Alexander sits down in a chair next to me. “I made the right choice for once. For years, I have been making the selfish choice. And those selfish choices have led to ruined relationships and a lot of bad seeds in the family. I decided it was time to change the way I do things. I know all Nash really wants is to go back to ranching. He doesn’t want my money. Strange boy that he is, he seems happy to play chess and eat dinner with me. Most other people in the family are hovering around, waiting for me to die—and I’ll admit I’m still selfish on that one. I’m not ready to go.”
I choke on a hysterical laugh. This can’t be real.
Alexander pats my hand. “The only decision left was who could take care of this for me. And I’ve seen the way you’re not afraid to take care of difficult things. I’m sure you’ll find a good use for my money, and it will give my children and nieces, nephews, and grandchildren a chance to go out and make lives for themselves without depending on an inheritance. It will build good character for them.”
“Let’s go walk in the garden,” Nash suggests.
“Some fresh air sounds nice,” I say in a dazed voice.
Nash holds out a hand for me, and I grasp it like a lifeline, following him out the double doors that lead to the patio.
“Do you hate me?” I ask with hesitation.
Nash stops abruptly next to a boxwood. “Hate you? Why would I hate you?”
“Your grandpa put me in the will!”
Nash grins at that. “Honestly, at first, I was worried the family would come after you, but now you have the resources to have a team of lawyers protect you.”
“I don’t want a team of lawyers,” I cry.
“Well then, you’ll have to make do with your second-best option.”
“And what’s that?”
“Me,” he says as he starts walking again, leading the way through the brick path.
“You?”
“I will do anything to protect you, Magnolia. And I will support you, whatever you decide to do with the money.”
“I’ve never even thought in numbers that big,” I admit.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out today.”
“I hope not tomorrow either.” I sigh, still not completely sure this day is real. It feels like a fever dream. One of those optimistic ones, where everything is going right and you’re waiting for the bad thing to come around the corner.
Nash pulls me into his arms. “It’ll be okay. I actually agree with my grandpa on this one. You are the best person to leave this to.”
“What if I just gave it all away?” I whisper against his chest.
“I would say that decision wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”
“What if I want to use it to build the best bakery ever, close to the man I love?”
“I would especially like that idea,” he murmurs against my hair.
Finally, he leads me toward a wrought iron bench in the center of the garden. It’s cold out here, but we still sit down, and I lean my head on his shoulder.
“You won’t try to push me away again, right?”
“Right. No pushing.”
“You won’t leave me over money, right?” I ask.
Nash chuckles. “I wish you could hear yourself and how ridiculous this sounds.”
“I’m serious, Nash. I was perfectly happy in that living room when you told me that you loved me. I don’t want a silly inheritance to change anything. Iwantto be with you.”
