The Summer Getaway: A Novel(89)

“It’s not that, exactly. More eye-opening. I get what you mean about defining yourself through Dad. Mason wouldn’t be like that.”

“I know. I’m just cautious.”

“But you like him?”

Robyn smiled. “I do. Very much.”

“Me, too. Don’t take this wrong, but Jase wasn’t exactly warm. Mason likes people. He doesn’t take a lot of crap from anyone. I respect that.” She smiled. “And back to my original point, which was a really good one, you don’t have to come back to Florida. Things are different now.”

Robyn leaned toward her. “Lillian’s asked me to move in with her. I think she would like the company.”

“Are you considering it?”

“I hadn’t been. I’d assumed I was needed at home. But you’re right about Austin. If he’s getting ready to go to college, then I can relax about him. Which leaves only you.” Robyn studied her daughter. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you on the other side of the country.”

“I don’t like it, either, but you can’t live your life based on me.”

“Okay,” Robyn said slowly. “What does that mean?”

“I’m trying to grow up,” Harlow said lightly. “Be less selfish. You’re still young, Mom. You have to think about what you want.”

“And when you have my first grandchild? Don’t you think I want to be there?”

Harlow’s eyes widened. “That is not happening for years. Like years and years. That’s a far, far out in the future thing.”

Robyn hid a smile. “Okay, no pressure.”

“Jeez. Kids! Way to spoil the mood.”

“So if you’re not looking to get pregnant, what are you going to do?”

Harlow surprised her by sighing. “I don’t know. I’m still working through what happened with Dad.”

“Your dad has flaws, but so does everyone. Harlow, I know what he did was wrong and you’re the one suffering, but I would hate to see you throw away the dream you’ve carried for so long because of that. Your dad won’t want to work into his eighties. In a few years, he’ll be ready to cut back, and you’ll want to be there to take his place.”

Harlow rested her chin on her hand. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never worked anywhere else, Mom. I haven’t even ever filled out a job application. Maybe I should get some experience with another company before going back to work for Dad.”

Robyn did her best not to let her shock show. She’d never heard her daughter talk like this. “Where would you go?”

Harlow raised the top of her laptop and turned it so Robyn could see the screen. “There’s a charter company in the Keys that’s about the same size as Dad’s. I know the owner’s son. We were at college together.” She smiled wistfully. “I met his dad a couple of times, and he joked about hiring me away. I don’t know if he was just being nice, but maybe I should talk to him.”

Robyn glanced at the website and back at her daughter. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Me, either. I’m just thinking about stuff. Maybe if I got experience somewhere else, Dad would take me more seriously. Maybe it would be good for me to not be the boss’s kid and have to make it by myself.”

“You’ve worked hard. You did great at college.”

Harlow didn’t look convinced. “That’s school, not real life. I want to earn my place. I don’t want it handed to me.”

“You’re a really good charter captain.”

Harlow relaxed. “I am. I do good work. So it might be time to prove that to the world.” Her mouth curved up. “Plus, if you’re right about Dad wanting to step down in a few years, then he’ll be anxious to get me back.” She closed her laptop again. “I’m not making any decisions right this second, but I’m considering options. You should be proud.”

“I always am.” Her little girl was growing up. Robyn knew it was inevitable, but to see it happen in front of her was unexpected.

“So about today,” Harlow said. “I was thinking wine tasting.”

“What do you mean?”

“You, me, Mindy and Mason go wine tasting. I talked to Lillian earlier, and she would rather stay here. So we’ll drive in, taste a little wine, give you a break from Mindy and get buzzed.”

Robyn glanced over her shoulder, then lowered her voice. “I’m in. Anything to keep me from having the same conversation with Mindy.”





twenty-five



MASON PARKED JUST off State Street. He’d never been a wine tasting kind of guy, but it appeared he was unable to refuse Robyn anything. She hadn’t even been trying all that hard. She’d simply walked into his office, smiled and asked if he wanted to go with her, Harlow and Mindy. Mindy, who did nothing but cry all day long. Even at dinner, she frequently dissolved into tears before excusing herself and racing out of the room, the sounds of her sobs getting fainter and fainter until she locked herself in her third-floor room.

He wasn’t big on female tears. Break an arm, sure. Lose someone you loved, yup. Go for it. But crying as the result of stupidity—he had no patience for it.

But here he was, getting out of his car, ready to taste a bunch of pansy-assed wines with a woman who probably cried more when she was drunk. He needed to get his head on straight. That or take Robyn to bed, make love with her for real and then not give a shit about the rest of the world.