Read Online Blame It on the Mistletoe by Nicole Michaels - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicole Michaels
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be worth my while and, I’ll be honest, I’m a little unsure of what that could be mean.”
Ted grinned, hiked up his pants, and took a seat. Beverly returned carrying a tray with two mugs of coffee and all the accessories. Alex stood up. “Grandma, you should’ve let me help you.” He took the tray and set it on the coffee table. No one helped themselves to the offering.
When she was settled in a chair, Ted went on. “Well, here is the short version, Alex. John has left you One Hundred Main.”
Alex was silent. His eyes never left Ted, though he didn’t make eye contact. Instead, he homed in on Ted’s ridiculously expensive tie. His pulse picked up in his ears, and suddenly he felt lightheaded.
“I’m sorry, One Hundred Main? To me? Is this a joke, is it to be condemned, does it have multiple mortgages taken out on it?” Alex laughed awkwardly, then swallowed hard. “Are you kidding me?”
John Coleman had loved 100 Main. It was symbolic of this town, of his livelihood, of him. It had housed his business, his campaign headquarters each time he ran for mayor, even the town’s Santa in its front window the week before Christmas. He remembered seeing the line wrap around the building, but he’d never gone himself.
There was no way in hell John Coleman would give his pride and joy to the boy he was so ashamed of.
“I’m definitely not kidding,” Ted said.
“What’s the long version?” Alex asked.
Ted chuckled. “Actually there is no long version. It’s plain as day in his will, and he told me himself, matter of fact.”
“When?”
“Eight years ago.” Not too long after he’d become a Ranger, Alex realized. Was that it? He’d finally proven himself to the old man?
“No, no way. I don’t fucking believe this. Shit—I’m sorry, Grandma. Crap—” Alex stood up and ran a hand through his hair. He glanced at his grandmother who was silently weeping in her upholstered floral chair.
“Isn’t it wonderful, Alex? I was so happy when Ted told me. I knew John loved you. He just didn’t know how to tell you. He was too proud.”
Alex blew out a breath and walked over to the window. Was his grandmother serious? “Too proud” to be a decent human being?
“Beverly, would you mind giving us a few moments? This has to be overwhelming.” Ted spoke in a low soothing voice, and Alex heard his grandmother leave the room.
“Overwhelming” was an understatement, and Alex felt like telling Ted where he could put his news but clenched his teeth. He didn’t know how to feel, how to even begin to process what he was hearing. What the hell had he expected? He’d tried not to think about what today’s meeting was about. But this, he’d never expected this. Ever. It was so grand an offering, it was almost insulting, knowing how the man had felt about him. There had to be a catch.
“Alex, this is no joke.” Ted was standing beside him now, facing the window leading to the sprawling backyard. “One Hundred Main is completely paid for. In fact, I think you’ll like to hear what I have to say next. Not long after John passed, I was contacted by Evandale Partners Development. It turns out they’ve been trying to entice John to sell the lot for years. Want to put build some fancy medical offices or something of the sort. He resisted, but seeing as you don’t live here and have no emotional attachment to the property, I recently told them you may be interested.”
Alex didn’t move, but he could feel his jaw tightening. No emotional attachment, huh? He’d only spent his whole childhood driving by his grandfather’s office on his bike wondering if he’d ever be welcome, ever even be noticed. One Hundred Main was a landmark in Preston, everyone had some attachment to it. “Go on.”
“They’re prepared to offer you nine hundred thousand dollars immediately, but I think they’ll go higher because they really want this location. I bet we could get nearly two million if we played it
Ted grinned, hiked up his pants, and took a seat. Beverly returned carrying a tray with two mugs of coffee and all the accessories. Alex stood up. “Grandma, you should’ve let me help you.” He took the tray and set it on the coffee table. No one helped themselves to the offering.
When she was settled in a chair, Ted went on. “Well, here is the short version, Alex. John has left you One Hundred Main.”
Alex was silent. His eyes never left Ted, though he didn’t make eye contact. Instead, he homed in on Ted’s ridiculously expensive tie. His pulse picked up in his ears, and suddenly he felt lightheaded.
“I’m sorry, One Hundred Main? To me? Is this a joke, is it to be condemned, does it have multiple mortgages taken out on it?” Alex laughed awkwardly, then swallowed hard. “Are you kidding me?”
John Coleman had loved 100 Main. It was symbolic of this town, of his livelihood, of him. It had housed his business, his campaign headquarters each time he ran for mayor, even the town’s Santa in its front window the week before Christmas. He remembered seeing the line wrap around the building, but he’d never gone himself.
There was no way in hell John Coleman would give his pride and joy to the boy he was so ashamed of.
“I’m definitely not kidding,” Ted said.
“What’s the long version?” Alex asked.
Ted chuckled. “Actually there is no long version. It’s plain as day in his will, and he told me himself, matter of fact.”
“When?”
“Eight years ago.” Not too long after he’d become a Ranger, Alex realized. Was that it? He’d finally proven himself to the old man?
“No, no way. I don’t fucking believe this. Shit—I’m sorry, Grandma. Crap—” Alex stood up and ran a hand through his hair. He glanced at his grandmother who was silently weeping in her upholstered floral chair.
“Isn’t it wonderful, Alex? I was so happy when Ted told me. I knew John loved you. He just didn’t know how to tell you. He was too proud.”
Alex blew out a breath and walked over to the window. Was his grandmother serious? “Too proud” to be a decent human being?
“Beverly, would you mind giving us a few moments? This has to be overwhelming.” Ted spoke in a low soothing voice, and Alex heard his grandmother leave the room.
“Overwhelming” was an understatement, and Alex felt like telling Ted where he could put his news but clenched his teeth. He didn’t know how to feel, how to even begin to process what he was hearing. What the hell had he expected? He’d tried not to think about what today’s meeting was about. But this, he’d never expected this. Ever. It was so grand an offering, it was almost insulting, knowing how the man had felt about him. There had to be a catch.
“Alex, this is no joke.” Ted was standing beside him now, facing the window leading to the sprawling backyard. “One Hundred Main is completely paid for. In fact, I think you’ll like to hear what I have to say next. Not long after John passed, I was contacted by Evandale Partners Development. It turns out they’ve been trying to entice John to sell the lot for years. Want to put build some fancy medical offices or something of the sort. He resisted, but seeing as you don’t live here and have no emotional attachment to the property, I recently told them you may be interested.”
Alex didn’t move, but he could feel his jaw tightening. No emotional attachment, huh? He’d only spent his whole childhood driving by his grandfather’s office on his bike wondering if he’d ever be welcome, ever even be noticed. One Hundred Main was a landmark in Preston, everyone had some attachment to it. “Go on.”
“They’re prepared to offer you nine hundred thousand dollars immediately, but I think they’ll go higher because they really want this location. I bet we could get nearly two million if we played it
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