“Whatever the future holds, you will not only survive but conquer.”
Chapter 8
Vee
“I want to stay here like this forever,” I said, lying on the floor, covered by a blanket. I was positioned between Fin’s long legs, my head resting on his chest, and a roaring fire in front of us. After my shower, I’d chosen soft pajama pants and a sweatshirt. My stomach was filled with the delicious salad Fin assembled using the kit he’d bought and adding a variety of items such as vegetables, tofu, and almonds. He too had a salad, but his included slices of medium-rare fillet.
We each had our second glass of wine on the nearby coffee table. However, my gaze was set on the flames, reminding me of the sky earlier in the evening.
“Don’t think about what comes next,” Fin said. “Let yourself rest.”
His words vibrated his chest and resonated through the condominium.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“What do you have to be sorry about?”
“I wanted you to get to know Dad. I was ready to tell him about us this morning. If only I’d asked to meet him?—”
Fin hugged me tighter. “Don’t do that, Vee. Nothing about what happened could have been prevented with the words…if only.”
Pressing my lips together, I craned my neck and peered upward. “There are some things I haven’t told you.”
“Do you want to tell me?”
I nodded as my focus went back to the flames. “I need to think about them and talking would help. The only other person I could talk to about these things is Leigh, and while I trust her, I’m not sure about her parents—Aunt Rachel, I am. It’s Uncle Darin…” I shook my head. “I’m rambling.”
Fin leaned forward and kissed the top of my head. “Talking is good. As for your family, I don’t truly understand the dynamics. From what I recall, your mom left when you were young.”
“Very.” I exhaled. “Not my favorite subject. However, for what’s happening, my mother is irrelevant. Dad did the best he could. When I was very young, there were nannies, but from the time I was school-age, it was mostly Dad and me. Aunt Rachel was close. She tried to fill in where she could.” My cheeks lifted with a weak smile. “Honestly, Dad didn’t leave many gaps. He never made me feel like I was second. Until Daphne.”
Fin caressed my arms. “Spend your time with the memories of your good relationship.”
The guilt returned. “I wish I had told him about you.”
“What about your uncle and cousins? Did I sense some issues during my contract renegotiation meeting?”
Issues.
“Royce Beasley, general manager and no relation, has never thought of me as a significant part of the Coopers. Uncle Darin and Grant fall under that category too. Being the oldest grandchild of Grandpa Carroll, Grant feels he’s entitled to the team.” I sat up and turned toward Fin. “Grandpa Carroll left the entirety of the franchise to Dad, even though he divided his estate with Dad’s sister, Aunt Rachel.”
Small lines appeared near Fin’s blue eyes. “Why did he cut her out of the franchise?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I asked her this morning.”
“This morning?”
“I know. Bad timing. I hadn’t given it a lot of thought until now.”
“Because you’re worried your dad would cut you out?”
I shook my head. “I found out tonight as I was leaving Daphne’s that Dad’s last will is over twenty years old. Outdated, according to Dad’s personal attorney, Joseph Eads. According to Mr. Eads and Uncle Darin, Dad was on the verge of changing his will. He and I talked about it. He said it could wait until after the season.”
Fin’s forehead furrowed. “I don’t understand. Is the old will bad?”
It was hard for me to form the words, the ones that I’d been thinking about since I left Daphne’s house—or where she lived. “The old will leaves everything, the estate and one hundred percent of the franchise, to me.”
Fin’s eyes opened wide. “And the will is how old?”
