Page 136 of Share with Me
Chapter Forty-Three
“Dad, you’re losing your edge,” Brinley said as she took Dad’s rook and ambushed his queen. By the look on his face, Brinley knew he hadn’t seen it coming.
“I fold.”
“Giving up so easily?” Brinley leaned back and stretched in the reclining leather seat. Outside the Boeing Business Jet windows, puffy clouds belied the southern winter they were in, an ode to summer and sunshine and warmth.
“We’re landing soon. Let’s do a rematch when we get to the cottage.”
Brinley nodded. Across the Napoleon chessboard, Dad looked worn out. He was only fifty-eight, but he looked past sixty. The lines on his face had deepened since the stroke, as if everything he did required more effort now. His walking stick would remind him of shortening years and of his future heavenly home, but the silver shaft would always be a Post-it note of his enormous wealth that he couldn’t take with him to the afterlife.
“How’s your house reno coming along?” Dad asked.
“I’m hoping it’ll be done in two weeks.”
“Toby and Meg still fighting?”
“All the time. Disagree on everything from cabinets to colors to who to hire and when to fire.”
“That’s going to delay the reno.”
“I’ll threaten them tomorrow.”
“Slap them with cold, hard cash. Always works.” Dad laughed. Then: “I’m thinking of retiring.”
“Again?”
“Dillon’s doing well with Brooks Investments in Atlanta. I’m confident you’ll take Brooks Renovations to new heights.”
“We still need you, Dad.”
“I know, but I want to spend more time with your mom. She’s going to stay in Paris for a while since Zoe’s got that morning sickness.”
That was nice that Dad missed Mom. Forty years of wedded bliss. Sure, they had fought, but they always made up and moved on.
“I guess you can tell me what you want done with Brooks Reno and I’ll take care of it from here.”
“That’s it, Brinley Brin. I don’t want to bother with all this stuff anymore.”
“You’re saying you want me to buy you out of Brooks Reno?” Brinley had already bought half. They’d signed the papers only two weeks before back in Atlanta.
“Well, if I died, you’d inherit the company. This way I get some spending money. Make me an offer, Brin.”
“I’m going to be out of money if you keep selling me stuff, Dad.”
“At least you’re paying for it in cash.”
“Like you always said, never buy what you can’t afford. No point getting into debt.”I’ve seen what it does to people. To Yun. To Ivan.
“So what’s the hang-up, Brinley Brin?”
Brinley wasn’t sure what to tell Dad about the purchase-on-a-whim.Well, just say it.“You know where Riley’s art gallery is on Mallery?”
“What about it?”
“Think one street over. Pelican Road.”
“I’ve heard of that area. Some vandalism over the summer.”
