“Oh, no argument from me, Short Stack,” Holly says with a laugh. “It’s definitely a stupid show.”
“Got that right,” Rowan says.
I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t get what that has to do with my brewery.”
“Deacon wants to own it and charge the show to use it for dates,” Jane says. “He thinks he’ll not only make money fromMatchmaking the Richbut also from the tourists who want to see it because of the show.” Jane rolls her eyes. “He’s already ordered merch.”
“It’s like we thought,” Holly says in disgust. “The threats to get custody were to force you to sell. They figured you’d be eager to sell so you’d have enough money to pay an attorney to keep your daughter.”
Jane nods. “Yep.”
“Only they didn’t know one small yet very important detail,” Bryn says. “Rory offered to pay your attorney fees. You didn’t need to sell.”
“What kind of grandmother are you?” Rory’s mother demands, then grabs something out of her purse and throws it. A metal tin of breath mints bounces off Evelyn’s arm. “You’re a horrible,horribleperson!”
“What she said,” Rory’s father says with a stiff nod.
Evelyn gasps in outrage. “How dare you!”
“How dareyou!” Rory’s mother counters, her voice shaking with rage. “Grandchildren are a blessing to be cherished!”
“I cherish Apple,” Evelyn says haughtily. “Don’t I, Apple?”
Apple shrugs, looking bored. “You didn’t get me the iPad I wanted.”
How this child can look bored after the fight that just ensued is beyond me and a true testament to how spoiled she is.
“This is ridiculous!” Evelyn says, seeming to have regained control. “You’re taking a child’s word?”
“I knew you’d say that,” Jane says, then slips her phone out of her pocket and presses the screen.
Deacon’s voice broadcasts from the phone. “We’ve got him right where we want him, Bertie. Just twist the knife with his kid a little more, and he’ll sign on the dotted line.”
“I don’t want to waste money actually suing for custody,” Bertie’s voice says. “Besides, it’s possible we’d win, and we don’t actually want her. She’s far too feral.”
Rory’s mother grabs something else out of her purse, and this time a bottle of hand sanitizer bounces off Bertie’s head. “You monster!”
“I’ve heard enough,” Rory says officiously, every bit the billionaire businessman when he needs to be. “I’ll be contacting my attorneys to look into this and see if fraud charges can be filed.” Then he adds, “And unlike Bertie, I have no problem dumping massive amounts of money on attorney fees.”
“But this isn’t your concern!” Evelyn protests.
“Wrong,” Rory says in a cold voice I’ve never heard him use. He gestures toward me. “You heard the man. He loves Holly, who happens to be my wife’s sister. That makes us family.”
“Does that make you my uncle?” Jane asks, looking excited at the prospect.
“And it makes me and Rick your grandparents,” Rory’s mother says. “We’ll show you what real grandparents are like.”
Jane’s eyes fill with tears. “Really?”
“You alreadyhavegrandparents!” Evelyn shouts.
Jane takes the barrettes out of her hair and throws them on the floor. “I secede from this family!”
One bounces off the hardwood and lands at Evelyn’s feet. “How dare you!” Evelyn shrieks. “Those are Swarovski crystals!”
A smug grin lights up Jane’s face. “I learned it from my new grandma.”
I’m so stinking proud of my daughter I’m about to burst. “There will be no more visits with my daughter,” I say coldly. “If you so much as try to contact her, I will bury you.”
