Page 26 of Colby (Tucker’s Pride #5)

“Thank you.” He picked up the blue folder and began to read from it.

There was nothing she could do about what was being said, so she zoned out.

Thinking instead of the will of grandparents that she didn’t know to the things she had going on at work.

Thinking that whatever was going on there was by far better than anything going on here.

She also knew that if there was something that she needed to pay attention to, Ivy would poke her in the ribs or something so that she could focus on it.

She had been asked from another distribution center if she could handle a few more stores.

They were having delivery issues and wanted her to deliver their products along with what she had already.

It was something that she never considered when she’d opened her own distribution center.

She was sure she could make it work, but did she want to?

It would mean more work for her drivers and employees at the center, but would it be worth the trouble of printing up the labels for the stores and having trucks make an extra few stops on their already busy schedule?

She’d only just gotten her drivers up to speed and had hired enough of them.

Now she was thinking about hiring more. What to do, what to do.

Then there was the fact that she was going to see how she could get pregnant. She knew how to get that way, but she was waiting for the timing of it. She couldn’t wait to have a child with Jack. They were really busy now, and she was excited to see how busy they got with children around.

They were going to know that they were loved and she’d never treat them like her mother had treated her.

Never. Also, she wouldn’t give them everything in the world just because she could.

There wasn’t any way that she was going to spoil them so much that they thought they were better than anyone else.

She wanted grounded children, ones that she could be proud of when she took them out in public.

Taylor never wanted to take her mother out in public because of the way she acted.

And she would cause a scene whenever they were out, especially when things didn’t go her way.

When the attorney stood up, she did as well. While she had no idea what was going on, he would never know that. Asking for a few minutes alone with Ivy, she sat down when the other woman did, and she smiled at her. Ivy seemed to understand that she’d not been paying attention.

“They left you four houses that they use as rentals that are all over the world. There are two more insurance policies that are worth about two million dollars. They also donated a great deal of money to their favorite charity. But you’re getting the bulk of it.

” She asked her how much and if there were any stipulations on the money.

“None that he mentioned, but there is a letter for you again. Basically, it says again how sorry they were for dropping this all on you and hoped that someday you could forgive them. I’m sure you’ll want to know after all these findings that you’ve been told about your father.

I’m sorry to say, but he doesn’t strike me as a man who should have been complaining about his lot in life when he was very aware of what was going on in the beginning. ”

“I don’t feel sorry for any of them if you want the truth. They all played a part in my mother’s behavior and should be punished for their parts in it. Including my dad.” Ivy nodded. “You don’t agree with me?”

“I do as a matter of fact. None of them was as innocent as they made themselves out to be. My question is, do you tell your grandma? She had been feeling guilty about her supposed part in this, too, I guess.” She said she’d tell her simply because of that.

“Good for you. She needs to know simply because she played no part in his being with your mother, not the way she feels like she does.”

“I’ll sit her down and show her what I got from this when she returns.

I won’t even hint about it while she’s on vacation.

I think that it’s been waiting for me to find out after all this time, a few more days isn’t going to matter a great deal.

” Ivy agreed with her and handed her the deeds to the house.

“I’m assuming that I’m going to have to do something with this stuff, too, right? ”

“I was thinking about the houses. You should keep them. If only for the reason that you can rent them out during the summer breaks, or even let it be a vacation spot for the family when they want to get away. One of them is in the south of France, and from what I read, it’s a very nice house too.

Large with four bedrooms. That would be a great place to go to unwind.

” She asked her if she wanted it. “I don’t even own a passport, much less the time to go to someplace like that.

It would be magical, but I can’t afford to go with a baby coming along. ”

“I’m going to do as you said and make it a vacation home for the family.” Ivy nodded then laughed. “Now what’s funny? You want to go, too, don’t you? Well, you’re going to be the first person to use it. Before the baby comes along. It will be just what you and Hudson need. A vacation in France.”

Ivy didn’t say anything more about it, but Taylor was going to make it happen. She was the best attorney she’d ever had, and she was going to make sure that she knew how much she was appreciated. Even Ronin was singing her praises.

After gathering things up that she’d need, Taylor made her way home.

Today, she was going to spend the day in the garden to reset and balance her life.

If nothing else, they’d have fresh garden vegetables for dinner.

And that alone would make it worthwhile for her to walk around the yard in her bare feet.

She so loved summer and the things that they had on the estate.

But she also couldn’t wait for her grandma to get home so she could hang out with her.

She’d not had a good lunch date in a month.

Taylor decided to invite the other women to go with her and have some fun.

Then she’d not miss her grandma so much.

~*~

Colby was trying to think of a way to seduce his wife.

Not that it would take all that much effort on his part, she’d been telling him for days that she wanted him, but things were getting in the way all the time, and he wanted to be with her.

Being at home alone made him realize how much he’d been away from the house of late and was missing her a great deal.

And the things going on around the home.

Yesterday, he’d noticed that they had a butler.

His name was Chance, and he was about as stiff as a board when it came to joking around with him.

He said that he’d think his jokes were funny when he was off duty.

How was that to happen? But he stopped joking around with the man and went about his day.

Then there were the domestics. He hated calling them that, but it was the only name they had for what they did around the house.

And since they didn’t wear name tags, something that he only just noticed, too, he didn’t have a name to call them either.

This living in the fancy life wasn’t all that friendly feeling to him.

Colby was in the living room when Emma finally came home.

“I’ve missed you.” She kissed him on the mouth, and he pulled her back in for another kiss. “I’ve really missed you. I’m off tomorrow as Douglas is going to take the boat out tomorrow on his own for the first time.”

“I don’t have to be to work until after two.

I have a short run and then I’m off for the next two days.

But I do have to work the weekend.” Their schedules were forever crossed.

“I’m thinking about stopping driving so much and going down to one or two days a week.

I miss too much about having you around. ”

“With Douglas going on runs of his own, I might put off buying another boat until he feels comfortable with it. That way, when he takes out more and more, I’ll be home to be with you.

” She told him she liked that idea, then asked him what he thought about her dropping her full-time status.

“I think that’s the only way we’re going to be able to see each other, is if we both take a few days off together and get to know how the other half of my family lives.

Did I tell you that Taylor is going to find someone to run her businesses for her?

Jack is training someone to take some of the dinners off his hands, and he’ll work only on the weekend.

I think they’re feeling the same as we are.

Pressure from both halves working all the time. ”

They sat on the couch until dinner and talked about what it would be like not working full-time.

She said that she’d have to find something to do during the day so that she could feel productive.

But he pointed out that she could work at the foundation that much and still be a part of the family business when they needed her.

“I like that idea. I could still be a part of the business and not have to be out on the road all the time. It’ll be perfect.

But she had to talk with Taylor before she started getting into a new job.

The woman had been wonderful to them, and there was no way she was going to make Taylor upset with her.

She asked Colby if she thought that she’d be mad.

“I don’t. Like I said, she’s thinking of slowing down as well.

I think at some point all of us will be doing that.

I’ve noticed that Denver and Bailee have done the same thing now that they’re the head of the leap.

” She said there was that. “Of course, Lance and Georgie are still working a great deal, but the rest of us aren’t. ”