31. Trinity
Trinity
I followed the receptionist down the hall, my shoes sinking into the plush carpet.
James had switched plans at the last minute and wanted me to meet him at the law office where he worked on the other side of downtown.
He said he was stuck in a meeting that had already gone on too long and having me show up would be a good reason to have to excuse himself.
As I glanced over the tops of cubicles, my gaze swept over the rows and rows of employees, and I shuddered, grateful my grandmother knew me better than I knew myself. I never would have been happy in an environment like this.
“Mr. Ryan is waiting for you in here.” The receptionist pushed open a thick wooden door.
“Thank you.” I gave her a smile, then turned my attention to the group sitting around the giant conference room table. “What is this?”
James held out a chair for me. “Come have a seat.”
“Are you blindsiding me with a family meeting?” I asked, my gaze sweeping around the table.
Dad sat at the head, my oldest brother Randall at his right, Timothy at his left. Julie made a move to get up, but James signaled her to sit.
“We’re not blindsiding you at all. Dad said you haven’t responded to his secretary’s calls about scheduling a time to get together, so we figured we’d make it easy on you.” James swiveled the chair he’d been holding to face me. “Take a seat and we’ll get this over with.”
“So you never wanted to have coffee with me today. All along you were planning a family intervention?” Classic Ryan family dynamic.
I’d seen it happen to my brothers when they stepped out of line.
The entire family rallied, Dad acting like a mama duck nipping the ducklings back into formation.
Or maybe more like a prison guard, keeping a close eye on the chain gang.
That wasn’t entirely fair. My family meant well, they just had an aggressive way of showing it.
I slumped into the chair James held and scooted close to the table. “It’s about the money, isn’t it?”
Dad cleared his throat. “When your grandmother died, she set that money aside for you. For your future.”
“I know. We talked about my future all the time.” I clasped my hands in front of me. “She said there would come a day when I’d want to settle down.”
“And that day’s here?” Julie asked. “You’re planning on settling down with the bartender who?—”
“He’s an MBA student, okay?” Was this what it was going to be like? Defending my every move, my every decision? “Grandma told me she wanted me to preserve the family legacy.”
Randall snorted. “By buying an old, crumbling building?”
Dad put a hand out, the only motion needed to silence my siblings. “What did she tell you?”
I turned to face him. “She told me about that building. How Grandpa built up his business from scratch and about everything she had to do to save it. She wanted me to buy it back and turn it into something he would have been proud of.”
“But you have no idea what you’re doing. Do you have a business plan? Someone to take care of the finances? Who’s managing your contracts?” James paced the perimeter of the table. “That money could have been put to better use. Why would she care about a building?”
“Because it’s where your grandfather started his business.” Dad pushed back from the table and stood. “You can all go. Trinity and I will get this squared away.”
“Just like that?” James asked.
“Just like that.” Dad clapped Randall and Timothy on their backs then headed toward where I sat in the center of one side. Julie glared as she pushed back from the table and made her way to the door. “Can you give us a few minutes, James?”
“Sure. Take all the time you need.” James pulled the door almost closed then popped his head back in. “Can I just ask…”
Dad shook his head.
“Never mind.” The door closed softly behind him, leaving me and my father alone in a room big enough to hold Oliver’s entire apartment.
“I never knew she talked to you about all of that.” Dad perched on the table next to me. “My mother didn’t talk about the early days with anyone.”
I glanced up at him, my heart feeling like it was beating in my throat. “She talked to me. All the time we spent together… she talked to me about it, Dad.”
He slipped into the chair next to me and put his hand over mine where it rested on the table. “I think it would mean a lot to her if you made a real success of that place.”
I nodded, swiping my free hand against my cheek. I wasn’t one to cave to emotions, but talking about my grandmother pretty much guaranteed a tear or two.
“Your siblings got their noses out of joint, but I understand why she did it.” He squeezed my hand then steepled his fingers under his chin. “My mother had big dreams that she never got to see to fruition.”
“What do you mean?”
“If she told you what happened then you know how much she sacrificed to make sure Dad’s business stayed afloat.”
I nodded.
“She didn’t want it to all be in vain. I think she saw a lot of herself in you. She didn’t want you to have to make the same kind of sacrifices. That’s why she always encouraged you to follow your dreams.”
“But why just me? Why didn’t she do the same with Randall or Leah or Hannah?” My brow furrowed, waiting for some insight to the questions that had plagued me for years.
Dad leaned closer and smiled, making the light dance in his eyes.
“Because it was too late for them. She worked almost up until you were born. Then she retired and didn’t have anything to do so she devoted herself to you…
to making sure you didn’t waste time on the wrong things like she felt she did. ”
“No pressure then, huh?” I joked.
“We’ve got your back. Ryans don’t let…” he trailed off, waiting for me to finish the family slogan.
“Ryans don’t let Ryans fail.” I shook my head as I mumbled the phrase that had been hammered into my psyche.
“That’s right.” Dad slapped his palm on the table. “So let’s figure out how to make this the best yarn store this city has ever seen.”
I grinned at his enthusiasm for something he probably didn’t know anything about. “It’s a co-op, Dad.”
“A what?” His brow drew down, making his eyes squint.
“Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through my business plan later.
” The one I’d ask Oliver to help me put together as soon as I got back to the warehouse.
How long would I be able to hold Dad off from asking about that?
I was sure I could come up with something to barter with to ensure Oliver worked as quickly as possible.
Just thinking of ideas brought heat to my cheeks.
“A business plan?” He shook his head. “Your mother won’t believe me when I tell her.”
“Then we’ll have to show her.” I shrugged.
“I’m so proud of you. And your grandmother would be too. In fact, I want to throw you a party the night before you open. A preview event. I’ll take care of everything. How does that sound?”
How could I say no? “That sounds great.”
He pushed back from the table to stand. “I’ve got to get back for a meeting, but I’ll have my secretary get in touch.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I folded myself into his arms.
I couldn’t wait to get back and tell Oliver what happened.
I’d been so eager to keep things to myself and not let my family get involved.
But my father finally seemed to understand the driving force behind my desire to form the co-op.
With him on board, everyone else would fall in line, just like they always did.
Not having to battle my brothers and sisters about my grandmother’s money every step of the way would alleviate a lot of the stress I’d been feeling.
Dad held the door open, and we walked toward the lobby together.
“Oh, hey, can I ask you something?” I put a hand on his arm.
“Of course. What do you need?”
“It’s about Oliver. He seems to want to stay in the States but is having a hard time finding a job. If you hear of anyone with an opening, would you keep him in mind?”
“Finance, right?” Dad asked.
“That’s right. He said he wants to work in a small or medium-sized company that’s pretty entrepreneurial in spirit. I’d hate for him to have to go back to New Zealand if he can’t switch his visa.”
“Does he make you happy?” The intensity of my father’s gaze made me want to break eye contact.
But I didn’t look away.
The elevator came to a stop on the ground floor. I could sense my time with Dad coming to an end. I answered with the truth. “He does, Dad. He really, really does.”
“Then I’ll see what I can do.” He reached out and clamped a hand on my shoulder, gave it a squeeze, and then exited the elevator to head to the door where he’d probably grab a cab back to his office.
But I stood there, stunned. Had that much changed since I’d been away? Or had I changed so much since I’d been gone?
Either way, it didn’t matter. What mattered was things were becoming clear. My need to honor my grandmother. My relationship with my family. My feelings for Oliver.
I’d spent most of my life asking questions. Now it seemed life was finally showing me the way… finally giving me the answers I’d been looking for so long. With a little extra pep in my step, I caught the bus that was just about to pull away from the curb.
I couldn’t wait to get back to Oliver.