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“It’s just…I know it must seem silly, but I don’t think Ted Ferguson has Whispering Bay’s best interests at heart. Once upon a time, most of that land belonged to our family. There’s a reason the beaches haven’t been built up and I think it’s because of the Handy family legacy. Do you really want Ferguson’s south Florida company to turn this town into something it shouldn’t be?”
Nora gave Lauren a speculative look. “I agree. I’m not a fan of Ferguson’s. If you can offer me the same amount he was willing to give, then I’d rather sell the land to family.”
“But who—oh, you mean, me?”
“If you received the same trust fund that I did, then I know you can afford it.” Nora glared at her husband. “Unfortunately, my trust fund was squandered on some very bad investments years ago. If I could take it back, I would. But I’m getting older and the only way to recoup that money is to sell that land. Sorry, but there it is.”
Lauren’s heart began to pound. In her craziest, wildest moments, she’d thought about this, of course. But hearing Nora say it out loud made it suddenly feel very plausible. The thing was, it was just two acres. And while that would solve her building problem, it would also wipe her out financially. Her nest egg would be gone. And yes, land was always a good investment, but what if she needed the money quickly? She’d just have to end up selling the land and it could very well fall into someone like Ted Ferguson’s hands, anyway. Still…the idea of it was tempting.
“If I bought the land…not that I’m saying I’m going to, but would you promise not to sell the rest of Earl’s beachfront property to Ferguson?” It seemed like such a childish thing to say. Clearly, Vince and Nora were business people. If they were willing to sell this one two acre parcel, what would stop them from selling the rest?
Nora and Vince glanced at one another. “You don’t know, do you?” Nora said.
“Know what?”
Nora went to the desk and pulled out a bound notebook out of the drawer. She handed it to Lauren. “Your daddy knows about this. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you. But, when Earl dies, all that beachfront property he owns? It gets sold to the city of Whispering Bay for one dollar. It’s his gift to the city. So, that little parcel of land we’re talking about? That’s all I have to sell.”
Lauren’s hands shook as they gripped the steering wheel. Nora had offered to sell her the land for just a little over ten million dollars, but Lauren had managed to get her take off a hundred thousand. Which barely left her enough to start her business, but it was more than doable. She could do this. And she could stop Ted Ferguson from getting his paws on the last piece of undeveloped beach front property left in Whispering Bay.
But just because she could do, didn’t mean she should. Once she tapped into that money it would be gone. Her nest egg would be no more. She’d wanted to build her company from the ground up, not use the money Grandpa Handy had left her. In some ways, it felt like cheating. But what good was the money in her trust fund if she didn’t use it for something good? This company could be the best thing that ever happened to her. To Dhara, too. And maybe all the future employees they’d have one day.
Go big or go home.
She pulled her car into the gravel driveway. Daddy would know what to do. She came barreling in through the door. Felicia was at the kitchen sink, peeling carrots. “Hey!” she said to Lauren. “What are you doing here this late in the afternoon? Did you close your shop early?”
“I have some exciting news. Well, not news, really, but an exciting idea. Where are Momma and Daddy?”
Felicia lifted a carrot to indicate the backyard patio. “Your daddy’s out by the pool, reading.” At the look on Lauren’s face, she added, “Don’t worry, that’s why I’m standing here at the sink, so I can watch him through the window.”
“Oh, I didn’t think…where’s Momma?”
“She’s at the Piggly Wiggly. Do you want to stay for dinner?”
“Maybe. Probably not. I’m too excited to eat.” Lauren took off for the patio. Daddy was sitting under the shade, the newspaper in his hand. Lauren was startled to realize that the paper was upside down. “Hi, Daddy.”
He looked up at her. “Hello.”
She gently took the paper from his hands. “I went to see your cousin, Nora, today. Daddy, why didn’t you tell me that Old Earl was giving all his beach front property to the city when he died?” The night of couples Bunco, he’d hinted that he didn’t think Nora could sell the land she was leasing, which, he’d been wrong about. It was the rest of Earl’s land she couldn’t sell.
Daddy looked at her and shrugged.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I think it’s a wonderful idea. I wonder if Bruce Bailey knows? After that Billy Brenton fiasco, his days as mayor are numbered anyway.” Lauren took a deep breath. “So, I have a big question to ask you. I’m thinking of buying the land my shop is on. You know how I told you about the business plan Dhara was working on? Well, you were right of course, we’re going to need some capital, which means I’m going to have to tap into my trust fund anyway, and I was thinking, why not just buy the building, too? I know it seems a little extreme, but land is always a solid investment, right? And I’d be investing in my own company, which, of course, is very small potatoes at the moment, but you never know. I could be the next Lilly Pulitzer!” She laughed. She was babbling but she couldn’t help herself. “So, what do you think?”
He stared at her. “Do you have a menu?”
Lauren froze. “What?”
He frowned. “The waitress was just out here a minute ago. She said she’d bring me some water.”
Lauren felt like the air had been knocked from her chest. “Waitress? Daddy, we’re not in a restaurant.”
She could feel Felicia’s sudden presence next to her. The older woman placed her hand over Lauren’s arm. “Lauren, baby, I think your daddy is confused right now.”
He looked over at Felicia and blinked. “There you are.” He looked around the table. “Where’s my water?”
“Coming right up,” Felicia said. She scurried off to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. She placed it on the table in front of Daddy.
He picked it up and took a long deep sip then laid it back down again and picked up the paper.
