Alex’s heart hardened at the mention of his father—someone who, like many others, only wanted the money, not him. “I’m sorry I thought the worst about you and Paul.”
Alfred offered a soft smile of reassurance, curling his fingers around Alex’s hand. “As an attorney, I have to admit there was strong evidence to back your theory, but as your uncle, I need to say you should have spoken to me if something bothered you.”
“It gets worse.” This was Alex’s opportunity to clear the air, and he needed to put the ugliness behind him, allowing the three of them to move forward.
“Worse?” Bushy gray brows knitted together over his uncle’s eyes.
“I thought he was after your money.”
Alfred sighed and shook his head in disbelief. “Alex, you may as well know, Byron and I always tried to treat you two boys as equals. Whatever we gave to one, we gave to the other—or rather, we tried to. Paul never accepted a red cent from us.”
“I know.”
“You know? How?”
Choosing not to disclose his late-night prying, Alex offered instead, “Well, it’s rather obvious. I’ve seen his car, how he dresses. Instead of hiring a contractor, he’s refurbishing his store himself.”
“Byron and I believed you and Paul to be the children we couldn’t have. In all eyes but the law’s, Byron was my husband, and Paul is his heir, as you are mine.”
“Uncle, I know how close the two of you were, and it breaks my heart that Byron died so young.” Releasing his uncle’s hand and still carefully avoiding those too observant eyes, Alex added, “I hope one day to find something like that for myself. Someone who wants me and not the money, like Byron did you.”
“Alex, look at me,” his uncle commanded. Alex lifted his head and gazed into familiar blue eyes, warmth and compassion putting him at ease. “You will find someone someday, I promise you. One day, you’ll turn around and there they’ll be, right under your very nose.”
“I certainly hope you’re right.” Regardless of Alfred’s words to the contrary, Alex still had his doubts.
“There’s something else you should know,” Alfred murmured.
“Oh?”
“The Anderson estate, the properties and money, will be yours. However, my estate, or rather, mine and Byron’s, will be divided between you and Paul. I’m sure he’ll fight tooth and nail not to take it. That’s the reason it wasn’t left to him outright. The disbursement is detailed in my own will, as Byron and I agreed.”
Far from being upset by this news Alex experienced a keen sense of relief, the old adage about shared burdens being lighter coming to mind. “And the house?”
“When we built the house we never intended the place to be solely occupied by the two of us. We’d hoped to raise a family, fill that big empty space with laughter. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. Laws weren’t what they are today. We couldn’t adopt you or Paul, and contented ourselves with what time we could spend with you. The house will belong to the two of you. Perhaps the next generation will succeed where Byron and I failed.”
A moment of quiet understanding passed between them. “Do you suppose Paul will agree to live there?” Alex finally asked.
“I hope the two of us can convince him. Alex?”
“Yes?”
“Will you move in with me permanently?”
After watching the video and hearing Byron’s words, he’d had time to think things through. “Well, funny you should mention that….” Alex smiled. “I’d already decided to sell the Houston condo and find one here.” At Alfred’s disappointed frown, he added, “I’ve suddenly come to the conclusion that I absolutely hate dining alone. Since I now know I’m not interrupting anything, I’d be delighted to stay.”
“Wonderful!” Alfred exclaimed. “Now I have to convince Paul.” Easing back into his nest of pillows, he closed his eyes and sighed contentedly, a thin smile playing about his lips.
Just when Alex thought he’d fallen asleep, one eye popped open. “Alex? How do you feel about Paul?”
That was a good question, and one Alex hadn’t yet figured out. “Now that we’ve proven he’s not some two-bit gold-digger, he’s not a bad sort,” he admitted with a shrug.
Alfred clutched his pillow tightly and sniggered. “I still can’t believe you thought that handsome young man my paramour. At my age, I should be flattered.”
“I owe you, and him, an apology.”
“You do not. As I said before, it did my old ego good. I do know how you can make it up to me.” His uncle winked.
“How?”
