The image of Jo waving her hand dismissively toward his parents, imitating his mother’s gesture, popped into his head. His gut twisted. “Oh, shit. You’re saying …”
“To Josey, your silence must have felt like you were throwing her under the bus. A man who cares about his woman doesn’t do that.”
He couldn’t swallow, much less breathe. “What the hell do I do now? She won’t talk to me.”
“No telling, but if you still want her, you’re going to have to find a way to get to her somehow.”
Hell yes he still wanted her. “You’re right. Thanks.”
Dazed, Will strode back to his office, pulled up his computer and put Jo’s meeting with her family’s company back on his calendar. He’d allowed his pride to hide the truth, and confronting the truth was yet another kick in the ass. He got that prickly feeling again, only this time he recognized the sensation for what it was: guilt. Jo hadn’t betrayed him; he’d betrayed her.
At least she hadn’t told him not to show up for the shareholders’ meeting. By then, she might be willing to talk to him, give him the chance to explain. What did he have to lose?
Josey parked her work van, yawned and rubbed her eyes. Today Will would move into his new office, and she wouldn’t be there. That explained why she hadn’t slept a wink last night. Dread settled in her gut as she gazed at the new house where she’d be working. The last thing she wanted was to face her brothers and their stupid sympathy. Just because the two of them were happily married, they suddenly believed they were relationship experts. “Blah. I really don’t want to put up with that kind of condescension today.”
Resting her forehead on the steering wheel, she considered taking the day off. After all, she had put in for the time off, only changing her mind after Will let her down so completely. If she did skip work, what would she do all day? She’d be miserable. Her eyes filled, and she let loose a stream of invectives to foul the inside her vehicle. “I am done with men.”
Can someone change allegiance, decide to become a lesbian after a lifetime of wanting men? Probably not. She’d just have to accept a life lived solo.
A knock on her van’s window startled her into straightening from the steering wheel. She peered at the passenger-side window to find Sam looking back at her. Jo swiped at her cheeks and glared, even as she hit the unlock button.
Her older brother opened the door, planted himself in the passenger seat and peered at her. “You don’t look so good.”
“Thanks.” She pressed her lips together.
Sam expelled a weighty sigh, the sigh of a man who was about to tell her what her problem was, and that he knew how to fix what was wrong. Jo cringed inwardly. Then she braced herself. Her brother meant well.
“You remember what I was like before I met Haley?” he began, his tone laced with superiority.
“Yeah. You were a promiscuous hound dog.”
He snorted. “I was.”
“So?”
“What I’m about to reveal … you must promise not to share with anyone.”
“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Sam took a deep breath, let it out slowly and twisted around to face her. “Men are idiots.”
Affection for her brother warmed her aching heart, and she laughed. “I hate to break this to you, Sam, but that’s not a secret.”
Nodding solemnly, he shrugged. “To the male half of the population it is. Listen, Jo. My guess is, Will is sitting somewhere right now, looking and feeling like hell. I’m also certain he has no clue what he did wrong. He’s blaming his parents, and he’s feeling like a puppy you just dropped off at the pound.”
He opened the van door and started to get out. “Haley loves me despite the fact that I too am a moron. Once a woman accepts the male idiot factor, things go much more smoothly. You must always assume that we men need to have things spelled out for us. The tricky part is spelling things out without us becoming aware that you know we’re idiots.” One side of his mouth turned up. “Because we also have fragile egos.”
She laughed again. “Sam, you’re generalizing. Those are the very worst male stereotypes.”
“I know, and I am ashamed. I’m sure there are exceptions to the rule. I tell myself there must be enlightened men out there somewhere, but I don’t know any. Good luck trying to find one. Besides, if you did, he’d drive you nuts for entirely different reasons.” With that parting volley, he set out for his work van.
Even as miserable as she was, she couldn’t help smiling. Sam had made her laugh, and he hadn’t tried to fix her problem. Haley must have talked to him. Josey climbed out of her van and moved to the back. Today she’d be installing gas lines. At least she didn’t have to deal with leaky faucets or clogged drains.
Clogged drains. Her mind went back to the day Will opened his front door, and she nearly drooled at the sight of him. Ignoring the sadness troll squatting on her heart, she trudged toward the construction site. She had work to do, good, honest work that afforded her a comfortable living and allowed her to tuck away a little bit of savings each month.
To hell with the Prescotts.
Jo made her way to the basement with a load of copper pipe, set up everything she needed and got to work. She’d been soldering for twenty minutes when she raised her safety glasses to glance toward the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. “Hey, Wyatt.”
“Hey, Jo.” He set his tools and meters down in front of the circuit breakers. “Mind if I put on some tunes?” he asked, lifting a small Bluetooth speaker from his box.
“Not at all, so long as you play something we both find acceptable.”
“I can do that.” He chose a playlist, turned on the speaker, and began organizing his tools. “You want to go out to lunch today?”
“Sure.” Maybe she could force herself to eat something, like soup. Why wasn’t Wyatt lecturing her? She bit her lip. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? Lowering her safety glasses, she went back to soldering a gas valve between two sections of copper pipe, one of which would lead to the water heater.
Focusing on her work, she tried to ignore the tension her brother’s lack of comments caused. A couple hours later, she couldn’t take it anymore. Jo set aside her tools and walked over to where Wyatt was connecting and labeling electrical wires to breakers.
“I can’t stand it anymore. Why aren’t you saying anything?” she demanded.
“About what?” He continued to work.
She crossed her arms in front of her. “About me and Will.”
“What is there to say?” He glanced at her. “I’m sure things ended between the two of you exactly as you expected them to.”
Ouch. “I didn’t want things to end between us at all.”
“Right.” Wyatt fixed her with a pointed stare. “That’s why you sent him a breakup text and refuse to talk to him.”
Heat flushed through her, filling her cheeks. “I’m not proud of the way I handled things.”
“I should hope not. Can you imagine what it must’ve been like to be on the other end of a breakup text?” He grunted. “Wow, Jo.”
“You’re mad at me?” Her brow rose. “I wish you’d been there when the Prescotts looked down their noses at me.”
“You’re missing the point.” Wyatt stopped working and turned to face her. “Did Will ever look down his nose at you? Did he ever put you down or insult you?”
“No.” Memories flooded her mind, the looks of pride and appreciation from Will, his heart-melting compliments, the romantic streak she’d recently discovered. He’d always been respectful, considerate, and she’d repaid all of his wonderfulness with a breakup text. Shame scorched through her, and her misery increased tenfold.
“Jo, the way you looked at Will …” Wyatt shook his head. “In my entire life, I’ve never seen you look at a man the way you did Will, and he looked back at you the same way. We could all see the two of you were crazy about each other.”
“I’m still crazy about him.” Her feelings
hadn’t changed, only now she missed him like crazy. “Even so, I can’t be with a man who won’t stand up for me the way I’d stand up for him.”
“Yeah, but without talking to him, you’ll never know if your perceptions and Will’s differ about that day. I can’t help but wonder if the way you reacted might have more to do with your pattern of sabotage and defensiveness than with his parents’ rudeness.”
Had she fallen into her old habit? Regret rose like bile, leaving a bitter taste behind.
“Look, I’m not suggesting you get back together with Will,” Wyatt said. “I’m just saying—”
“I should have talked to him. I get it.” Will had stopped trying to reach out to her. He’d given up, and who could blame him after the way she’d burned him?
“Something else to think about …” Wyatt continued. “Do you really think the two of you would’ve been the only couple in the world who didn’t get along with one set of in-laws or the other? Isn’t it possible you might have grown on the Prescotts over time? You said yourself they were mostly angry at Will for not telling them he’d left his law firm, right?”
“Thanks for your insights,” she groused, feeling lower than a slug. “I knew I could count on you for a lecture.”
“Somebody had to say what needed to be said, and I drew the short straw.”
Jo blinked. “You … you guys drew straws?”
“Course not.”
She blew out the breath she’d been holding. “Good, because—”
“We cut cards, and whoever drew the low card got the job. That would be me, and now my work here is done, and”—he glanced at his watch—“it’s lunchtime.”
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she mumbled, tugging off her leather gloves. “If I go to lunch with you and Sam, are you two going to continue butting into my business the entire time?”
“Like you refrained from butting into mine and Sam’s business when we needed—” he made quote marks in the air—“a good talking to?” Wyatt lowered his chin and his expression filled with sympathy. “Like I’ve said many times before, we’re on your side, Jo. Even when we think you’ve messed up royally, we’re still behind you all the way.”
“You’ve made your point.” Her eyes filled. “Give me a break. It’s too late for me and Will. Yes, I’ll admit I handled things badly, but Will has moved on.”
She’d made the biggest mistake of her life, and there was no going back. Damn the tear sliding down her cheek.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jo had arrived early to make coffee and mentally prepare herself for this all-important shareholders’ meeting. She claimed the spot next to where Grandpa Joe usually sat and draped her purse over the back of the chair. Her mouth went completely dry as her family began to trickle in. Greetings were exchanged and coffee mugs filled as they took their places around the long kitchen table. How was she supposed to talk when her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth?
“Morning, Jo,” Sam said, while pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Good morning,” she said.
Her brother took the chair next to her and patted her arm. “Ready?”
She nodded. Her bottle of water and the folder holding the corporate name change paperwork sat in front of her. The smell of freshly brewed coffee permeated the room. As nervous as she was, coffee was not a good idea. She took a sip of her water, hoping to unstick her tongue enough that she could make her case.
Wyatt walked in, carrying a large white box. “I brought doughnuts,” he announced setting the box on the counter.
“Great,” Uncle Jack said, shooting up from his chair and making a beeline for the box. Uncle Dan, Sam and the two cousins who were already present followed him.
She stayed put. Her appetite still hadn’t returned since she’d broken things off with Will. Besides, her throat was too dry to swallow anything anyway. Jo did a headcount. Only one cousin and Grandpa Joe had yet to show up.
Voices outside the door caught her attention. Grandpa Joe’s and another, a deep resonate voice that set her heart pounding. Couldn’t be. The door opened. Grandpa Joe strode in, followed by … Will. All the blood rushed from her head. Her vision narrowed, and stars danced before her eyes. She ought to put her head between her knees, but that would be mortifying. Instead, she gripped the edge of the table to keep from toppling over and forced herself to breathe.
“Help yourselves to doughnuts,” Wyatt announced to the latecomers as her cousin Jack Jr., the last to arrive, closed the door behind him.
“Here, Will,” Sam said, rising from his place beside Jo. “You take the seat next to your client.” He moved down the table, damn him.
Oh man. Adrenaline shot through her, and all the blood that had fled her brain surged back. And, yay, now her cheeks flamed.
“Thank you.” Will set a leather folder and his car keys on the table, taking the place beside her. “Good morning, Jo.” His gaze bored into her, his brow creasing.
“Good morning.” Judging by the look he gave her, she didn’t look so good. He must have noticed the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. “Why are you here?” she whispered, leaning close enough to catch a whiff of his aftershave.
“I said I would be, so I am. Listen, after the meeting is over, can we—”
“Can we get this thing started?” Carrying his coffee mug with his doughnut resting on top, Uncle Dan took his seat and looked around at each of them, pausing to scowl when he got to Will.
Will’s very presence, all the good memories she’d tucked away, the way he smelled and looked … overwhelming grief slammed into her, and it was all she could do not to burst into tears. “Yes. Let’s get started,” she squeaked.
“If it’s all right with you, Jo, I have something to say,” Uncle Dan began.
“Fine.” Having him talk first would give her time to gather her wits, which at present, flew around her head like gnats on a breezeless summer day.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Richard.” Her uncle’s voice broke on her dad’s name. “You might not know this, but there were times when none of us thought we’d survive as a company. Things were pretty lean during those early years.” He cleared his throat and shot a look at his brother Jack, and then at Grandpa Joe. “Remember how Rick always cheered us on and kept us going?”
“Course I do.” Grandpa Joe’s eyes had gone a little glassy. “Even as a baby he was always happy, always smiling. Though he was the youngest, he was the one you and Jack turned to for encouragement,” he said, glancing at his two remaining sons. “He had a way of finding the good in every situation, making us laugh even when things looked hopeless.”
The room went silent as everyone got lost in their own memories, including her. Her father’s laughter echoed through her mind. He’d loved to play with her and her brothers. He’d always hugged them and her mom, always made sure his family knew how much he loved them, making them feel good about themselves. What her uncle and grandfather said was the truth. Dad had been one of those people who radiated happiness, sharing his joy with everyone around him. She swallowed, and her eyes went a little moist too.
“I don’t mean any disrespect, Jo,” Uncle Dan said, bringing everyone’s attention back to him. “You are a valued member of this company, and a damn fine plumber.” He shifted in his chair and leaned forward. “But here’s the thing. Your dad put his heart and soul into building this business. He did that for you, Sam, Wyatt and your mom. He did that for all of us. He’s gone, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss my brother. It’s not that I don’t understand where you’re coming from with this name change business. I do, but we can be inclusive and respectful to everyone without erasing your father’s legacy. We’re Haney & Sons because Dad, Jack, Rick and I started this company, struggling to build something good from the ground up.” He paused and took a deep breath.
“What we call ourselves has nothing to do with how we treat one another and those who work for us. No matter what is printed on
the side of our trucks, this company will continue to be inclusive, respectful and supportive toward any and all who pass through our doors, regardless of gender, ethnicity or orientation.” Leaning back, he crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s all I have to say.”
“Mr. Haney, Jack, do either of you have anything to add?” Will asked, looking from Grandpa Joe to Jack Sr.
Uncle Jack placed his forearms on the table. “I can see both sides of this issue. Like you say, we’re a different company today than we were when we began, and you are important, Jo. Never doubt that. Still, I have to agree with Dan. The & Sons part of our company name is like a memorial to your dad. No matter how the vote turns out, I want you to know how much I respect and value you as a partner and as my niece.”
“For my part, I’ll abstain from voting unless I’m needed to break a tie,” Grandpa Joe said. “Dan and Jack are running things now.”
Jo’s heart dropped. After Dan’s emotional speech and Grandpa Joe’s abstention, she had no chance of winning. She pinched the edge of her folder, sliding it back and forth. It was her turn to talk, and she no longer had a clue what to say. Will placed his hand on her folder, stopping the motion. She sucked in a breath and raised her eyes to his.
“I’ve got this,” he said.
Biting her lip, she nodded.
Will surveyed everyone at the table, rose from his chair and smoothed down his tie. “In cases like this, it is all too easy to make decisions based upon emotion and sentiment rather than with good sense.” He paused. “There is precedent set for changing the name of your business to better reflect the current partnership. In 2009, you all agreed to include handyman services, honoring Sam’s contribution.”
Again he gazed around the table. “What Jo is asking will not in anyway diminish her father’s legacy. In fact, by doing so you will acknowledge his daughter’s contribution to this company’s continuing success. From what I’ve heard here today, I have no doubt her father would be cheering his daughter on. Richard Haney would be the first to cast a yes vote on Jo’s behalf.”
What Matters Most Page 18
