Owen strolled into his parents’ attorney’s office. The attorney his father had worked with had passed away a few years back. Owen had spoken to the attorney who took over his parents’ estate once or twice, but this was his first opportunity to sit down with the man face to face.
“Mr. Welch, Mr. Brock has arrived,” the woman at the reception desk said into her phone. Even the receptionist was new. She put the phone down, stood, and smiled at him. “This way, sir.”
“Mr. Brock, it’s nice to finally meet you in person,” Mr. Welch said.
“And you,” Owen responded.
“So, what is it I can help you with?”
“We need to discuss the future care of my mother. We’ll either be bringing in a full-time nurse or she’ll go into a nursing home and we’ll need to discuss what it will take to put the house on the market.” Owen knew Welch wouldn’t have a say about the future of the house. He was testing him to get a feel of the type of person he was working with.
“I’ve been told Mrs. Brock will be going into a nursing home,” Welch said as he leaned back in his chair. “And there’s no need to discuss the sale of the house. Rose will be living there. I’ve already drawn up all the paperwork. All I need now is your signature and Rose’s.”
“Who gave you the authority to draw up the papers?” Owen asked.
“Rose. We’ve met several times over the last two months. Everything will go smoothly.” Welch nodded at Owen.
Owen studied the man before he continued. “Did it ever occur to you to investigate who is the executor of the estate?”
“I assumed Rose was the executor,” Welch answered.
“I see. I’ve come here today to tell you that we no longer need your services.” He pulled a business card from his breast pocket and tossed it across the desk. “You can transfer all my family’s files to the address on my card.”
“Pardon me?” Welch sucked in a sharp breath and straightened up in his chair. “But Rose…”
“Is not the executor of the estate. I am. I also have legal guardianship over my mother, so the decision about where she lives is not Rose’s either. You shouldn’t have drawn up anything without consulting me.”
“I have outstanding hours that need to be paid.” Welch sputtered and struggled to find his words. “I’ll send my bill to Rose. She’ll pay me.”
“By all means send it to her. I froze Mother’s and the house expense accounts today. Rose only has access to her own accounts.” Owen stood, towering over the little man. He leaned over the desk and spoke in a low voice. “I suggest you go away quietly.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Welch said puffing out his chest. “You should treat me with respect because your older sister and I have a personal relationship. We’ve started seeing each other.”
“Whatever the two of you do on your own time has nothing to do with me or Mother. But neither you nor Rose will be involved in decisions involving the rest of the family.”
Welch flushed a bright red and tightly closed his mouth.
Owen turned and walked out of his office without so much as a backward glance. The receptionist had obviously overheard the altercation. Her mouth formed a huge circle and she looked like she was about to spring out of her chair as Owen approached her.
“My assistant will be contacting you in the next thirty minutes. I trust she will have no issues getting all my family’s files transferred to my office.”
“No, sir!” She crammed her fingers into the keyboard and typed. “Right away, sir.”
Owen hit the steering wheel of his rental car with the palm of his hand. “Rose.” He’d hoped he was wrong about her seeing that weasel. “You’ll never change.” He shook his head as he pulled his phone from the breast pocket of his suit jacket.
“How’d it go, Owen?” Barb asked.
“The guy is a weasel. He gives us all a bad name,” Owen responded.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. Me too. I really need to face the fact that Rose is only concerned with Rose. I was hoping mother would come before Rose’s needs.”
“I’ll take care of everything,” Barb said.
“If you run into any problems, let me know.”
“Don’t give it a second thought. I won’t have any problems.”
“And that’s one more thing I appreciate about you, Barb.”
“I did some digging with regards to that mansion you asked about.”
“Anything interesting come up?” Owen asked.
“The last few owners are all properly recorded. Going back further is a little murky. I don’t have anything for you yet.”
“Thanks, Barb. I’ll keep working on it up here.”
“Are you done for the day?” Barb asked.
“No. I’m heading over to speak with Mother’s doctor. Keep me abreast of your progress.”
Owen entered the clinic and looked around. The placed was totally remodeled. He walked up to the reception desk.
“Good afternoon,” the receptionist greeted him.
“Good afternoon. I have an appointment with Dr. Mason Weatherly. My name is Owen Brock.”
“Yes, Mr. Brock. You’re in luck. Dr. Weatherly is running on time today. It should only be a few minutes.”
Owen thanked the receptionist and wandered around the room he’d grown up visiting for everything from the flu to a broken leg. He was pleased that Glenville still had a doctor in town.
“Dr. Weatherly is ready to see you now,” the receptionist said.
“Mr. Brock, it’s good to meet you.” Dr. Weatherly walked out from behind his desk and extended his hand.
“Thank you for working me into your schedule, Dr. Weatherly. I imagine you keep busy.”
“It’s a fairly steady flow. Busy, yes, but not insane like my last position in Seattle. I oversaw the Department of Internal Medicine. And I can say I don’t miss the times I had to fill in on those seventeen-hour days in the ER one bit.”
“I can certainly understand that, but don’t you miss being on the cutting edge of medicine?” Owen asked.
“Not at all. I still do a great deal of consulting. So, what is it I can help you with specifically, Mr. Brock?”
“Please, call me Owen.”
“Interesting. You’re the second Owen this week.”
“Pardon?”
“My wife, Ivy. She works part-time at Christmas Reflections and she is close friends with my sister-in-law, Juliet. She mentioned a guest named Owen.”
“I see.” He’d run out of time. He needed to tell Gina he was a Brock not a Brown tonight. “I’d be grateful if you could give me an overview of my mother’s health.”
“Certainly.” Mason took his time walking through Owen’s mother’s condition step-by-step.
“So you’re saying her disease has progressed and I’m assuming that’s why you suggested we find a suitable nursing home for her.”
“I think you’re confused. I told Rose that her mother would benefit from a full-time nurse and a daily visit from a physical therapist. I never told her to put your mother in a nursing home.”
“What about her falls and memory confusion?”
“The doors should be locked in a manner that your mother is unable to open. Her balance will improve with the addition of a physical therapist. There are also elder care consultants that can go through the house and make suggestions that will improve her safety. She’s a lucky woman, Owen. Not many people have an elevator in their home and can afford to bring in a nurse and physical therapist.”
“What would you do if this was your mother?”
“I would do precisely what I’m telling you. Keep her at home where she’s comfortable, cared for, and happy. Do you have a PT coming in?”
“No.”
“That’s disappointing. Rose and I spoke nearly three weeks ago. I gave her the names and phone numbers of the three best physical therapists in the area. They are all very good at what they do.”
“Am I to understand that the last time you spoke to Rose regarding Mother was three weeks ago?” Owen asked.
“That’s correct.”
“I see. Thank you very much for speaking with me.” He pulled a card and handed it to Mason. “I’m Mother’s legal guardian. I would appreciate it if you would keep me updated and contact me anytime. It was very nice to meet you.”
When Owen returned to his vehicle, he slammed his hands into the headliner. Rose had blatantly lied to him. She’d told him Dr. Weatherly had visited Mom at the house just recently and told Rose it was time to put Mother into a home. How could Rose be so cold? She wanted to put Mother into a home so she could have the house to herself. He opened his phone and punched a speed-dial number. “Things are changing today,” he said as he waited for his call to connect.
“Good afternoon, Owen. How can I help you?” Betty asked.
“I’d like to get together with you privately, Betty. Is there a time you can get away in the next couple of days to meet me away from the house?”
Dusk was settling in as Owen drove down the lane into Forever Christmas. Additional Christmas lights were glowing from scattered trees throughout the farm. He felt the knots in his shoulders and neck begin to release, as the stressors of the day were melting off him.
By the time Owen stepped into Mistletoe Lodge, the troubles of the day were a faraway memory.
“Good evening, Owen,” Della said.
“Hello, Della. Is Gina still working?”
“No, sir. She’s in the café, waiting for you. Would you like me to take your things to your room?”
“If you wouldn’t mind, that would be wonderful.” Owen handed Della his coat and briefcase.
Gina sat alone at the same table. She looked even more gorgeous than he remembered. Her long, rich espresso-bean-colored hair shimmered under the lights. She was sipping on a glass of wine and engrossed in something on her phone.
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting,” Owen said as he gently laid his hand on her shoulder.
“Not at all. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.” Gina looked up at him. This close to her, Owen noticed that her cognac eyes had specks of dark green. They always seemed to glisten. He took the seat across from her.
“How was your day?” Owen asked.
“Every day is busy this time of the year and I love it all. And yours?”
“Excuse me,” the waiter said. “Would you like your same wine, Mr. Brown, or perhaps a change?”
It took everything in Owen’s power not to react to the fake name. He’d never felt like an imposter before.
“The same. Thank you.” The waiter nodded and left. “Another sign of quality staff: they recall what I drink.” Owen thanked the waiter as he set the glass on the table.
“The personal touch is what we strive for,” Gina said.
“Well, it certainly makes a positive impression.” He took a drink and centered himself. “I’m glad you could join me tonight. I’ve enjoyed each time we’ve spent together more than the time before.”
“You’re not cutting your stay short, are you?” she asked with a slight frown.
“Not at all.” Owen reached over and covered her hand with his. “Quite the opposite. I would love to spend more time with you. Except I need to tell you something first.” Suddenly he felt uncomfortably warm.
“What is it, Owen?”
“I haven’t been completely honest with you. When you asked me if I’d been here before I told you no. That was a lie. As is the name I registered under.” He could see the confusion and worry in her face. He needed to spit it out. “I’m from Glenville. My mother lives in town. I didn’t want my sister to be able to locate me, so I had my assistant register me under a different name.”
Gina pulled her hand out from under his and sat back in her chair. He could almost see the wheels turning. “I see,” she said slowly.
“Gina, I like you. I really like you, in a way I never have before. If you feel the same way, I would like us to spend more time together. But before I made another step in that direction, I needed to come clean and tell you who I really am.”
“Are you in trouble with the law? Is that why your sister is looking for you?”
“No. Nothing like that. My sister’s an entitled, spoiled brat whose only concern is herself. And when she finds out where I am, we’ll never rid ourselves of her.” He sighed heavily and took a couple sips of his wine.
“Just who are you?” Gina’s eyebrows drew tightly together, and her stare bore into his eyes.
“My name is Owen Brock. My family has lived in Glenville for generations, which is why I live in Phoenix. I’m an attorney in private practice. I’ve only been back here for half-day visits over the past three years. I despise coming back here to this town and its weather, or at least I used to, until you opened my eyes to an entirely new experience.”
Gina bit the inside of her lip as she digested what he’d told her.
“So are you really here on business?”
“Yes, family business. In addition, I’ve been doing other work since I’ve been here.”
“Has anything else you told me been a lie?”
“No. I wouldn’t do that. The things we’ve talked about, that’s all me. Only the name was changed to keep my sister from being a nuisance.” He dropped his gaze to the table. He should have told Gina from day one. Had he messed this up before he even had a chance to see where it would go?
“I have just one question for you.”
He looked up and locked onto her eyes.
“Anything.”
She slid her hand across the table and turned it palm up. He placed his hand in hers.
“Are you staying through New Year’s?” The corners of her mouth quirked up.
“Yes,” he said, grinning. He wanted to kiss her right here. Before the night was done, he vowed he would.
“All right. I’ll see that Brock is put on your file. Only Della and I have access to the files. I’ll tell her not to mention it to anyone.”
“Thank you, Gina.” She squeezed his hand. “About that. There could be a possible leak.” Owen told her about the meeting with Dr. Weatherly. “I have a feeling Mason already thinks I’m the Owen his wife Ivy mentioned.”
“Not to worry. I’ll call Ivy and explain everything to them. We’re close friends, she won’t tell a soul.”
“I appreciate that. I’d like to apologize to Juliet personally.”
“I think we can work that out.” She rubbed his hand and pulled away as the waiter approached with their dinner. When the waiter left, she said, “So, tell me your story, Owen Brock. I want to know all about you and the crazy family you’re hiding from.”
They spent hours talking about how they grew up and their hopes and plans. Gina lightly poked him in the shoulder a few times when he laughed as she told him her hair used to be bleached and colored hot pink.
“I just can’t picture you with short, spiked, pink hair,” Owen chuckled.
Owen told Gina about his family.
“Your sister has really never worked a day in her life? I find that impossible to believe.”
“If you ask her, she’s the hardest working, most mistreated person on this earth. Rose was in boarding school when she and the neighbor boy ran away and eloped. She had just turned seventeen when they got married. Dad was livid. He got the marriage annulled. She met her second ex-husband in her last year in college. They were married for a year and she caught him with another woman. We all thought the third husband would last a while longer. They were married six months after Rose’s divorce. He moved her to Charleston. Five years later she took him to the cleaners. Rose returned home this past year; she claims it was to take care of our mother. But after what I’ve discovered today, it is obvious Mother is not her priority. Rose has remained true to form; she has always looked out for number one. I also went to speak to our family’s attorney today. It seems Rose and Mr. Welch are in cahoots. In fact, it seems he is Rose’s latest conquest. He is also the family’s EX-attorney as of today.”
“Really? Are they conniving against your mother? YOU should be the family attorney.”
“For now, I am. But I’m the executor and I also have guardianship over Mother. By the time he died, father had been named mother’s guardian. In the will he named me as her new guardian. Mother has needed looking after for the last ten years. She’s suffered from lapses in memory from time to time and lately has had physical issues. And if my sister, in all her dysfunctional wisdom, decides to fight me, it could get ugly. She’s not going to be very happy with me when all is said and done. However I’d love for you to meet my mother.”
“You would?”
He could tell he’d caught her totally off balance.
“I’d be honored.” She glanced down at her watch.
“You have to go take care of Angel.”
“Yes. I do. Would you like to come with me? Angel has been cooped up most of the day. I thought I would take her for a walk.”
“I’d like that.”
“I’ve also been fretting over something I found out today. I’d like to run it by you and get your opinion,” Gina said.
“Of course.” Owen rose from the table, went over to her and pulled her chair out. “Would you mind if I meet you outside? I’d like to run up to my room and change into my jeans.”
“Now I truly am surprised.”
“How so?”
“I didn’t think you ever wore anything except a suit. Meet us out back when you’re ready.” Gina ran her fingers down his arm as she walked away.