“Actually I can. I thought maybe you’d use some for your wedding, but maybe buying the company is a better option.”
Harlow dropped her scone and flung herself at her aunt. “Thank you so much. That’s incredible. You don’t have to do this.”
“I love you, child. What else would I do with it?”
Harlow’s chest was tight, and she was having trouble thinking. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars? She could do so much with the money. As Lillian said, she could buy the kayaking company herself. For cash! She could run it and keep all the profits! She could—
“I don’t want to,” she said, the words coming from deep inside. They shocked her, but she knew they were honest. “I don’t want buy the company by myself. I’m not ready. I wouldn’t know the first thing about running it. I’m twenty-two. I don’t know how to be in charge of a bunch of employees or how it works. I would have to learn on the job, and that terrifies me.”
With that particular truth came yet another wave of “what had she been thinking,” expecting her father to buy her the business so she could play boss.
Harlow sighed. “I’ve been a fool. I don’t even want to buy it when you hand me the money. I’m a fraud.”
“You’re young and finding your way.”
A too-kind explanation for her behavior, Harlow thought. “I don’t deserve your generosity.”
“There is no ‘deserve.’ It’s my money, and I get to decide what happens to it.”
Harlow thought about how Lillian had said Austin would use part of his inheritance to pay for college. At least he had a plan. So did her mom and Enid, and—
“I want to help Enid. I could use some of the money to pay for part of medical school. That way she wouldn’t have to take out so much in loans. As for the rest, I don’t know. I’m overwhelmed.”
“You don’t have to decide anything now,” Lillian pointed out. “That’s why we have banks.”
Harlow hugged her. “You’re too generous. Thank you so much. You’re right. I don’t have to decide anything, but you’ve given me the gift of options.” She smiled. “Now I want to talk to my mom about this.”
Lillian patted her arm. “Yes, well, I would suggest you give her a little bit. She was going to yell at Mason about Austin wanting to join the navy. It might be better to let them deal with that first.”
Harlow laughed. “You’re right. I’ll wait.” She returned to her seat. “So, Mindy and her husband. Do you think they’ll work things out?”
“I hope so.” Her tone was wistful. “A good marriage is such a blessing. I hope you and Kip have that, my dear. And at least fifty years together.”
Harlow smiled. “Me, too.”
Because she loved Kip. He would be so excited about her inheritance and all the possibilities. They could use part of it for a down payment for a house.
“I’m feeling a little spry this morning,” Lillian said. “Get me my cane, darling. Then we can walk in the garden and cut flowers for the table. This afternoon, Austin promised me a few games of backgammon. He thinks he’ll win.”
Harlow laughed. “He always thinks that, and he never does.”
Lillian winked. “Some people are optimistic by nature, even when they have no reason to be.”
* * *
Once she regained her strength after multiple orgasms, Robyn returned to the music room to continue her inventory. While counting the number of flutes and guitars didn’t need to be done, she wanted some time to herself.
She went through two cabinets and found piles of sheet music. A wooden box contained stacks of handwritten music by Bellini, Romberg and Puccini.
Robyn stared at pages and pages of what looked to be original sheet music.
“They can’t be new compositions,” she said to herself. “Just copies of known works.” At least that was her assumption. What she knew about music and composers could barely fill an index card.
Still, she noted the find so that she could add to her list of required experts. It was growing by the day.
Close to noon, she dropped her notebook back in her room, then went downstairs. She was feeling brave enough to face everyone without her expression giving away her morning’s activities. Because when it came to her and Mason, she was the weak link. Mason’s face never gave away anything unless he wanted it to.
“A skill I should develop,” she told herself as she walked toward Lillian’s balcony.
As she approached, she heard voices. Lillian, of course, and Austin and—
She stepped through the open French doors and stared in disbelief. “Cord?”
Her ex-husband sat on the edge of a chaise, a drink in his hand. Lillian was next to him, and a very annoyed Austin was standing by the railing.
“Hey, Mom,” her son said. “Look who just got here.”
Cord flashed her his familiar I-prefer-to-ask-for-forgiveness-than-permission grin. “I thought I’d drop by and say hi.”
Robyn had no idea what to say. “We’re an entire continent apart. You don’t just fly to California to drop by.”
Lillian waved a hand. “It’s fine, darling. Cord is always welcome. He’s a charming addition to our little group. I do find it interesting how they’re all following you across the country. You’re a powerful woman.”
“I should use my power for good,” Robyn murmured. Charming was not the word she would use to describe her ex. Yes, Cord could be great at a party, but this wasn’t that. Plus, what was Mason going to think?
“Why are you here?” she asked, braced for a flip answer.
Cord shocked her by saying, “I needed to talk to you, and I didn’t know how to do that on the phone. Plus the kids are here with you.” His expression turned baffled. “I’m the fun parent. Why did they follow you to California?”
Her legs, already weakened by the whole orgasm thing, started to give out. She sank into a chair.
“You wanted to talk to me?” Better to ignore the rest of what he’d said.
“There’s some stuff.” He looked around. “Can we go somewhere private and have a conversation?”
“No,” Robyn and Lillian said together.
Lillian smiled. “My house, my rules. Stay here and tell all of us, Cord. We’re going to find out anyway.”
Austin immediately took a seat. “Come on, Dad. She’s right. Everybody knows everything.”
There was low-grade anger in her son’s voice, Robyn thought. But before she could figure out what to do about that, Cord sighed heavily.
“This isn’t fair.” He glared at his son. “You quit.”
“Yup, I did, and I’m not coming back.”
“You don’t have to sound so cheerful.”
Austin shrugged.
“What’s going on?” Robyn asked. The sooner her ex told her, the sooner he would leave. At least that was her fantasy, she thought, glancing toward the door and wondering if Mason was going to show up. How was she supposed to explain the sudden presence of her ex-husband?
“Yes, Cord,” Lillian said, sounding a little gleeful. “What is it now?”