Read Online Sweet Texas Fire by Nicole Flockton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicole Flockton
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you?”
How did he answer that? He had a lot of regrets where his relationship with his father was concerned. If only they’d had a little more time to fully resolve their issues. Although before he died, Dad seemed to give the impression that all was forgiven. Maybe he’d been wrong and Dad hadn’t completely forgiven and forgotten Gage’s mistakes.
“I guess I do. I wish I’d said a few more things to him. Explained why I’d done the things I did.”
“Life is always full of regrets. Sometimes you have to accept that, no matter how hard it is.”
Gage shrugged. In principle, acceptance seemed the logical course of action. In reality, forgiving himself for his shortcomings wasn’t something he could do.
“Do you have any regrets, Charlotte?” He turned the question on her to take the heat off him.
“I think I do.”
“What do you mean, you think you do? Either you do or you don’t.”
“Well, I regret not being more open with some of the kids I met on my dad’s various overseas assignments. As an ex-pat kid, it’s better not to get too attached to the people you associate with. As you said, contracts end. You move on to another school. Another group of people. Another place to call home for a couple of years.”
He had always thought of traveling as an exciting prospect. Until he started working on the oil rigs. He’d worked on some all over the world, and soon tired of living out of a suitcase. He’d been glad when his investments had paid off and he could buy a fifty percent share of the company that had hired him. The timing had been perfect, and he never looked back. After a year of becoming a part owner of the company, he’d taken full ownership when his partner wanted out due to ill health. The fact that Gage was twenty-five at that time had been an achievement within itself.
“So, where is home for you?”
“At the moment it’s here in Houston.”
“But you’d like to make it Sweet Ridge?”
Sadness etched its way over her features. “I thought it could be…” she whispered, “more of a weekend getaway.”
“And it can’t be now?”
“No, it doesn’t seem likely.”
“Why?” God, couldn’t she give him straight answers instead of riddles to solve?
“It’s a bit far to travel from Australia to Sweet Ridge just for a weekend jaunt.”
Gage sat back and reviewed the conversation they’d had the last time they were together. She’d mentioned something about a green card and her company sponsoring her. Had that fallen through? Or had they changed their mind? He couldn’t believe Charlotte had changed her mind about living in Houston. Not with the way she was acting.
“What happened, Red?”
“My company investigated the green card process and decided against proceeding with the application. While they wanted to employ me on a permanent basis, last week they got the news they’d missed out on two contracts they bid on. The application cost, while not too prohibitive, was more than they wanted to spend. So when my contract ends in a couple of months, I’ll be heading back home.”
“I’m sorry. I know you were excited about the prospect of staying. But why would you want to live here? From everything I’ve heard and from other people I’ve talked to, most people would give their eyeteeth to live in Australia.”
“I mean, it is beautiful. I love going back there, but because I’ve traveled so much, it hasn’t really felt like home. I seem to have inherited my parents’ need to experience new things and places. My brothers, on the other hand, are quite content to settle down in Australia. They’ve started their own company, so they’ve got no plans to leave.”
“But why here? What’s so special about Houston? It’s not exactly pretty, if you know what I mean.”
“It may not have a beautiful harbor like Sydney or the gorgeous Blue Mountains. But Houston has a vibe all its own. It’s cosmopolitan. It has great restaurants. Brilliant shopping.
How did he answer that? He had a lot of regrets where his relationship with his father was concerned. If only they’d had a little more time to fully resolve their issues. Although before he died, Dad seemed to give the impression that all was forgiven. Maybe he’d been wrong and Dad hadn’t completely forgiven and forgotten Gage’s mistakes.
“I guess I do. I wish I’d said a few more things to him. Explained why I’d done the things I did.”
“Life is always full of regrets. Sometimes you have to accept that, no matter how hard it is.”
Gage shrugged. In principle, acceptance seemed the logical course of action. In reality, forgiving himself for his shortcomings wasn’t something he could do.
“Do you have any regrets, Charlotte?” He turned the question on her to take the heat off him.
“I think I do.”
“What do you mean, you think you do? Either you do or you don’t.”
“Well, I regret not being more open with some of the kids I met on my dad’s various overseas assignments. As an ex-pat kid, it’s better not to get too attached to the people you associate with. As you said, contracts end. You move on to another school. Another group of people. Another place to call home for a couple of years.”
He had always thought of traveling as an exciting prospect. Until he started working on the oil rigs. He’d worked on some all over the world, and soon tired of living out of a suitcase. He’d been glad when his investments had paid off and he could buy a fifty percent share of the company that had hired him. The timing had been perfect, and he never looked back. After a year of becoming a part owner of the company, he’d taken full ownership when his partner wanted out due to ill health. The fact that Gage was twenty-five at that time had been an achievement within itself.
“So, where is home for you?”
“At the moment it’s here in Houston.”
“But you’d like to make it Sweet Ridge?”
Sadness etched its way over her features. “I thought it could be…” she whispered, “more of a weekend getaway.”
“And it can’t be now?”
“No, it doesn’t seem likely.”
“Why?” God, couldn’t she give him straight answers instead of riddles to solve?
“It’s a bit far to travel from Australia to Sweet Ridge just for a weekend jaunt.”
Gage sat back and reviewed the conversation they’d had the last time they were together. She’d mentioned something about a green card and her company sponsoring her. Had that fallen through? Or had they changed their mind? He couldn’t believe Charlotte had changed her mind about living in Houston. Not with the way she was acting.
“What happened, Red?”
“My company investigated the green card process and decided against proceeding with the application. While they wanted to employ me on a permanent basis, last week they got the news they’d missed out on two contracts they bid on. The application cost, while not too prohibitive, was more than they wanted to spend. So when my contract ends in a couple of months, I’ll be heading back home.”
“I’m sorry. I know you were excited about the prospect of staying. But why would you want to live here? From everything I’ve heard and from other people I’ve talked to, most people would give their eyeteeth to live in Australia.”
“I mean, it is beautiful. I love going back there, but because I’ve traveled so much, it hasn’t really felt like home. I seem to have inherited my parents’ need to experience new things and places. My brothers, on the other hand, are quite content to settle down in Australia. They’ve started their own company, so they’ve got no plans to leave.”
“But why here? What’s so special about Houston? It’s not exactly pretty, if you know what I mean.”
“It may not have a beautiful harbor like Sydney or the gorgeous Blue Mountains. But Houston has a vibe all its own. It’s cosmopolitan. It has great restaurants. Brilliant shopping.
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