As Mr. Harrison looked over the schedule for the upcoming month as though he had anything to do with overseeing event preparations, my jaw clenched. This would've been over hours ago if he hadn't agreed to a round of golf at the same time as our meeting. Their game plus the compulsory drinks afterward meant it would be too late to take Nate to dinner when I finished here, but maybe I'd still be able to see him.

If we could talk and move past the awful tension my fear wedged between us, everything would be better. We could get back to the way we were before I ruined things. Nate would see how much he means to me.

My cell vibrated in my pocket, and when I slipped it out to see Liv's name on the screen for the third time in less than an hour, I had to repress a sigh. Her obvious excitement and need to see how Mr. Harrison handled things would be sweet if I was given the chance to say it.

"Do you need to get that?" he asked with a raised brow, as though I were the one holding us up.

A scoff formed in my throat that I buried under a cough. "No, sir. It's just my sister. I'll call her when we're finished."

"Well, things look great." He turned from the computer to face me fully. "As usual, you have everything under control. If there's nothing else, I'd say we're done here."

His smile and words of appreciation had me straightening in my seat as my pulse rushed in my ears. This was it. Here we go. "Actually, I do have something else. I want to talk to you about—"

The office phone rang, cutting me off as Mr. Harrison held up one finger. "Hold that thought." He lifted the receiver and as he spoke into the phone, I worked to keep the nerves making my heart pound at bay.

Then he frowned and his eyes found mine. "Of course. Here you are." He held the phone out to me, saying, "It's your sister."

My jaw dropped. What the hell? How did she get the front desk to connect her to Mr. Harrison's office? "Excuse me. I don't know why—"

His face softened. "Take the call, Joby. It sounds important."

Confused, I held the phone to my ear. "Liv?" Her staggered breathing and soft sobs sent ice cold worry shooting through my limbs. "What's wrong?"

"Mom called." Her voice shook, and as she took a deep breath, my mind raced through every awful scenario. Dad was in a wreck. He had a heart attack. A stroke. He's hospitalized. In a coma. Unresponsive.

"It's Granny. She's gone."

"What?" Led filled my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. "No." I shook my head. Granny's fine—healthy. She's older, sure, but spry.

Liv sniffed. "They said she passed away in her sleep." Her voice was a high-pitched squeak by the end, but her words were painfully clear. My vision blurred.

"Here, baby. Let me have that." Andre's voice came through the speaker as he took the phone from my sister. "Joby?"

"Yeah?" A tear tickled my cheek and as I wiped it away, Mr. Harrison passed me a tissue.

"Maybe you should just come over," Andre's soft voice made me glad he was there with Liv. "We're heading to Wayden in the morning. You're welcome to ride with us."

"Wayden in the morning." I nodded, but my thoughts stumbled over themselves. I had work, and I was finally about to come out. My heart squeezed. Nate. God, I wished he were here.

"Come over after you pack."

"Pack. Right." I'd need my black suit for the funeral. Granny's funeral. I needed to focus on what was necessary.

Andre's sigh was heavy with sadness. "I have to go check on your sister."

"Okay. Yeah. Thanks." I hung up the phone, but didn't bother to face Mr. Harrison as I said, "My grandmother passed away. She was fine. I just spoke to her the other day."

He came from behind his desk to rest a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss. Go be with your family. Take the week. We'll handle things here. You're overdue for a vacation, anyway."

I nodded. "Thanks."

The week. Was that long enough to do whatever had to be done? How could a life as big as Granny's be wrapped up so quickly? Standing, I moved to the door in a daze. "I have to pack."

Thanks for reading! 💜

Ugh. 😩 Every time I read this chapter, it makes me sad. I'll miss Granny.
Did you see it coming?