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“Who bought it?” Quinn asks in a small voice.
I’m not expecting the answer. “Toniodid.”
“What?” Jade blurts, wide-eyed now. Our cousin Tonio is a self-made billionaire. He can certainly afford it, but … “Why?” shesays.
A smile flits around Lando’s mouth. “He didn’t appreciate the way the bank dealt with you, completely aside from the whole Santiago business. It’s his way of seeing a little justice done. Whenever you girls are ready, he’ll sign it back over toyou.”
I smile while the sisters look shocked. Tonio’s a class act. “We’d own the farm? Free and clear? But … Callahan’s,” Breesays.
“It’s up to you what you do with it. The farmhouse is a total loss, but you could build another one, use the land as a home base if you like livin’ out there. You wouldn’t have to make it a workingfarm.”
“A wildlife sanctuary,” Quinn says softly. “Dad would lovethat.”
“Whatever you decide, he’ll hold it for you until you’re ready.”
“What about Santiago?” Jade says. The dread he inspires has been a constant, nagging refrain, a dark thread woven through even our happiest moments.
Lando looks almost cheerful. “Turns out he is superstitious as hell and has a particular fear of fire. He’s decided the land is cursed and no longer wants anything to do withit.”
Relief hits me hard. Still, I can’t help saying, “That man needs some instant karma.”
“It won’t be instant,” Lando says, “but I have no doubt his day will come and the reckoning he’s due will catch up to him. In the meantime, we’ll be keeping a close eye on his activities.”
He ambles toward the kitchen. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’seat.”
Bree and Quinn follow him. Jade turns in my arms and we share a long look. “That’s a chapter closed,” she says atlast.
“A strange and troublesome chapter,” I agree. I lean down, preparing to kiss her. “But I’d go through it all again if it brought meyou.”
“Me too.” Jade comes up on her toes to meet me halfway. Since the fire, we’ve gotten in the habit of showing our affection whenever we can. I smile into her big green eyes, and then we go to join our family.
