Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sullivan left his bench and walked the rest of the way home, adrenaline surging through him. He arrived at his apartment building and greeted the doorman. His life in the Bay would be very different from that of Manhattan.
And he could hardly wait to begin it with Piper.
He rode the elevator upstairs and braced himself for how Zane would react.
They had been close for so many years, and it would be hard leaving his friend, but a new life awaited him.
Thankfully, Zane was actually in New York.
He’d been gone much of the summer after Tidewater’s opening and would be leaving again in the morning for Canada.
Zane was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, holding a carton of Chinese takeout in one hand and chopsticks in the other.
“How was dinner with your parents?” his friend asked.
Sullivan motioned for Zane to come and sit. Once he did, Sullivan said, “I told them that I’m leaving my position at Wagner Enterprises. Now, I’m informing you. I’ll let your dad know in the morning.”
Zane looked at him intently. “This is all about Piper, isn’t it?”
“In a way, it is,” he confirmed. “My life is with her, Zane. But I’m not chucking everything in New York simply because of Piper.
It’s something which has been inside me for a long time.
Something that I pushed down so far inside me, that I forgot who I truly was and what I really wanted out of life.
Yes, I may be the son of blue-blooded Jacqueline Shepherd, but I’m also Oliver Shepherd’s son, as well.
And that means I come from pretty humble stock. ”
He raked his hands through his hair. “I was always happiest when I was in Baker’s Cove with my grandparents, working side-by-side with Pawpaw in his woodshop.
I rebelled a little after I wasn’t allowed to see them anymore, but with their deaths, I put aside the dreams I had for myself and toed the line.
I absorbed the dreams my parents had for me and never looked back. ”
His gaze met that of his oldest and dearest friend’s. “Do I regret going to college and earning my architectural degree? Of course not. I enjoyed every minute at Yale. I had a great time, being with you and our fraternity brothers, and taking classes I loved.”
Sullivan sighed. “But deep in my heart, I knew I wanted to make things with my hands.
Be my own man. I let the flash of money and prestige and position get to me.
Sweep me away. The glamour of working at Wagner Enterprises, one of the top companies in the world.
I did go to work there willingly, thankful for the opportunity to build things.
Huge things. Spending time in Driftwood Bay, though, helped me get back to my roots.
I like a small town, Zane. I like the slower pace.
I like walking into the local diner and knowing most of the people I see sitting there.
“Most of all, I love Piper.”
“You tried to warn me off Amanda,” Zane said.
“I was too stubborn to listen to you. What you have with Piper is nothing what I like shared with my ex-wife. I see that now. I saw how you were with Piper. I can understand how you want to move mountains to get back to Piper, so I won’t stand in your way.
I hope this isn’t the end of us, Sullivan. ”
“Never,” he said firmly. “You and I are brothers of the heart until the end. We may have to work a little harder to get to see one another. Then again, we’ve been ships passing in the night for years now.
We may have shared an apartment, but we hardly ever saw one another.
I’m going to make a concerted effort to stay in your life, Zane. I expect the same from you.”
“I’ll make time to come to the Bay a few times a year,” Zane promised. “Gran and Gramps aren’t going to be around forever. It’s time I made them—and you—a priority. So, when are you leaving?”
“I’m flying to Texas tomorrow. I have a lead on a small property which could house Sullivan Design Studio.”
Zane’s brows arched. “Already have a name for your firm. Impressive. I assume it’s a one-man shop.”
“It will be. I’m going to build custom furniture.
My side gig will be drawing up plans for individual homes.
You know I already did that for Carson and Mila, and I also created blueprints for the tennis pro at Tidewater and his family.
I don’t know how much that side hustle will involve, but I’m going to devote the bulk of my time to building things with my own two hands. ”
“I admire you, Sullivan. I don’t think I could give up the life I lead and move to the Bay, but I can really see you there. You have a woman you love. A circle of friends. And now, you have your life’s purpose.”
“Thanks for understanding, buddy. I want to keep you in my life.”
“Well, I’m not going anywhere.” Zane paused, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “But I’d love to be a fly on the wall when you tell Dad that you’re walking away.”
Sullivan took the bag he’d packed and rolled the suitcase to the elevator. He left his apartment building and walked the short distance to work, asking if he could leave his suitcase at the security desk, something he often did before leaving town for a work trip.
“Of course, Mr. Shepherd,” the guard on duty said, coming around and taking the handle and rolling it behind the desk. “It’ll be waiting for you when you leave. Where are you off to this time?”
“Home,” he said simply, turning and heading to the bank of elevators.
He entered the corporate offices of Wagner Enterprises and heard the sound of silence.
It was just now seven o’clock, and the office wouldn’t come to life for a while, but Mr. Wagner would be in.
Sullivan approached his boss’ door with a little trepidation.
Still, he knew in his heart that he was making the right decision, both for his personal and professional life.
Pausing at the open door, he knocked on the frame, seeing the founder and CEO of the company glance up and then smile.
“Come in, Sullivan. You’re here early this morning. Have a seat.”
He did so and said, “I wanted to catch you when we had time to speak in private.”
Wagner’s brows knit together. “Go on,” he encouraged.
Sullivan withdrew a sealed envelope from inside his jacket’s pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him.
“This is my resignation letter, Mr. Wagner. While I am beyond grateful for the opportunities you’ve given me over the years, the time has come for me to strike out on my own.
It’ll be called Sullivan Design Studio. Part of the time, I’ll serve as an architect.
The bulk of my time, I’ll be crafting furniture as my paternal grandfather did. ”
The older man steepled his fingers, studying Sullivan with intensity. “This design studio will be in Texas, won’t it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Zane told me you were involved with a woman in the Bay. My son warned me weeks ago that we’d probably lose you to her.”
Surprise filled him since Zane hadn’t mentioned this conversation to him.
“Her name is Piper Roberts. I love her. I’ve never loved a woman before. Hell, I’ve never even told Piper I loved her.”
“So, you’re giving everything up for a woman who doesn’t even know you’re returning?” Wagner asked, clearly surprised.
“Yes, sir, that just about sums up the situation. My resignation letter is in that envelope. I’ll give you two weeks’ notice, but I’ll make myself available over the next year if whoever replaces me needs a consultation regarding the Vancouver project. Or even the one in Chicago.”
“That’s generous of you, Sullivan. You’re a bright guy. I never had any qualms about hiring you. You’re usually the smartest person in the room, and that includes your father and me.”
Wagner leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face.
“I never really loved a woman myself,” he admitted.
“I was attracted to my wife. To her beauty and character. Especially to her family’s reputation and wealth.
But I never truly loved her the way a man should love his wife.
I never gave my heart to her. In the end, she knew it—and that’s why she left. ”
His gaze met Sullivan’s. “If you have a chance at happiness, you should take it. Don’t worry about owing the company two weeks. Go be with Piper. We’ll figure everything out here.”
He stood. “Thank you, Mr. Wagner. For all the opportunities you’ve given me. For your belief in me. If not for the confidence you instilled in me, I doubt I would have the guts to be making such a bold move.”
The older man offered his hand, and Sullivan shook it.
“I expect to be invited to the wedding. Do you think your parents will come to it?”
“I’ve got Dad’s support in this. Whether Mother comes around or not remains to be seen. If she doesn’t, she’ll be the one missing out.”
“Good luck to you, son.”
He went to his office for the last time and sent an email to his assistant, letting her know he had tendered his resignation, effective immediately.
He asked her to box up anything personal.
Looking around, it only included a few pictures hanging on the wall and his diploma from Yale.
Nothing of real value was found in his desk drawers.
He instructed her to give the box to Zane.
Then he left the building and took a cab to the airport.
His flight to Houston was uneventful, and he easily made his connection, landing in Corpus ahead of schedule.
Claiming his rental car at the airport, he drove to the Bay, his spirits soaring.
While he knew he’d make another trip home to New York to pack up his personal items in the apartment and ship them to Texas, he knew this place was now home.
He stopped at Dorothy Ridley’s real estate office, and the realtor greeted him enthusiastically.
“Ready to go see the property you’re interested in, Mr. Shepherd?” she asked.
“It’s Sullivan. And I’m more than ready.”