“If she is,” I said, my mouth going dry, “that baby gets half of everything, including ownership of the Coopers.”
Aunt Rachel nodded. “I wanted you to know.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know.”
Chapter 12
Fin
* * *
Squeezing Vee’s hand, we listened as the flight attendant stood in the aisle speaking about how our seat cushions could be used as floating devices. The chances we needed floating cushions anywhere between Lexington and Chicago were about as high as the chance of the Vikings winning this afternoon’s game. The Bears started the season with a roar. They were currently 7–0. The Vikings picked the short straw with a bye the first week of the season. That was why Zane was able to be present at the first Coopers’ game against the Titans.
“Thanks for agreeing to spend your off week watching football.”
Vee grinned. “I enjoy football. It’ll be fun to be a spectator.”
“You’re sure you’re all right with the temperatures of Soldier Field?”
“We’re prepared.”
We were. Despite the temperature in Lexington being in the sixties today, Chicago was forecast mid to low forties. Combining that temperature with the wind off Lake Michigan would make it feel cooler in Soldier Field.
We brought the usual preparation: winter coats, gloves, and hats and both of us wearing blue jeans and sweaters. Vee’s black turtleneck hugged her in all the right places, making me happy she’d have a bulky coat to cover her. While I would never stop her from pursuing her dreams, I was rather fond of being the only one to see those curves. We also had hand warmers for our pockets.
“Would you like anything to drink before we take off?” the flight attendant asked.
“No, thank you. I’m good,” Vee said.
“Me too.” As soon as the attendant walked away, I leaned down to Vee’s ear and spoke softly. “When’s the last time you flew commercial?”
Her cheeks rose. “Do you really want to know?”
“I’m assuming the answer is a long time ago.”
“Don’t be so quick to judge.”
I lifted my hands. “I’m not judging. I made these reservations after you said yes. I didn’t want you to offer your private plane.” I scoffed. “Now I sound like I’m after your money.”
Vee shook her head. “I wouldn’t have offered. It’s too expensive to fly two people for a quick trip.” She shrugged. “We use the Gulfstream mostly for away Coopers’ games. There are usually quite a few of us on the plane.” She rolled her eyes. “The franchise is a family business.”
“When did you fly commercial?”
“Last spring, Preston and I flew commercial to the Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland.”
My laugh filled the air. “At least Chicago will smell better.”
She peered her green eyes up at me. “What did you mean the other night when you said Preston might not be as bad as you thought?”
I planned to share what Clark told me with Vee when the time was right. So far, the right time hadn’t arrived. The evening of our first date, Vee specifically asked for the night to only be about the two of us. Since that time, I’d questioned Clark’s story.
Over the last few days, I’d done some digging. In 1977 and ’78, the average price of a McDonald’s franchise in Kentucky was roughly $380,000. Carroll and Mary Hubbard had twenty-four franchises. Their sales included buildings, equipment, and transferring the licenses.
Assuming the price of their franchises varied due to the additional overhead, that windfall would net the Hubbards roughly ten million dollars. Carroll Hubbard paid twenty million dollars for the Coopers franchise, complete with the stadium.
That math would mean that somewhere a couple who started their wealth as fast-food restaurant owners had an extra ten million dollars sitting around. If they didn’t, Carroll Hubbard came about the extra ten million some other way.
