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Chapter One

Rob

“Do you want o with you to see the house today? I can make tiship restaurant in lower Manhattan, a neighborhood referred to as Tribeca

I was in the process of ain and needed to find a place to live My sister and her daughter lived in a suburb, and I was hoping to find a house close to the been back in town for three weeks, I was tired of living in a hotel Looking out theat the s and restored factories, I’d realized just how much I missed New York

“No, Anne, I’s to do” I ruffled Lindsay’s hair as she squealed in delight I loved this little kid as if she were my own, and this last year had taken a toll on them both

I ed the Duh the farown into a substantial empire We had two headquarters: one in New York, one in LA Anne’s ex-husband had been the CEO of the East Coast restaurants, headquartered in New York I’d been the CEO of the West Coast branch After Anne’s ex left not only his family but also the business, I replaced ood to be back home

This location was one of our finest; the inside mirrored that mix of architecture typical for Tribeca It was a colass, wood, and red brick, each used in a variety of ways The tabletops were lass, thearches fro fro the restaurant an industrial decor

“Uncle Rob, is it true you’re not going back to LA?” Lindsay asked She was eight and e She was like a mashup of my sister and me Anne and I didn’t look reen Anne was blonde with blue eyes Lindsay had green eyes and blonde hair Fortunately, not enes came into play That asshole

“I’ at houses close to you and your mom”

Lindsay smiled from ear to ear She was my weakness Since the day she was born, I’d had a soft spot for her, and it had only grown over the years Even when I lived on a different coast, I’d made time for her Whether on business trips to the city or weekly FaceTime chats, Lindsay knew she could always count on me

She glanced at Anne “Can I have fries and nuggets?”

Anne shook her head “We’re here to taste the new menu, remember?”

Lindsay pouted before focusing on me “But I don’t like the menus They taste funny”

I chuckled but didn’t disagree Our five-course etables and spices that didn’t appeal to their palates It was one reason e had a kids menu with the standard fare

“Fine, you can have fries and nuggets,” Anne said

Lindsay squealed Rising fro at the waiters excitedly Soets

With Lindsay out of earshot, Anne leaned in, whispering, “Rob, are you sure you want to move to the suburbs? You love Manhattan You used to live in a penthouse on Park Avenue You don’t have to do it for us” Now that she and Lindsay were on their own, she thought I was trying to take care of the it

“I told you, that’s not why I’ it looked sincere

“Uh-huh Just like you’re notback to New York for us?”

“The LA business is running s to the suburbs, it’s not just to be closer to you two I’ve grown accusto a yard for the last four years I want that here too, and that’s hard to find in the city” I winked, hoping to put her at ease

Althoughback because Anne had just finalized her divorce teeks ago, and she and Lindsay were going through a rough time I wanted to be closer to them to be available to help out in any way I could I could have just hired someone else here to replace her ex and stayed in LA It would have been easier, but I never chose the easy way

Our parents had , and we didn’t have any other fa to the suburbs priether spontaneously for meals, and it was easier if we lived in the same suburb The yard was just a bonus; I could take it or leave it

“You’ve been looking for a place forever,” Anne continued as a server approached Lindsay “I just don’t want you to do so run”