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“It’s no con.” Faro reared back in his chair and made eye contact with his brother. “I only want the family strong—united.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re family!”
“Bullshit.” A muscle flexed devilishly along Grae’s jaw so powerfully that the movement was visible beneath the sleek whiskers shading his face. “Tielle isn’t family.”
“Please, Grae, you haven’t believed that since you let her go.”
Graedon pushed a hand into the pocket of his dark trousers in order to hide a fist he’d clenched. “You want to fix our family yet you pick my ex-wife’s place as the venue to do it?”
“Ex-wife? Is that what she is to you?” Faro smiled when Grae staggered back. Quickly, he moved from his desk and left his brother alone in the office.
Chapter 3
Located just outside Vancouver, Turner Estates and Gardens was a remote spread of property that had once been a successful dairy farm until the farm’s owners decided to live out their days relaxing instead of working.
When Avery Turner and his wife, Danielle, proposed purchasing the farm from the elderly growers, there was, of course, great concern. The Turners, after all, were a young black couple, and such business arrangements, especially in those days, were rare. Still, the aged farmers obviously saw something they liked in the couple, for they ordered their sons to sell to Avery Turner and give him what he needed to succeed.
What Avery needed most was his best friend, Lucas Mayes. When Lucas arrived with his wife, Tina, in tow, the foursome ran the farm in a manner no one could fault. The couples eventually decided to sell off the cattle and make their profit opening the breathtaking and expansive gardens to tourists.
Vancouver and neighboring Victoria were often visited by artists, musicians and hosts of academics. Such venues as the Turner and Mayes Gardens were especially popular. In later years, wedding bells resounded between the Turners’ son, Aaron, and the Mayeses’ Vanessa. The older generation entrusted their life’s work to the new, and Turner Estates and Gardens was born.
When both Avery Turner and Lucas Mayes passed on, their wives embarked on a new venture—inviting small groups to meditate in the gardens for extended periods. During that time, Tina Mayes and Danielle Turner held time for fellowship and scripture reading. The women found they had a love for it upon witnessing the transformation it made among their guests.
When the family business fell to her to control, Tielle decided to move things to a larger scale. Turner Estates and Gardens became an exclusive retreat for families, executives, social groups…the list was long, diverse and distinguished. Tielle’s therapists were respected for their abilities as well as their discretion.
The business venture had been a smart and lucrative one. Tielle had never regretted continuing what her grandmothers had started. During the last year, however, the picture perfection of her business had shown signs of wear around the edges. Every room, every tree or garden path, it seemed, held a memory that reminded her of Graedon Clegg.
They’d been married there. Spent part of their honeymoon there. The place had always been a magical one for her. In spite of what had happened between her and Grae, it was still a magical place. Nevertheless, memories definitely took their toll.
How was she to function when the most potent aspect of those memories was there in the flesh? Faro could forget it, she decided. Tielle stared out from the corner of her office that looked toward the hill that led in from the dirt road and would transport guests on or off the property. The Clegg clan would be arriving at any time. What to do, what to do…
“Still time to make a run for it…” Laura must have been reading Tielle’s mind when she arrived in the office singing the possibility.
“Don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me…” Tielle sang back, toying with the paisley-print tie of her wrap shirt.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, you know.”
Tielle puffed out a thoughtful breath. “I know that, too…”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning…” Tielle turned to sit on the windowsill. “I’m out of here the minute those people have visions of gumdrops dancing in their sleepy heads.”
