Colin arched an eyebrow. “Did you know he had a falling out with David, and they were estranged for a few years before they reconciled last year?”
“No,” she admitted, knowing Wally didn’t tell her because she’d specifically told him she didn’t want to hear anything about her family.
“Not something that ever made the grapevine, which is odd,” Russ said. “Means neither one of them talked about it.”
Colin looked at Mia. “But David’s receptionist overheard him talking to your father, and she told me about it.”
Russ wrinkled his forehead. “She’s loyal to David and Kurt. How did you get her to talk?”
“I had to meet her for coffee.” Colin grimaced. “You owe me for taking one for the team.”
Mia wanted to chuckle but Colin looked legitimately horrified. “Not sure how we can repay that.”
“Stop her from calling me.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ve sworn off relationships for a while. Told her that, but she isn’t getting the message.”
“I’ll do my best but not sure what that might be,” Mia said. “What did she tell you?”
“David wanted his girls to be able to enjoy this place whenever they wanted to like he did as a kid. That couldn’t happen as long as Wally continued to lease to Wilderness Ways. David got that Wally needed the revenue generated during the summer months by private guests, but Wilderness Ways is paying far below the going rate for their lease, and David believed Wally was being taken advantage of.”
“Wally always said this was his way of giving back,” Mia said, defending her uncle.
“David wanted us gone?” Ryan honestly sounded hurt.
Colin nodded. “So much so that he threatened to make sure charges were brought against one of the teens who’d taken off and broke into a house near David’s home.”
Ryan grimaced. “We dealt with that situation. Carlos went back to juvie.”
“David claimed that the locals were unsafe with these kids in the area, and he could rally the people around his cause.” Colin shook his head. “Wally walked out on their conversation. David did nothing, but they didn’t speak for a few years.”
What else might she not know about? Could her perceptions of things be all wrong because of so many years of shielding herself from news of her family?
“What happened to change that?” Mia asked, still shocked at what happened.
“Wally agreed to reduce time with Wilderness Ways by three weeks to create exclusive family time at the resort.”
Ryan rubbed his jaw then shook his head. “So that’s why Wally changed our contract. He said it was for maintenance.”
Russ zeroed in on Colin. “Maybe David really hasn’t gotten over it and wants more time here. Maybe even wants to own the place.”
“Maybe,” Colin said, shifting his attention to Mia. “Your dad took David’s side and also didn’t speak to Wally after that. They never reconciled.”
“I didn’t know that either.” Sadness over the finality of that estrangement set in, and she actually felt bad for her father.
“That’s not all.” Colin’s expression changed, and his eyes gleamed. “Most interesting is that Wally was paying money to a private investigator. A Franklin Springer from Dunwoody, Georgia.”
Mia blinked a few times as she processed the information. “That’s Fuzzy. He was Uncle Wally’s good friend. In fact, I sat with him at my uncle’s funeral.”
Ryan’s shoulders stiffened. “Why would Wally need a private investigator?”
Colin shrugged. “I tried calling him, but got voicemail so left a message. Hopefully, he’ll call back soon, and we’ll have that answer.”
Mia couldn’t believe she hadn’t known any of it, but it was time she learned everything. Her life could depend on it. “Anything else?”
“Yeah.”
“Really? There’s more?” She couldn’t control her surprise now, and her voice had shot up.
Colin nodded. “Your dad and David bought the vacant lot next door during that time. They still own it.”
