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It was odd being back here. Only a few weeks had passed, but their whole lives had changed.
Ms. Travers shuffled some files. “When we first met, we let you know that if you solved the clues, Margaret Smith had left you her older property, with the greenhouses and land.”
Piper’s heart gave a little flip as she waited for thebut. She squeezed Dawson’s hand in hers. She could handle any but.
“But,” said Ms. Travers, who looked surprisingly relaxed, “we left something out.”
Mr. McNally was seated between his colleagues; he raised his chin and looked both of them in the eye. “The first part of the will is valid; the land and greenhouses are yours. But there’s more.” He spoke solemnly. “Margaret Smith also the left the rights to the royalties ofThe Mistletoe Crownto you both. The royalties that were earned in past years have already been left between a variety of charities. But any future royalties—earned from the moment of Margaret’s death—have been kept for both of you.” He gave them a nod. “It should help with whatever your future plans are for the space.”
Dawson and Piper exchanged glances. Piper knew nothing about publishing. Nothing really about royalties. But what she did know was that for as long as she could remember,The Mistletoe Crownhad been reprinted every year, in about forty countries around the world.
Dawson shook his head and leaned forward. “This seems excessive. The land and greenhouses are more than generous—particularly for two people that Margaret didn’t know well. But the royalties to her world-famous book?” He put his hand on his chest. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“Me either,” said Piper quickly.
Dawson looked at her as something occurred to him. A smile crept across his face. “Maybe this would be easier to manage if we knew some attorneys that could help?”
He could see the immediate flicker of recognition in her eyes. She returned his smile. “I absolutely agree.”
They settled back in their chair, still holding hands, and smiled at their new partners.
Epilogue
One year later
“Spidey, get down,”Dawson yelled as he opened the gate to the training park and made his way over to open the locker rooms.
The place was open and already in prime use. Two local schools, a kids’ football team, and teenage basketball team were already using the facilities.
Piper stuck her head out of one of the new greenhouses and shot him a beaming smile. “He’s going to make it. You know he is.”
Spidey was halfway up the outside of the chain wire fence. Spidey—originally called Walter—Dawson’s indistinguishable black rescue dog had earned his new name on his first day. There wasn’t a wall or fence he wouldn’t try to climb.
Dawson gave a wave as Radley, coach of the basketball team arrived—he’d been a former player that Dawson used to interview on a regular basis.
“Everything good?”
Dawson nodded. “The kit arrived last night. It’s in the locker rooms waiting for the kids. They’ll love it.”
Radley fist bumped him. “Can’t wait to see their faces.” He gestured his head toward the fence between the training ground and the greenhouses. “Now, go on and do something about your crazy dog.”
Dawson laughed and walked back out the gate and Spidey bounded up to meet him. He bent down. “We’ve got a very important job,” he said seriously to his dog. “You’ve got to be on your best behavior.”
They moved over to the new greenhouses and he tapped in a code. There were three now, broader and longer than their predecessors, meaning Piper had been able to take on lots of new projects.
Her nose was in amongst an array of budding vegetables. She clearly knew he was there. “These look great,” she said. “The kids from the school are doing a great job.”
Dawson gave her a nervous smile. “Spidey wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Oh no,” said Piper. “What’s he eaten?”
Dawson stepped aside to where Spidey was sitting behind him, with a box in his mouth, looking very confused.
Piper knelt in front of him and took the box from his mouth. She was just as confused as Spidey was. She flipped open the box and stopped. A yellow gold ring, with a central diamond, surrounded by smaller diamonds, then more in the band.
“All I can tell you is that it’s a family heirloom that belonged to a very feisty woman. Only thing is, I’m not sure if you’ll consider it secondhand?”
“Are you going to ask me the question?” she teased as her eyes gleamed.
