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“Here you are, and thank you,” he said.
Wolf eyed the man as he picked it up from the counter. “What’s your name?”
“Andrew Glass.”
“Are you a local artist?” Wolf asked.
He nodded and then pointed out the window. “I live on Pope Mountain. My granny was a Pope.”
Wolf nodded. “Beautiful place to live,” he said, and walked out carrying his gift, thinking about what Michael Devon had said. Maybe he was right. Some things are perfect just the way they are.
It was cold, and Wolf was tired, and when he got back to the fountain and passed the black bear, he called the hotel for a ride. All he wanted now was to get warm.
Fiona Rangely was on hold.
Her lawyer was in the process of trying to work out a plea bargain with the federal prosecutor, with Fiona admitting guilt to all charges and asking for a life sentence rather than the death penalty. But she knew that even if the federal prosecutor agreed to the plea deal, the sentencing would ultimately be up to the judge.
She spent every day in the prison looking over her shoulder. Every meal felt like playing Russian roulette. Will this bite kill me? Is this the day I’m going to die? Getting jostled by other inmates during their time in the dayroom was a nightmare. Every second she expected to get shanked.
At night, she saw Wolf’s face in her dreams and woke up drenched in sweat or crying. She’d spent her life accumulating wealth, but money was worthless to her now. No more rendezvous with Hank Kilmer. No more trips to the hair salon or weekly massages at the spa. No more mani-pedis. She wondered what was happening at BioMed. She was the sole owner. There was no one legally capable of taking over.
She’d played a dirty game and gotten caught.
Life as she’d known it was over, and what was left of it wasn’t worth living.
Amalie was outside the hotel at six thirty sharp. Wolf emerged moments later carrying a white box. She was thinking as he approached,That’s my father, and trying not to overwhelm herself again.
She’d told him to dress for comfort, and even though he looked like he’d just stepped away from a fashion shoot, he seemed at ease in the charcoal slacks, black and white sweater, and pewter-gray trench coat he had on.
He eyed the pink velour sweater and black slacks she was wearing, then gave her a quick wink. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Are you ready to do this?” she asked.
He nodded. “I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”
She put the car in gear as he was buckling up, and then they were off.
“So, who all am I meeting tonight?” Wolf asked.
Amalie frowned. “I honestly don’t know. Most likely Aaron and Dani. That’s the oldest of the four brothers, and Dani is his wife. Wiley isn’t married, so I’m thinking he’ll be on his own, although Sean says he has three girls on speed dial.”
Wolf laughed. “That’s a great description. Although I’ve seen Sean during our Zoom meeting, I’m anxious tomeet him in person. From the way you talk, their mother must be something special.”
“She’s really pretty, I think. She might be around your age. I know she got married very young, and to a man who turned into an abuser. Sean told me their father made their lives a living hell and nearly killed her, but their mother protected them from the worst of it. But they don’t talk about that. I’m just telling you.”
He nodded. “Understood,” he said, but as they started up the mountain, he got quiet.
Amalie could see wonder in his eyes.
“You know, for a man who grew up in the Louisiana bayous, this place is something to see,” he said.
“You’ve been all over the world. I’m sure you’ve seen many ancient wonders,” she said.
He shrugged. “Yes, of course, but nothing pulls at you harder than home.”
Her eyes widened, and the tone of her voice lifted. “That’s how I feel about Pope Mountain. From the moment I saw it, I felt a connection, like I’d been lost and finally found home. Did you and my mother date a long time before you got married?”
“About eight months, but I fell in love with Shandy the first time I saw her.” He chuckled. “Like being struck by lightning and not dying.”
