“Mom, Claire feels bad about lying to you,” I say. “And lately, she’s been on my case about coming clean. Please, don’t take it out on her.”

“What’s going to happen if she wants to stay in London?” Mom asks, her chin quivering.

“Then, we move to London and we’ll try to visit often. It’s up to her.”

“But your business,” she insists.

“Her career matters, Mom.”

Claire’s mom smiles and squeezes my hand. “We have to go too, but I trust you’ll do the right thing.” She turns to look at my mother and says, “You better change your attitude or we’re going to have a lot of problems in the future. If we have granddaughters, they are going to be raised to become strong women fighting for their own happiness, not pretty girls waiting for some man to make them happy.”

Mrs. Solis leaves just the same way her daughter does. Owning the room. I love Mom, but she does live a little in the past.

“I don’t like her,” Mom says.

“Get used to her, Mom,” I say kissing her forehead. “I’ll see you guys soon. Thank you, Dad, for helping me.”

I rush through the bar to catch up with Claire’s parents, and thankfully I do, just as Mr. Solis is helping his wife into the car.

“Did you forget something, son?” Mr. Solis asks.

I pull out the velvet box and open it.

“Well, I’m taken, but I know someone who might say yes, if you ask nicely,” he says with a smirk.

“This might sound old-fashioned, but I’d like to ask for your blessing to marry Claire.”

He pats me on the back and says, “You seem like a good man, and I trust you would go through a great many things to make her happy.”

“But?”

“It’s up to her to say yes, not me.”

“I just want your blessing, sir.”

“You have our blessing, Miller,” Mrs. Solis answers, “But you make her cry again, and I’ll bury you in my backyard, do you understand?”

“Message received.”

Claire

A couple of hours later, Shelby sends me an email with instructions. They expect me to be in London in a week. I have one week to pack and move. Danielle books my flight and my hotel. I have to search for a flat, but I’ll do it once I arrive in London. When I get home, Miller isn’t around. I wait for him all night, but he never comes home.

The next morning, I drive to my parents’ house instead of going to work. I can’t talk to my employees just yet. I have to try something before I can give them the bad news. At least Shelby gave me that.

“They’re closing the branch,” I announce as I enter the house.