A sob breaks out of me. A full-on, ugly sob, because after everything felt like it was falling apart, somehow Ford Bradley is here to put it all back together.
He grabs me into a hug.
“Are you sure about this?” I wail into him.
“Positive,” he says quietly.
After I pull myself together, we head back down to the kitchen, where Ms. Winston sits at the table in the corner. We walk together to the table, and I pull out a chair and sit across from her.
“Ms. Winston, this is the loveliest property I’ve ever come across in all my years as a wedding planner. It would be my honor to make you an offer,” I say.
She reaches across the table, and I set my hands in hers. Hers are cold as she squeezes mine. “I felt it when you walked in, my dear. The two of you create a light this old manor needs. But I must warn you, I have a list of conditions that have driven every other buyer away.”
“Hit me with them,” I say.
“The inside may be renovated but not gutted, and the manor must continue to be used for love stories,” she begins.
I nod. “Weddings, engagement parties, anniversary events. I can picture them all here. I can also see team building or charity events here, which is just a different sort of love.”
She tilts her head a little and squints at me, and then she nods. “Yes, I agree with you. Any celebratory event. I also must ask that the manor never be rezoned.”
“Agreed,” I say.
“I also demand that the original architectural features remain intact in the way my great-grandparents intended.”
“Of course. It’s a natural beauty, and I wouldn’t dream of changing it.”
“I’d like to honor my family’s legacy by keeping the name Winston Manor even once it sells,” she says quietly.
“It’s already a known wedding venue in this town, and I don’t see any reason to change it. In fact, I’d love to honor the Winston legacy with a plaque on one of the walls near the entry.”
She looks nearly emotional at my words. “That would be lovely, sweetheart.”
“Is there anything else?” I ask.
“I’d like to attend the weddings you hold here for as long as I can.” There’s a twinkle in her eye when she adds, “Maybe even one between the two of you.”
I squeeze her hands, which are still in mine, not bothering to correct an old woman who’s excited to sell this place to me. “I’d be honored to have you as a guest and would love to consult with you on the things you’ve done here.”
“I would love to help in any way I can.” She sighs and sniffles a little as she presses her wrinkly lips together. “This is harder than I thought. My last question is whether you have the five million dollars. This must be an all-cash closing with no contingencies.”
I smile, and I glance up at Ford, who’s standing behind me as we talk. He nods almost imperceptibly, and I look back at Ms. Winston.
“We do.”
She doesn’t smile, but her eyes look deeply into mine when she says, “Then it sounds like we have a deal.”
A ripple of excitement races through me.
Holy shit. We’re actually doing this.
She pulls out her phone and dials a number, and then she puts the call on speaker.
“Ms. Winston,” a man answers. “Always a pleasure to hear from you.”
“And you, Mr. Graham. I have here with me today a young couple interested in purchasing the manor. They have the cash and have agreed to the terms,” she says.
“How wonderful that you’ve found your buyer. Let’s set an appointment for next Tuesday at my office to sign the paperwork and transfer the funds. Is that enough time?” he asks.
