“True, but?—”
I stood abruptly and paused at the door. “Congrats, Hank.”
Hank inclined his chin thoughtfully, and just as I wondered if he was going to call me out for being a cryptic weirdo, he smiled.
“To you too. It might not be tomorrow, but eventually this is gonna make you a very rich man, Coop.”
CHAPTER 22
COOPER
Spirits were high at the mill with the promise of a successful venture on the horizon. We were on the verge of putting Wood Hollow on the map in a big way. It wouldn’t be an overnight sensation, but this was happening and the whole town buzzed with excitement.
Or maybe everyone was just having a good summer.
I knew I was. The weather had been near perfect for weeks—nothing but blue skies and sunshine. I’d taken the kids out on the boat to fish or go swimming in the lake with Reg and his kids a few times. And Silas.
Ivy and Chase had insisted that he join us, and I was all for it. I wanted to spend as much time with Silas as possible. With all of them. I had no idea what autumn would bring, and it seemed smart to hoard memories like a squirrel preparing for a long winter.
“Be careful,” Reg had warned, watching Silas lead the kids in a cannonball competition off the side of the boat.
“I’m always careful,” I’d replied, jumping feet first in the water.
That was the fucking truth. I was painfully cautious and had been for years. I just wanted to have a bit of fun before hard decisions threatened the peace. It was coming, and I knew it.
“Hey, boss.” Layla knocked on my open door and peeked inside, her expression wary. “You have a visitor. It’s Sarah. She looks…serious. Should I send her in?”
“Yes…sure.”
Sarah appeared in a yellow sundress, anxiously gripping her purse strap, her eyes wandering my office. “Hi. I’m sorry to bug you.”
“No, it’s okay. Come in.” I stood politely, gesturing for her to take a seat.
“I will. If it’s okay, I’m going to close the door.”
Oh, shit.
“Sure.”
Sarah sat across from me and flashed a tepid smile. “Frank got the job transfer to Burlington. We’re moving in August.”
And…here we go.
I swallowed hard. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I—he’s thrilled. It’s a great opportunity because it leads directly back home within a year.”
“Oh?”
Sarah fiddled with the folds of her dress. “Yes. They’re remodeling a building in Pinecrest, and with any luck, he’ll be one of the first agents in the new office there. So…this is a temporary move. One year.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? That’s it?” She narrowed her eyes in confusion.
I leaned forward, elbows on my desk, fingers steepled. “I want them to stay here…with me.”
“What? What do you mean?”
