Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
GRANT
G rant stepped into the bright afternoon sunshine as he left Harrington House behind for a few hours. He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face as he strolled to the car.
James pulled the door open. It was still odd to see him as his driver after spending the evening with him on his daughter’s arm. He wondered if he’d still work for him if they got married.
That could be a problem. It didn’t matter. Not today. Lydia was in jail. His company was poised to become a powerhouse again. And soon his wife would really be his wife.
“You’re in an excellent mood today,” James said as he slipped behind the wheel.
“You bet I am, James.”
“Taking Mrs. Harrington to the cabin this weekend?” he asked as they wound their way toward the city.
“Yes.” He flicked his gaze to the man in the front seat. “I expect not to find you and Sierra there this time.”
“Nope. I promise. It’s all yours. You have something special planned?”
“Oh yes,” he answered as he flicked his gaze out the window.
His mind went over the details again. He’d thought of everything. The perfect location for her. Julia was not a woman who responded to over-the-top gestures. While they’d shared some lovely moments in Paris, London, the Swiss Alps, and more, she wouldn’t want something that grand for this moment.
She’d want something private, quiet. And that was just what he was going to give her. Although, it wouldn’t be without its own version of grand gestures.
He’d fill that cabin with roses just as he had filled her apartment the day after she’d said yes to his first proposal. Soft music would play in the background and candlelight would help set the mood.
With champagne chilling near the blazing fireplace to celebrate after she said yes, he’d offer her his grandmother’s ring along with a heartfelt proposal where he said all the things he should have said to her a long time ago.
It would be a perfect moment for her. And for him. He’d finally have the happiness he’d always sought.
“Mr. Harrington?” James’s voice called.
Grant pulled himself from his daydream as he realized they were already at the office. He’d been so caught up in imagining the surprise on Julia’s features, the smile she’d give him, the way her voice would sound when she said yes, that he’d lost track of the entire drive.
“Sorry,” he said as he stepped onto the sidewalk, “got a little carried away with my own plans for Julia.”
“I don’t blame you. Sierra can’t stop talking about how great she is. We’ll all be really happy to have her there permanently.”
“So will I, James, so will I.” He clapped the man on the shoulder before he strode to his office. Nothing could bring his mood down. Everything in his life was falling into place.
Lydia was behind bars, leaving DG Industries crippled. He was about to sign the papers for a business deal that would propel his company forward and keep him on top. And soon, he’d have the woman he loved by his side forever.
The smile never left his face as the elevator pulled him up to the top floor. He strode through the office to his own at the far end of the space.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Harrington,” Evie said as he entered. “How is Mrs. Harrington?”
“Doing well. Just a precaution with the hospital stay, but quite a scare last night,” he answered as he stepped into his office and crossed to his desk.
Evie followed him inside with a stack of papers and folders. “I can’t imagine, sir. Poor Mrs. Harrington. But she was quite brave.”
“As always,” Grant said as he slipped his jacket off and hung it on the back of his chair before he sank into it.
“I still appreciate her bravery to this day.”
“So, do I, Evie, so do I.”
The woman offered him a warm smile, allowing a moment of silence to stretch between them. “I have your messages or would you prefer to only deal with the paperwork today.”
“Uh, give me the messages. I…should get some work done. As much as I want to race home and spend time with Julia, I’m taking the weekend off, so I’d better deal with those before I leave.”
“Oh? Special plans?” she asked as she passed over the stack of messages.
“Mmm-hmm,” he said as he shuffled through them before glancing up at her. “Julia and I are heading to the cabin for a long weekend.”
“That sounds lovely. I’m certain you’ll both enjoy it.”
“Well, she certainly deserves the rest. But…”
Evie arched an eyebrow. “You don’t plan on forcing her to hike and climb mountains, do you?”
“No,” he said with a grin. “I am going to give her the romantic weekend we never had since this entire mess started. Our entire married life has been nothing but tension. But this weekend, I’m finally going to sweep her off her feet.”
“It sounds like you have it all planned out. And I’m certain she’ll love it.”
“Oh, I do. Roses, champagne, candlelight. And a little present.” He dug the ring box from his pocket and flicked it open.
“Oh, it’s lovely. She will adore it.”
Grant smiled down at it. “It was my grandmother’s. She told me to give it to the woman who captured my heart. I’ve never given it to anyone before.”
“How lovely. Mrs. Harrington will certainly appreciate the personal connection.”
He studied the sparkling gem catching the afternoon light, hoping she’d love it before he snapped it closed. “I’d better get to these messages and that paperwork so I can take the weekend off.”
“Yes, I’d say so. You don’t want to disappoint Mrs. Harrington. Not after everything you’ve been through together.”
“Right,” he said as he grabbed the phone and pushed a few buttons to return the first call.
He threw himself into his work, wheeling and dealing his way through his calls. By the time he executed the paperwork for the deal with Victor Montgomery, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon.
Evie stood at the corner of his desk, patiently awaiting the papers.
“Sorry, Evie,” he said as he capped his pen and flicked the folder closed.
“Not a problem, sir. I will see that these are filed and copies are messengered to Montgomery Innovations.”
He rose and whipped his jacket from the back of the chair. “Perfect. Now, I’ll have my cell phone–”
“Please do not tell me you were about to say over the weekend.”
He straightened his collar as he eyed her. “I was. Why?”
“You’re meant to be sweeping Mrs. Harrington off her feet. I doubt you can manage it with your phone glued to your ear.”
He chuckled as he pushed his chair closer to the desk. “I don’t plan on that. But if there’s an emergency, I will have it. Though, I prefer not to be disturbed this weekend.”
“I understand, sir. Unless the offices are burning to the ground, I will gather a list of messages for you to follow up on next week.”
“You’re the best, Evie,” Grant said with a grin.
“Enjoy your weekend. And give Mrs. Harrington my best!” she called after him as he hurried through the door.
“I will!” he called over his shoulder. He crossed through the now-quiet offices and pressed the elevator button before he checked his watch with a wince.
It was later than he’d planned, but he’d still make dinner. He would enjoy stealing glances at his wife and imagining the expression on her face when they got to the cabin. She had no idea what was coming. She expected a quiet weekend away where she could catch up on writing.
He’d enjoy surprising her. And it would be the first in a long line of surprises.
The elevator delivered him to the ground floor. With a wave to the night guard, he stepped into the evening air.
“Late one, sir,” James said as he opened his door.
“Just trying to finish up some extra work before the weekend. I don’t want anything interrupting us.”
James offered him a smile as Grant slipped into the backseat. The lights of the city faded away as they headed toward Harrington House.
The car eased to a stop outside the front door.
“I’ll have your car waiting for you tomorrow morning, sir,” James said as Grant climbed from the car.
“Thanks, James. Have a great night.”
“You, too.”
Grant pushed through the front door to a heart-stopping scene. The pleasant expression, still lingering on his features, faded, replaced by a pinched one. “What’s wrong?”
Sierra sniffled, her arms wrapped around her and her lips tugged into a deep frown. Her red-rimmed eyes suggested she’d been crying. Kyle put an arm around her, squeezing her shoulder, his features taut.
Worthington, usually the voice of reason, looked just as downtrodden.
“What happened?” he tried again.
Worthington licked his lips, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. “I believe…there is a note that will explain that for you in your office.”
“A note?” he questioned, his stomach clenching. What was happening? Where was Julia?
With a hard swallow, he strode into the room off the foyer. His heart stopped at the sight on his desk.
His forehead pinched as he stared down at the rings next to a note bearing his name. He recognized Julia’s handwriting. His heart tore in two as he reached for it with shaky hands.
He stared down at his name, not wanting to flick open the paper and read it. It was already painfully obvious what was happening and why everyone was so upset.
He unfolded the note, Julia’s neat handwriting spelling out words he never hoped to read.
Grant –
I’m sorry to leave this way, but I hate long goodbyes. As lovely as your offer was to spend the weekend at the cabin, this will be easier for everyone.
I’m not sure where I’ll end up, but I’ll send a forwarding address as soon as I have it for the divorce papers.
I wish you all the best in the future, but I have no doubt you’ll do great things.
–J
P.S. Don’t worry about the money transfer. I never wanted it.
His heart broke as he read every line. Each word was a goodbye, a closing of a chapter he wasn’t ready to end. She’d left. Would she answer him if he called?
His chest constricted as he stared down at the rings again. “She left…”
Sierra sniffled again.
“Yep,” Kyle answered. “We all got a goodbye note.”
“She didn’t say anything to anyone?”
Shakes of heads met his question.
“She left us all notes, and walked out of that door,” Kyle answered, the emotion raw in his voice.
A sob escaped Sierra as Worthington spoke again. “I am sorry, sir. I did not realize until I found my note. She slipped out without anyone knowing.”
Grant slid his eyes closed as he recalled their conversation when they’d gotten home from the hospital. “We agreed to go to the cabin…we…”
He rubbed a hand against his neck. “She said goodbye.”
“What?” Kyle snapped.
“This afternoon. I went to work…she walked me out…she said goodbye. She never says that. Why didn’t I catch that?”
“Who cares?” Sierra said through tears. “Do something to fix this.”
Grant snapped his gaze to her. “Right. I can…I should find her.”
He shifted his weight as he reached for the phone. They could track her. He could find her. He could fix this. Urgency made his heart pound. Hopefully, she hadn’t gotten far.
Sierra tapped on her phone before she blew out a shaky breath. “She’s at the Magnolia Manor. Room three-fifty-five.”
“She told you?” Grant asked, his heart speeding up.
“My note said she’d always be there for me, and that she was just a text or call away. I told her I needed to see her because I needed one last hug from my almost mom.” Sierra’s features twisted as she squeaked out the last words.
He slid her rings into his pocket with the ring box. “I’m going to fix this, Sierra.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have let it come to this in the first place,” Kyle answered.
The biting remark sliced at him like a knife. But he couldn’t deny it. “I know. I…I planned to fix it this weekend. I didn’t–”
“What?” Kyle asked. “Didn’t expect her to actually leave? What did you think she’d do? Hang around until you tossed her out?”
“We were going to the cabin. I asked her…I…” He ran his shaking hand through his hair. “Had this handled. I thought I did, anyway.”
“Who cares?” Sierra said, tossing her hand in the air. “Just…fix it. Go get her, Daddy. And bring her back here where she belongs.”
Grant swallowed hard and nodded. His daughter was right. She belonged here. With them. With him. He just needed to tell her that. She only left because she didn’t think she was wanted.
He slid his hand into his pocket, wrapping his fingers around the ring box. He could fix this.
He snatched up the receiver of his phone and called James, requesting the car. After a hug and a good luck from Sierra, a reminder of the importance of honesty from Worthington, and a curt “bring her home” from Kyle, he stepped into the evening air before the car arrived.
He drummed his fingers against his thigh as he waited for the car, the weight of the ring in his pocket a tangible reminder of the weight in his heart. Fear crept in as each second passed, fear of a future without her.
James pulled to a stop a moment later and leapt from behind the wheel. “Last minute business, sir?”
“No,” Grant said as he opened his own door and slid into the car.
James took his place behind the wheel and pulled down the driveway.
“Julia left. She…it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have taken her for granted. I just…thought she’d stay.”
“I’ll get you there as fast as possible, sir.”
“Thank you,” he said before he flicked his gaze out the window. His stomach twisted and turned, knotting itself tighter and tighter.
His mind scrambled as the lights melted outside the glass. He tried to plan what he’d say, but nothing had gone to plan. He’d wanted it to be so different. He should have told her so many times before. The trip to Paris, after the explosion, in Maine. He’d blown every opportunity he’d had. No wonder she’d left.
He shook his head. It didn’t matter now. No matter how much the words terrified him, he had to say them. If he wanted her back, he had to tell her what he felt.
His chest tightened as James eased to a stop outside of the Magnolia’s quiet, unimposing facade. Its white columns cast long shadows, creating an air of solemnity. Leave it to Julia to pick something this understated.
“Good luck, sir,” James said with a nod as he climbed the stairs to the front door.
He nodded, suddenly feeling less sure of himself. The dimly lit lobby, with its long shadows, mirrored Grant’s turbulent emotions. He crossed to the elevator like a zombie and pressed the call button for the elevator with a trembling hand. As he waited, he studied his distorted features in the gold doors.
The doors slid away, ripping his image from him. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the third floor as a lump formed in his throat. His palms turned sweaty as he arrived on the third floor.
His heart thudded against his ribs when her room came into view. He swallowed hard. It was now or never. His future depended on it. Their future, he reminded himself.
He lifted a fist, his hand hovering in the air before he knocked on the door. Hope mixed with fear as he imagined the conversation unfolding. Would he leave here with a wife or a broken heart?