Big Mac’s voice brought Adam back to the present, where he discovered he was jabbing the barbeque fork methodically into the steak.

“I can’t stop thinking about what you told me earlier,” Big Mac said. “I’m sorry you’re hurting, son.”

His dad had promised to keep the story to himself until Adam was ready to share his news with the rest of the family. “Shit happens.”

“Shit like this doesn’t happen. You got screwed, and what I’ve been wanting to know since you told me is what you’re planning to do about it.”

Adam flipped the steaks and stepped back from the smoke. “Nothing.”

“You’re just going to let go of the company you founded from the ground up?”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Big Mac leaned against the rail, arms crossed, beer in hand. “Why?”

Back in the day, Adam would’ve wilted under the intensity of that stare. “Because I don’t care enough to fight for it.”

“You don’t care enough about the business you gave fourteen years of blood and sweat and tears to?”

“Nope.”

“I refer to my original question. Why?”

“I told you.”

“Stop the bullshit and tell me the truth.”

“It was a sign.”

“Of?”

“That it’s time for a change. In more ways than one.”

“And what will this change entail?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“If you need a job, you can work at the marina.”

Adam smiled at his dad. “I appreciate the offer, but the good news in all of this is they owe me a shit ton of money that they have sixty days to pay me. After that, I can do whatever I want.”

“Which is?”

“Don’t know yet. I’m assuming I’ll figure that out.” Adam looked at his dad. “Don’t tell, Mom, okay? She’s upset enough about the accident. I don’t want to give her more to worry about.”

“I told you I wouldn’t tell anyone, and I won’t.”

“I’m already sorry I told you because I can tell you’re fretting over it.”

“Fretting is part of my job description as your dear old dad.” Big Mac wrapped a tree-trunk arm around Adam’s neck and hugged him. “We’ll get you through this, buddy.”

Adam didn’t dare say a word, so he nodded and held on tight to the man who’d been his rock. “Thanks, Dad.” When his dad released him, Adam looked inside and saw Carolina Cantrell come into the kitchen with Seamus O’Grady’s arm around her. “Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Is Carolina…dating him?”

“Who?”

“Seamus?”

Big Mac looked and then looked closer. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Nothing this awesome ever happens in New York,” Adam said, laughing. “Carolina looks like she’s being tortured.”

“He seems pretty pleased with himself, doesn’t he?”