How (Not) to Fall in Love(44)

Then he turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness.

When I got home, I found Dad’s latest postcard on the kitchen counter.

This one was from New Mexico with only the state flag on the front. He hadn’t written a single word on the back. Instead he’d sketched a man sitting cross-legged on the ground. All around him swirled images of angry faces. The man’s eyes were closed and a single tear rolled down his face.

The drawing worried me more than anything that had happened so far. Was this how my dad felt? What made him run away?

I thought of Lucas, telling me he was there for me. I had the urge to call him, to share this latest burden with someone I knew would listen.

But instead, I trudged slowly up the stairs and collapsed on my bed, closing my eyes and praying for sleep.





Chapter Sixteen


November 4


I’d been to the Harvest offices many times before, but never by myself. Dad’s personal parking spot in the underground lot was empty. I pulled the rumbling truck into it, grinning at the idea of J.J.’s face if he saw this crappy truck where Dad’s BMW usually parked.

I was halfway across the lot before a voice stopped me.

“Young lady? You can’t park there.”

I turned around to face Don, the security guard who’d known me since I was a little kid.

His eyes widened as he recognized me. “Darcy? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at school?”

Great, my own personal truant officer. I hesitated. “I have a message, for J.J. and the board.”

Don shook his head, his gaze softening. “I sure do miss your daddy. I hear all kinds of rumors about him.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I don’t believe any of that crap on the internet about him ruining the company. Your daddy ain’t that type.”

Some of the tension eased out of me. “Thanks, Don. That means a lot.” I adjusted the messenger bag slung across my body. “I need to get in there before I chicken out.” I glanced at the silver Jaguar in J.J.’s parking spot.

Don followed my gaze and grimaced. “You want me to back you up?” He slapped his hip. “They don’t let me pack more heat than a Taser, but it could come in handy up there.” He grinned at me.

I laughed. It would be nice to have a semi-armed sidekick, but I had to do this on my own. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.” I took a few steps away, then turned back. “If I have to make a fast getaway, you can keep the dogs off of me.”

Don laughed and raised his hand in a mock salute.

I pushed through the steel door and waited at the bank of elevators. Breathe. Inhale calm. Exhale stress. All I was asking for was time, not money.

When the elevator opened onto the penthouse suite, Dad’s secretary looked up. She looked even more shocked than Don. “Darcy?” she whispered, then glanced over her shoulder to the long row of offices behind her. “What are you doing here?” Mrs. Hamilton looked like a scary high school principal, but she was as sweet as cotton candy.

“I need to see J.J and the board,” I said. “I’m guessing they’re meeting? Freaking out about my dad?” I knew Dad always had board meetings on Tuesday mornings, and hoped the day hadn’t changed. I hadn’t even thought twice about ditching school to do this. I looked down the hallway toward the conference room and swallowed hard.

“Yes. In fact the whole board is in there right now,” she said, watching me warily.

Dreams die every day because people are afraid to take the first step. Dad’s words propelled me to take one step, then two.

Just do this, I told myself. Don’t stop. Don’t think. Just do.

“Darcy, wait!” Mrs. Hamilton called after me, but I didn’t stop.

Photographs lined the walls—enormous framed photos of my dad with athletes, rock stars, and internet millionaires—brass plaques attached with quotes from the clients. “I owe my success to Ty’s philosophy.” “Tri!Umphant! Harvest turned me from a star into a superstar.” And on and on.

The conference room door was closed, but I heard yelling on the other side. I closed my eyes, imagining Dad’s face. I pictured him coming home, enveloping Mom and me in bear hugs. Visualized him standing here instead of me, throwing open the door, confronting J.J. and the board. Telling them it was all a mistake. Demanding apologies. Firing J.J.

My hand shook as I reached for the doorknob, but I tried to channel some of Dad’s strength. What did I have to lose? We were already losing everything.

I opened the door.

The voices stopped. A sea of unknown faces stared at me, some of them openmouthed.

“Darcy, what are you doing here?” asked J.J., the only person I recognized.

An older woman sitting at the head of the table spoke. “You’re Darcy Covington? Tyler’s daughter?” She glared at me from behind enormous eyeglasses.

I nodded. My courage was fading fast.

“What do you want?” Her voice was like steel.

I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “One week. No, make that two weeks.”

She frowned at me. The others gathered around the table whispered to each other, darting looks at me. “Two weeks?” she asked. “Two weeks of what?”

“Time,” I said. Breathe. “We need two more weeks to move. Two weeks beyond what you’ve given us as the eviction date.”