“Calling Uncle Darin,” the car replied.
His line rang and rang. After the fourth or fifth ring, the call went to his voice mail. I spoke. “Uncle Darin, Jen said you called. I should be to Maker’s Mark in fifteen minutes or less.”
My GPS routed me through city streets, avoiding the major interstates. The rest of the drive, I spent rehearsing how I would tell Dad my news. I was wrestling with blurting it out or easing into it. By the time I walked into Maker’s Mark, I was pretty sure blurting was what would happen.
“Ms. Hubbard,” Tricia, one of the front receptionists, said.
“Good morning, Tricia.”
“Maeve, you’re wanted in Mr. Hubbard’s office.”
I stood straighter. “I was planning on going there.”
“They’re waiting for you.”
My forehead furrowed. “Who is?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know for sure.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
My heart thumped in my chest as I made my way to the complex of executive offices. All I could thinkwas that whoever was waiting wanted to confront me about me and Fin.
Who knows?
Did Lip or Leigh let it slip?
Why were they making a big deal out of this?
I clenched my teeth at the sight of Grant. Of course, he’d make more out of me and Fin than necessary.
Stepping into Dad’s office suite, I was caught short by the sight of everyone on the executive committee. They all turned to me.
“Is this…” I began to say when I realized who was the only person missing.
“Vee,” Aunt Rachel said, with tears in her eyes.
“What’s going on?” I managed to say as a lump formed in my throat. “Where’s Dad?”
“Vee,” Uncle Darin said. His eyes were also red. “There was an accident this morning on 64.”
“An accident?” It wasn’t making sense.
“A semi-truck…” Grant said.
“Vee,” Aunt Rachel said, reaching for my hand. “Reid was pronounced dead at the scene.”
I shook my head. “No. No. There’s a mistake.”
“We need to talk,” Uncle Darin said. “Reid was in the middle of changing his will. He hadn’t completed the change yet, but he was going to.”
Gripping the back of a chair, I willed my knees to keep standing. The room was spinning, I couldn’t focus. “What are you saying?”
“Reid didn’t want the Coopers to go one hundred percent to you.”
My neck straightened. “My father is gone, and you’re talking about the Coopers?”
“As his will stands, you’re now the owner and CEO. What do you plan on doing?”
“I’m not doing anything until I see my dad.”
