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She eyed it, then me, then took the money. Wordlessly, she tucked the bill in a zipper pocket of her purse, then pulled out a business card.

I held the black cardstock in my hand, desperately reading the information, and my jaw fell to the floor.

Gage Griffen, CEO

75

Gage

My desk phone beeped, and I pressed the button. “Yes, Mia?”

“You have a call from a ‘Ms. Jones.’ I told her you were busy, but she said it was an urgent family matter.”

My shoulders tensed with dread. No matter how hard of a line I’d drawn between my parents and myself, the thought of them passing before we had a chance to make amends... it was a fear that haunted me every damn day.

“Send it through,” I said, closing my eyes and hoping like hell it wasn’t bad news.

The phone rang, and I gripped the receiver, holding it to my ear. “This is Gage Griffen.”

A clear voice came through the phone, strong and in control. “This is Henrietta Jones.”

I blinked at the name. “Tyler’s Henrietta?”

“I have to know why you bought the schoolhouse. I know for a fact he would never accept a handout from you. Are you trying to take it out from under him?”

I bristled at the harshness in her tone. “I bought it so someone else doesn’t do what you’re accusing me of. I thought I would hold on to it until he gets his head out of his ass and buys the place himself.” In fact, the ink had barely dried on the papers. “How did you find out?”

“I...” She hesitated for the first time since barreling into this call.

“What?” I demanded.

“I’m in Cottonwood Falls. I was going to put in an offer.”

“You’rewhere?”

“Standing in front of the school right now,” she replied.

I reached for the blazer hanging over the back of my chair. “I’ll meet you there in an hour and a half.”

And then I did something I hadn’t done in over a decade—I left the office early for a personal matter.

I rushed past the reception area, and Mia called, “Everything okay?”

The relief I felt throughout my body had me smiling. “More than okay.”

I got in the elevator and took it all the way down to the parking garage. My Tesla waited for me in a reserved spot near the door. The car unlocked as I neared, and I got in, tossing my jacket in the passenger seat. The engine quietly revved as I whipped out of the parking garage and onto the road. The sky was already dusky, but I raced through traffic, driving to Cottonwood Falls as quickly as I could. Usually the drive took a good two hours, but I could shave off thirty minutes.

As I flew down the interstate, I dialed Tyler’s phone number.

“What’s up?” he answered.

“I need you to meet me at the schoolhouse tonight.”

“What? Why? I already told you I’m waiting until I find a steady job.”

“Indulge me,” I said.

I could practically feel him rolling his eyes. “Only if we hit the diner after. I’m fucking starving.”