“You look surprised, boy.”
“I am.”
“Surprised that Nico sent it to me? Or surprised that he sent a novel along with it?”
Lorrie smiled when Curtis looked at her and winked.
Last night, she’d read the email that Nico had sent to Curtis, explaining all the reasons why Stone deserved the opportunity despite Zane’s reason. Evidently, they hadn’t been aware of their youngest’s change of heart.
“Go on and read the email first,” Lorrie told Stone because she could see on his face that he was curious.
“Read it out loud,” Curtis tacked on.
Stone’s gaze swung between them once more before his attention returned to the screen. “Mr. Walker, I’ll warn you that I have an extra set of eyes on me as I type this. Those beautiful eyes belong to Stevie Shepherd. As for why I’m writing this and not her, I can’t explain. It’s simply the way she wants it, and as you probably know, when you love someone, you do their bidding without question.”
Lorrie’s heart filled with warmth the same way it had the first time she read it.
“I’ll also tell you, the only bidding I’m doing is hers because Stone doesn’t know about this email. He doesn’t know that Stevie and I have spent the better part of two days attempting to figure out how to make his dreams come true because that’s what you do when you love someone. You go to bat for them.”
Stone inhaled sharply, his eyes looking questionably glassy, but Lorrie didn’t mention it.
“Keep readin’,” Curtis instructed.
“That’s what we’re doing. I’m writing this because we want you to know that Zane may have valid reasons for judging Stone based on his history, but Stone is so much more than the mistakes he’s made. We’ve all made our share, and we’ll continue to do so because that is the way of life. Stone deserves to be judged on who he is now, and I’ll tell you firsthand that he’s not the same man he was fifteen years ago. And yes, I’m biased. I love him. Stevie loves him. We only want to give him what he’s given us, and that’s far more than I can explain in a brief letter.”
Curtis snorted, again winking at her. “Brief, he said.”
Lorrie smiled. “Hush now. Go on, Stone.”
He cleared his throat. “I’ve attached the business proposal that Stone has worked diligently to prepare. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to review it because, sir, it’s impressive. I honestly think Stone missed his calling. He’s got a head for business, and I think success is inevitable when you allow a man as determined as him the opportunity to pursue his dream. Ultimately, the decision is yours, but we couldn’t let you make it without ensuring you had all the facts. Stone is a good man, and you can’t go wrong investing in him. I know this for fact … sorry, make thatwe.Can’t leave Stevie out. Thank you for your time.”
Lorrie didn’t attempt to hide the tears that welled in her eyes. The first time she’d read the email, she’d sobbed like a lovesick schoolgirl because that was one of the sweetest things she’d ever read.
“We looked over the proposal,” Curtis said when Stone took a gulp of his coffee, clearly biding time before he spoke. “Nico’s right. It’s rather impressive.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me, just promise me somethin’.”
Stone’s eyes locked on his uncle.
“Promise me that you’ll keep followin’ those dreams. I’m not here to dictate what you can and can’t do with that land. It’s never been about that. I wanted to see that you were serious and”—he nodded toward the computer—“even without that novel, I knew you were.”
“Yes, sir.”
Curtis looked at her, and Lorrie’s chest warmed from the love she felt for him. It was always like that. Curtis Walker had stolen her heart sixty years ago, and he still held it in the palm of his hand because that’s what you do when you find your soulmate. You give it to them because you know they’ll take care of it no matter what.
She suspected that Stone had found his soulmates, too.
“This is for you,” Curtis told him, producing the envelope he’d hidden in the chair. “I had the papers drawn up and that’s a deed to the land. It’s yours, free and clear. We only ask that you hold to our original stipulations. If it ever gets too much for you, pass it along to someone in the family who’ll do right by it.”
Stone’s throat worked on a swallow. “Yes, sir.”
“Now, if you’re done with your coffee, I think you’ve got work to do, boy.”
Stone huffed a laugh, and Lorrie could tell he was holding back the emotion churning inside him.
“Or you could stay for another cup of coffee, and we can talk about your plans to build a garden for the school,” she told him. “I love the idea.”
