Five Years Gone, She Walked Back In, So I Walked Out novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Ask Your Father

Stevie's POV

The Rutledge Marine founders' gala had been held in the same hall every autumn for sixty years.

It was a long room above the yard, with sailcloth on the ceiling, a brass band, and a bar made from an old hull.

Poppy was spending the night with the teacher who owed me a casserole.

I stood alone in the doorway in the green dress I had worn to our fifth anniversary, which would have been next month.

I had not wanted to come.

But I owned a fifth of the company, and Dev's truck had been gone from my lane since Sunday morning, and I wanted to know what he had meant by the check.

My father had not answered a call in eight days.

Tonight he stood by the bar in his good suit.

He saw me, and his face tightened, and he looked away.

"Stevie."

Sawyer came through the crowd.

He wore the gray suit from our wedding photograph.

He stopped a respectful distance away, with his hands at his sides.

"You came."

"I'm a shareholder."

"I know. I'm glad." He swallowed. "You look... I'm glad."

"Where is she?"

He did not need to ask who.

"With my mother. Stevie, I need to talk to you before the speeches. Something happened, and there's..."

"Ladies and gentlemen," the bandleader said. "Please welcome Mrs. Rutledge."

The music stopped.

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