“And I have my bookstore to run.”
Nora shrugged. “You’ll need to extend your leave, Dev.”
Dev stared at her for a long moment. “That’s...that’s not possible.”
“After all of your years in military service, the circumstances surrounding your mother’s estate, and the fact that you are on medical leave, it’s very possible,” Nora mused, giving him a thoughtful look. “If you want to try.”
“I have no experience with the care of the elderly.”
“These people aren’t ready for a nursing home, believe me. Beth leased her bookstore and the apartment above it from your parents. Correct?”
He gave a single terse nod.
“Do you remember Vivian saying she wanted to give you one of the other buildings on the same block when you retired from active service? She always hoped you’d come back home and start some sort of business here.”
“That was years and years ago, right after I enlisted,” Dev said, his voice touched with regret. “Emotions were running pretty high at the time. I told her that I would never move back under any circumstances.”
“Mothers can have amazing memories where their children are concerned.” Nora canted her head as she looked between the two of them. “That entire city block is part of her estate, as you know. But if the terms of the will aren’t met,allof the commercial property will go to Dev’s uncle, Stan Murdock. The family home will be gifted to a women’s shelter. Dev would only inherit his parents’ personal possessions and part of their liquid assets. The rest would go to charities.”
Dev drew in a sharp breath. “Stan is aware of this?”
“Of course, per the directions in your mother’s will,” Nora arched an eyebrow. “You told your mother recently that you had no intention of moving back.”
Dev sighed. “I did.”
“Since Stan thinks you’ll simply walk away, he has been making tentative plans. He doesn’t want to bother with the maintenance and leasing of old buildings. He’d rather just raze the entire block for a condo development.”
Which meant the beautiful old stone buildings—including her beloved bookstore and her pretty little apartment above—would fall to a wrecking ball.
Her heart sinking, Beth stared at Nora, then she twisted in her chair to face Dev. “Are you going to let him do that?” she whispered.
“He can’t.” A muscle ticked at the side of his jaw. “That block was designated for preservation as a historic site. My parents worked on the application years ago.”
“True. But apparently, there were errors in the paperwork filed by the county attorney that left some loopholes.”
Nora’s mouth curled with disgust. “He brought an architect from St. Paul earlier this week. The two of them walked the area so preliminary drawings could be made. They stopped in here to discuss how soon Stan could take possession, as if it were a done deal.”
“So your uncle wants to destroy an entire historic block, just to make money.” Beth sat back in her chair, appalled. “The quaint charm of this town is what brings in so much tourist trade.”
“He’s no blood relative of mine.” Dev’s expression darkened. “He was my late aunt’s second husband. He’s a successful businessman in the Twin Cities area. But even as a kid, I heard him talk about wheeling and dealing to get exactly what he wanted. I can’t believe Mom would evenconsiderletting him get his hands on her property. Is there any way around it?”
“You mean, if Beth alone complied with the will, or the two of you hired a manager to take over Sloane House? No. Vivian made sure of it.”
“I could retain another lawyer to challenge the will.”
“You’re welcome to do so. In fact, I encourage it, just so you’ll feel you’ve had your best shot at this.”
“But you don’t think it would work?”
Nora shrugged. “I’ve represented your family’s interests for over twenty years. I need to follow Vivian’s wishes. If I thoughtthere was a way around the stipulations in your mother’s will, I’d let you know.”
“But,” she added with a faint smile, “I was the one who wrote it up, and I madesureit was ironclad, at her express instructions. Unless, of course, you’d returned from the military too disabled to function as an independent adult. She set up careful, alternative plans if that happened.”
Beth clutched the arms of her chair. “So if Dev and I manage Sloane House for a while, he can receive his full inheritance and protect the property. What does this job entail, exactly?”
“It certainly isn’t a full-time job for those six months. Vivian figured twenty hours a week, more or less, shared between the two of you. You’ll manage the house and grounds—maintenance and so on.”
“‘That could cover a lot of things.”
