Since they’re the last three to take a seat, everyone is watching them, and I wonder if they are wondering why Brody and Journey are snarling at each other like angry dogs. Maybe it’s a slight exaggeration, but there’s something in her eyes, saying she doesn’t like him for whatever reason. This brings me back to my original point of why she invited them over here tonight. "So you and Journey ran into each other?" I ask Brody, smiling, sinfully.
"Sure did," Brody says, clearing his throat.
"Where?" I press.
"Melody, can we not do this, please?" Journey snaps at me.
Wow. Okay.
"Everything looks wonderful," Elizabeth says, putting a stop to whatever story they would have graced us with. "Thank you again for having us over tonight."
"Yes, this is very thoughtful of you," Bill says to Journey.
"Thoughtful," Brody mutters through a snicker.
A knee hits underneath the table, creating a loud thump and all the glasses jiggle. Everyone is looking to see who might have bumped the table, but Journey is the only one who isn’t making a reactive face. Therefore, I can only imagine Journey just kicked Brody since the look on his face shows a hint of shock.What is going on?
"So, what’s the big news, Journey?" I ask.
"It can wait until after dinner," she says.
A low rumble of aggravation travels down the table. "Don’t keep everyone in suspense while they eat," I tell her.
Journey places her hands down onto the table and pushes her chair out to stand up. She leaves the dining room and returns a minute later with a folder in her hand but doesn’t sit back down.
"Okay," she begins. "So, I haven’t been avoiding the conversation about The Barrel House for the last six months. I have spent countless hours thinking and weighing my options. As easy as I thought the decision would be, it has been very challenging. The thought of giving up a part of my dad’s life pains me to no end. However, bourbon does not run through my blood like it did for him, and I would do an injustice to the shop and my dad by keeping my share of the business."
I don’t feel surprised by what she’s saying, but I’m a little taken aback by the way she’s speaking. It’s as if she’s been briefed by an attorney and told what to say. Maybe she has, but I don’t know why she wouldn’t have talked to me about it too.
"Why didn’t you talk to me?" I ask her.
"This was a decision I needed to make on my own, and you can be persuasive sometimes," Journey says. I might disagree with the statement because I don’t recall a time when I have persuaded Journey to do something she didn’t want to do, but maybe this situation felt different to her. "Anyway, Melody and I both own fifty percent of the business. However, my proposal is to sell one percent more to Melody to protect our family’s name. After, I would like to offer you, Mr. Pearson, the remaining forty-nine percent of the business—if you are interested, of course.”
She definitely spoke to an attorney,or maybe it was in her letter from Dad.
Bill brings his hands together and rests his chin on top of his fists. He looks elated and honored as if this was unexpected even though Dad had this conversation with him before he passed away. I guess Dad didn’t know what Journey would end up doing with her share.
"I think your idea is brilliant," Bill says. "I told your father long ago, if the opportunity to merge our businesses ever came up, I would do so in a heartbeat. While it won’t be a technical merge, our businesses can work together to create higher profits—we will keep the Quinn name running strong."
The business chit chat and the lingo are still above my head, and I’m guessing it might be for Journey too. Though, she seems to know enough to be making proper decisions with her share. "Yes, my dad mentioned the possibility to me. The two businesses working together would grow The Barrel House into something bigger, and this means more of my dad’s bourbon will be manufactured and enjoyed. Realizing this made me see why it was important to follow through with my initial thought to sell my share."
Everyone looks quite pleased. I’m not disappointed in anything I’ve heard, but I’m trying to keep up with how it will all play out while co-functioning with Bill’s barrel business.
"Well, your father and I always hoped someday our families would come together, and here we are," Bill continues.
Dad wanted our families to merge? Or the businesses?
"Families?" Journey questions.
"I meant our businesses," Bill laughs off our statement. Brett and I give each other a wondering look too. "Anyway, I guess this comes down to one important question."
"What’s that?" Mom asks.
"Brett, will you continue running The Barrel House with Melody while Brody and I keep a handle on things with the manufacturing side of the barrels?"
Brett clears his throat and releases a shallow cough into his fist. "I—is it okay if I think on this for a minute?"
I think Brett’s question takes us all by surprise. He’s been running circles around me at The Barrel House for months. I can’t imagine what he could hesitate about.
