Page 111 of Your Every Wish
“Security that the property isn’t sold out from under me again. In the meantime, it’s a goddamn eyesore. I’ve got the resources to fix it up.”
“Fix up how?” He has my attention.
“The pond, which I can smell from here; that sad case of a clubhouse, which I can see from here; the bocce ball and tennis courts, the pool and everything else that’s gone to rack and ruin. It’s bringing down my property value. But Kennedy, if we do this, I want to be clear that it’s a business and I want it run like a business. The park is woefully mismanaged. And these repairs need to pay for themselves at some point.”
“Like hiking up everyone’s lot rentals? Most of these people live on a fixed income.”
“Do I look like a slumlord to you? Have you ever counted how many vacant spaces there are in the park? We fix, we fill. More revenue. Look, it’s up to you and Emma. But from where I’m sitting, this is a good offer. Think about it.”
I do, the whole way home.
* * *
“He lied to us,” Emma says as I come in the door.
“Who lied to us? But before you tell me, I was just over at Bent McCourtney’s house and he wants to partner with us on Cedar Pines Estates.”
“What?”
I tell her how Bent has offered to buy a third of the park and make all the repairs. “He says the only catch is that we give him the first right of refusal if we ever want to sell. Oh, and that we start running the place as a business and not a charity for freeloaders.”
Emma flinches. “Did he actually say that? Eww.”
“No. I’m exaggerating. What he said is that our vacancy rate is too high—which, uh, duh. He says that if we make repairs, we’ll be able to attract new tenants and I assume we’ll charge the new folks lot-rental rates that are more consistent with the current market. But who knows with him? Maybe he’s trying to swindle us.”
Emma lets out a snort. “I don’t understand why you always want to think the worst of him. The man let us tear down his wall on a lark that there might be money buried inside. He seems pretty darn accommodating to me. But it’s not as if we wouldn’t have a lawyer look over any deal we make with him. That is, if you even want to make a deal with him.”
I plop down on the sofa next to her. “I don’t see how we can’t. ”
“Okay. You want me to talk to Dex about it?”
Before I can make a snide remark about Dex, she surprises me by saying, “Actually, forget Dex. He’s such a know-it-all. Let’s call Mr. Townsend.”
I laugh. “Since when is Dex a know-it-all?” Since always, of course. But when did Emma finally open her eyes about him?
She tilts her head back and stares up at the ceiling. “I don’t want to live with him, Kennedy. The truth is I’m dreading going back to San Francisco.”
“Because of Dex?”
“Partly.” She turns sideways on the couch and takes my hand. “I like it here. And mostly . . . I’m going to miss you. This past month has been one of the best times of my life. The fact is I love having a sister . . . having you.”
My eyes well up because I feel the same. I can’t even hate Willy anymore because he brought me to Emma. “We have each other now. And no matter where we go—you to San Francisco, me to Vegas—nothing will change that. Ever.”
“I know. But it won’t be the same.”
“Of course it will. We’re just a quick plane ride apart. Besides, I’ll be here for a while.” I don’t say the scary part out loud. But we’re both keenly aware that, unlike Emma, I have no place to go. Not until I figure out this money thing with Brock Sterling. “I can drive up to San Francisco on weekends or you can borrow Dex’s car and visit. You love him, right?”
“Of course. I thought I might’ve had feelings for someone else but . . . I’ve loved Dex for almost a decade.”
“Liam? Is that who you have feelings for?” It’s obvious she does but I ask it anyway.
“Yeah, except he lied to us, Kennedy. He knew where the money was all along because he’s the one who buried it in the wall.”
My mouth falls open and I stare at her perplexed. “He told you this?”
“Yes. He was Willy’s security person and moved here specifically so he could keep watch over the money until we found it.”
“Whoa.” It’s a lot to take in. “Why? Why would he pretend not to know anything about the money? It doesn’t make any sense.”
