Page 147 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

Crazy how so much had changed since he moved here last May.

Christian had been terminated immediately and charged, but his attorney got him out of jail time.

Van didn’t expect any differently, but the guy was out of his life.

The last piece of the puzzle had been solved that Barryhadactually drafted that amendment to the will but changed his mind when his grandfather found out that Christian had a gambling addiction and some less-than-honorable character traits. It wasn’t half of the hotels but just part of one. A quarter for Christian of the biggest and most profitable.

Barry decided that he couldn’t risk everything he’d worked so hard for that should have gone to Lauren being lost over carelessness. Nor have Kyle deal with it, knowing Kelsey’s father was the one that gave Barry what he’d wanted in his life.

Christian hadn’t known that the amendment was never filed, just that Barry confronted Christian about the gambling.

Kyle had confessed that part, the gambling, but hadn’t even known about the amendment. Van found it himself in the storage unit in an envelope marked“foolish mistakes caught in time.”

He found it pretty hilarious of his grandfather to leave the evidence of it and that writing along with it.

Guess his grandfather was a great guy in the end. His heart was in the right place and he’d been willing to admit when he was wrong.

Van had been lying in bed long enough and got up to run and shower, then get Kelsey.

“What’s this surprise?” she asked, all but bouncing on her front porch with Frankie by her side. “And you’ve got your grandfather’s truck. I’m so glad we’re taking it.”

“Seems the thing to do,” he said. “Great day for a picnic. Isn’t that what people do on Memorial Day?”

“They do,” she said. “But it’s breakfast time. I’m not sure I know too many people having breakfast picnics.”

“I’m not sure I know too many women like you. It’d be your thing, don’t you think?”

“Ahh, aren’t you just a Squishmallow of my own.”

“Squishmallow?” he asked.

“Yeah, these pillows that are so soft it’s like squeezing a cloud. They come in funny animals. I was thinking of getting one for Frankie, but I know I’d steal it.”

She probably would. “Let’s get a move on,” he said. “I want to get there before anyone else does.”

“Do you have food?” she asked. “I’m hungry and you told me not to eat.”

It was the cute pout on her face.

“Food is covered,” he said. Thanks to Duke.

She hopped into the truck and they drove around ten minutes to a place he’d finally found that was in the pictures. A place his grandfather brought his grandmother and mother to for picnics.

No one was around and he pulled off the road and got out.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“We are going to eat in the back,” he said.

“Just like your grandparents did,” she said, jumping in place. “This is so romantic.”

He wasn’t going for romance as much as being sentimental.

He helped her climb in the back with Frankie, then pulled the basket over.

“Your brother did this for me.”

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me,” she said. “But I’m going to eat like a queen.”

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