“Guilty?” I sit up, shifting my back to the wall so I can face her. “Why?”
My sister-in-law lets out a sigh. “Because I encouraged you to believe the worst about Genny. Or to believe the worst was a possibility, and I didn’t think about the way you feel about her. I’m the one who should be saying I’m sorry.”
I scoff. “You shouldn’t be sorry. I should be sorry. For bringing her into your life.”
Laynie shakes her head. “You couldn’t have known.”
“I should have known. I should have seen the signs. Because there were signs that something might be up. I didn’t want to see them.”
She tilts her head at me, her eyes searching. “But do you love her?”
“Yes. Yes, I do. I’m so in love with her.” It hurts more every time I say it. “And I think she’s in love with me. I don’t know what part in our relationship Celia played, but I know how we feel is real. How I feel is, anyway. And now I’ve screwed it up too much to know for sure how she really feels or what she did. Not that it matters since Hudson’s made it clear that I have to choose between you guys or her.” I look at my nieces playing. “I could never choose to lose this.”
“I know. I know.” Her face is somber as she considers for a beat. “I think Hudson and I both forgot something important, though.”
I perk up. “What’s that?”
“That people can change. Especially when they’re loved. H and I really should know that better than anyone.”
I have a feeling she’s talking about something personal, but all I care about is what she’s saying about Genny and me. I sit forward. “You mean…even if she did get close to me because of Celia—”
Laynie cuts me off. “I mean that whatever point she started at, she could have had a change of heart.”
I’d thought the same, but Laynie saying it now gives me permission to dwell on it. What if she did start out as Celia’s spy, fell in love, and then didn’t want to go through with it? It would explain why she looked so hurt, and maybe why she left so hastily. She might have felt too guilty to discuss it.
I wish she would have, though. I probably would have forgiven her.
That thought hits me hard. I definitely would have forgiven her. Which means, I do forgive her. Because whether or not she loves me, I love her. And since I am the one thing I can control, all that matters is how I feel. What I do.
“So what do I do now?” I ask Laynie since I for shit don’t know.
“I’m probably going to regret saying this, but,” she takes a deep breath before continuing. “Forget about Hudson’s ultimatum. Go after what you love. I’ll, for one, support you. It might take time, but I can work on my husband.”
I shake my head. “You can’t do that for me. I don’t want to cause tension in your marriage.”
“Don’t worry about us. We’ve overcome worse.”
For half a second I’m hopeful. Like maybe this could actually work out, and I could win the girl back.
Then I remember there’s more to the problem. “That’s sweet of you, Laynie, but it’s a no go. She’ll be leaving the country now that the Accelecom merger has fallen through. The only way to keep her here would be…” I trail off as an idea starts to form. A long shot of an idea, but an idea nonetheless.
I stand up abruptly, almost knocking over a tower of blocks next to me. “I think I know what I need to do.” Not just because I want a chance to win her back, but because it’s the thing that should have been done all along.
“That’s the spirit!” Laynie exclaims. “Where are you going?”
I’m already halfway out the door, but I peek back in to answer her. “I have to get to town. There’s a lot of work to do before we’re back in the office tomorrow.” As an afterthought, I run in and give her a giant hug. “Thank you, Laynie. You’re a great sister.”
In no time, I’m packed and on the road back to the city, my head working overtime as I try to tackle the details of the plan that’s emerging.
Just one problem I can see at the moment—if this works out the way I want it to, I’m going to have to have Hudson on board.
Yeah. I know.
Tuesday after the holiday weekend, I’m in Hudson’s office first thing. I enter through his lobby this time—I know when to have tact—but the door is open, and his secretary isn’t at her desk so I breeze on in.
“Good morning, Trish,” I say when I see her standing over my brother’s desk, giving him a rundown of his day. “You’re looking fabulous. New dress?”
She beams. “It’s a new hairstyle. I wasn’t so sure about it.”
“It’s absolutely perfect,” I assure her, stalling before I have to address my brother.
I’ll admit it—I’m nervous. I spent all of the night before gathering the information I need to make the proposal I’d like to make, and I’ve got a solid game plan. One that deserves to be heard.
Still, it’s Hudson.
“You know,” he says, acknowledging me without looking up from his paper, “it’s customary for people to schedule meetings with my secretary instead of bursting in unannounced.”
“Trish, can you add me to the agenda?” I glance over her shoulder and see that, fortunately for me, Hudson’s calendar is clear until nine-thirty. “Just pencil me in right now. And hold all his calls, please.”