I'd tossed around the idea of starting a small catering and delivery business, but I couldn't seem to work up much enthusiasm. Instead of doing anything about it, I'd drifted from day to day, worrying about J.T. and going through the motions at the bakery.
Royal was the only part of my life that excited me. I loved our life together, loved waking up beside him every morning, the sleepy, sexy smile that crossed his lips when he opened his eyes and saw me lying next to him.
It was everything else I wasn't sure about. And loving our life together, I didn’t want to look for work anywhere but Sawyers Bend. I pushed the worry away for another day. I had prep to finish before I could leave, and Royal had planned a date night. I didn't want to be late.
I had no clue what he had in mind, but I'd learned my guy was all about the romance when he wanted to be. For my part, I'd made a chocolate raspberry tart for two. If it didn't fit his date night plan, we could always eat it later.
“Are you almost done back here?”
Grams' voice took me by surprise. I flashed her a bright smile, hoping it was enough to mask the awkwardness that lingered between us. “Almost. Just have to wipe down the last worktable.”
“I'll do it later,” Grams said, taking a seat at the clean side of the worktable in question. I didn't see the manila envelope in her hand until she set it in front of her. “Come sit with me a minute. I'd like to talk to you before you go.”
See? Awkward. We'd never had this kind of restraint between us. I hated it, but I didn't know how to fix it. I didn't even know what was wrong. Not really. Grams swore she wasn't upset about the money I'd given my father.
Her giving the bakery to him still stung, I won't lie, but I didn't hold that against her. Really. Maybe a little. But not enough to make things weird. I'd do almost anything to have Grams back the way we were before.
I sat, folding my hands in my lap, my mind racing to figure out what this was about.
Grams cleared her throat. “I went to see Harvey last week. This whole process took longer than I expected. First, I want to apologize for what happened with your father.”
“Grams, you don't need to apologize, I understand. He's your son and—”
She cupped my cheek in her hand, her gray eyes swimming with tears. “He is, but you're my baby girl. I gave him everything I could, and I finally understand that'll never be enough. But you, Daisy, I gave you everything I have, and you gave me back more in return.”
“I love you, Grams,” I said, my own eyes blurred with tears. I hated my dad for letting her down. “I'm sorry I—”
“No, Daisy. You don't have anything to be sorry for. Nothing,” she added when I would have objected.
Clearly, she'd forgotten about the twenty grand I'd taken from the business. Even if she wasn't sorry for that, I was.
“I love you so much,” she said, “and I rely on you. Too much. So much that I took advantage.”
“Grams,” I tried again.
“Daisy, just let me get through this. I know you have a date tonight.”
At that thought, I snapped my mouth shut. I did have a date, and if I didn't stop interrupting her, neither of us would get out of here.
“I went to see Harvey,” Grams went on when it was clear I was going to shut up. “I changed my will. I'm sorry to say your father and Sheree are no longer included. When I go, everything I have will go to you, except for a few personal bequests, including J.T.”
“Grams—”
Her eagle-eyed stare had me closing my mouth. Okay, I'd wait until she was done. But what more could there be?
“You don't have to do anything about the will, that's signed and safe with Harvey. I do need you to read this, and if you want to, sign it.”
Grams opened the manila envelope and slid a stack of papers in front of me. It took me a few seconds to realize what they were. A partnership agreement. My fingertips hovered over the first page, afraid to touch it.
Grams cleared her throat and started to talk again, this time a little hesitant. “We never talked about you quitting. I don't know if you want to stay, or if you're just waiting for me to get back in the swing of things. But if you want to stay, I want you to do it as my partner. 50/50, even split. If anything happens to either of us, the bakery goes to the surviving partner. If either of us wants to leave, the other has first chance to buy out the other’s share.”