Page 91 of Ambush
“Hez is going to go over the agreement, but it’s been in default, so he thinks ownership will revert to your mother. It’s unlikely Owen’s wife will be able to come up with that much money. Your mom will have to find another purchaser or simply sell the building and move on.” Jane turned back toward the kitchen. “There’s fresh coffee and pancakes in here.”
“Be right there.” It was a lot to take in. An idea began to coalescein his mind. He tightened his arm around Paradise. “What if you took the veterinary business?”
***
Paradise was barely aware of moving to the kitchen to choke down a pancake and chase it with coffee strong enough to dissolve her spoon. Blake’s suggestion was outrageous—wasn’t it? She didn’t know anything about running a business. While medical needs for the animals here didn’t really require full-time work, she liked filling in. It kept the day interesting.
Did she really want to upset her happy place here by taking on that kind of challenge and responsibility? Her work had been with exotic animals, and while she was trained on the household variety of pets, her heart was with the wild kind. But in spite of all that, the thought of being in control of her own home and business tugged at her. When she was in foster care, she had no control over anything—not even where she’d sleep at night. This would behers.
After breakfast she slipped away to the front porch to evaluate the yard. What was left of it. The wind had torn petals from the azaleas and roses, and rain had flooded the low areas. It would recover though.
She settled in a rocker and the door opened behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know Blake had followed her.
“Mind if I join you?” He dropped into the other chair without waiting for a response. “My suggestion floored you, didn’t it? I saw the color drain out of your face.”
“It’s a lot to think about. I don’t know how to run a business.”
“You could do it.” He blew out a breath. “Hez just dropped a bombshell. He doesn’t think Sheriff Davis killed your parents.”
She gasped. “What has he found?”
“A DNA profile was part of the original investigation, and the sheriff submitted his DNA to rule him out. The report wasn’t in the printed file, and Hez tracked it down through his contact in Pelican Harbor. He wasn’t a match according to the report.”
“Then who killed them?”
“The investigation stalled, and the killer was never found. I hated to tell you because at least you had closure. Now you’re back to square one.”
Her stomach cramped, and she folded her arms across her midsection. She was so tired. Investigation was exhausting, and she wasn’t sure where to look next. Maybe she should forget it and concentrate on finding her brother. But could she live with knowing justice hadn’t arrived for her parents after all?
Blake’s suggestion about taking over the vet business had hit hard too. Was he trying to get rid of her after everything they’d been through? Her feelings of inadequacy were going to take longer than she’d thought to heal. One suggestion and she was questioning how he felt.
Her gaze lingered on him. What a good man. While she wanted to be his wife with every fiber of her being, he didn’t need the distraction right now. All of this news would cause a media storm, and not all of it would be good. This could torpedo The Sanctuary, and Blake had to focus on ensuring the long-term stability of the business so his brothers could take it over eventually. It shouldn’t take long—maybe a year to turn things around. And in the meantime she could become part of the fabric of the town, the warp and weft of building a life here.
She cupped his face in her hands. “I’m going to do it. I’ll work alongside you here, and I’ll take over the animal care intown. I’ll be in town and I might get to know my family a little better. And I can focus on finding my brother and whoever murdered my parents.”
His immediate smile came as if he couldn’t believe it. “We’ll get through these next few months, and it will be worth it.”
“I have a few stipulations.”
“Name them.”
“Can we do pizza with the boys every Friday night?”
A tender expression lightened his face. “Anytime you want.”
“How about s’mores by the campfire on the weekends? And fishing with Bertha on Saturdays?”
“You could ask for that North Star up there and I’d try to give it to you.”
He’d shown her the true North Star by the way he lived and loved. “You already did.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
They had twists and turns to navigate, but one thing she knew—at Blake’s side was where she belonged, no matter how long it took to figure things out.