Chapter 50
Breezy
The lid of my to-go cup clicks under my fingernail as I sit in the little park at the center of town, the smell of espresso and fresh-cut grass tangling in the air. Across the table, a second cup sits waiting for a meeting that’s long overdue.
My phone buzzes beside it.
Tad: Love you. Don’t forget to eat something with that coffee.
Me: Bossy.
Tad: Damn straight. Farm Daddy takes your and our baby’s health very seriously.
The corners of my mouth curve up before I even realize it.
It’s officially been a week since the fire, six days since our release from the hospital, and every moment has been a whirlwind. I’m still finding my footing, but it feels good—this life fits.
Of course, Tad’s been hesitant to let me out of his sight, but I haven’t minded at all. Even now, I miss him.
Logan’s silver rental car pulls into a spot in the parking lot and shuts off, and I take a final deep breath to prepare myself to say all the things I want to say.
The hard things, the good things, the things that can’t help but feel like a little bit of both—I’ve loved Logan since the moment he was born and every moment in between, even when I hated him.
With family, it’s not always logic that wins; sometimes it’s love.
His smile is warm and gentle as he arrives, leaning forward to place a kiss on my cheek before taking the seat across from me. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for…everything you’ve done in the last week.”
Logan shrugs, minimizing his efforts in a way that’s unbecoming of a supposedly snobby, cocky Hollywood big shot and much more telling of who he really is.
“No, Logan. It’s a big deal. Randy said you had a crew there working the next day on our house, and I don’t know how you pulled it off, but I appreciate it.
I went by there this morning, and they’ve already got a new basement dug, the foundation poured, and the walls studded out.
” I shake my head. “At this rate, we could be back in there in a month, and with the baby on the way, I… Well, it means a lot.”
“I know it might not seem like it sometimes, but I’d do anything for you, sis. You practically raised us. You…” He swallows, looking down for a long moment before meeting my eyes again. “You’re the reason I’m anything at all.”
“Logan.”
“Breezy, you are. That’s why I’ve been hanging out here, waiting.
I knew I couldn’t leave until I made it right.
And believe me, I tried to fix the gallery mess.
My lawyer and accountant looked for every loophole they could find to transfer them back to you, but apparently, the tax implications are a nightmare.
You’d have lost all your net worth on fucking taxes just trying to take full ownership of them.
” He exhales a deep breath. “And the last thing I wanted to do was make shit worse for you.”
I shake my head, completely at a loss for words. “I didn’t realize you were doing all that.”
“They were yours, Breeze. I never wanted to stand in the way of that.” He reaches out to gently hold my hand.
“And I…I set up trusts, for you and for Bennett. I don’t know if that’s what you would’ve done, but when you said you didn’t want the money, I did my best to figure out the best thing to do. ”
“Trusts? What are you talking about?”
“Breeze, just because you and Bennett didn’t want Dad’s money doesn’t mean it disappears.
He left it for you. Unless you designate it to some other purpose, it has to go to you.
So, I put it in trusts for you both. Bennett’s money is in Autumn’s name.
Yours is currently in your name, but we can change that if you want, after you have the baby, or whatever you want. ”
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
Logan shrugs. “It’s done. If you want to make a change, all you have to do is say, and I’ll call the lawyer.”
“Well, thanks. I appreciate your handling it, and I appreciate it—”
“Breezy, you don’t have to do this. You can still be mad at me about the galleries. I’ll understand, really. I’d love for you to run them still, but I understand if you don’t want to.” His shoulders bounce. “I’m okay with it if you need to hate me, so long as you still let me love you.”
“Oh, baby brother,” I whisper raggedly. “I don’t hate you. I couldn’t. Ever. And honestly, Dad leaving the galleries to you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“What? You don’t mean that.”
“Three months ago, I wouldn’t have. But, Logan, right now, I do.
I needed this. I needed the change, the push, the end of a trail of excuses.
I’m finally chasing my happiness. No one else’s.
And I was never going to do that in New York, when I felt like the responsibility of the family was on my shoulders. ”
“So, what now? What are you going to do?”
I laugh. “Slow down. Choose me. Live happily ever after, I guess.”
“Fuck yeah. Life here looks damn good on you, I’ll tell you that.”
“Thank you.” I smile at him and search his face closely. “And what about you? What are you going to do?”
He sighs. “Well, I don’t think I can hang around here much longer.
I thought Bennett would thaw eventually, but I don’t think I’m getting anywhere, and I don’t know, maybe I’m better off just leaving him alone.
I’m headed back to New York next week.” He shrugs.
“Time to start handling things there. I need to get the galleries steady—find the right people, make sure what you built doesn’t fall apart just because the wrong Bishop’s name is on the paperwork.
” He smiles at me, but it’s a little sad around the edges.
“But just know, anytime you need me, you call me, and I’ll be here. ”
I nod. I understand. I understand it all too well because it used to be me, dancing on the periphery of really living my life. “I love you, Logan. And I’ll work on Bennett. We’ll find a way to be a family again, okay? I promise.”
His smile is sad but handsome as ever as he leans over the table to hug me, whispering in my ear, “Walk me to my car, okay? The crew found something in the fire before they started demo, and I felt like it was something you guys might want.”
I do as he asks and wait patiently as he grabs it from the back seat. When he hands it to me, my breath catches in my chest. The photo album from the guest room box, full of Abigail and Lucy and the Tad who loved them. This is the best news I’ve gotten all day.
“Logan Bishop, you are full of surprises.”
When the moment is right, I’ll be able to give them to Tad. And then, our family will really be whole.