Mike nods agreement, then lifts the bundle of letters. “I want to read them,” he confesses. “I want to read them, with you.”
There’s the sound of an approaching car and we both look up to see Merrie’s Jeep coming down the drive. Sierra waves cheerfully from the front seat and Mike pulls me close.
“I want to read them with both of you,” he says and I nod, knowing that’s the most perfect answer of all.
We’ve gonethrough the entire pile, back and forth, emptied a pot of coffee and Sierra has eaten all the crème brûlée that Merrie allocated to us. I dug out more pictures and let Mike scroll through everything on my phone, and Sierra told him stories about every photograph that she could remember. He’s just drinking it all in, filling an empty reservoir with lost time and missed opportunities.
That’s when a red sports car comes down the drive, engine throbbing, and stops.
“Jake,” Mike says and gets up to meet his brother at the door of the trailer.
Jake is wearing an expensive suit with his tie loosened. His shirt is crumpled and he looks exhausted. He looks over our space with what might be astonishment, then studies Sierra as Mike makes introductions.
“Do I smell coffee?” he asks and I make another pot.
“First things first,” he says when he slides into the bench seat opposite Mike. He tips his head back and closes his eyes, then nods with purpose and begins. “I talked to Richard Bradshaw and the will was never changed. You, Austin and I inherit Cavendish Enterprises. There are bequests for Ethan and Madison, a huge settlement for Candace and some other endowments, too.” I put a mug of coffee in front of him and he thanks me, stirring in a lot of sugar.
“I thought you were sweet enough already,” Mike said and gets a wry smile from his brother. “You never took sugar.”
“This day needs the edge taken off it.” Jake sips, sighs contentment, then continues. “I stopped by the office to make sure everyone had the news. Ethan is insisting that he’s operations manager, blah blah blah, and that you quit yesterday.”
“That’s true. His appointment must have been the last thing Dad did.”
“Right. If you and I are on the same page, we don’t have toworry about bothering Austin. As responsible officers of the corporation, you and I know he’s never going to contribute and we can out-vote him together.” Jake is matter of fact. “We also know from experience that saying no to Ethan is an invitation to disaster.”
Mike nods agreement. “You have a plan,” he says.
“An idea,” Jake corrects. “Dierdre said you had a lot of ideas for the future growth of the company. You wouldn’t happen to have them handy?”
Mike pulls out his phone and sends his list of notes to Jake. They talk about each point, Jake asking questions and making notes himself.
“What are you planning to do since you quit?”
Mike reaches to take my hand. “We’re buying Rupert van Nuys’ farm. I’m going to do some research there, maybe some hybridization, run the farm. I’d hoped to do that part time and still work at Cavendish Enterprises, but no joy. It’s fine. There’s plenty to keep me busy on the farm.”
Jake nods. He’s still reading. “This plan is good, Mike. Clear yet broad-based.”
“I was going to develop it into a business plan, but there’s no point now.”
“Don’t kid yourself. This is our fallback after Ethan blows it. For next season, when would you need to start to implement this?”
“By November. We always start the seedlings then.”
“And we’ll need capital.” He gives Mike a look. “Tell me you have one great suit.”
Mike smiles and shakes his head. “I know everyone at the bank here.”
“We’re not going to the bank here. You’re going to need that suit. I’ll book you into my tailor. And this business plan has to be absolutely solid.”
“But Ethan…”
“Will either surrender or be voted out of his position at the next board meeting of Cavendish Enterprises,” Jake concludes. “We’re playing for all the markers here, Mike, and it’s only going to happen if we do it together.”
“Together?”
Jake smiles and offers his hand. “You just found the finance and operations guy you wanted. Incidentally, I’m also Dad’s executor and soon to be chairman of the board at Cavendish Enterprises. Go ahead, welcome me aboard.”
I smile as I watch anticipation fill Mike’s gaze and the two brothers shake hands with enthusiasm. They’re going to be unbeatable together, I just know it, and everything is going to be just fine.
