Page 9 of See It Through
“He was under the impression the house was his. I guess he came to sell it and collect his payday. I relieved him of that idea, though.”
Mom huffed. “What did he think about that?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not sure he believed me. Said he’s going to talk to Graham’s lawyer.”
“He doesn’t even know who that is, does he?” Cay asked.
“Doubt it.” I shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll head right back out of town once he figures out he won’t be getting a dime.”
“I really doubt he needs money,” Phoebe said.
When Caleb and I whirled around to stare at her, she raised her hands. “I’m not claiming to know his motives, and while I don’t know what a successful photojournalist makes, I have a feeling it isn’t pocket change.”
“I don’t care about his motives,” Caleb grumbled. “Long as he gets outta this town as quickly as he arrived.”
The corner of my mouth hitched. “He’s certainly not going to like coexisting in that house with me.”
“You’re barely ever there,” Phoebe reminded me.
“Well, things change,” I stated. “I might need to make more appearances to check on my property. Since he’s basically a stranger, you never know what he might be up to.”
A rumble came from my father as he rose. Passing by me on the way to my mom, he touched my shoulder.
“Be sweet, Han. You don’t remember how Graham was when you were younger, but I do. He wasn’t always the man you came to admire. Must be difficult for Remi to be back here.”
I wasn’t one to argue with my dad, mostly because he was always right, but I wasn’t too sure I agreed with him now. This was one of those instances where I’d have to wait and see.
Maybe Remi would be gone in the morning and I’d never see him again.
Maybe he’d stick around like a thorn in my side.
If he chose the latter, he’d better make sure he kept his clothes on.
After all, there were a lot more muffins where that first had come from.
Chapter Five
Remington
Turned out my father’swill was with his lawyer, a nervous man with stark white hair named Dell Rivers. Dell wore a tweed sports jacket, bolo tie, jeans, and cowboy boots. I couldn’t say I remembered him from my youth, but the second I stepped foot in his office, he yelped my name like he’d been expecting me.
Maybe Hannah Kelly had given him a call.
The other possibility—the one I didn’t like to think about? Each day that passed, as I grew older and the world weighed on me bit by bit, I looked more and more like Graham. The one person I never wanted to emulate looked back at me in the mirror each morning, and that was a real kick to the teeth.
Either way, Dell recognized me and invited me in. I hadn’t made an appointment, but considering Sugar Brush wasn’t a bustling metropolis, I had a feeling Dell’s calendar had more than a few open spots.
He handed me a copy of the will, but my head was aching something fierce, making the letters swim. Luckily, Dell volunteered to read it to me.
As much as I’d been hoping Hannah had gotten it wrong and the house was mine to get rid of, that wasn’t the truth. Graham had left half the house and property to her—minus Henry’s cabin and small plot. He’d also left her all his farrier tools and business.
“Now, don’t get offended Hannah got the business,” Dell blurted out, his cheeks flushing rosy. “She’s been running Town Hoofcare for years on her own. Graham couldn’t move without pain, but he taught Hannah everything he knew. The business has been hers in all but name for at least five years. She took it over and built it up, so you see, it wouldn’t be fair for her to have to split any of that with you.”
I nodded sharply, turning the name of the business over in my head. “Wouldn’t want it.”
It’d been called Town and Son Hoofcare since the day I was born. Graham had expected me to join him and take it over one day. Except horses had never been my thing—not as a career, anyway. Probably because they’d beenhisthing and liking something he liked hadn’t been an option for me.
“Good, good.” Dell shuffled some papers around on his desk. “Now, on to—”