Page 53 of Mister Daddy

I’m not either!I want to shout, but the words won’t come out. It wouldn’t matter anyway. The music is too loud for her to hear me, no matter how loudly I yell.

Abby has ruined me. I guess I just need some more time before I can get back in the game. Six months is barely a blip on the radar when you think about it. Surely it won’t be this hard forever.

After the failed attempt with Gabby, I call it quits at the club. My head is starting to hurt anyway.

My office on this ship is on the way to my room, so I pop in. I’m surprised to find Miss Havisham still sitting at her desk.

“Hi, Flora. What are you doing here so late?”

She looks up, confused. “Carter? What brings you by?”

“I was just on my way to my room, and I figured I’d pop in. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, yes, dear, of course. I just wanted to tidy up a bit in here.”

It still looks just as messy as it was when I left, but I don’t say anything about that. “Good. What’s on tomorrow’s agenda? I forgot to ask when I rushed out earlier.”

There had been an emergency below deck that I had to attend to, and once that was done, I’d headed to my room to shower and change for a night out that had turned into a bust. It’s not even ten yet.

“Board meeting at five over Skype and then dinner with the captain at seven, but other than that, all clear.”

“Flora, that was today’s schedule.”

She stares at the paper. “Was it? My apologies, Carter. Tomorrow, you have a morning meeting with the cleaning managers, lunch with a few executives on board, and we’re expecting the decision about your new ship proposal sometime in the afternoon.”

I’d forgotten about that proposal. It all went down when Abby was here, and she’s clouded every thought surrounding that week. And every week since.

“Thanks, Flora. Why don’t you head to your cabin and get some rest?”

She looks around the messy office and shrugs. “I suppose this office is tidy enough. I’ll see you tomorrow, Carter.”

“See you tomorrow.”

I watch her leave, hoping she finds her room okay. Miss Havisham’s mind is clearly going, but I don’t want to lose her. Maybe if Abby was around to keep me grounded and push me to be my best, I could let Miss Havisham go, but I don’t have that anymore. I don’t think I can run this company without someone here to guide me, which means keeping Miss Havisham around.

My mind lately has been almost as bad as Flora’s. It constantly drifts back to Abby and our week together. My work is suffering because of it, and it’s only a matter of time before the board notices.

I need to let her go for real. Getting on top of someone else isn’t going to help, but I need to put Abby out of my mind.

She didn’t want me.

That’s something I’ll just have to live with, even if it breaks my heart.

I head back to my room, forcing myself not to think about Abby. It goes well until I lie down and close my eyes, and all I can see is her.

Giving her up isn’t going to be easy. But I know it’s what I have to do.

21

Abby

Ayear later.

My mother practically pushes me out the door.

“Abby, he’ll be fine.”

I stare at the sleeping baby in the carrier at her feet. Timmy looks so much like his dad it almost hurts to look at him, but I love that little boy so much.