Page 62 of It's About Time
He slams his hand down on his desk, and the chatter outside his office cuts off abruptly. “Elliot, you are almost thirty-three. It’s time to settle down. You’ve chosen this woman, so stop procrastinating and do something about it.”
Anger is building in my chest, giving me the urge to tell my father to fuck off right here and now. But before I can say anything, his secretary knocks timidly on the door to his office that is still ajar.
“Um, Mr. Thorne?”
“Yes, Charlotte?”
“Gary is here. He said it’s urgent.”
My father glances at the clock. “His appointment isn’t until tomorrow.”
“Well, apparently something has happened with his case and this can’t wait.”
My father sighs as he stands from his desk chair and brushes right past me, but not before muttering, “At dinner next week we can pick a date. Tell Dilynne to come with a few suggestions. Otherwise, I’ll pick one myself.” He leaves me standing there, baffled and utterly pissed.
Since when did my father become so obsessed with the idea of me getting married?
Sighing, I move to leave but then hear my father’s phone vibrate across his desk. The picture of my mother flashes across the screen, making me smile.
It’s a picture from the day I graduated from law school. She was so proud that day, but her smile in that photo is one I haven’t seen in years.
My eyes drift to the papers scattered across my father’s desk, an unusual sight for someone who prides himself on maintaining order and control in all things. It seems my father’s stress about my engagement is bleeding into other areas of his life.
Yeah, well, that makes two of us.
I move to leave, but a bill for a loan of some sort catches my eye. Across the top in bold red letters are the wordsPast Due.
“What the hell?”
Before I can read more, I hear my father’s laugh grow closer. “Don’t worry, Gary. This isn’t that big of a deal. We can fix this,” he says as he enters the doorway of his office, surprised to find me still here. “Elliot?”
“Sorry. Your uh…phone was buzzing, and it distracted me. Mom called.” I turn to Gary, reaching out to shake his hand. “Nice to see you, Mr. Collins.”
“Elliot. I hear that congratulations are in order.”
“Uh, yes. Thank you, sir.”
“Glad to hear you didn’t let what happened last year derail you from getting your happily ever after.”
I shake my head, avoiding his gaze. “No, sir. Well, I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Let me know about dinner, Elliot.”
“I will, Dad,” I force out before leaving his office and heading back to my own, reeling over what I just saw on his desk.
My father has never been open about the firm’s finances, but if he’s past due on a bill, it’s making me question if there’s something going on that I’m completely unaware of. Or worse, he and my mom are in financial trouble.
The hard part is that talking to my father about something like this is virtually impossible. And until I know exactly what’s going on, it’s better if I keep my mouth shut.
Chapter 15
Dilynne
French Toast, Fake Fiancés, & Fear
My niece, Remy, blows a raspberry from her high chair before tossing a piece of her French toast on the floor.
“Oh, no you don’t, little one.” Reaching down, I pick up the piece of bread and toss it onto my empty plate. “You can’t be wasting Carol’s French toast. I’m gonna have to call Uncle Rhonan and have you arrested if you do that again.”
