44. Alessandra
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
alessandra
My hands shake uncontrollably as we speed off the property and the farmhouse disappears in the rearview mirror.
After a few minutes, a stuttered breath escapes me and Booth reaches across the console, weaving our fingers together.
Corkscrew trees and vast, snowy fields flash by as we return to town.
“Talk to me.” The deep timbre of his voice calms me.
“He didn’t know who I was, did he?”
Booth briefly takes his eyes off the road to glance at me, brows furrowed.
“ No . I don’t think he did.” His fingers stroke over my racing pulse.
“ How are you doing?”
My cheek rests against the seat as I twist toward him.
“ I’m okay, I swear. Harvey didn’t look angry. Maybe a little shaken. It was like his entire childhood flashed before him. And Martin’s face…my god, he was frozen.”
We couldn’t stick around.
Martin had just laid eyes on his son for the first time in over thirty years, plus, he had some pretty life-altering news to share.
“Martin’s strong, he’ll know what to say, and hopefully Harvey will listen. What do we do now?” Booth slows the truck as we approach a stop sign.
“I need a distraction. I need work. There’s nothing I can do until Martin calls.” My gaze drops to our intertwined hands.
“ I need to finish prepping for my trip.”
His fingers flex against mine, giving away his dislike.
Trip implies I’ll be returning, but it’s easier than speaking the truth.
His sadness is hidden behind a wide grin and twinkling blue eyes.
“ To the restaurant it is, then.”
He flicks on the radio and sings out of tune the entire way back.
His over-the-top performance is exactly what I need, allowing me to switch off and pretend, if only for a moment.
Right as we pull up outside Our Place , his phone rings with a call from the restaurant’s meat supplier.
After listening in for a couple of minutes, it’s clear there’s an issue with this weekend’s delivery.
I can tell he doesn’t want to leave me, but he can’t ignore his responsibilities—neither of us can.
“Go.” I shoo him with my hands.
“ I’ll be fine.”
He frowns and presses the phone to his shoulder.
“ I don’t have to go. Not if you do?—”
I silence him with a kiss and unbuckle my seat belt.
“ You do have to go. I’ll call if there’s any news.”
His eyes narrow before he huffs a breath.
“ Okay .” Then he triggers a stampede in my chest with his next words.
“ I’m proud of you, Silv . Really fucking proud of you.”
Oh, stop that, I chastise my rampant heart.
Beeping his horn obnoxiously, I wave at him as he drives away.
Without him, the rest of the morning drags into early afternoon.
I’m scanning through the performance reports of a potential investment when my ringtone blares through the office.
I’ve kept it facedown on the desk all day.
It rings three times before I suck in a breath and answer .
“Hey, Martin .” My voice wobbles, but mentally, I’m poised for whatever’s coming.
My skin is thick, toughened from past disappointment.
The worst is that Harvey doesn’t want to know me.
No . That’s the second.
Him not giving Martin a chance might strike me harder.
“Alessandra, hi.” His tone gives nothing away.
“How did it go?” My laptop snaps shut and I push back from the desk to pace the room.
Years and years of regret and self-resentment are felt through the phone when he sighs heavily.
“ He listened.”
My lip trembles at the joy in his words.
“And?”
“He stayed. We spoke. It got emotional at times. It’s not all water under the bridge, but I’m just grateful he stayed and listened…” He pauses.
“ He’s still here.”
I cup a hand over my mouth.
“ That’s wonderful. God , that’s just so wonderful, Martin .”
“He and Sandra —that’s his wife—are staying for lunch.”
I suddenly don’t want to make this about me.
Martin’s lost so much, and after just hours with his estranged son, there’s a lightness to his voice.
I don’t want to taint it with the question screaming to be asked.
It rattles against my skull.
Fists banging so loudly, it drowns everything out.
Blood roars in my ears and my knuckles crack as I grip my phone.
“ Did …”
The words get caught in my throat.
Martin’s intuition shines through.
“I told him about you.” It sounds like he’s smiling.
“ He’d really like to meet you, Aly . Maybe you could join us for lunch?”