AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wanted to tell them I’d also driven out because I was just plain curious. The whole time I sat at the hospital I’d wondered if these men had been two dads, or two partners, or if their wives were just in the bathroom when Jace fell. Instead I’d foundthreemen instead of two, all apparently sharing custody of the same set of twins.
“So what are a trio of Army Rangers doing way out here in Southold?” I asked. “On an amazing piece of waterfront property that has to be… what, at least five or six acres?”
“Eight,” said Duncan, around a mouthful of bread.
I whistled again. Even without the house, a piece of land like this would go for millions. It was just too big, too exclusive.
“You ever had a Galaxy bar?” Liam asked, out of the clear blue sky.
“Are you kidding?” I laughed. “During my freshman year at college I was probably addicted to them.”
“Yeah, well you’re looking at the last two partial heirs to the Galaxy fortune.”
He pointed his fork at the children, wagging it back and forth between them. Almost on cue, Jace belched.
“Their great, great grandfather founded the formula and started the company right after the depression,” he explained. “Sold his remaining interests in the 1960’s for millions.”
“Whoa,” I swore. “So with all that money, what happened to this place?”
“Who can say?” shrugged Duncan. “Creative people are usually great at building and inventing things. But when it comes to managing money… not so much.”
I glanced around reverently, wondering how long the place had stood in this spot. I tried imagining the people who lived here. All the different kinds of stories they could tell.
“Anyway,” said Liam, “the family dwindled down to almost nothing.” His words were slower now, more somber. When he spoke again, there was regret in his eyes. “Jace and Courtney are the only two left.”
Silence descended once again. There were questions I wanted to ask, things I wanted to know. Instead, I reached out and squeezed Courtney’s sauce-stained cheeks, eliciting an excited squeal.
“It makes perfect sense you’re the heir to a chocolate bar fortune,” I cooed at the toddler. “You and your brother are sosweet.”
