Page 96 of Second Chance with Seth
“If it’s not going to be like my doom and gloom scenario, then what will it be like?” she asks, cutting to the chase.
“However you want it to be.”
“But I thought you’d planned this, Seth. That’s what you said. I thought you’d worked out…”
“I have,” I say, interrupting her flow of panic. “All I’m saying is, you can decide what you do. If you wanna stay up here and look after River, then I’ll work in the coffee shop. If you wanna be downstairs, then I’ll take care of River. We can take it in turns… if that’s what you want.”
She shakes her head, which doesn’t feel at all promising. It was supposed to make sense to her, just like it did to me, but it doesn’t seem that way.
“That won’t be enough for you,” she says, surprising me.
“Why not? I’ve thought this through, babe.” I turn in my seat, shifting closer to her.
“Really? After all the work you put in to get to where you are? You sacrificed so much to achieve what you’ve done, and you love it too much to give it up.”
“I love you more,” I whisper, reaching out and cupping her cheek with my hand. She shakes her head again, but I hold it still, stopping her negativity. “Don’t. Don’t say ‘no’.”
“I’m not. But can’t you see? Financially, this is still a terrible idea. You haven’t seen my accounts. They’re not disastrous, but I don’t make enough to support all three of us, with the two of us sharing one job… especially as I’ll be paying Barbra more from next month onward.”
“I know. I’m aware of that, and I don’t need to see your accounts.”
“Why not?”
“Because there’s nothing to worry about… not financially.”
She pulls back, my hand falling to my lap. “Seriously, Seth,” she says, raising her voice just slightly. “You’ve been telling me ever since we first sat on the couch earlier this evening thatyou’re giving up work. How can we not have anything to worry about?”
“Because I didn’t say I was giving up work. I told you I was giving up my job. They’re not the same thing. I’ve got every intention of continuing to work.”
“In the coffee shop?”
“No. As an architect.”
“How?” She throws up her arms in frustration. “You’ve just told me you’ll be here to help with River.”
“I know. I’m gonna work here.”
“Where? In case you haven’t noticed, there aren’t any architects in Hart’s Creek.”
“There are now.”
She stares at me, frowning, like she’s trying to work out what I’m saying.
“I don’t understand,” she says eventually. “What exactly are you gonna do? Work in the coffee shop? Be an architect? Or help with River?”
“All of the above.”
“Oh… so you’re superman, are you?” She lets out a sigh. “I’m not being ungrateful, Seth, but you’re simply not being realistic here. Trust me. There aren’t enough hours in the day for what you’re suggesting. I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work.”
“There’s a reason for that,” I say, and she tips her head to one side.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. You’ve been doing it all by yourself. But you don’t have to anymore.” I sit forward and take her hands in mine, deciding the time has come to tell her everything. “I’ve thought it through, discussed it with Aiden, done the math, and I’ve figured out that I can make a decent living if I work part-time. There are two projects which I’ve got to complete for Aiden, so we’ve agreed I’ll work on those from here, and then I’m gonnado some freelance work, and fit it in around helping you and looking after River. Aiden’s already said he’ll pass me some work, and he’s recommending me to a couple of people he knows. That’ll give me more than enough to keep me busy. I won’t make as much money as I do now, but I’ll make enough.”
“Really? You’re sure?”
“I’m positive. This isn’t something I’ve done on a whim, even if it seems like it to you. I haven’t gone into it lightly, I promise.”
