Page 120 of When Morning Comes Around

“An investment I’m thinking about making.”

“What kind of investment?”

He chuckled and looked around the bakery before leaning in to explain to his brother exactly what he was thinking.

~ ~ ~

Sadie looked up with a smile, ready to greet whatever new customer had just walked through the door. She was surprised to see that it wasn’t a customer – it was her dad.

“Hey, Dad, what are you doing here?”

He grinned. “Tilly and Parker have got things handled at the garden center. I thought I’d come see how two of my favorite people are doing.”

“I’m doing okay. You might have to wait a while if you want to talk to Jake, though.” She jerked her head toward the shop where Jake was busy working on a Jeep. “He gets in the zone when he’s working.”

“That’s alright. I wouldn’t want to disturb him. I’ll hang out with you for a while – if you’re not too busy.”

“I’m done for the day. All I have left to do is answer the phone if it rings. Take a seat, can I get you a coffee or anything?”

“Yeah, I’ll take a cup of coffee thanks, honey bun.”

She had to laugh when she came back with his drink and found him sitting in her chair behind the desk. She set the coffee down in front of him. “Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”

He chuckled. “I was thinking about doing just that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you set this place up the way I taught you?”

“I have.” She smiled. “I may have added a few tweaks of my own to your systems, but you taught me well. It’s how I ran the business, and it’s how Jake will run this place going forward.” She watched him sip his coffee. “Are you sure about selling to Tilly and Parker?”

He nodded happily. “I am. Don’t worry, honey bun. It’s time. And everything I said about not wanting to sit around on my ass waiting to die still stands true. I’ve given forty years to that business. I want to do a bit of something else while I still have the chance.”

“What kind of something else are you thinking?”

“You don’t need this job, do you?”

She laughed. “Not really. Now that Dale’s lawyer is playing nice with Leanne, we’ve come to a temporary agreement over the finances. I have access to whatever I need.” She glanced through the window into the shop at Jake. “I’m here to help him out.”

Her dad grinned. “And now I am.”

She gave him a puzzled smile. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I say.” He looked around the office. “You’ve set everything up the way I taught you, right?”

She nodded.

“Then, there’s no reason that I couldn’t come in here and take over from you, is there?”

“I suppose not, but…”

“But what?”

She laughed. “But nothing, I guess. If you want to help Jake out, I’m sure he’d be more than happy to have you. You guys get along so well.”

Her dad looked more serious as he asked, “Do you think so? Or do you think that he just humors me?”

“I think he genuinely enjoys your company and respects you. From what I’ve seen of Jake, he wouldn’t humor you.”

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