Their Family Blessing

He read a long passage of legalese that left Carly more confused than ever. “I’m sorry, but could you just spell it out for me.”

The attorney sighed, removed his glasses and then leaned back in his chair. “Basically it comes down to this. Neither of you can sell your portion of the estate unless both agree. You are required to live at the lodge for the next two months, reopen the business and run it for the duration of this agreement. At the end of that time if you haven’t agreed to either keep the estate and continue to run it jointly or mutually agreed to sell, then the estate will be put up for auction and the proceeds given to charity.”

Carly’s mind was reeling. “Can he do this? We either follow his dictates or we get nothing?”

“I’m afraid so. I understand this is an unusual situation, but I assure you it’s all legal. Of course, if you both agree to sell, we can start that process right now.”

“Yes. I want to sell.”

Mack gave her an incredulous look. “No. Wade loved that lodge. He wouldn’t want us to sell out.”

Holt nodded. “Then until you are in agreement, you’ll be required to follow your father’s requirements.”

Carly’s pulse raced and heat crawled up her neck. “This is absurd. Isn’t there anything you can do?” The pleading in her voice was embarrassing.

“Nothing. It’s in your hands now. However, I’ll be here to help in any way with advice, and there’s an account set up for you to use to make any repairs and small upgrades to the estate.”

Her concern slid into fear. “Repairs? What kind of condition is the lodge in?”

Holt stood, signaling the meeting was over. “The lodge has been closed for the last two months. Your father was too sick to manage the place, and the Thompsons, who have managed the business for thirty years, couldn’t run it alone. But it was your father’s greatest desire to see the lodge up and running again.”

Of course it was. It was the only thing Wade Porter ever cared about, certainly not his wife and daughter. Carly stood and held out her hand to Ella. “Let’s go, sweetie. I’m all done.”

She was keenly aware of Mack following her out into the reception area. The scent of his spicy aftershave made him hard to ignore.

“Uncle Mack. Are you rich?”

A little blond-haired girl about Ella’s age jumped up and hurried toward Mack.

Carly spun and looked at Mack. He returned the child’s hug with a wide smile. The look of affection in his blue eyes made one thing clear. He loved the little girl.

“It’s not polite to speak about money, but no, I’m not. I told you this wasn’t about money.”

What did he mean by that? Was he making a not-too-subtle dig at her request to sell the estate? It probably had sounded mercenary, but she had a good reason. What did he hope to get out of this bequest?

He met her gaze, and one corner of his mouth arched as if amused. “This is my niece. Lucy, this is an old—This is Mr. Wade’s daughter, Miss Carly, and her daughter, Ella.”

Despite her roiling emotions, she couldn’t resist the sweet smile on Lucy’s face. “Hello, Lucy. Is she Valerie’s child?”

“Yes.” His expression turned serious. “We need to talk. Why don’t we meet at the lodge in an hour, get settled in and see what we can work out?”

“I’m not staying at the lodge.”

Mack lowered his voice and pinned her with his steely blue gaze. “I believe Mr. Holt stated that staying at the lodge was one of the conditions of the will. Would you like to double-check with him? Or are you ready to let your dad’s estate go up for auction tomorrow?”

She hated being forced to do things. How like her dad to die and leave a complicated mess behind. She wanted no part of it. But if she had any chance of inheriting even a small sum, she had to go along. Her only hope was to convince Mack to sell his portion, then they would both be free. Surely he had no desire to run the business.

“Fine. I’ll see you there.” She took Ella’s hand and walked out of the office. Her heart filled with old resentments and new frustrations. There had to be a way around this ridiculous will. Why would her father do this to her? He knew how she and her mother hated the lodge. It was the reason her parents had divorced.

But Mack was right. She couldn’t allow the estate to go to auction. She needed the money she could get from selling. There was no hope of paying off Ella’s hospital bills otherwise. Her father owed her that much. At least then the lodge would finally justify its existence.

Somehow she had to convince Mack that it was in everyone’s best interest to cut their losses and sell. There were too many memories here, too much pain and sadness. Adding Mack into the mix was only making it worse and stirring up another collection of painful incidents.

There was nothing at all at Longleaf Lodge and Campgrounds that she wanted. Except out from under it and hopefully enough money to be free of debt.

Mack watched Carly stride stiff-backed through the office door, pulling her daughter along with her as if she couldn’t get away fast enough. He’d hoped that coming back to Hastings after all this time would have softened her attitude. Given her response to the conditions of the will, she hadn’t changed at all. Emotionally, that is. Physically, she was very different. The last time he’d seen her was when she was seventeen and she’d made her last visit to the lodge after her parents split. She’d been every inch a tomboy. That skinny kid was now an incredibly lovely woman, with soft curves and an inner strength that showed in her fawn-colored eyes.

Her warm brown hair was no longer pulled back into a sassy ponytail, but fell in soft sections around her pretty face, calling attention to her big brown eyes. Unfortunately, her old resentment toward her father—and to him—was still in evidence. Her parents’ divorce had changed everything and he didn’t fully understand why.

He’d hoped they could finally move beyond the tensions of the past and become friends again. He’d never understood why Carly ran so hot and cold toward him. They’d even shared a kiss on her last visit to the lodge. One that he still regretted, though he’d never been able to forget it. She’d been younger than him, and the boss’s daughter. A combination nearly impossible to overcome. The same way his feelings for Carly had never been overcome. And after seeing her again today he knew he hadn’t gotten over her. She still held a part of his heart.

A short while later, Mack pulled to a stop in front of the Longleaf Lodge. Lucy hopped out as soon as he turned off the engine. The parking spots were empty. Carly hadn’t arrived yet. He wasn’t sure she would. Her feelings toward her father ran deep, and he feared they were strong enough that she would stand by and let the lodge be put up for auction. The last thing he wanted to see.

He loved this place. It had been his second home since he was fourteen, and Wade Porter the father he’d never had. He stepped into the lodge, the sense of peace and welcome settling on his shoulders the way it always did.

Dwayne and Thelma Thompson looked up from behind the registration desk. The couple had worked for Carly’s father as long as Mack could remember. Dwayne was general manager and Thelma kept the books and ran the lodge. They were as much a part of the lodge as Wade.

Dwayne came toward him. “How did it go?”

Mack shook his head. “Wade threw everyone a curveball.” He filled them in, watching the surprise on the couple’s faces. “Did you have any idea he was going to do this?”

Dwayne shook his head. “I knew he was trying to get Carly to come home. He hoped she’d change her mind and keep the lodge, but I had no idea about those conditions.”

Thelma met his gaze. “Did you see Carly?”

“I did. She looks great.” He couldn’t hold back a smile. “Her little girl looks just like her.”

“I wish her daddy could have seen her. Is she coming to stay here?”

“She doesn’t have a choice. It’s a condition of the will.”

“Oh, then I’d better get the apartment ready.”

After his wife left the room, Dwayne leaned closer. “Tell me the truth. Do you think Carly will go along with this arrangement? Do you think she’ll keep the lodge?”

Mack hated to kill the hope he saw in the older man’s eyes. “I wouldn’t count on it. The first thing she asked the attorney was how soon she could put the place on the market. She wants no part of this place. If it wasn’t for me being listed as an heir, she’d have a real estate agent out here pounding a for-sale sign into the ground.”

Dwayne shook his head. “Maybe when she’s been here a few days, she’ll remember the good times. There were a lot of them before the divorce.”

“I don’t understand why she doesn’t.”

“That last year was hard on everyone. Wade and Sonia were at each other’s throats every day, and Carly was caught in the middle. She probably felt she needed to stand by her mom, who was being mistreated.”

“Wade never mistreated anyone.”

“That was Sonia’s side of the story. I always told Wade he should have fought for joint custody, but he thought Carly would be better off with her mom.”

Lucy came in from the backyard. “Uncle Mack, is that little girl and her mom coming here to live? It would be nice to have a friend to play with.”