She watched him and Knox exchange a grin.Then they both intoned.“It’ll warm up your bones and make you strong.”
Grinning, Lawson smiled at her.“Our grandfather Fox always made up sayings that may or may not have been true to get us to do things his way.”
Knox nodded.“With five kids to raise, he kept things simple when he could.Oatmeal was easy.”
Lawson laughed.“And thanks to Amber, we learned how to make it different and interesting all the time.Honey, cinnamon, jams, fruit.”
Her ears perked up at that.“I should have brought over some honey.I’ll do that later.”
Gray and Amber entered from the mudroom.More smiles and memories of the Malssum breakfasts filled the kitchen with joy and laughter.
Dani didn’t add much to the conversation, but it was wonderful to be surrounded by it.By them.With Lawson at her side.
Jolie and Ford entered next, having come from releasing the ducks from their coop.
Jolie sat next to Dani and kept her voice quiet.“Anything more on the paperwork your mom sent you?Sorry, maybe you don’t want to talk about it in front of a crowd.”
Her friend had kept her voice low, but Dani smiled.“It’s fine.There’s nothing secretive.The courier came yesterday with a letter from a lawyer.My family wants to merge the business my great-grandmother created with another one.The name my Frannie B chose would disappear.”
Dani’s voice choked up on the last part.That was what hurt the most.
Lawson’s arm came around her shoulders, and he squeezed her.
She smiled at him.“I’m okay.Talking about it out loud just made me realize I don’t want Frannie B’s legacy to disappear as if it never existed.”
“Then you know what you want to do.”
She sighed.Did she?The group was waiting quietly.She knew she didn’t have to fill them in, but she also knew they were curious.It was weird to have people interested because they were worried about her.
She decided to share.“I didn’t know until yesterday that I have some rights in the company my family owns, the one created by my great-grandmother Frannie B.I thought my parents were the only ones with any say in how things happened.But my great-grandmother gave me veto power over her company changing its name or merging with another.”
Amber smiled from across the table.“It sounds like your great-grandmother thought you were very special if she entrusted you with that part of her legacy.”
Tears filled Dani’s eyes, but she batted them away with a smile.“Thank you.Frannie B was my favorite person in the world.She’s the reason I was brave enough to come to Vermont and start my own business.”
Amber’s smile proved she understood all the emotions behind that statement.“I bet your Frannie B is still cheering you on.She’d be so proud of you.”
This time, a tear fell, but she wiped it away with another smile.“Thank you.”
Then she leaned into Lawson and smiled at the group.“You’ve helped me decide.Looks like I need to make some phone calls.”
She doubted her family would like it, but she wasn’t giving up Frannie B’s legacy without a fight.
Chapter14
Catching a Buzz
Lawson hated leaving Dani alone.Well, she had Bibi, but she didn’t have him.
And that was the problem.He’d fallen hard and fast.He hoped she’d done the same, but he didn’t think either of them was ready for the words yet.
Dani wanted him to have time to work on his own projects.She said she and Bibi would be fine.
She hadn’t added that they’d been fine on their own for the last few years.He knew that.She was competent.But there’d never been a threat before.
Dani was convinced her parents weren’t dangerous.From what she’d told him, he agreed.They didn’t sound like tender or kind people, but they’d shown no indication of encouraging violence before.
He wasn’t as worried about Dani’s physical safety as he was about her confidence and emotional state.
