“I kept telling you all, Scottie was a reckoning force.”Fritz, with his chest puffed out, sat back like he owned the world.The only thing missing from his demeanor was his signature “I told you” huff.
Dad gripped his hands together as he leaned forward, arms propped on his knees.“It started late last year with Boston Brothers buying shares.When I brought it to the board, they blew it off as if BB’s interest showed our strength.All those great financial minds and that’s the conclusion they came up with.Anyway, by the spring, they’d gained another five percent, then eight.Doug was very concerned.But we still had controlling interests.One of the family would have to sell out for them to take over.I was sure that would never happen.”
“But someone sold out, right?”
“Your Aunt Leanne gave her shares to her kids.”Dad crunched his fist into his palm.“She had fifteen percent of shares given to her by my grandfather when she left as an appeasement for not promoting her up the O’Shay ranks.But in the’80s, we weren’t on the open market.Flash forward, cousin Ethan wanted to expand Neuheisel and sold eight percent of the shares.Boston Brothers snapped them up.We’re not sure how they got anyone to give them the capital, but they gained controlling interests.”
“Ethan.”Scottie was on her feet.“Why didn’t he talk to us?”
“He never was the brightest bulb in the box,” Fritz said.
“He claims he didn’t think eight percent of the fifteen percent would make a difference.By the time we learned, it was too late.”
“BB has wanted O’Shay for a long time, and they found a way.”A bird perched on a low-swinging branch began to sing his song.For a moment, Scottie stood among the lavender fields of Whistlecrag Bluff.She leaned back into Michael’s arms but—
“Ethan had little to say for himself when confronted,” Fritz said.
“He sold out the family business.He sold me out.”Scottie huffed away from the imaginary scent of the bluff and phantom feel of Michael’s arms.“What does he have to say for himself?”
“Nothing.But when Leanne called to profusely apologize, she went on and on about you being a princess and no one thought you’d want to be bothered with running a shirt company.”
Scottie sighed.This whole thing was on the edge of comical.“She can say that all she wants, but she knew I wanted to run O’Shay.”
“To be fair, Ethan didn’t know Boston Brothers had gained such a foothold.”
“He would if he’d have asked,” she said.
“He thought selling would help our stock portfolio diversify and he’d get a windfall to improve Neuheisel.As for me not telling you, the tender offer came right after you were here in May.It went straight to the shareholders.”
“And that’s what the fairness option was all about.”
“We fought a poison pill proxy fight.But with so much of Ethan’s block gone, the shareholders’ best interest trumped our heritage.Three days ago, we knew about the merger.That’s when I called you.”Dad glanced at Fritz.“I should’ve flown over.I wanted to fly over.”
Scottie returned to her seat, a resolve settling over her.“So what now?”
“We’re wealthier than ever, as if that matters when losing a family legacy.”Dad laced his voice with irony.“O’Shay Shirts will remain open in Hearts Bend with the plant and the team.Jack is staying on as Vice President of Marketing.Matteo is the new Creative Director—”
“Matteo?He’s still designing clothes to be shown in art museums.And he can’t write a tech pack to save his life.”
“He’ll have to learn,” Fritz said.
“One more thing, Scottie.There’s a three-year noncompete.”
“Three years?What am I supposed to do in the meantime?”
“Get married.Have babies.”Shug finally spoke.And with authority.“Trust me, darling girl, family is the greatest thing in all the world.It trumps career achievement all day, every day, and twice on Sunday.Our ancestor Loom O’Shay would be busting his buttons over who you three have become.Not over how O’Shay Shirts became a brand menswear line.”
“Spare me the platitudes, Shug.”Scottie’s initial resolve solidified into a rock stuck between her ribs.“Who am I supposed to marry and have these babies with?”
Michael Cross.She squeezed the name from her mind.
“While I regret losing the company on my watch—” Dad glanced around the small family circle.“—I can’t help but think it’s a good thing.Freeing.I love Remi and want to give everything I’ve got to our marriage for whatever time I have left on this earth.Scottie, I want love and a family for you.”He sighed.“Maybe I took my eye of the ball, let my relationship with Remi—”
“Oh gosh, I amsoyour daughter,” Scottie whispered.“I said the same thing to Michael when I found out about the sale.That I’d taken my eye off the ball.Got caught up in all the royal business and—”Michael.She was completely caught up in Michael in her final days at Hadsby.
“Dad.”Scottie knelt in front of him.The man who’d stitched her prom dress at the zero hour as the limousine pulled up to the house.The one who’d watched chick flicks and rom-coms, who listened to her babble on and on about school while she did her homework and he cooked dinner.The one who did everything in his power to keep her from life’s pain.
He’d dedicated his whole life to her.Her heritage wasn’t O’Shay Shirts, it was him.Dad.Fritz and Shug.She flung her arms around him.
