Free Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe Page B

shifted in his seat. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear any more, but she went on.
    “She graduated from Michigan with honors, and an acceptance letter to medical school, but she balked. Something happened. Probably her dad pushed her hard one too many times. She turned it down, took a job selling prescription drugs and bought herself a little house. She did well, for about three years, and then she met that Thad.”
    Garrett’s hands clenched into fists under the desk.
    “After that terrible incident, she literally became a different person. She wouldn’t leave her dad’s house, stayed in her old room for months. Made her dad get rid of the piano she loved. We all tiptoed around here for almost a year. Mr. B would blow up at the slightest provocation, but we all let him do it. We understood.” She shook her head, and wiped her eyes. Garrett frowned but didn’t know what to say so he kept his mouth shut.
    “Finally, one day she appeared, a shrunken, scared version of herself. Her father declared her ‘well’ and ‘ready to work’ and that’s when the rotations began. She started in distribution, worked the warehouse for about nine months. Then went to the pub, doing everything from food prep, to bartending. I was so worried about her. She lost more weight, hardly talked to anyone. We all said we’d give anything to witness a good knock down drag out between her and her father, like the old days.”
    Garrett looked out the window, realizing where this was headed. He closed his eyes and fought the need to get up and pace.
    “Then, Mr. B. tells us he’s hired a manager. A general business manager. Someone who will take over most likely, and here you are.” Mrs. Anderson stared at him, making him squirm. “The old Lori is back, Garrett, and we have you to thank. But that means you have to understand her, stop trying to be so controlling because that Lori won’t be controlled. Thinking you can will only lead to your unhappiness.”
    She stood. “I’ve watched you and her. I see what’s happening, and I can’t think of a better thing than for you two to be together. You balance each other, but only if you are willing to let go a little. Otherwise, it will never work.”
    He frowned. “So, who’s giving her the little pep talk about how swell I am?” He couldn’t help himself.
    The woman smiled and patted his shoulder. “Oh, hon, Lori has twenty or so moms and big sisters, and even a few big brothers, in this building. I’m pretty sure somebody has, or is right now.”
    “I hate this.”
    “But you love her.”
    He nodded, not speaking.
    She smiled at him. “Well then, that’s really all you need. Trust me. That and patience. She’ll see the light.”
    She turned to go as her desk phone started ringing. Then threw out something that Garrett would remember for a long time. “You know, as much as I hate to admit it, it’s as if between you and that horrible man Eli, you brought our Lori back.” She smiled, but he felt his heart sink to his feet. Her next words didn’t help.
    “Garrett? I have a Jeanine on line one. She seems pretty intent on talking to you. I tried to tell her,” Garrett held up a hand.
    “It’s okay. It’s my ex-wife. Shut the door would you please? This might take a while.” He noted the shocked look on her face. At least he still had the ability to surprise a few people.
    “What?” He barked into the phone. “I thought we agreed all conversations occurred between attorneys.”
     
     
     
     

     
     
    Lori took a deep breath and walked into the outer office where Mrs. Anderson guarded Garrett like a bulldog. The older woman smiled at her but put her finger to her lips and indicated with a jerk of her chin that Garret was busy behind the closed door. Lori squared her shoulders and marched past the desk, realizing that not that long ago, she would never even have considered such a move.
    “She did what?” Garrett’s raised voice behind the door made her stop. “Oh