Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“It’s almost done.” He shrugged. “Grab a coffee.”
Seeing the determined gleam in his eyes, I made us coffee and poured Callie juice and soon we were sitting around our crammed kitchen table eating bacon and eggs.
I tried not to let my eyes rest on Walker’s stomach, to study his careful movements. He was off work now, but he’d be returning on reduced duties after New Year’s. Walker caught my gaze, and I read his expression.
He wanted me to stop worrying about him.
Not possible.
The man meant too damn much to me.
“We have presents for you, Mom,” Callie said, even as she watched me closely. She was probably searching for any sign I was going to break down again. I think she sensed my fragility, and I hated that.
“Oh, yeah?” I grinned. “So I get presents today, too, instead of all on Christmas Day?”
Her eyes lit up. “Yup! It’s not fair you have to share your birthday with someone so famous.”
I laughed. “I have been saying the same thing my whole life.”
It was easy to be glass half-full for Callie as we talked and teased over breakfast and Walker sat in silent amusement, listening to our banter. This was how I wanted it to be. I didn’t want to focus on my stepmother, who was out on bail but facing criminal charges of conspiracy to commit murder. My dad had indeed left me the bulk of his fortune and, though it would take a few weeks of legal back-and-forth, I was soon to be a multimillionaire. It was hard to wrap my head around that too. If necessary, I’d use every single cent to make sure Perry withered away in prison along with Nathan and Kyle.
The kidnapping had made the national news, and we’d been inundated with media requests for interviews. Ardnoch was now becoming known as the surprising thriller capital of Scotland, considering how many near misses its inhabitants had experienced over the last few years.
And as soon as Perry’s part in that was leaked to the press, the sensationalism of an inheritance conspiracy was too much for them to ignore. The story was more widely reported in the States, but once something went online, there was no escaping it. I’d been beating off calls from news outlets here in the UK for the last two weeks. Finally, things seemed to quiet a little, but I knew it would all explode again once the case went to trial.
Among all that, Walker had spent some time with his parents, who had returned to Portobello. They’d had a few awkward phone calls since, but they were planning to visit again in the new year. I think seeing my heartbreak over losing my chance to reconcile with my dad had made Walker determined to work through two decades of estrangement with his parents. It turned out his mom had tried to find him over the years but Walker had moved around so much with his job, she’d never been successful. Then she’d discovered after our wordless meeting in Edinburgh that Walker was still in contact with a childhood friend and had used the connection to reach out. I was grateful Walker had allowed her to. His capacity for forgiveness was extraordinary and I couldn’t be prouder of him.
Callie barely let us finish our breakfast before dragging me out of the kitchen and into the sitting room. There were gifts under the tree from her friends from school and from the housekeeping team at Ardnoch as well as presents for Walker and our Adair family friends. I soon learned two birthday presents were tucked behind there too.
Walker settled beside me on the couch, his arm resting along my back as I leaned into his uninjured side, and Callie brought the gifts over. One was a small, gift-wrapped box and the other an envelope.
I glanced quizzically at Walker. “When did you two have time to do this? We’ve barely had time to buy Christmas presents.”
His lips quirked up at the corners. “Open the box first.”
Callie handed over the box wrapped in bright pink shiny paper I knew Walker had let her choose. “Ooh, what could it be?” I grinned at my daughter because she looked like she was ready to explode with excitement.
To my bemusement, I found inside a door key tied with a ribbon. I gestured to them both with the key. “Explain?”
“Now open the envelope,” Walker instructed.
My curiosity on overdrive, I opened the envelope and pulled out a couple of folded sheaves of paper. Scanning the contract, my lips parted in shock. “Is this what I think it is?”
Walker leaned over and tapped the bottom of the second page. “It just needs your signature.”
I flipped back to the first page and read the address.
“How?” I whispered.
“There are four tourist shops in Ardnoch,” Walker explained. “Two on Castle Street alone. This one on Castle Street used to be a restaurant in the ’90s. There’s an old kitchen in the back that needs updating, but we can do that, no problem.”