William nodded curtly before taking his seat.
My grandmother sat down on the center of the sofa, while Lainey and I took our seats on either side of her. I could feel Lucas’s eyes on me, but I didn’t dare glance his way.
William looked over to Jack and nodded. Jack lifted his briefcase onto his lap and opened it. He pulled out a stack of papers and handed a set to each of us. I instantly put mine down on the coffee table.
“We understand that this has been your home for a very long time, and the Freemans are grateful for the care you have put into this house over the years and would like to offer you a substantial reward, both in thanks and in order to help you move on to a new home of your choosing… with a few conditions.”
I huffed out a sarcastic laugh, and William Freeman glared in my direction.
So that’s where Lucas got his intensity from.
Jack continued, but I didn’t listen. I knew what he was going to say and what those conditions were. Instead, my eyes went to the large painting above the fireplace. It was my mother’s last painting. A field of sunflowers with a small path through the middle that led straight into a beautiful setting sun on the horizon. I wanted to believe that was how heaven had welcomed her. If there was such a thing, that is.
My grandmother set a hand on my knee and squeezed, her way of telling me to pay attention.
“The Freemans will set you up with temporary living arrangements and pay for any storage needed for your things until you’re ready to move.”
“What are you going to do with Cedar Gardens?”
William spoke up before Jack had the chance to respond. “That is our concern, not yours.”
My grandmother smiled. “I only ask because if you plan on selling, this house needs quite a bit of work… and we can help with that.”
I stared at my grandmother and could almost see the wheels churning in her head. What was she up to?
“We do plan on selling,” Lucas said. I still didn’t look his way.
Jack continued. “The Freemans are willing to offer you three hundred thousand dollars—”
“Five hundred thousand,” Lucas interrupted. This time I looked at him. His eyes focused on mine.
Jack looked over to William, who was already glaring at his son.
Lucas seemed unfazed by any of it. “They will need help with property taxes, repairs, and utilities for a new home until they have enough time to save.”
William shifted in his seat. “Four hundred thousand,ifthey agree to all our terms.”
Jack wrote something on the margin of his paper. “Four hundred thousand will be given to you in exchange for signing a confidentiality contract, which also states that you have been the caretakers in exchange for free boarding. Before receiving the agreed-upon amount, all letters addressed from Mortimer J. Freeman to Marlena Reed will be turned over to the Freeman family.”
“Marlena’s letters?” My grandmother pretended to be surprised. “Forgive me, but while I understand that this estate belongs to your family, those letters belong to ours.”
“No letters, no deal,” William stated.
“Mr. Freeman, the Reed women have lived in this house for close to seventy years. Your grandfather was kind enough to pay property taxes, but we have kept this estate up and running with our own work and money, which included the cost of repairs and replacements. From what I understand, that wouldn’t normally be the caretaker’s responsibility.”
William and my grandmother did some kind of stare-down until he finally caved. “Five hundred thousand, only if you and your family sign the papers and hand over the letters today. I’m sure that should compensate well beyond the amount you spent on time and expenses.”
“We’ll agree to your conditions, except for the temporary living arrangements. We will continue to stay here while we search for a house—”
William’s face reddened. “As you have already stated, this house needs lots of repairs and we don’t have time for—”
“We can help with that.” My grandmother sat up straighter and folded her hands in her lap.
“How long would you need?” Lucas asked.
Before my grandmother could answer, William stood up. “Is there a place where my son and I could talk privately for a moment?”
“Of course. The music room.” My grandmother guided the three men across the foyer and into the music room. Jack closed the door behind them. Lainey and Grandma instantly had their ears to the door. I stayed in the parlor and flopped onto the couch.
