Page 59 of The Facilitator, Part 2

“Are you okay?” Mackenzie asked. He had been inside thehouse.

“I am. What a house, Mackenzie. How could Gabriella have wanted to leavehere?”

“I guess it’s wonderful to return to for a holiday, but to live here? It’s quite isolating. Vivienne owns a lot of land that she leases to local farmers. She’s an astute businesswoman, but an old-fashioned one as well. Gabriella would have just been expected to take over the business and neverleave.”

“What about Daniel?” I asked. “Wouldn’t he have taken over; he’s older isn’the?”

I hadn’t wanted to bring up Mackenzie’sarch enemyas Daniel referred to himself, but I wascurious.

“Maybeold-fashionedwas the wrong term for Vivienne. She would have no hesitation in bucking the trend or expectations. Gabriella would have been the more capable, she’s certainly the more intelligent; so she would have been the one to step into her mother’sshoes.”

“What will happen when…you know…if Gabriella isn’t around to takeover?”

“Everything is in trust. There’s a land management company that does most of the day-to-day worknow.”

I heard my mobile ring and turned, still in Mackenzie’s arms, to reach for my bag. I showed him thescreen.

“Hi, Jerry,” I said as Ianswered.

“Where are you? It sounds like you’re milesaway.”

“America. We’re visiting Gabriella and Alex,” Isaid.

“Blimey, you didn’t say. I won’t keep you long. I’m heading to America myself in a couple of weeks. I thought we could catch up before I left, but not to worry,” hesaid.

I breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t in the U.S. at the sametime.

“That sounds great,” Isaid.

“Addison headed home so I was bored. She needed to catch up with her father for some reason. Anyway, I’ve got a couple of business opportunities I wanted to talk to Mackenzie about. I guess it will have to wait until we’re all backhome.”

“I’m sure he won’t mind if you gave him a call, just remember the time difference,” I said, bristling that he only wanted my company because he wasbored.

“I might do that. There’s an opportunity but it’s time-sensitive. Maybe I’ll call him next. Is he with you?” he asked. I could feel Mackenzie shake his head, overhearing ourconversation.

“He’s not. I’ll let him know you’re going to call him, though. So, tell me, what else have you been upto?”

We talked for another five minutes or so before Jerry moaned the call would be costing hima fucking fortune! I laughed as he disconnected without anotherword.

“I feel absolutely awful lying to him, but the thought of meeting up with him andAddywould be my worst nightmare,” I said, overemphasising her name. I felt Mackenzie shudder inconfirmation.

“You don’t have to. If you ever did want to meet up with him, though, and she’s with him, then I’ll support you in anyway you need,” hesaid.

“I don’t want to do that. I just hope he fucks her out of his system, or she gets bored trying to get whatever it is from him, and we can all go back tonormal.”

Was I being discourteous? Probably. Jerry was my friend, and I had no doubt Addison was bad news for him. I had stepped back, I wasn’t saying anything horrid or negative about her, but I wasn’t about to double date,either.

I also didn’t trust her and that had nothing to do with what Mackenzie had said, nothing to do with what Gabriella, or Mrs. Collingsworth, had said, but pure instinct. My hackles rose involuntary whenever her name was mentioned, let alone if she was close. My gut was telling me she was bad news; I didn’t need another person to voicethat.

“Do you want to nap? I don’t recommend it, of course,” Mackenziesaid.

“No, I’d like to explore if you’ll show me around,” Ireplied.

“Have you ever ridden a horse?” heasked.

“No, haveyou?”

It seemed a stupid thing to say, really. In my head, everyone who lived in the South of America rode horses. Mackenzielaughed.