She blinked, then smiled like I was being difficult. “That’s how purchases work.”
“Not this one,” I said.
Marlene’s smile faltered. “Mr. Hargrove.”
“I’m not taking her land,” I said, each word slow and clear. “I’m taking her debt.”
Silence stretched, thick and tense.
Holt stood behind me, arms crossed, a quiet wall.
Marlene inhaled, then tried again, voice still polite but firmer. “If your intent is to provide financial assistance to Ms. Callahan, there are other mechanisms. Loans. Private arrangements. Gifted funds.”
“I’m not gifting anything,” I said. “And I’m not loaning her money she can’t repay. I’m making this clean.”
Marlene’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Clean for whom?”
“For her,” I said.
Her lips pressed together. “I’m not sure we can facilitate what you’re describing.”
“You can,” I replied. “You just don’t want to.”
Her cheeks coloured faintly. “This is a financial institution, Mr. Hargrove, not a charity.” Marlene’s voice softened, which was almost worse. “May I ask why?”
I held her gaze, steady and cold. “She signed those papers two days ago, because she thinks she’s out of options, because that’s the bull shit you’ve been feeding her since she got here. She’s not going to lose everything, not if I can help it.”
Marlene exhaled slowly. “Ms. Callahan accepted the offer.”
“She accepted it under pressure,” I said. “And she accepted it without understanding that there were other options...”
Marlene’s eyes flicked down to the folder, then back to me. “Even if we can structure something, she would need to agree to amended terms.”
“She doesn’t need to agree to anything, that’s between Tessa and me.”
“And if she doesn’t like the terms you’re describing?” The woman leaned back in her chair, like she was preparing for some kind of gotcha moment.
“Then you proceed with the original purchase,” I replied, voice hardening. “But you’re not doing that without giving me twenty-four hours to speak to her.”
Marlene’s mouth tightened. “That isn’t reasonable.”
“It’s the only reasonable thing,” I said. “If you’ve really got another party sniffing around, you already showed your hand. I’m in the driver’s seat here because I have a signed letter of offer, that land it mine regardless of who’s name is on the title.”
Holt let out a low breath behind me, almost a sound of approval. Marlene looked at Holt like he might rescue her from this. He didn’t.
As we left the office, the credit union’s lobby felt too bright, too cold, too full of people who had no idea what itcost to keep land in a family. I wanted to burn the fluorescent lights out with my stare.
Outside, the sun hit my face, and for half a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Holt opened his truck door and paused. “You’re going to go after her.”
“Yep,” I said.
We climbed in.
As Holt started the engine, my phone buzzed again. This time it was Brooke.
I answered. “How’s Maddy?”
