Hudson’s expression shifted at the mention of his wife’s name, some of the defensiveness giving way to curiosity.
“Think about it,” I pressed on. “Diana grew up in a small town, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Now imagine if I went to her hometown and tried to buy out every business on Main Street. Imagine I wanted to turn Diana’s childhood home into some corporate retreat center or replace the local diner with a Bancroft Burger.”
Hudson smiled. “I almost want to make that a real thing just to see Dane’s head explode. He’d stab us with his Michelin stars.”
“I’m just saying, imagine I wanted to plaster our name over everything her grandparents and their friends had spent their lives building.” I spread my hands. “Diana would hate it, right?”
Hudson was quiet now, really listening for the first time since I’d started talking.
“Would she want that?” I asked. “Would she think that was making things better? Or would she want me to find a way to preserve what made her hometown special in the first place?”
Hudson looked out the window, his jaw working like he was chewing on my words and he wasn’t loving the taste.
“It’s not just about changing the town’s vibe, is it?” Hudson asked. “This sudden attack of conscience?”
I stopped pacing and met his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Kent. I’ve known you your whole life. You’ve never given a shit about preserving anyone’s hometown charm before. But you spent what, two weeks up there? And now you’re ready to blow up a major acquisition that Dad’s been planning for months?” He leaned forward, studying my face. “So I’m asking. Did you catch feelings for this girl?”
The question cut right to the heart of everything I’d been trying not to examine too closely.
“It’s not about her,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, they felt like a lie.
“Bullshit.” Hudson’s voice was flat. “I can see it written all over your face, man. You fell for her.”
I ran my hands through my hair, suddenly feeling exhausted. “Maybe I did. But that’s not why I’m here, Hudson. I’m not asking Dad to change the deal because I want to get laid again.”
“Then why?”
I sank into the chair across from him, trying to find the words to explain something I barely understood myself. “Because I saw how much our plans would hurt these people. Sylvie’s family, the people who work for them, the whole damn town, they’ve built something together that is actually worth preserving.”
Hudson was watching me skeptically. “I think I need to visit this place.”
“You should see the way they take care of each other,” I said. “The way they show up for each other when things get tough. The way they’ve kept this place going even when it would have been easier to give up. That’s not something you can just recreate somewhere else with a big enough check.”
“And you think Dad’s going to care about any of that?”
I laughed. “No. I think Dad’s going to tell me I’ve lost my mind and that sentiment doesn’t pay the bills. But I have to try.”
Hudson was quiet for a long moment. Then he shook his head slowly. “Dad’s going to eat you alive.”
“Probably.”
“He might cut you off completely.”
“I know.”
“And you’re willing to give it all up for a woman?”
“Yes.” I didn’t even have to think about it.
“There’s one person you should talk to before you even think about trying to revise Dad’s offer.”
I waited, though I had a sinking feeling I already knew where this was headed.
