Page 94 of The Grump

“I do a lot of things for Bella,” I admitted. “I like making her happy.” As we reached the car, I added, “Sometimes I think I should make more of an effort.” I opened the door for her. “This year it’s become even clearer.”

She leaned against the seat, looking up at me. “How come?”

“I thought that honoring my family’s legacy meant making sure the company was doing better than ever. Always improving profit margins, processes, and so on. It was my top goal. And it still is. It probably always will be. But I realized that I’ve been spending less time with my family over the years, and it’s a pity. I mean, Bella will soon be all grown up.”

“I think you’ve still got a few years.”

“My grandparents and parents won’t be around forever, yet I’ve spent the past few Christmases cooped up in my office.”

“There’s always time to change that. I can’t believe the Christmas spirit is rubbing off on you.” Her smile was delightful.

“It’s not that,” I assured her, resting my fingertips on her neck. “You’re making me see things in a different light.”

“Really? How come?”

“I can’t explain it. Your way of looking at things. The fact that you were willing to completely change careers because you were no longer happy doing what you were doing. That’s admirable. And now you’re doing something that makes you completely happy. You make me question myself in all the good ways.”

“And I have a few more ideas concerning you.”

“I can’t wait for you to share them with me in front of that fireplace you like so much.”

She grinned. “Hell yes.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Bailey

On the twenty-fourth of December, I was ready to call it a year. I’d done all the deliveries, but I still headed to the confectionery. It was my tradition to come here on Christmas Eve. No one else was working, and I enjoyed having the place to myself. I made a pot of mulled wine and played carols while I made the last batch of pralines for the year. I was taking them to the bonfire celebration in Algiers this afternoon, right before heading to Jackson Square for caroling.

I’d put the pralines in the oven and was starting to clean up the counter. Since I wasn’t expecting anyone at all, I startled when I heard someone call out from the yard.

“Hello? Is this the LeBlanc-Broussard confectionery?”

I took off my apron and hurried outside. A young guy, maybe a few years older than me, was waiting there, looking around with curiosity.

“Yes, this is us. Well, it’s just me today,” I said. “My name is Bailey. What can I do for you?”

“I’m Ron Trudeau. Not sure if anyone from the Orleans Conglomerates told you, but I’m interested in buying the confectionery.”

Every muscle in my body stiffened. I swear to God, I forgot how to breathe for a few seconds.

Xander found a buyer. Why didn’t he tell me?

I drew in a deep breath and blinked a few times because my vision was unfocused. Then I clasped my hands in front of me and nodded. “No one told me you were coming.”

“I did tell Xander. I mean, he’s the only one I spoke to.”

Oh, man, this is just getting worse.I put a hand on my chest and shook my head.It doesn’t matter. Surely there’s someexplanation for his not mentioning a potential buyer.Though I couldn’t help but feel slighted by the whole thing. As close as we’d become and then this? It hurt.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

“Before I make an actual offer, I want to take a look around. Would you mind showing me? I totally understand if you can’t. I mean, it’s Christmastime, and you’re probably very busy. But I thought I’d drop by on the off chance anyway.”

I carefully considered my next steps. I couldn’t possibly kick him out.

You don’t own this place, Bailey. You’re an employee of the Orleans Conglomerate, and you knew, deep down, this day would come.

So, even though it was killing my heart, I smiled and said, “Sure, come on in. Everyone else is on vacation already.”

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