“This shouldn’t take long, but I’ll get into it to ease your concerns.” He smiled at her over the rim of his glasses.
Nikki was practically balancing on the edge of her seat. When her parents had died, they’d left them with six figures each and a substantial amount of property, stocks, and investments. She didn’t need enrichment from the passing of her sister. What she wanted was her sister to wake up.
Frank opened a folder on his desk, straightened his glasses, and proceeded to read from it. “In the event of her passing, and I’m just summing this up,” he clarified as he looked up at her, “the Nestled Inn will pass onto you and Amy Foster.”
Nikki narrowed her eyes. “Amy Foster?”
“Yes. Her daughter,” Frank replied.
“Daughter? She has a daughter?” she asked in wonderment. How much had she missed?
“It’s the daughter she gave up for adoption over twenty years ago that she’s been trying to find. She hired a private investigator, but at the time of the accident, they hadn’t furnished a report yet.”
“Wow,” Nikki exclaimed.
Frank waited for any further questions before he continued. “What she wants is for you to follow up with the investigation, with the help of Paul Thompson, to track down Amy Foster and for the two of you to build a relationship and partner in running the Nestled Inn here in Camano.”
“This is incredible,” Nikki said as her jaw dropped at Frank’s revelation. She was to find the child she’d always wanted.
“If you choose to give up your claims to the Nestled Inn, it is her wish that you’d run it with Amy, on the condition you do find her, for at least a year, after which you can sell her your shares and move on. She also wishes that Paul remains on staff—he can’t be fired.” Frank looked up at her and closed the file to indicate he was done. “Those are her wishes, and I know I don’t need to ask your opinions, but her intentions have been made known. How you choose to proceed is your choice.”
“Thank you,” Nikki replied. “With any luck, she’ll awaken, and I won’t need to worry about any of it.”
“Agreed,” Frank said.
“I guess if that’s all, then,” Nikki said as she stood. Frank did as well, and the two shook hands.
Nikki left the office with a lot to contemplate. She’d come to Camano to be with her sister and help nurse her back to health if needed, but it turned out she would be living her sister’s life.
She wasn’t sure for how long, but she was determined to do her best to give Trish what she should have all those years.
She just wasn’t sure how well she could do it.
ChapterFour
The following day didn’t get any easier for Nikki.
She got up early and readied herself, hopeful that the new day would bring good news. That was not the case. When she walked into the hospital room, Trish lay as lifeless as she had the day before.
Nikki’s heart sank. She stood over her bed as fresh guilt washed over her, and before she could break down again, she hurried out of the room. She couldn’t just stay by the bed and watch her die. Or at least, she hoped that wasn’t what she would be doing.
Her heart was heavy when she returned to the Nestled Inn. She had a lot to get done, and she didn’t have the faintest idea where to begin. She was relieved when she returned and saw Paul behind the desk with Kaylyn.
“There you are,” he greeted her warmly and rounded the oval wooden partition to meet her. “How are you holding up?”
Nikki sighed. “I don’t even know. I just need something to do, or I’ll go crazy. Hey, Kaylyn,” she called when she realized she’d completely ignored the woman. “I’m sorry, my head’s all over the place.”
“It’s alright, ma’am.” She smiled. “I understand.”
“We have plenty for you to do,” Paul told her. “Come with me.”
“I already gave her a tour of the businesses and house,” Kaylyn told him. “And she met Dorothy too.”
“Oh, okay,” Paul said and scratched his head. “On to business, then. Follow me.”
Nikki walked after him to a door next to the reception area that housed an office. Paul showed her inside and closed the door after him. It was an ample enough space with a large desk in the center filled with stacks of files and a stationery holder. A desktop computer and a laptop nested on the front of the desk. Paul motioned to the leather chair for her to take a seat.
“Oh no, go ahead,” Nikki told him. “I’m not the boss yet. As of now, that’s still you.” She smiled.
