“Are they going to jump at the offer or will there be trouble?”
“Trouble? As in they want to stay in their home and on their land? The property that’s been in their family for several generations? Or the businesses in town that support the townspeople? That place has more history in it than a history book.”
He gave me a curious look. “You don’t think they’ll sell?”
“I think it’s going to gut them.”
He nodded. “Money tends to be a balm for every wound.”
“I don’t think you understood just how deeply ingrained that place is in the very fiber of their beings. It’s not a place. It’s their soul. Any one of them can give you a detailed history about the founder of Northwood. His descendants have held on to that property for hundreds of years. Trust me when I tell you they are as much a part of that land as the oil beneath it.”
He stared at me for several long seconds before he got to his feet. “I’ll trust you to persuade them. Like I said, money is a powerful motivator. I have a feeling they’ll realize that once youpresent the number. Now, let’s go to dinner. Kathy has been in the kitchen for hours.”
We joined Kathy, Isaac, and Mina for dinner in the estate’s formal dining room. It was a small family gathering by Bancroft standards—just immediate family, no business associates or social obligations. Mina excused herself halfway through the main course to nurse baby Conrad, and Kathy bustled off to the kitchen to prepare the elaborate dessert she’d made from scratch.
Dad followed her, ostensibly to help but really to refill his wine glass and steal a few moments alone with his wife. It was one of the things I’d always admired about their relationship. They had always loved each other, but it wasn’t until the last couple of years they finally got to act on that love. I supposed there was no expiration date on love. They were going into their twilight years at each other’s side.
Good for them.
I was left alone at the table with Isaac, who was studying me with the kind of knowing smirk that made me want to punch him. Sometimes, I wished I didn’t have so many damn brothers. The more siblings, the more personalities to deal with.
“What?” I asked sharply.
Isaac held up his hands in mock surrender. “Don’t shoot the messenger, but somebody has to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“That you’ve got it bad.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Love. Kent’s got a girl.” He said it in a sing-song voice like he used to when we were children.
“Fuck off,” I said automatically, but the words lacked conviction.
Isaac just laughed, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “I know the signs, brother. I’ve been there. The way you’ve been checkingyour phone all evening. Or, I don’t know, the fact that you look like someone kicked your dog. You’ve got the general air of a man who’s left his heart in some remote location.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like Kent Bancroft has finally met someone who matters more than his trust fund.”
“You’re talking shit about something you know nothing about,” I said.
“Hudson told me you were up there with some girl.”
“Hudson doesn’t know shit either. You guys just run your mouths. Since you both got married, you act like a bunch of women gossiping at the country club.”
He laughed, clearly not bothered by my insult.
I was saved from having to explain Sylvie when Isaac switched gears.
“Have you heard the news about Austin?” he asked.
“What about him?” Austin was another brother who’d cut himself off from the family a few years ago after some kind of falling out with Dad. None of us knew the full details, but it had been ugly enough that Austin hadn’t spoken to any of us since.
“He’s going to be around for Christmas this year. First time in a long time.”
I scoffed. “Big deal. Austin’s an ass.”
