Chapter Thirteen #2
But now that Mia, her mother, and I were sitting in her living room, the silence was deafening.
The old couch is worn, especially on the arms making me think that someone regularly perches on the edge of it.
There are toys littered across the floor and family photos everywhere.
A photo of Mia’s dad sits above the mantel, a funeral program tucked into the bottom corner of the frame, a small cross hanging over it.
If I remember correctly, he died soon after she started working for me.
I’d forgotten all about it, but Mia had never shown an ounce of grief, not at work at least. She took one week off and that was all. It was never mentioned again.
My eyes move on and I notice that I can’t see a single thing in this room that was bought in this decade. No modern appliances, no new furniture, even everyone’s boots look old. Taken care of, but old.
I clear my throat before speaking.
“Mia, I want to start again by saying that I’m truly sorry about what happened on the show. I had no idea they were going to show the photo of us outside the restaurant, or the one of me and Lottie. I thought it was just a conversation to introduce you as someone in my life.”
She nods stiffly, her mother’s eyes wandering to her daughters with an element of surprise. She’s been here for at least five or six days. How does her mom not know the reason why?
“In addition to that, I’d like to apologize for how I referred to you.
” I pull my collar away from my neck before rubbing my hands together, my elbows on my knees.
I fight the urge to remove my sweater. “I called you a title that is not fitting for the work you do for me. And I note that it wasn’t the first time I’ve done it.
When I hired you, I suppose I thought that was what I was looking for, but ultimately you’ve shown me time and again just how valuable you are to the business and to me, far exceeding those initial expectations. I’m sorry.”
Mia nods again, her eyes turning glassy as she pulls her sleeves over her hands.
“What did you call her?” Angela asks.
“My receptionist.”
Her mother tuts, looking away just as Levi returns from putting Annie to bed. He leans his broad, imposing frame against the wall.
“Well, that’s just damn stupid. Thank God you came to your senses. Is this why you’ve been so upset, honey?” She slides her hand into Mia's.
“Thank you for coming all the way here, Alfie. I mean it. And thank you for the apology. But with everything that’s happened, the fact that I don’t have anywhere to live now, I think it’s time for me to move on. For real this time.”
Nowhere to live?
My confused expression must prompt her to explain. “My roommate Lana is working down in Puerto Rico. I need to move out. It might be a good opportunity to find somewhere new.”
The sinking feeling in my chest is back, and it swoops all the way down to my toes. Like an anchor being dropped into the sea, it hits the floor with a hard thud.
“What can I do to make you come home?”
She huffs out a laugh, but it’s not sincere. It’s exasperated.
“Now hold on there, Mia. Let’s hear the man out. What are you offering, young man?” her mother interjects.
“New title—Business Coordinator. A raise, and—"
“Nah.” Levi kicks off the wall and saunters into the living space, perching on the arm of Mia’s chair. “What are you offering long-term, Doc?
“Levi…” Mia wanes as Angela scowls at her son.
“What? She’s graduating in what… three months?
She’s not gonna keep working for him after she finishes her PhD.
She’s gonna be qualified. What she needs now is connections.
Job opportunities. Not a three-month peace offering so he has time to find a replacement.
” He turns his attention to me. “You’re coming in giving a highball offer but a tiny contract.
That’s bullshit. If you want her back, you’re gonna have to play your hand.
What can you offer my sister that she can’t get literally anywhere else?
Because the world is her oyster. She may not stay here, but she’ll sure as shit get a job anywhere else in the country if she puts her mind to it. She’s a goddamn Sinclair.”
Levi pushes off the couch and heads to the kitchen, pulling open the fridge to grab himself a beer. Angela follows him, placing an arm on his shoulder to calm him.
“I see where you get it from.” I laugh, and Mia’s face softens like I’ve given her the best compliment. Brat, I mouth, and she laughs even more, color finally coming back to her cheeks.
“He is a bit, isn’t he?”
“Hmm, don’t get me started.”
“Y’all want a beer?” Levi calls out.
“Yeah, we’ll both take one,” Mia yells back.
“Can we talk privately?” I ask before they return.
“Nope!” Levi calls out, speed walking around the couch to hand me my beer as Mia uses her eyes to implore Angela to take Levi out of the conversation.
“Honey, did you not just hear Annie crying for you?”
“What? No, I didn’t hear her.” He’s off his feet in seconds, but not before turning and pointing two fingers at his eyes and then back at me.
I’m watching you. He mouths. Levi seems like a protector, but mostly a nice normal guy until he does shit like that.
It makes me want to set him and Austin up on a playdate. They’d get on like a house on fire.
“Is he single?” I ask before thinking to explain my thought process.
Angela chuckles. “You asking, honey? I didn’t think that was the Sinclair you were here for.”
I fight the warmth spreading across my cheeks. “I just meant he could do well to channel some of that protectiveness into a partner. Seems he’s got an overflow.”
“Hit the nail on the head with that one, Doc. Mia said you were good.” She slaps her hands down on her thighs and stands. “I’ll leave y’all to it.”
“Night, Mom.”
Angela turns back to me and points two fingers at her eyes, then back at me, eerily similar to Levi a few minutes ago. “I have a lot of land. I know where to bury a body,” the matriarch warns.
Mia continues to watch me as Angela wiggles her fingers, making her way up the stairs.
“Your family is slightly terrifying.”
“You scared, Alfie?”
“Absolutely. How much land does your family have? Just out of curiosity.”
“About five hundred acres, give or take.”
I nod. Fucking hell. They’d never find me.
She frowns and laughs, pointing her fingers at her eyes and then back at me. How the hell does she know?
“Is that a family trait?”
She grins. “Something like that. The Sinclairs like to look tough, but we’re all big softies. You did see the way Levi is with Annie, right? He’s a giant teddy bear.”
“I’m guessing there’s a story there?”
“Annie was the result of a one-night stand. Her mom wasn’t interested, but Levi was. He has full custody, and her mom sends a card for her birthday and Christmas.”
“She doesn’t visit?”
“Maybe once a year. She travels a lot. She had a tough time as a kid, and she needed to do a lot more growing up before she helped someone else make their way in the world. It’s better for everyone this way. The door’s open for when she’s ready.”
My head nods, as if I understand that. My father lingered, enjoying the aesthetics of family life whilst remaining a burden to us all.
Slowly deteriorating the trust we had in the male figures in our lives, whilst simultaneously turning me off to a family and wife of my own.
If the great Arnold Adams can’t have it all, what makes me think I can?
But that’s why I’m here. Living without Mia is not something I want.
She’s a part of my life now, whether I like it or not, and I want her in it.
Not just in a business capacity. The trouble I have now is that why would she believe me?
There’s obviously some mistrust on her part with older men, as confirmed by the waitress.
Thank you for that tidbit, Darlene. But coming in to declare my romantic intentions will only make her suspicious of my reasons.
I at least need to figure out if I want to pursue those romantic reasons first. I can’t dive in headfirst if I haven’t analyzed my own feelings for Mia.
But the truth is that I don’t want to waste another second. Not when the possibility of losing her for real is so strong.
“So what deal can we come to? We have just under three months to launch the next stage of your career, and if you come back to work, I’ll help you do that.”
“You will?” Her eyes light up, and hope springs in my chest for the first time since I got here. Okay, except for maybe when she leaned her leg against mine under the table at dinner.
“Yeah. I have a lot of events over the next few months. We’ll get you out rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the Pacific Northwest and get your face out there. It’ll be perfect.”
She thinks for a moment. “I’ll still need to pretend to be your girlfriend, right? If we backtrack now, it will look ridiculous.”
I fight the smile that would tell her I’m very fucking happy about that. “Yeah, that’s true. I think a little longer would be a good idea. At least until you get your first job established.”
“And then we can split up amicably?”
My hands squeeze into tight fists, willing myself to fight the possessive need to grab her and crush my lips to hers. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But nothing will affect your reputation, I promise you that.”
“There is still the slight problem of where I’m going to live…”
I would offer my spare room if I thought it would be appropriate, but something tells me I’d find myself buried in a barrel six feet under by sunrise if her family found out.
“I have some neighbors. They’re moving to Australia for a year and are looking for a house-sitter. I’ll see if they still need one.”
“I’d be on your street?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No—no, I just was looking at other places further away, but near the office would be perfect.”
“At least you wouldn’t have to worry about your living situation for a year or so; you’d have time to get settled before moving.”
She frowns, her lips parting to ask more, but I stand holding out my hand to her. “Are you ready to come home now?”
She slips her warm hand into mine, her cheeks pink as her eyes dance between mine. “Yeah, I’m ready to come home.”