Page 69 of Only You

“I’m in the cottage. Come on back.”

A few seconds later, the cottage door opened, and Ralph stepped in.

“New office?” A smirk crossed his lips.

“Temporarily. The crew is here working on the primary bedroom.”

“Steven Winters is retiring and moving to Maine.”

“Why? Why Maine?”

“His two sons own a lobster trapping business, and it’s not doing well. So, Steven decided it was time for him to retire and go and help them. Being a Harbor and the owner of this town, you need to appoint someone to take over the day-to-day business. My thought is you can step in and do it. You’d have the office space, and since you’re planning on building Athena Harbor, I think your stepping into the position would benefit both towns. Besides, I don’t think anyone else is qualified. Your mother specifically appointed Steven because he was the only one she trusted when she couldn’t do the job herself anymore.”

“I have my business back in Chicago, Ralph.”

“There’s no reason you can’t do both. Hire more staff here.”

“Let me think about it.”

“Think fast. Steven is leaving in two weeks.”

After Ralph left, I drove to the town’s offices. It was a three-story building right across the street from Hannah’s flower shop. Stepping inside the building, I went up to Steven’s office. I hadn’t been in here since I left Harbor Falls all those years ago.

“Hi, Mr. Harbor.” Layla, Steven’s secretary, smiled.

“Hi, Layla. Is he in there?”

“He is. Go on in.”

I opened the door, and Steven looked up from his computer.

“Alex.” He smiled. “I haven’t seen you since the funeral. How are you?”

“I’m good, Steven.” We shook hands.

“I’m assuming Ralph told you?”

“He did. Maine, eh?” I smirked.

“My boys need me, and Georgette is ready to go.”

I tucked my hands inside my pants pockets and walked to the large window facing the flower shop, where workers were coming and going.

“You know, Alex. This position is your birthright,” Steven said, walking over to the window and standing beside me. “I think it’s great a flower shop is coming back to Harbor Falls.”

“Yeah. It is. And you’re right. This is my birthright. Athena and I would always come into this office with my father. We’d fight over who got to sit in his chair.”

“I remember.” He smiled, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Athena and I were supposed to take over when my parents retired. Then my dad passed, and Athena?—”

“It was a horrible tragedy and accident, Alex. I hope you understand that nobody in this town blames you for what happened.”

“Not everybody, Steven.”

“Losing a child affects a parent in ways we could never imagine. Your mother was angry at the world.”

“You weren’t there. You didn’t live with her for a year after it happened.” I saw Hannah walk into the shop, holding a cup holder with coffee.