Patricia then hugged Charlotte. “I’m so happy for you both. Charlotte, you’re exactly who I wanted for a daughter-in-law.”
Perfect, because she’d rather be like Patricia than her stepmother any day of the week. Charlotte eyed Patricia’s silver gown that made her skin sparkle. “You’re my model for being a good wife and mother.”
Laughing, Patricia said, “I was never a wife, but I knew you were the one for Jack when he went to college but still came home to see you. My older sons never bothered as college was more interesting for them. So if Jack is giving you a hard time, we’ll talk.”
Right. She’d been so scared when she thought she’d never see him, but he came to see her every day.
She’d entirely forgotten those fears of that summer between high school and college.
Jack took her hand. “I never could say no when both of you team up against me.”
His mother let them go and they wandered the party.
Charlotte hoped she and Jack were on the same page, as in, finding Peter, and then he guided her to the other corner where his older brother stood with his wife, near a bar.
They walked next to the couple who ordered two glasses of red wine. Jack said, “Hi, Peter. Belle. Can we talk to you for a second?”
Peter nodded. “Of course. Let’s get our drinks. Can we get you anything?”
“No, thanks.” Charlotte met the brunette’s friendly gaze. The news articles about Belle were completely wrong. She absolutely didn’t seem like the devil. Charlotte asked, “Where's your son?”
Belle took her red wine. “Napping, so he's with the nanny.”
Peter walked next to Jack. “So what’s going on?”
They went outside onto the patio of the ballroom that overlooked a garden lit by late afternoon sun and found a small table. Once they were seated, Jack said, “Charlotte wants to turn around her father’s store but the bank offered her stepmother an overnight price Nancy is considering.”
Peter and his wife exchanged a look then he said, “Well, that’s good to hear. I hope she signs in the morning.”
Charlotte stilled. They knew. This means they’d planned it. Her blood hummed through her body.
Jack sat forward and asked, “You know about the offer?”
Peter nodded. “It was from my bank.”
Jack glanced at her and then back at his half-brother. “Okay, yeah.”
No. No. No. Her body shivered with cold while his brother said, “Aurelia realized our family’s history in the area and wants to grow her brand in a place that might be accepting of the Morgans. She had her people scouting around for a new department store here.”
Charlotte tried to get her hand away from Jack. He was letting this happen. How could he?
Belle sipped her wine, then added, “Aurelia considered the location at the abandoned toy store near Nordstrom’s but Charlotte’s family store has better parking.”
Jack squared his shoulders but said nothing. Peter finished in a business tone, “The commissioner verbally promised us a permit to make the road wider.”
Despite how her stomach churned and her throat was parched, Charlotte said calmly, “This is my father’s store. Our customers aren’t exactly the demographic to fit Aurelia’s chain.”
Belle must have noticed tears in Charlotte’s eyes as she was quick to say, “But many in the area are flush with cash and they want more choices.”
Jack leaned in. “The same commissioner can also give you permission to expand the parking lot of the abandoned toy store.”
Right. Yes. Thank you, Jack. Charlotte neededthisstore. The Morgan power-family had to understand. She swallowed and blinked her eyes clear.
“What’s going on?” Peter asked.
Jack folded his hands in front of him. “Charlotte wants control of her father’s store and I want to help her.”
Peter tapped on the table like it was a calculator, his brow furrowed. “Belle ran the numbers. The store is already overvalued at the offered price as sales have declined significantly in the past five years.”
