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Cole looked over at Jack.
Jack recoiled in his seat. “You want the foundation to pay for this?”
“Come on. These kids need us. Half of them can’t even read a recipe. And it’s not like the words are difficult.”
The recipes they used in the program were simple and reformatted to an eighth-grade reading level. Fancy cooking terms like chiffonade and rémoulade were never used. So, the fact that some of the kids couldn’t read them was a big problem. But reading and building recreation facilities were two entirely different things.
“We can’t save the world, Cole.” Neil was always the last to get on board with an idea—unless it was his own. Then he worked balls to the wall until the idea became a reality.
“Why not? Someone saved us. Why can’t we save others? It’s our turn to give back.”
No matter how much good they did, it would never be enough. Not for Cole.
“We may be fortunate, but we can’t do everything.” Jack folded Cole’s poor excuse for a proposal in half and laid it on the table.
Cole glared at Neil. “We certainly seemed to move forward with your monstrosity of a restaurant.” Just a few weeks ago they’d held the grand opening of the Madewood Farm project, which had been almost two years in the making. “Why is there money for that and no money for a good cause?”
“You know exactly why. Those funds were from the business and not the foundation,” Neil ground out. “It’s different.”
“Then where am I supposed to get the money from?” Cole was becoming increasingly agitated with each word he spoke. The more Jack and Neil challenged him, the more passionate he became. They all had a soft spot for kids in need. Not only because they knew firsthand about the challenges those kids faced, but because their mother made sure they never forgot how lucky they were—and how, if you have the means to change someone’s life for the better, you should do it.
Cole looked up from the table right at Finn. The usual brooding mien that masked his brother’s every move had been replaced with a desperation unlike he’d ever seen before. This murder had hit Cole hard. To the very core of his being.
“Let’s take some time,” Finn said. Mr. Mediator to the rescue. Again. “Let’s get some proposals together.”
“Hell. Even Jack was more prepared than this,” Neil said with a grunt.
Finn glared across the table at him. He wasn’t helping. Neil nodded in acknowledgment. He’d shut up now.
Jack had transformed immensely over the last year. Thanks to his bride-to-be, Sterling, of course. But he’d also come a long way all on his own, and had solidified his place as the fund-raiser of the group. Which was probably why Cole was so angry.
“Why don’t you get Penn to help you brainstorm some new fund-raisers and get a business proposal ready that
Jack can take back to the lawyers and the accountant?” Finn suggested. This was all moving too fast for his liking. He couldn’t get on board with an idea born out of emotional distress. He peered over at Jack, who hadn’t lifted his gaze from the floor for the last two minutes. “Jack, are you willing to do that?”
Jack nodded. “Yeah.”
“I already have the start-up costs covered.” Cole dropped his papers on the table with a thunk.
“You’re going to use your own money for this?” Neil’s expression gave away his distaste.
“Why not? Mom left us with enough money to live ten lifetimes.”
“How much money are you willing to give up to make this happen?” Finn asked.
Without hesitation, Cole answered, “As much as it takes.”
His answer told Finn everything they needed to know. Cole was desperate and not thinking clearly.
“Fool.” Neil leaned forward, kicking out one leg in front of him and letting his chest rest on the chair back.
Gloria just sat there in shock. She’d probably never seen them so tense with one another. She’d no doubt never seen Cole so…passionate about a topic, either.
And this discussion had the potential to erupt to a level even Finn wouldn’t be able to control.
Time for Mr. Mediator to rein them all in. “We’re tabling this idea for now. Meanwhile, let’s all think seriously about how we can make it happen.”
“Whatever.” Cole grunted, swiped up his documents, and stormed out of the room.
