.
My grip strangled the steering wheel as I drove away from my neighbor, and the mess she’d once again seemed to find herself in. How the hell had she not woken up when the tree had fallen?
Honestly, the way Nora Petrov slept and essentially existed through life was something that needed to be studied by an entire team of experts because it was baffling.
Fucking baffling. The woman had dug up half her garden, transplanting them into various pots, and while I had watched her do it, I had never asked her why.
Could be because once again, she had been out there in that tiny robe that barely covered her ass, and Nora Petrov had an ass that was incredibly distracting.
Another time, I watched as she used a barstool to hang patio lights from her gutter, only to have them fall a thousand times until finally, the whole fucking gutter came down, taking her with it.
She had tried mowing once, and a rock flew through her kitchen window, and don’t even get me started on her weed-whacking skills… or lack thereof.
She had a way of getting into trouble while ignoring all the obvious signs that would usually warn someone away from attempting something.
I had a feeling she knew those trees were bad in her backyard, but instead of having them inspected before winter set in, she ignored it.
Just like she had when it had fucking fallen overnight.
My insults hurled across the fence had gotten old for both of us.
So, I did the only thing I could do and ignored her as often as possible.
Which wasn’t easy, considering how often she liked to saunter around in practically nothing.
Seeing her today covered from head to toe in winter gear was a welcome sight.
As callous as I was toward her, I wasn’t a complete monster.
Which was why I had already planned to take care of her tree problem.
But first, I wanted to make her sweat a bit…
see if she could, in fact, come up with a solution all on her own.
It was doubtful, but there was always a chance she’d surprise me.
Grateful for the distraction of an early morning meeting, I pulled into the small coffee shop near the edge of town.
The coffee shop was made mostly of brick and reclaimed barnwood with a chimney stack and a curl of smoke jutting from the roof.
On the outside, there were about a hundred twinkle lights strung up, and a large red sign boasting of serving the best mocha in town.
Only one other car shared the parking lot and that belonged to my boss, Peter.
Although Macon nestled up against a massive mountain peak, the townspeople acted as though they’d grown up on the beach for how often they seemed to leave their homes.
I suppose it could be due to the howling winds that got upward of forty miles per hour, or the negative temperatures, but as a kid who’d visited and even lived here for a time, I couldn’t get enough of it.
“Colson, oh good, you’re here. I already started your order.” Peter waved me over as I dusted my boots on the rug.
Settled in the most popular spot in the whole coffee house, my boss had secured the two armchairs that faced the fireplace. Seeing that it was already roaring and warm, I took off my layers and settled into the armchair across from him.
Peter Petrov had just turned sixty-two and looked it, with slightly graying hair and a recent transition to glasses, but he had the work ethic of someone in their twenties, which was a big reason why I enjoyed working for him.
He was passionate, determined, and knew the value of hard work.
I grew to respect him over the past year, and it was because of him that I finally realized what I wanted out of life.
“Cold out there today…” Peter sipped his coffee, keeping his eyes on an email that had popped up on his phone.
That was something I appreciated about my boss. He didn’t ask me pointless questions like how my morning was, or how I was doing. No one ever gave a shit, so why ask? But the weather, on a cold as fuck day like today? That was worth a comment or two.
Setting his cell to the side, he reclined back into his chair, flicking his gaze my way. “The wind made a mess of the town last night, have you seen how many trees were downed?”
The waitress arrived with my coffee, placing it next to me on the side table. I thanked her and took a long sip before replying.
“I woke up and noticed that Nora had one fall last night…has she called you yet?”
I liked to tread carefully where his daughter was concerned because Peter Petrov loved two things in this world and only two things.
His wife and his daughter.
Nora was the spoiled only child to Peter and his wife Lilly, who both happened to be prominent business owners in Macon.
Lilly, Nora’s mother, owned a local tourist shop, selling all sorts of goods from the area.
Like my boss, his wife wanted to retire, so she put the store up for sale and it was purchased by my friend Davis recently.
I knew that both Peter and Lilly were planning something since they were both selling their businesses, but I wasn’t sure where Nora fit into all of it.
Peter set his mug down mid sip and shook his head.
“That girl…I wish she had just gotten an apartment or rental. She isn’t ready to be a homeowner.”
I sipped my coffee, thinking that over. He wasn’t wrong…
Nora was only twenty-three, and had recently graduated from college, so in a way, he was right.
She was young and inexperienced, but for some reason I was feeling defensive of her.
Even if in my own mind she was a disaster, I didn’t like that anyone else might think that.
“Did you get her squared away, or do I need to go over there?” Peter’s brow puckered as if I owed him an explanation.
“I had this meeting…” I nodded toward him as though he were just now realizing we’d set this up. “I barely saw her come outside before I left.”
“So, she has no power, and you just left?”
Hold up…was he angry with me?
Setting my mug aside, I rumbled off a weak excuse. “I’m sure she doesn’t want my help…” Explaining that I had planned on helping when it worked for me would only make this worse and make him think I had ulterior motives with Nora. I was damned either way.
“Colson, she’s a single woman, living alone in the middle of winter…it’s not about her preferences, or yours…you need to help her.”
It was mid-December, not even technically winter yet, but okay.
We hadn’t broached this topic in over a year, and our relationship had been smooth, undisturbed by any Nora-related issues. So why was he acting like I’d abandoned his daughter in her time of need?
“Colson, I need to know that someone will be here to help her…she needs someone to take care of her until she settles down. Her mother and I are leaving sooner than she even knows. That’s why I wanted to meet with you.”
My stomach felt like it had been tossed off the tallest building and then set on fire.
I had been waiting for Peter to explain his plans for me and his retirement for weeks.
He had been dropping hints left and right, trailing off about retirement and possibly selling.
In case he was serious about any one of the scenarios he had prattled on about, I had been practicing my business pitch.
Because if Peter was planning to sell his company, I wanted it.
It was just a construction company, and in the grand scheme of life and achievements, it wasn’t that significant, but in my small…
carefully crafted world, it mattered. I knew after the first day I returned home with calluses on my fingers and dust in my hair that I wanted every day to end that way.
My muscles ached, my body was sore…but I felt filled in ways I had never experienced in my life.
For once, there wasn’t anyone to give me what I wanted merely based on my last name.
No one tried to kiss my ass here, no one cared that my father was about to make his first billion…
no one cared that our family had graced the covers of magazines, television shows, and had even attended movie premieres.
No one in Macon cared about anything that I had left behind in Malibu.
The feeling was addictive, and I carved a place for myself here, outside of my family’s shadow.
A completely unexpected haven where they’d never dare look.
It was work I could do honestly, with my own hands, not tainted by my father’s money…
Peter’s company had freed me, and if he sold it to someone else, there was no guarantee that I would continue to live this way. So, it became my dream.
My hope.
My salvation.
Peter edged forward in his seat. “Colson, you’ve been more than a right-hand man this past year, you’ve single-handedly finished more projects and grown the company beyond anything I ever imagined it would be. I want to know if you would consider…”
His pause nearly made me shake him.
Consider taking it over? Buying it?
Fuck.
Gathering himself, he cleared his throat and tried again. “Would you consider being the one that watches out for Nora?”
I waited for him to continue, but he brought his cup to his mouth and was now waiting for my response.
Had he really just asked me that…
I didn’t even know what to say…or how to veer this conversation back to me purchasing his company.
“Peter…I’m honored, but I’m not sure I’m the right person…”
Peter shook his head. “You’re the man for the job…I’ll be looking over a few offers and proposals for the company, and if you’re wanting to throw your hat in the ring, this would give you a considerable leg up.”
For a second, I stared at him because I did want the leg up.
I had wanted him to pick me since the day I realized how satisfying it was to see a completed project from the comfort of my truck…
I had never had anything that was just mine…
I’d never had anyone that was either, which was why this entire offer was so bittersweet.
“Of course, to be clear, you’d be taking on a brotherly role. Just like we discussed before.”
Right…before. How could I forget?
Feeling the surge of frustration burn under my skin, I dipped my head to gather my bearings.
I had never done well being told no, or that I couldn’t have something…
but if there was a good reason for it, then I would honor it.
Peter’s aversion to me being anything more than a friend to his daughter had no grounding…
other than the mere fact that I worked for him and anyone who did was completely off-limits from dating his daughter.
He’d also mentioned once that I was way too old for her.
Five years was not too old, but the fucker was trying to make a point.
But, I listened and blew up the bridge that led to her ensuring zero chance in hell she’d ever look at me as more than a blustery, annoying neighbor. So, what did I have to lose?
“I can watch out for her, sir.”
His gray eyes narrowed on me intensely.
“I will make my decision by Christmas…show me you can be there for her in the way we discussed. Show me that I don’t have to worry about my little girl once I leave, and I’ll give you a fair deal and the first chance to bid.”
His hand shot out for me to shake, and while this seemed like the strangest fucking deal I had ever made, I thrust my hand out and shook, feeling his firm squeeze as a silent warning. It was one I knew I’d heed.