Page 125 of Lease to Love

I swallowed hard, and the answer came out before I could stop it.

"Because it does."

My voice sounded rough.

"For me, it does."

The garden went quiet.

Ms. Langston simply nodded like she'd known that already.

"And I believe you." She reached across the table and laid one hand over mine. "I think I can trust you with my Sunny."

No hesitation. "You can."

She squeezed my hand.

"I've been a mother, an auntie, a cousin, and a grandmother to more people in this neighborhood than I can count."

She looked toward the house.

"But Summer was mine. Her and Autumn both." Her thumb brushed over the back of my hand. "Those girls were my family."

I nodded.

"And if I can trust you with my family," she said, "then I can trust you with my home."

I stared at her, heart still in my throat.

She continued before I could answer.

"Most of the founding families are gone now. Sold out. Moved away. Passed on."

Her gaze swept over the garden.

"My siblings sold their shares years ago. I kept mine."

"How much do you still own?"

"Enough."

The word made me smile. It sounded like what Summer would’ve said.

She caught it and smiled back.

"I'm going to sign the rest of my properties over to the Sterling Group."

I froze.

"What?"

"The remaining properties I own in Langston Park." She said it like she was telling me what she'd had for breakfast, "I'm giving them to you."

I stared at her.

"Ms. Langston—"

"And as far as your initiative… You'll have my support. And the support of the people I still have relationships with. The families who trust me. The organizations I've spent decades working with."