Page 32 of Masters of the Game: Colton
“Mallory loved me.”
“Yes, I can believe that, and I’m glad she left you when she found out what a man-whore you were.” More than anything, she wanted to tell him her mother had finally found love—real love--but that was her mother’s announcement to make.
“Mind your manners, girl. And how dare Monica get married without inviting me to the wedding. I could understand her not wanting to let me give her away, but she could have shown me some respect as her father. I was hurt about that.”
“Evidently, you’ve forgotten that you told Taye to get an abortion when she was pregnant with Monica. And then you tried to get her to sign a document stating Monica wasn’t yours some years later. So spare me your hurt feelings.”
“That was a long time ago. We all make mistakes.”
“Whatever. I’m asking again, why are you calling?”
“A great-uncle on my father’s side died and left over four thousand acres of farm-land in Missouri. But instead of leaving the land to me as he should have done, he willed it to you,Monica, Pratt, and Hansen. According to my attorney, I can’t claim the land unless the four of you sign it over to me.”
She vaguely recalled that her paternal grandmother had a brother who had a farm in Missouri. “How did he get our names?”
“It seems that over the years, he stayed more in contact with your mother than he did with me.”
“Hmm…I wonder why.”
Instead of responding, he continued. “I need the four of you to meet me at my attorney’s office next week to-”
“Whoa!” Kelly said, interrupting. “I’m not signing anything over to you. If your great-uncle left this land to us, that meant he wanted us to have it. Why should we sign anything over to you?”
“You never knew him. I barely knew him.”
“That might be the case, but he undoubtedly knew enough about you to decide you weren’t fit to inherit anything. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, would we?”
“Now you look here…”
“No, you look here, Mr. Perkins. You produced four kids who did well without you in their lives, and that’s the way we want to keep things. How dare you expect us to turn over land that has been willed to us. I’m glad Mom gave him the names ofallyour kids and not just me. That shows what a good woman she is. One you didn’t appreciate.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, and then in a calmer, even regretful-sounding voice, he said, “I tried making up with Mallory.”
“And she was smart enough to keep you out of her life. I will never forget how you treated Mom and my siblings, so I suggest you don’t call me again.” Then she hung up the phone.
After taking a deep breath, she placed a call to the one person who would understand the way she was feeling--Monica.
“Good morning, Kelly. I was wondering when I was going to hear from you. How are things going with you and Colton?”
“I’ll tell you about it at another time. For now, we need to connect with Hansen and Pratt. I just got a call from Mr. Perkins.”
**
“Are you okay, Kelly?” Colton had noticed she wasn’t as talkative as she’d been last night and earlier before he’d left.
Kelly glanced across the table at him. “I’m fine, Colton, just feeling a little irritated. Thanks for breakfast, by the way.”
“You’re welcome.” He reached across the table to gently rub her hand. “So, what has you irritated?”
She released a disgusted sigh. “I got a call from Mr. Perkins after you left this morning. It seems his great-uncle died and left his farm in Missouri to my siblings and me. Mr. Perkins wants it and expects us to sign it over to him.”
Colton nodded. “Are the four of you willing to do that?”
“Absolutely not. I contacted them after his call, and as usual, we’re in full agreement. If this great-uncle willed the land to us instead of Mr. Perkins, he had a good reason for it.”
“You’re probably right,” he said, removing his hand from hers to begin eating again.
She put down her fork. “I just don’t get it with some men. You don’t hear from them until they need you for something. There’s no doubt in my mind he would not be reaching out to us if he wasn’t desperate to get his hands on that land.”
