28. Chapter 28 – Rae
A fter helping the kids get ready for bed, I filled a glass with cold water and settled at the kitchen table to video-call Jia.
“Hey, Rae. Everything okay with the kids?” Jia’s dark eyes were inquisitive but not alarmed.
I kept my expression calm. “They’re great. But I did want to let you know we had a little more excitement at the house.”
“But you’re okay?” she fired back.
I nodded. “Brandon Chen confronted me in a ski mask this afternoon. He wanted to get into Jordan’s safe.”
Jia’s jaw dropped, her eyes round. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry, Rae.”
“I’m fine. We’re fine. I got him into the garage, then locked him in there until Sheriff Walker could get a deputy to pick him up. He’s cooling his heels in lockup.”
Jia shook her head, her dark hair whipping against her cheeks, the motion pixelating our call. “Again, I’m sorry to have involved you in this mess.” Her eyes looked sad. “I thought I knew my husband.”
“He never told you about his side hustle?” I asked gently, wary of heaping more guilt onto her. She already looked near tears.
She laughed, the sound without humor. “No. All this time, I thought I was married to a budding alcoholic. He’d take off, say he was going out drinking with Brandon or the guys.
But he always came home. And while he smelled like beer, he was never wasted.
” Her bark of laughter sounded forced. “Now I kind of wish he was an alcoholic. How messed up is that? This garbage with Brandon makes me feel like I never knew my husband at all.”
“Jia, no . Jordan clearly worked hard to hide this from you. That’s not on you.
That’s on him.” I didn’t want to speak ill of the dead, but any respect I’d had for Jordan was crumbling under the weight of his secrets.
His lies. He’d put his wife and his kids at risk by playing smuggling games with Brandon.
Jia, Hana, and Tae didn’t deserve that. Maybe Jordan rationalized it as providing for his family, but he’d left an unholy mess behind for Jia. For me.
She swiped at the moisture gathering at the corner of her eye. “I’m sorry, Rae. I wouldn’t have asked you to stay at the house, to watch the kids, if I’d known I was leaving you trouble.”
“We got through it. I had help,” I reminded her.
A flicker of a smile washed some of the sadness from her features. Her lips twitched. “Zach Fenwick is a good guy.”
“He is,” I said, mouth pursing into a smile.
“I want an invite to the wedding,” she said with a grin.
“Too soon, Jia!”
She laughed, shaking her head. “He’s only had a thing for you forever. If you want him, it’s happening.”
Something in the region of my heart turned to mush. I loved Zach. My relationship with Simon had protected me from taking risks. But a future with Zach was feeling more and more like a sure bet.
“I’m sure that’s not true, but I love you anyway. Whatever happens in the future, I have you to thank for bringing me and Zach closer.”
She snorted. “Yeah, that and Simon getting out of the way. ”
Simon. He’d texted me about meeting up. In the chaos of Brandon’s arrest, I hadn’t responded. He probably thought I was ignoring him. I ended the call with Jia, swiping into my text messages.
Simon: Hey, stranger. Can we grab breakfast or coffee before I leave?
Rae: Sorry, today was crazy. Coffee tomorrow before work?
My phone buzzed with his answer a few minutes later.
Simon: 9 at Harbor Brews… if I’m still welcome.
Bringing him back into Zach’s orbit without giving Zach a heads-up first might create more drama than I wanted.
Zach looked up from his phone, a smile of welcome on his handsome features. Something about the gentle tilt of his lips and the light in his brown eyes reached into my chest, making it seize. Had that softness in his eyes been there when he looked at me all along?
“Hey, Captain. Fair warning: the group chat has been notified of today’s adventures.”
My phone buzzed in my hand. Vi must have gotten his message. Checking on me would be her first move.
“Simon wants to get coffee before he and Alan leave tomorrow. Okay if we meet at Harbor Brews?”
Zach’s teeth gleamed white, his dimple popping into existence as his expression flared with mischief. “Only if I can be there too.”
I arched both brows. “Can I trust you not to give him a hard time?”
“Nope.” Zach pressed his lips together. I frowned in silent disapproval.
He raised his hands. “Okay, fine. But only because I love you. I’ve forgiven you, but I haven’t forgiven him.
Selfish fucker kept taunting me about you getting something out of the deal too, like it made a difference. ” He shook his head.
“About that...” I said slowly, tapping my fingers over my lips. “I did get something. Or, well, San Juan Marine Repair did. ”
He groaned. “Rae Dawkins. Don’t tell me you endured ten years of a nothing relationship for your family. That is the most you thing to do. Baby, loyalty to your family shouldn’t mean putting your life on hold.”
“It wasn’t totally about that. Yes, Simon’s dad owns the land San Juan Marine Repair stands on. Dating Simon was one way to ensure my dad let me into the business. But it also gave me the time to save up to buy it.”
“The business?”
“The land.”
Zach’s grin broadened. “Honestly, I think Simon’s dad should give it to you as a wedding present.”
“Not to point out the obvious, but I didn’t marry his son.”
Any concerns I’d had about Zach not understanding my motives faded. He was always on my team. Remembering that sent a rush of warmth through me.
“That doesn’t matter. You still helped his son find happiness in your own way. I think that kind of loyalty deserves a little land gift.”
Snorting, I laughed gently. “I’m sure his dad doesn’t see it that way, but he promised to let me make the first offer. My ‘relationship’ with Simon gave me plenty of time to save up for the down payment.”
“How is your dad going to feel about you buying the land your family business sits on from beneath him?”
“He’s going to be furious. But it might be the only way to get him to really see me as a business partner.”
“He’s not going to see it as a hostile takeover?”
“Oh, he will. But once he realizes I’m the only one who really wants the business, I’m hoping he’ll calm down.”
“And maybe show you the respect you deserve.”
“Ha. I wouldn’t take it that far.”
“Hm.” The glint in Zach’s eyes made me nervous.
“Don’t you talk to him either. He’s my dad.”
“He’d better treat my girl right. Even family isn’t entitled to knock you.”
“Do you want to tell that to Gran, or shall I?”
He laughed. “That’s teasing. It’s how Fenwicks show love.”
“So, you’re saying she loves you a whole hell of a lot?”
He chuckled. “You too. Check your phone.”
“Twenty-seven messages?”
“Welcome to the family group chat, love.”
My breath stalled in my chest. I figured he’d drop our news in the chat. Not add me to it.
“Zach Fenwick. What have you done?”
“Made it clear to my family how much I love you, without saying a word.”
“Is it still love if the number of unread messages climbs to forty-seven?” I joked, eyes bright with unshed tears.
He grabbed my phone, tossing it aside and gathered me into his arms. “I don’t know. But let’s ignore our phones for a while and find out.”