Page 41 of Quintessentially

“I called my mom,” I confess. “Last night, after I saw the pictures and talked to Mick. He didn’t answer me. He told me to talk to you. I stayed up most of the night staring at her photos. She has your hair.”

“And your eyes. What did your mom say?”

“That she didn’t know about Molly and said if it’s true, she’d love to meet her granddaughter.”

“She did,” Kandace sighs. “She met her at Ruth’s funeral.”

“But she didn’t know…”

Kandace shakes her head.

“I want to know my daughter,” I say. “I hate that I haven’t been part of her life. I’ve drafted some support papers. Civil isn’t my specialty, but Murphy can look them over. I can send you monthly financial support and back payments. I won’t walk away from my responsibility.”

Kandace’s expression grows cold. “I don’t want your money. I’ve done well for five years. She doesn’t need a sugar daddy.”

I fight the urge to laugh. “I don’t think that’s the way that moniker works.”

“I came here to thank you for bringing the merchandise to the store and to find out what you plan to do with Quintessential Treasures.”

“It’s yours, Kandace.”

Exhaling, she bends forward as her knees bend.

I reach forward. “Are you okay?”

When she looks up, she nods. “I promise I’ll take care of it.”

“I never doubted that. It was your business model.”

“You remember that?”

“I’ve been remembering a lot of things.”

“Thank you for signing,” she says.

“When I received the mailing saying it was left to you, I didn’t understand. Now I do.”

“I don’t need charity. I’ll pay what Ruth stipulated.”

“I can’t sign yet. Grandma stipulated a few other things,” I say, remembering my last meeting with Murphy.

“What?”

“She wanted you and me to spend two days together running the store.”

Kandace’s eyes grow wide. “Two? That’s silly. Just sign the paperwork and then you can go back to Chicago.”

“Murphy said the directions are specific. Grandma Ruth had other plans.”

Kandace exhales. “Chloe was right.”

“About what?”

“She said Ruth kept her promise while she was alive. Now she’s playing matchmaker from heaven.”

I grin. “That sounds like Grandma.”

Kandace’s blue stare looks up at me. “Not tonight, Dax, but yes, I’ll introduce you to Molly.”

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