Page 38 of Faking It With the Single Dad

“So,” Jerry says, breaking the silence. “What do you want to say that he hasn’t already?”

“I just want to understand why you’re staying,” I say simply. “Ryan told me the land’s been in his family for years. If that’s true, why are you fighting this so hard?”

Jerry lets out a bitter laugh. “Because this place is more than a piece of paper. I’ve lived here for nearly ten years. This land may not be mine on paper, but it’s mine in every way that matters.”

I nod, absorbing his words. “I get that. I really do. But Jerry, you know this land isn’t yours. Fighting this in court isn’t going to change that.”

Jerry stops walking and turns to me, his eyes hard. “So I’m just supposed to pack up and leave everything I’ve built here?”

“No,” I say gently. “But there has to be a better way. Ryan doesn’t want to drag this through a legal battle any more than you do. He just wants what’s rightfully his.”

Jerry shakes his head, his expression conflicted. “I don’t trust him. Men like him don’t care about people like me. They care about money, aboutwinning.”

“Ryan’s not like that,” I say firmly. “This land means something to him, Jerry. It’s his family’s legacy. And he’s willing to work with you if you’re willing to work with him.”

Jerry looks away, his jaw tight. “What kind of ‘work with him’ are we talking about?”

“A fair settlement,” I say. “Enough money to help you start fresh somewhere else. No court battles, no lawyers, just an agreement between two men.”

He studies me for a long moment, his face unreadable. “And you trust him to keep his word?”

“I do,” I say without hesitation. “And I’ll make sure he does.”

***

The walk back to the car feels much lighter than when we arrived. When we reach the driveway, Jerry stops and looks at Ryan.

“I’ll take the settlement,” he says gruffly. “Bella convinced me it’s the right thing to do.”

Ryan’s eyebrows shoot up, but he quickly recovers. “Thank you,” he says, his voice sincere. “I’ll have my team draft the paperwork.”

Jerry nods, then glances at me. “You’re a good kid, Bella. Always were.”

“Thanks, Jerry,” I say, smiling.

***

As Ryan and I drive back, the tension that hung in the air earlier has vanished. He glances at me, his expression a mix of awe and curiosity.

“How did you do that?” he asks, breaking the silence.

I shrug, staring out the window. “Jerry just needed someone to listen to him. He’s not a bad guy, Ryan. He was just scared of losing everything.”

Ryan shakes his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ve been trying to reason with him for weeks, but you managed to solve it in one conversation. It’s…” He pauses, searching for the right words.

“It’s what?” I ask, turning to look at him.

“Graceful,” he says softly, his eyes meeting mine. “The way you handle people. The way you see them. It’s graceful.”

My cheeks flush and I look away, unsure how to respond. For a moment, there’s a silence between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s warm, charged with something unspoken.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like someone truly sees me.

Chapter Fourteen

Ryan

The moment I walk into Bella’s café, I know something’s wrong.

---