Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
I shook my head. “He doesn’t really, Alex. That’s just something people say to describe people who are uptight. It’s a figure of speech.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
The sound of Levi’s voice froze me in my tracks.
“It doesn’t hurt, buddy.”
I cleared my throat. “I didn’t realize you were still here.”
“Yeah. The Big Bad Wolf with the stick up his butt forgot his wallet.” He took it off the counter and tucked it in his back pocket. “Incidentally, wanting to do what’s right for everyone involved in this situation doesn’t make me the bad guy.” He turned to Fern. “Or Grumpypants.”
He turned to my son. “Alex, go grab your ball and meet me in the yard, okay? We’ll play a quick game before I leave.”
Alex ran out to retrieve the ball, and once he’d disappeared, Levi turned to me with daggers in his eyes. When he took a few steps toward me, I got chills.
“You seem to think I have no regard for my grandfather’s legacy. Wanting to do the sensible thing is not disrespect.”
I swallowed. “Sensible doesn’t make it the right decision or what he’d truly want.”
“My grandfather certainly never said he wanted you to run this place. You show me where he wrote that down. He left half of it to Alex so the money from the sale would go to him. Period. You’re taking his intentions and twisting them into some convoluted fantasy to suit your own needs.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Fantasy? Well, if that means wanting to do the right thing, then bring it on.”
“The right thing is to sell.” He blew out an exhausted breath. “You’re in way over your head.”
“I’m just attempting to do what I think your grandfather would want.”
“By trying to turn his fucking house into a goddamn Hallmark movie for your own damn entertainment?”
Seriously? “Fuck you, Levi.” I felt steam coming out of my ears. I hadn’t meant to be so abrupt, but he’d brought it out in me.
Fern interrupted our fiery exchange. “With all due respect, I spent more time with Thatcher than either of y’all in recent years. And I can tell you one thing he absolutely wouldn’t want, and that’s to see you fighting!”
Levi and I looked at each other.
Fern got in his face and pointed her index finger. “Now listen to me, ya big lug. I don’t care what you think is right here. Your grandfather would’ve never wanted your nephew—or me, for that matter—out on the street. And as long as we want to live here, you have no right to sell this place.”
“So glad we could have a mature conversation about this,” he said, glaring at me before turning to her again. “Not really sure what say you have in all of this, Fern. But I am trying to do right by my nephew by selling this place. I don’t owe you any explanation for that. I’m sure you’d love to stay here with the minimal rent you’ve been paying, but I have to think about the big picture—not anyone’s selfish needs.”
She stomped her foot. “The big picture is me cutting off your balls if you sell this place with me or your family in it. End of story!”
He raised his voice. “I can’t sell it without her approval anyway. Our hands are both tied if we can’t agree on the fate of this place. So my goal is to knock some sense into Presley here and get her to see the light.”
I straightened, pushing my shoulders back. “Well, my goal is to get you to see that preserving this place as a local landmark is doable. We can make more money over time renting it out, while also upholding an important part of Beaufort’s history.”
“Sure. Go ahead. Keep practicing that ridiculous pitch.” He rolled his eyes.
I had a very long battle ahead of me. But I was willing to fight. I had to wonder if I needed my head examined for wanting to take all of this on, yet something deep inside me told me it would be worth it. I just needed to get through to this stubborn man first.
After he stormed off and went outside to play with Alex, Fern turned to me.
“That man is just as pig-headed as his grandfather. But sexy as all hell like Thatcher, too.”
I’m not going to touch that comment.
***
That afternoon my phone rang, and when I managed to pull it out, I was kind of sorry I’d bothered. And here I thought my shitty day couldn’t get any worse.
I blew out a deep sigh and closed my eyes for a few seconds before taking a calming breath. When I opened them, I felt only marginally better, but nonetheless, I swiped to answer and used my best cheery voice. “Hi, Tanner.”
“Have you come to your senses and left Beaufort yet?”