“I think she needs that. All our lives are. That’s the whole chrysalis thing right? We’ll all be butterflies at the end,” Julie said.

“Let’s hope so. Do you think maybe Dad had a stroke or something? Maybe he’s on pills or his drinking has finally taken a toll?” PJ wished there was something they could learn to make sense of this situation.

Jay shook his head. “He’s been getting worse over the past five years. The last three especially. He and Fee have withdrawn from everyone else. Fee has fed him bullshit and he’s eaten it up. He’s turned into a bitter, entitled old man, and it’s not a good look for him. I thought if I managed to get on Fee’s good side I could finally get to Dad and make him hear me out. But he’s closed himself down to us.”

“I think he’ll make a fuss just to hear himself shout,” Julie said, “but in the end he’ll get the hell out of the way. He’ll see the writing on the wall. Fee? He’s a wild card. He likes money but he hates work. If he can earn and not come to work, he’ll probably let go. But he’s a vindictive bastard, so you never know for sure.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

“Wow. I’d let you fire me any day.” Asa winked as she came out of the bedroom wearing a navy suit, her hair up in a French twist. She’d colored it the day before so the tips were as blue as the blouse she wore.

“You’ll call me when it’s over?” He hated that she had to go through the drama and upset of this business with her father and uncle. But he knew she’d do it because that’s what needed to be done.

“Yes.”

“I love you. Knock ’em dead.”

“I love you too.”

“Oh, wait a second.” He held out a small box. Inside was a necklace with a charm. An A intertwined with a P. “Think of it as a talisman. I’ll protect you even when I’m not in the same room.”

She hugged him tight and then waited for him to put the necklace on her. “This is beautiful! How long have you been planning this?”

“Only a few weeks. One of Mick’s buddies, a childhood friend of his, makes these. She just finished it yesterday and Mick brought it over himself. I just wanted you to have a piece of me with you wherever you were.”

She took his hand and placed it on her chest, over her heart. “I do already. In here. But this necklace is perfect, and it’ll totally make me feel better today as I pretty much put my dad on a raft and set him adrift.”

“Hush, you. That’s not what you’re doing at all. You’re being kinder than you have to be and you’re doing it because you’re you. Now go to work. Don’t forget to call me.”

“Okay, okay. See you later.” She paused at the door. “I love you. Thank you.” She touched the necklace. “For everything you are.”

“Hey, Penelope?”

“Yes?”

“I think you should move in here.”

She blinked, staring at him. “You just asked me to move in with you? Right now?”

“I did. I love you. I like being with you. I like waking up with you and having you here with me. You already have a set of keys.” He figured this approach was best. She had enough stress. He’d take it as a given and not make any fuss. Hopefully she’d just give in and let him love her the way she had from pretty much the start.

“You’re a trip, Asa Barrons. Yes, I’ll move in, but I have three months left on my lease so it’ll have to wait until then.”

She blew him a kiss and was gone, leaving him smiling. She was moving in. That three months thing wasn’t a big deal. Just because she paid rent didn’t mean she couldn’t move in with him. Mick needed a place; maybe he could take over the lease. He’d like it, even that fucked up hill.

Whatever the case, they’d work it out.

When Julie and PJ walked in the front doors of Colman Enterprises shortly before the meeting was to start, everything was already in place.

PJ had to give it to Jay, he really had stepped up and taken over.

She and Julie paused at the reception desk.

“Morning, Helen.”

“PJ! It’s good to see you. Are you back?”

Julie nodded. “She is. Today’s her first day back so she probably won’t be getting any calls, but if she does, we’ll all be in the meeting until about noon. She’ll be out in the workshop from now on, so there’s a crew out there now getting her an office set up.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. We missed you a lot around here.”

“Are my father and uncle in yet?” Julie asked.

“Yes. I just took in food, they’re in the conference room already. I think Jay just came through about five minutes ago too.” Which they already knew.

They waited in Julie’s office until Shawn and Jay joined them and then they went over the game plan one more time.

But when they opened the door to go to the meeting, their mother was on the other side.

“I’m here to cast my vote in person.”

PJ shook her head. “Mom, you don’t have to do this. We have your proxy.”

Her mother shook her head. “No, PJ. I need to face him down. I loved him with all my heart for a long, long time. Loved him through his faults and his moods. Tried to give you more love when he gave you less. But he crossed a line. He crossed it more than once, and I was weak and let it continue. I wasn’t a good mom then. I’m sorry.”