Stefanie
Stefanie fidgeted with her thumbs, unable to get comfortable on the microsuede couch Cyan had told her to wait on.
She’d meant to be at the Burns’ house only a day or two, but that had turned into four. Cyan had promised her dad would be there, but Mr. Burns kept getting waylaid by medical issues.
Stefanie had been waiting in their living room for over two hours. Another promise she’d broken, Cyan swore he’d be there that morning right after breakfast.
Time was running out and the stress might be the death of her, if Stefanie didn’t get a chance to say something to Mr. Burns.
Cyan hovered over an older man as they ambled into the room.
His cane thumped on the floor, held by a hand with gnarly knuckles and fingers that twisted in painful directions. Stringy, long hair hung limply around his tan, wrinkle-lined face.
Cyan had warned Stefanie about her dad. He’d been afflicted with an autoimmune disease for as long as Cyan could remember. Unfortunately, his symptoms were getting worse. Even the marijuana he used for medical reasons wasn’t helping anymore. Nothing was slowing the disease down.
Even with all of his money, he wasn’t getting any better.
Sickness took you whether you were rich or poor.
Cyan’s soft voice broke through Stefanie’s reverie. Her normally exuberant tone had turned dulcet. “Stefanie, this is my dad. He’s ready to listen to what you have to say.” Cyan helped her father to the chair.
Jareth wasn’t there since he had gotten a job at a neighboring ranch. He had to fix relationships with the neighboring ranchers after he’d broken trusts when he and Cyan had first met.
The community didn’t forgive easily. And Jareth had betrayed Cyan’s father, one of their own.
Stefanie leaned forward, nodding slightly at Mr. Burns. “Mr. Burns, it’s nice to finally meet you. I am sorry that you’re having problems.”
Tight lines around his pinched mouth didn’t keep Mr. Burns from smiling. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for the comment though. What can I do for you, Stefanie?”
Stefanie clenched her fingers together between her knees. She took a deep breath. “Well, Cyan said you might be interested in backing an investment. Or, I mean, investing or, loaning... I mean.”
She closed her eyes and then opened them again, catching the quizzical glance between Cyan and her father.
She was making a fool of herself. Over something she may or may not get. Something that wouldn’t kill her, if she lost it. Wouldn’t save Emma, if she gained it.
She let go of the pressures she put on herself. At that point in time, she had no money to buy Bella Acres. If she got the loan from Mr. Burns, she’d be better off, but if she didn’t, she wouldn’t be worse off.
Stefanie licked her dry lips and offered a slight laugh at her stumbling. “Let me start over. I’m so nervous. Would you be willing to invest in me and my family’s ranch? I need to buy it before it goes to auction.” She settled into her topic, warming to the interest on Mr. Burns’ face.
“My sister-in-law has had a lot of great ideas the last few years, but she’s dying from cancer. If we also lose the house... Well, she’s waitlisted for hospice, and we don’t have anywhere to take her. And my brother thinks that if we can keep her...” Stefanie trailed off. For all her practicing over the last three to four days, she was still susceptible to the emotions of her statements rather than the business and logic she was hoping for.
Nothing was coming out right. Her nerves compressed around her, causing her to forget what she wanted to say. “I’m sorry. I’m very nervous.”
Mr. Burns lifted his hand slowly. “There’s nothing to be nervous about here, Stefanie. We’re just friends, talking about business things... Cyan has told me about it already. I would be happy to help you out. I have a pretty strict rule that I don’t make these decisions on my own. I need to call my financial advisor and discuss the facts with him. Give me a couple days and I’ll call you. Cyan has your number, I’m sure. I understand there’s a deadline, so you can take a note to the bank. Ronan James and I go way back. He’ll waylay the deadline for a couple days for me.”
He winked, his head wobbling slightly as he spoke. “Don’t worry, if I don’t choose to invest, I’m sure I can find someone who will.”
Cyan rolled her eyes. “You and that investment firm. I’m surprised you don’t ask them what to eat.”
Mr. Burns glanced at his daughter, then returned his gaze to Stefanie. “Everything that company has done for us in the past has pulled me out of a scraper or two, I’ll tell you what. I trust them implicitly. If they tell me to do it, I’ll do it. My advisor has gone out of town, though, so I’m waiting for him to get back so I can discuss these things with him. As well as a few others.”
Churlish relief stopped up Stefanie’s words again. She bobbed her head like a doll on the dashboard of a car. “I understand. Thank you for thinking it over.” With the meeting part over, she let her air out on a whoosh. Stefanie glanced at Cyan and then back at Mr. Burns. “Thank you again for seeing me. Cyan, do you think we could get home? I really don’t want to leave Nate with all the work that still needs to be done.”
Cyan brightened, the blue swath in her hair catching the afternoon light. “I would love to get back. Dad, we’re going to run back down to Bella Acres. Jareth is supposed to be down there, and I wanted to help him get packed and ready to go. He’s staying out at the Morning Glory Ranch.”
Mr. Burns winked. “I know. I told Ole Randal if he didn’t hire your husband I’d make sure and plant some of my cannabis at his place. The only way your mother will stop nagging at me about her art is if you’re nearby. The only way I can get you nearby is if your husband works somewhere close. Are you staying with us while he’s out there?”
Cyan blushed, nudging his shoulder carefully. “Anything I can do to stay close to Jareth will be fine with me. Thanks, Dad.” She leaned down and kissed her father on his cheek.