“Elana. I want you to know that if you don’t get in there and get your grandmother to sign those papers, then I’m going to disinherit you.”
She snorted. “Disinherit me? From what? Sounds like you don’t have anything to give me, Father.”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “I can have you fired from that job you love so much. Then where would you be?”
A range of emotions shot through her. Disbelief. Anger. Sadness.
She simply shrugged. “I guess that would make me free.” She walked up the steps and brushed past him to the door. She reached for the handle and looked at him over her shoulder. “There’s no need for you to reach out to me again after this. Not after I’ve seen your true colors. Goodbye, Father.”
Elana opened the door and stepped inside with Jack at her side. Closing the door behind her, she squeezed her eyes tight as a tear slid down her face.
After a few long seconds, she heard the SUV drive away.
“Elana, are you okay?” Ronald was at her side giving her arm a comforting squeeze.
She opened her eyes. Suddenly her grandmother was there pulling her into a tight hug.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood there embracing each other. When they finally pulled away, her grandmother brushed her hair out of her eyes. “Come into the living room. I have something I need to tell you.”
Elana followed Grandma Cecilia and sat beside her on the couch.
“I have decided to stay in Montana. Ronald asked me to marry him, and I said yes.” Grandma Cecilia blushed.
Elana grinned. “I kind of figured that was going to happen.”
She cocked her head at her. “So you won’t try to talk me into going back to South Carolina?”
Elana slowly nodded. “You are an adult. You can run your business from anywhere. Although I hope you won’t sign it over to Father. I think you need someone who will put the business ahead of their own selfless gain.”
Grandma Cecilia nodded slowly. “I totally agree. That’s why I want to sign over the business to you.”
Elana gaped. “You what?”
Grandma Cecilia smiled like the Cheshire cat. “I want you to be CEO of the company.”
Elana shook her head. “But I don’t know one thing about running a business.”
Her grandmother patted her hand. “I know, dear, but you are a quick learner. I’ll help you with decisions.”
Elana cringed. “But I don’t even know if I want to go back to South Carolina. I mean, I was starting to think about getting back into art.”
Her grandmother nodded slowly. “I thought you might say that. Tell me, Elana, did you enjoy our journey here?”
Elana looked at her. “Some parts more than others.”
Her grandmother cocked her head. “Where you would like to see yourself in six months?”
She sighed. “To be honest. I don’t know. I’ve spent all my life doing what everyone has expected of me. Now, I’m not sure what I really want in life.”
Her grandmother patted her hand. “Why don’t you do this. You and Jack are free to stay here for as long as you like until you figure things out.”
Elana smiled at her grandmother. “I think I need to find out on my own. I have some money saved up, and I was thinking I would like to take a trip of my own in the VW. Just me and Jack. You don’t mind if I use the van, do you?”
Grandma Cecilia’s eyes lit up. “I was hoping you’d say that. Before we left, I put the van in your name. She’s all yours.”
Elana blinked. “Are you serious?”
Her grandmother smirked. “You don’t think an old lady like me is going to be traveling around in a van for the rest of my life, do you? I’m not crazy.”
