“It costs more than you would believe. More than I could ever pay on my own.”
She squeezed my hand. “Hence selling off your flat. I get it. I’m so sorry you carried that burden.”
“She isn’t a burden,” I said fast.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I cared for my mum when she was sick. It was an honour. What your grandmother is offering is a double-edged sword. If you take the money, there’s no contract in place. She could pull it at any time. That’s something her husband did with the relatives. He made them dependent. That’s what she would do to you.”
“Keep going.” I needed her to work through my thoughts for me as I could do nothing but drive us away.
“Then there’s Wallace’s quasi-threat. That the will has a provision that removes an inheritance from anyone who votes against your grandfather’s wishes. It’s a possibility considering his efforts to make Mila so certain on the company’s continuation.”
“I could be her puppet or I could lose everything.” I crushed her hand in mine. “I don’t want their money. I never did.”
“No, but your mother needs it. How long until you get the payout from your flat?”
“At least a few weeks.”
“And how long does that keep your head above water?”
“Six months at best. While winding up the company could take a year or two, according to the solicitors.”
Lovelyn winced. I knew what she was thinking. There was no good choice. Getting Marchant Haulage up and running again had always been the better option. The status quo where my mother was safe and I’d use my strength for the top-up payments. Except we hadn’t found Dixie, and time was ticking on.
“If it goes to a vote in two weeks, with the trusted companies taking Dixie’s vote, the company may fold.”
“And I’ll lose. She won’t pay out if I don’t vote with her.”
I pulled off the road, the position we were in, high on a hill, giving us a view over Deadwater. The city lights sparkled, traffic in white and red, the clubs in shades of neon. I couldn’t see the warehouse from here, but pictured it lighting up the sky in pink.
“What are we doing?” Lovelyn asked.
“Are ye available tonight?”
“For?”
“Food.”
I still held her fingers in mine.
“Look at me,” she said.
I did, and my heart raced all the more.
“If you’re asking me on a date, Kane, you need to say the words.”
My gaze caught on the small upturn of her lips. The pretty smile that wanted out.
“Lovelyn Wells, can I take ye on a date this evening? One that involves a meal and a bed somewhere after.”
There was too much in my head. Tyler’s job offer. My grandmother’s deal. Lovelyn was the calm heart of the storm, and I needed to keep her with me.
“You want to bury your troubles and take me out?”
“There’s nothing I want more.”
Her happiness was a balm. “Nice answer. The training paid off. Yes, I accept.”
Back at Lovelyn’s house, she got changed while I booked us into a fancy restaurant, asking the person who answered the phone for a favour so the date fitted my mood. And my need to distract us both. I hadn’t forgotten what day it was and the emotions Lovelyn was battling. She’d put all that aside to stay with me. To help me.
