“As for Duncan.”
Cora turned to look at me.：
“Your position, effective immediately, goes to Theo.”
I stared at her, not believing it.
She frowned, and for a second something close to reluctance moved across her face before it was gone.
She said,：
“Duncan, don't push your luck.”
Sylvia beamed.：
“There, Theo, now he answers to you.”
Theo looked down at the signet ring back on his own wrist, color rising in his face, then glanced at me with the corner of his mouth curving into a smug little line he thought I wouldn't catch.
I watched the three of them put on their show in front of me, and suddenly I felt ridiculous.
I looked at Cora.：
“Fine, Ms. Mason. As it happens, I no longer want to sit in that director's chair anyway.”
Then I walked past her and out.
Down in the parking garage, I'd just unlocked the car when a hand caught my arm from behind.
“In a while I'll move you under me as vice president. Theo will still report to you, so don't read too much into this.
“Mom adores him. In a moment like that, I couldn't make her lose face.”
It was always like this. After a fight, she could always win me back with an explanation and a little softening.
My jaw tightened, and I shook her hand off. She froze, and under that stunned look I got in the car and drove straight out.
When I got home, I found Cora had already sent me a dozen messages. The first ones were more of the same explaining, but the last one, of all things, was a travel booking.
Santa Barbara.
The ocean.
【Duncan, don't worry. While you're off the post, I'll take the time off with you.
【The sea you've always wanted to see, I'll go with you. Call it our honeymoon.】
I couldn't even picture it now — but once, a line like that would have left me thrilled.
But this time I sent back just one plain line.：
【No need.】
She replied right away.：
【Come on~ don't be mad anymore. I've already booked the eight a.m. flight. I'll stay late tonight and clear everything, so don't wait up for dinner.】
With a little 【kiss】 emoji tacked on.
I frowned and put the phone down.
Never mind. Better to wait for her to come back and say it all clearly.
I'd already agreed to the blind-date match my family set up. This girlfriend — I didn't want to keep going.
But I waited, and the wait took the whole night.
When dawn came the next day, she finally came back, faintly drunk. And eight o'clock was long gone.
“Weren't we taking the eight o'clock flight to Santa Barbara?”
I couldn't help asking.
She narrowed her eyes, something coming back to her, and laughed.：
“Oh — that. I cancelled the tickets. Took Theo instead.”
I went still.
“It's not like you haven't seen the ocean. How many times have you seen it now.”
She slumped onto the couch, clearly not having slept all night.：
“After I finished work last night, I did mean to come home and pack with you.
“But Theo just got promoted, and everyone at the office threw him a little celebration, and I had a few too many.
“He said he'd never seen the ocean.
“So I changed the trip on the spot.”
Even with no real hope, in that moment I still couldn't stop myself.：
“You promised it yourself.”
The alcohol slowed her a beat. Then she smiled — a smile that said none of it mattered.：
“Duncan, how long have we been together? Almost ten years. We're an old married couple by now.
“Why are you hung up on something this small?
“Besides, you've already been to the coast three times. Don't be greedy.”
