“Do me a favor, Aiden.” His calm tone only stoked the unreasonable anger coursing through my body. “Think about the opportunities your neutral stance on these positions are costing people. If the way it affects Kendall and me doesn’t bother you, think about how Mrs. Chan might be job hunting because she’s hit the top of the ladder. About the qualified, ambitious applicants out there who’d love to work with a company like ours but had to take jobs with corporate goliaths who only see them as a number and treat them worse. King Oil has been growing for over forty years. Society is going to be dependent on oil-based energy for decades to come, and not only that, we’re uniquely situated to support and develop other energies. It’s an exciting time. There are people out there who want to be a part of it. What’s your part in that?”

I didn’t turn around but watched in the window as he rose and held his hand out to Kendall. She stood and hugged his waist, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“It’s not too late to do what you want in life, Aiden. If this is it, so be it. If it’s not, you have an entire family willing to support you. But you need to tell us. You need to talk to us. You can’t keep it all inside. You and I have both experienced the drawbacks of doing that.”

I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Kate had said something similar not long ago. I was working on opening up with Kate. That was to secure a future with her. My future with the company was secured. I was roped to it no matter what I said.

He brushed a hand down Kendall’s face and they turned to leave. By the time they reached my office door and opened it, they weren’t touching. Professional coworkers.

Dad’s words sank in, inch by inch, like a struggling man in quicksand.

You have an entire family willing to support you. But you need to tell us.

What would I say? Hey, Dad—can you work even harder than you have because I just want to check out? No, I don’t have a plan. It’s just that work has been an oppressive Groundhog Day since I started. Oh, and can you disrupt my brothers’ lives like they don’t have their own jobs and families who are counting on them?

No.

You take after her.

I leaned my forehead against the cool glass. I was becoming Grams. Stubborn. Unwilling to ask for help. If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up alone like Grams too.