“About that,” Erin said.“This isn’t the first time one of us have had an idea rejected.”
“I didn’t reject it,” Nathan countered.
“Semantics.”
Connor shuffled his agenda to the side.
“I think we need another type of investment category.”When Nathan started to interrupt, she held up her hand.“We have a great procedure set up to award grants from the foundation.”
Nathan nodded.
“And rigorous guidelines we follow when looking to make a major acquisition.But what about doing some smaller loans, for businesses like this one?As long as they’re within our community.”
Nathan shut his mouth.The youngest Donovan brother might be risk-averse, but their great-grandmother had set a requirement that the company keep the majority of its funds in the area where her family settled five generations earlier.Their Texas roots ran deep and proud.
“Come up with a set of guidelines,” Aunt Kathryn suggested.
Connor wondered if she’d always been the peacemaker.He couldn’t remember a time she hadn’t been.
“Bring it back to us next month.I think we can consider it.”
Erin looked to Connor.“Fine with me,” he said.
The Colonel entered, slowly, but without a cane.Connor stood to offer assistance, but was waved off.
“Where’s your cane—?”Kathryn started.
“Button it,” he interrupted, “otherwise I’ll give in to your mother.She’s always wanted to see the Panama Canal.”
“Panama Canal?”
“Your mother talked to a travel agent.Your cruise isn’t sold out.”
“Consider it buttoned.”
“She doesn’t want her mother and I knowing that she’s going to be spending two weeks with Neil Lathrope.”
“Grandfather!”Erin scolded.
“Man’s thirty years younger than her.Everyone knows they’re seeing each other.”
“Thirty-one,” Kathryn said easily.
“Lathropes only want women for one reason.And it isn’t the money.”
“Probably true,” Kathryn agreed.“And that’s not all bad.Should have started dating younger men years ago.”
“I can’t unhear that,” Nathan protested.
Connor wondered if the stroke had removed some of the Colonel’s polite-society filters.Either that, or it was the privilege that came with age.Five years ago, he would have never said such a thing.
Once the Colonel was seated, an act that took some time as well as concentrated effort, he asked, “Are we waiting on Cade?”
“He’s not coming,” Connor replied.
“He missed last month, too.He has obligations, and being part of the family is one of them.That damnable mother of his—”
“I’ll call him,” Kathryn said.
