The Inheritance

by Ali Vali

  “And you make me happy,” she said softly, hoping it wasn’t too much.

  The best part of the morning, aside from making love to Willow, was holding her until the alarm went off and they heard Grady’s happy morning chatter. They listened until he became more insistent, and she volunteered to go get him ready.

  “Hop in the shower, and I’ll change him and start the coffee.”

  “I’ll be in there as soon as I’m done, and thank you for this morning.” Willow placed her hand on her chest. “Do I need to wear a suit?”

  “We’re not that fussy, but we might have a big meeting this afternoon, so skip the jeans.”

  “You got it, boss.”

  She laughed and tweaked Willow’s nipple. “Ah, I can dream since you’re pretty bossy.”

  There was a new dynamic to their morning routine, but it seemed like they’d been at it for years. Stella took Grady and gave Willow a thumbs-up, which gave Tucker a hint as to what they’d discussed after lunch, but that flew out of her head when Willow kissed her when she got back in the car.

  “You look pretty sexy as a parent, babe,” Willow said, wiping off the lipstick she’d left on Tucker’s lips.

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  “She’s giving him back at the end of the day, right?”

  “He’ll probably come home with some new clothes and a car, but I’m sure she’ll give him back.”

  They walked in together, and Willow followed Tucker to her office so they could go to the managers’ meeting together. Trout was the first one to welcome Willow to the company and introduced her to everyone. “I’m sorry about your sister, Willow, but me and the guys have your back.”

  “Thank you for that night and all you did.” Willow smiled at Trout and Jerry, and Tucker shook hands with the two and thanked them as well.

  “I’m just glad you got there in time,” Trout said.

  “My guardian angel made sure of that.” Willow squeezed her arm as if just realizing where that helicopter had come from. “You never said anything,” Willow said in a whisper when Trout and Jerry walked off.

  “There was nothing to say, sweetheart. You needed to get here and I had the means to get you back.”

  “Thank God I found you,” Willow said and Tucker only nodded.

  “Have a seat, everyone, we have a lot to get through.”

  They covered all their operations and any problems first before moving to future projects. Willow had taken the seat to her right after giving Syd a stare that had probably taken years off Syd’s life. That dynamic was something Tucker figured would work itself out, or she’d be searching for a new assistant because Willow wasn’t going anywhere.

  “I want to welcome Willow to our executive team,” she said and everyone clapped. “Willow’s going to be heading up the construction and placement of our newest project, the JiMon. I change the name from Apache Delta in honor of Jim Bob and his partner and fiancée Monique Vernon.” Willow squeezed her leg hard under the conference table as everyone clapped again, and she waited a beat to make sure Willow was okay. “She’s free to pick her team, but Trout, why don’t you help with that until Willow knows everyone’s name.”

  “Will do, boss,” Trout said.

  “The rest of our leases have come through, which means more than JiMon will be needed, and Willow and I will oversee the other two teams.” Everyone nodded and had no objections, so it was time to get to work. “Any other business? Good, and great job on another accident-free week, guys.”

  Trout moved to Willow, and Tucker trusted they’d be okay to start so she went toward her office but stopped to talk to Jerry Lopez. Jerry was interested in heading up one of the teams, but he wasn’t as interested in that as Syd seemed to be in what office Willow headed into. Maybe Willow was right and there was more interest than she’d noticed.

  “Don’t you think that was too much, too fast?” Syd asked when Tucker was finally alone.

  “Not at all, and she’s here, and you’ll have to accept it. Willow’s qualified as hell and is an important part of my life. I want her to be a part of all of it.”

  “What happens when you get bored?”

  She turned on Syd, truly angry with her for the first time in their working relationship. She would’ve thought Syd had a higher opinion of her. “Don’t, Syd. That’s not fair.”

  “It’s okay, honey,” Willow said when she walked past Syd and kissed her. “You won’t have time to get bored.” She kissed her again before glancing back at Syd. “Anything else?”

  The door slamming made them both laugh and Willow pushed her into her office chair and sat in her lap.

  “If you let me up, I’ll take care of that.” That had been way inappropriate even for Syd, and she didn’t want Willow to feel unwelcome.

  “If you trust me, I’ll take care of it.”

  Tucker gazed at her and finally smiled when she kissed her again. “Okay, but you need to tell me if she gives you another problem. I’ve kidded around with Syd before now, but talking about you like that isn’t something I’m going to tolerate.”

  “If I haven’t mentioned it, I like the overprotective you.” She grabbed Tucker’s hand before she made it under the skirt she’d worn. “At least wait a day before you start sexually harassing me with my full permission. And thank you for my new job. I promise I’ll make you proud.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve seen your work, and that’s what got you the job. I know full well you can do what it takes.”

  Willow laughed and fell forward when Tucker kissed her. “It wasn’t because I’m sleeping with you?”

  “That’s only good for dinner reservations, and the first person who verbalizes otherwise is going to be on the corner with a box of their shit and a black eye. Tonight, though, no reservations. We’re getting takeout to celebrate your first day.” She patted Willow’s butt and let her go. “Right now get your team started, and then we have a lunch date with a guy who really wants to do business with us.”

  Houston Grayson, Suntrust’s CEO, was waiting when they arrived at Mr. B’s in the Quarter, and he started with a big thanks for coming. “I’m sorry it came to this, Tucker, but I’m fine with what you outlined. It’s a good deal for both of us.”

  “Good, and I thought you should meet Willow Vernon. She was the brains behind the design of the first rig, and she’ll be overseeing the construction of this one. We’re lucky to have her as a part of our team.”

  “We’re sorry to have lost you, Ms. Vernon, but Tucker said you’ll have everything under control.”

  Willow clearly recognized Suntrust’s CEO and seemed surprised that was who they were having lunch with and why. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Grayson.”

  Houston was meeting with them before going into their New Orleans offices and cleaning house. Jonathan Mann was effectively fired, even if he didn’t know it yet, and from what Houston had told Tucker, Mann was leaving with the bill for what he’d gone ahead and started without contractual approval. That meant Big Earl had lost his protector.

  “You did a good job of keeping that a secret,” Willow said on the way back to the office. “It’s easy to see that you keep your word.”

  “That’s true in every aspect of my life. This new partnership gets us a new rig, Suntrust pays for it, and we get a better deal on the split. I promised a partnership, and that’s what we’re getting, only it’s a better outcome. We should send Mann and Big Earl a thank-you note.” She stopped in front of the building and waved to someone on the sidewalk. “I’m going shopping, and you need to get back to work, but I thought you might appreciate someone who gets you.”

  Willow turned and saw her old assistant, Margo Sherman. “You’re something else, honey, and I’m glad you get me too.”

  “I do, and I’ll prove it later tonight.”

  They shared one more kiss and she hopped out to open Willow’s door. “Are you coming back?”

  “After what you did to me this morning,
you know it. Try to keep the bloodshed to a minimum until I get back,” she whispered into Willow’s ear. “But one more snarky remark from Syd, and you have my permission to throw her out the window.”

  “I’ll hold you to that, and don’t get lost. One more thing—your mother reminded me to tell you she has the baby and you should call and check on him. It’s what concerned parents do.”

  She laughed, knowing that was totally true, and it meant Willow had probably called more than once. “You and my mother together is a scary thing, and I’ll call. I guess these are some lessons you’ve added to that cooking thing.”

  “Are you complaining?”

  “And chance your and my mother’s wrath? Not on your life, beautiful.”

  Willow and Margo hugged when Tucker got back in the car, and she drove off to start putting the rest of her life together in a way that would keep everyone happy. The conversation with the attorney about adopting Grady and what Syd had insinuated that morning were at the forefront of her mind. She didn’t think Willow had taken Syd seriously, but there shouldn’t be a moment in their life together that Willow should have doubts about.

  She stopped at the guard shack and asked the guy where she could find the weasel she’d come to see. The place appeared desolate, but if she got what she came for, it wouldn’t be for long. The little asshole glared at her when she entered the small office, but this would be her only visit offering a lifeline. “Hello, Big Earl.”

  * * *

  It took Tucker two weeks to get the paperwork done, and Bubba seemed almost relieved to hear from her. He promised to meet her at the coffee shop close to Tucker’s old house, and he’d brought Tara. They were both still living with Ivy and their futures were at a dead end, except for spending money.

  “Hey.” Bubba stood and hugged her tightly, but Tara wasn’t quite as enthusiastic. “I was glad to hear from you.”

  “I have a proposition for you, and before we begin, know that you’re free to say no.” She ordered coffee and moved them to the back corner. “How’d you like to partner with me in Delacroix Construction?”

  “What’s Delacroix Construction?” Bubba asked.

  “It’s Big Earl’s old operation. I bought him out, and I’m offering you the opportunity to buy in with an option to completely buy me out once you finish your first big job.” She put the contract down for the purchase and another one for the construction of JiMon, with an option on the other rigs she had slated.

  “We have to pay?” Tara asked.

  “I want to give you two things, but I’m not going to beg because I respect your feelings on everything that’s happened.”

  Bubba glanced between them, but stuck his hand out to shake and seal the deal and to prove he was interested. He clearly didn’t care what the deal was. He trusted Tucker enough to take whatever was on offer.

  “What? I don’t see you giving us anything.” Tara looked as miserable as she always did.

  “I want you to be vested in something that’s yours, and if I pay for it, I think you won’t get that. And I want to give you the opportunity to work together. Working with my brother was the best part of my days for a majority of my life.”

  “Aunt Tucker, this sounds generous, but we don’t know anything about construction,” Tara said, but now she seemed interested.

  “I’m going to get some of my guys to show you the business, and Willow Vernon will head the first project. If you give her the chance, she’ll guide you through the process. Since we’re related, I’m sure Willow will happily do that while also showing you how to turn a profit.”

  “Ah,” Tara said as if she didn’t know how to articulate what was on her mind.

  “You shouldn’t have had to find out the way you did about everything that happened, and you two shouldn’t have gotten caught in the middle, but remember, there’s always two sides to every story.”

  “We know that, but no one ever bothered to share Dad’s side with us,” Bubba said.

  “The easiest explanation as I know it is your father had a son with Monique Vernon and wanted to marry her. She was Willow’s sister. Monique died not long after Jim Bob, and Willow and I are going to adopt Grady.”

  “Are you with Willow?” Tara asked but smiled. “That’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”

  “I met her before I found out about her sister and Grady, and it seems my generation of the family has a weakness for the Vernon sisters.” Tara and Bubba both laughed, and it was nice to be with them again when none of them were being hostile. “Willow was an engineer for Suntrust and now works for me, and I care about her, so yes, I’m with her. We’re going to try hard to make a life together and a family with Grady.”

  Both kids had tears ready to fall and it broke Tucker’s heart.

  “Where does that leave us?” Bubba asked and Tara nodded.

  “That’s an easy one, buddy. You’re my family and I love you both, and together we’ll work on being happy. If you accept my offer, the only thing I won’t tolerate is any disrespect. Of Willow or anyone else. You guys have to learn to be good, decent businesspeople.”

  “Dad really loved her sister, huh?” Bubba asked.

  “It seems like he really did, and she was a really nice person who loved him in return. That’s something everyone deserves, so try to hold out for that one person who fits with you like that.”

  “Don’t worry, Trixie and I are through.”

  “Please, that was a train wreck waiting to happen,” Tara said before turning back to her. “She died?”

  “She was sick, and your dad knew that but wanted a life with her anyway. I knew her only a short while, but I could see how she felt about him—it wasn’t some fling like your mother said.”

  “Mom’s got some stuff to work through, and we can’t help with all of it. We believed her about everything, and we shouldn’t have. It really cost us when it came to Dad,” Tara said.

  After the way Tara had constantly come to her mother’s defense, it was a surprising statement, but maybe the whole crazy situation had forced them both to grow up a little. “Maybe what we all need is a new start. We’re family, but so is Grady, and he’s a part of you. He’s the last link that connects you to your father, and I’d like it if you’d both eventually want to be part of his life. The thing to remember is Jim Bob loved you.” She took their hands and wanted them to believe her. “He was unhappy with your mother, but that was between them, never you.”

  “We both wanted more time,” Tara said, finally shedding tears for her father. “I was so awful to him.”

  “He was always proud of you, and nothing ever made him stop loving you. Build this company in his memory, and enjoy each other’s company while you do it. Trust me, you’ll want to kill each other most days, but it’ll bring you closer together.”

  “I’m sorry we’ve been such jerks,” Bubba said.

  This was what she’d hoped for. The kids were family, and she didn’t want to give up on them. Her instincts had been right, and she didn’t have to. “We all have our bad days, but family always forgives.”

  She left them with the contracts, wanting them to learn never to take anything for granted. It was a lesson she was still learning, and Willow was at the center of that. Their nights together had been wonderful, but also a slap to the head when it came to the one thing she should’ve realized from the very beginning.

  She was in love, and she wanted to show Willow what her place was in her life as straightforwardly as they’d do with Grady.

  Her last stop before going to the office was an important one to woo her girl. To tip the outcome of Willow’s answer in her favor, she stopped and picked Grady up and drove to the office, calling Willow to come down and meet her.

  “Hey,” Willow said when she got in the car and kissed her before blowing a kiss to Grady. “This is a nice surprise.”

  “Want to have lunch with us?”

  “I could be persuaded.”

  “Grandma packed a picnic and we’re going
to one of our favorite spots.” She drove to an empty Sans Souci, since she’d given the workers the day off.

  The pool area had been refurbished along with the fence around it to keep Grady safe. Stella had helped her prepare for this lunch by setting up the spot under the palm trees. She’d spread a blanket and left a picnic basket.

  “Thanks for thinking of this. It’s nice after an aggravating morning.” Willow kicked her shoes off and accepted her help sitting. “You’re so sweet.”

  “I’m kind of an idiot, actually.” Willow laughed at that and it made Grady laugh as well as he settled into Willow’s arms for his bottle.

  “Not that I think that, but why do you?” Willow kissed her and they delayed their talk until Grady was done and lay asleep next to them. “Tell me, baby, so we can get to the good stuff.”

  “I’m an idiot because I haven’t done anything to show you how I feel about you, and to dispel what Syd said.”

  “Honey, you don’t think I believe her, do you?” Willow moved to sit on her lap like she did most nights when they watched TV for a nanosecond. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, so it’d been night after night of going to bed early.

  “What I want you to believe is how much I love you. I shouldn’t have waited this long to say it, and I should be better about telling you all the stuff I want with you and our little boy.”

  “That I already know, my love. No one has ever touched me like you do, and you can’t hide your feelings for me when you look at me the way you do.” Willow smiled as Tucker touched her face.

  “If you’re not ready for that, I’ll wait. I’m patient.”

  Willow kissed her and laughed. “No, you’re not, but that’s one of the things I love about you. It’s flattering that you’re never patient with me no matter what we’re doing.”

  “I love you, and it’s nice to finally say it.”

  “It’s nice to hear and I’m glad you waited until we were home to tell me.”

  “I’m not done, even though my wingman fell asleep.”

  “Try to muddle through.”