Cassie shook her sister awake and shoved the policy under her nose.
“What’s this?” Shelly said, fumbling for her glasses.
“Dad’s long-term care policy. I found it on his desk. It’s all paid up through the end of the year.”
Shelly paged through it, looking up with dawning comprehension.
“Right?” Cassie said. “We don’t need three-point-two million anymore. We could sell the house to somebody who actually wants to live here.”
“Does Dad know about this?”
Cassie shrugged. “He did at one point.”
“Weber’s going to be mighty pissed.”
“I never wanted to sell to him.” Cassie lowered herself onto the bed next to her sister, who scooted over to make room. “It always felt awful.”
...
Weber Properties occupied a tastefully done space in downtown Laurelton next to a store that sold high-end lighting and homeaccessories. The kinds of furnishings that would fit perfectly in a Weber house. Not so much in her own family home. They had never been a fit with Weber.
Even so, Cassie felt a twinge of apprehension as she gave her name to the receptionist. She could have done this over the phone, but that felt wrong. She’d set this in motion, and she would see it through.
The receptionist ushered her in, and Weber came out from behind a sleek desk to shake her hand. He glanced toward the door.
“My father’s not with me,” Cassie said.
“Oh. You do understand we’ll need him since the property is in his name.”
“May I sit?” She gestured to one of the leather chairs across from the desk.
“Please.” He was beginning to look concerned.
She crossed her legs then uncrossed them. “I’ll get right to the point. Our family has decided not to go through with the sale.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Circumstances have changed and we’ve decided to withdraw.”
Weber clicked a pen several times in rapid succession. Shelly was right. He looked mighty pissed. “We can go to three-five.”
“It’s not about the money.”
“It’s always about the money. I can offer four, but that’s it.”
Cassie felt slightly faint.Four million dollars.But what was the difference between three-two or three-five or even four million dollars? It was all a lot of money, and in the end the house would be torn down and the property gutted. She thought of the bees, which miraculously were still holding their own. The long-term care policy would provide for her father’s care, andthey would still walk away with plenty of money. The house was paid off. How much did they need?
“I’m very sorry, but the sale is off. We’ve changed our minds.”
“What do you mean, you’ve changed your minds!” Weber, who had the kind of olive skin that didn’t redden easily, had turned the color of brick. “You can’t back out, we had a deal.”
Cassie kept her voice pleasant. “As you recall, we haven’t signed anything.”
“We had a verbal agreement,” he said tightly. “I could sue.”
“No judge will take you seriously.”
Weber scowled. “What are you, a lawyer?”
