Twenty-six
Will frowned at his phone, only half listening to his father run through the pros and cons of walking away from Home Needs versus staying the course. Lexi had canceled on him last night and wasn’t returning his texts.
Their night together had been incredible and he knew, without a doubt, he was falling in love with her. Of course, he couldn’t tell her that. She was a runner. A fast one. With a fear of falling. Those two things were not a good combination.
“William,” his father snapped, slapping his hand down on the table. “If it’s not too much, do you think we could have your input?”
“I swear, William, ever since meeting that woman, you’ve been a different person.” His mother had her hands folded on the table, looking at him like he was an abstract painting she couldn’t understand.
She was right, though. Lexi was changing him. “ That woman’s name is Lexi. My input is we walk away. They wanted to ride our reputation because Nolan is wrecking theirs. I’m not sure why we feel the need to expand so dramatically. We’re spread thin as it is. I’ve been talking to Holden Wright of Comfort Plus. He’s agreed to a meeting.”
“With what goal?” Maddie asked, leaning back in the black leather chair.
A quick glance at Kyra, who nodded in support, gave him the push he needed.
“A possible collaboration on some new products—a line of products, actually. Ones that will allow us further reach without selling our soul. I also spoke to Kyra. She’s been researching ethically sustainable products for a while now. She thinks they’re a great partnership for what she hopes to do when she’s finished her degree, and it would let her be part of something big now.”
His grandfather had his fingers steepled under his chin, listening and watching. Will hated the feeling that there was something not being said.
“Set up the meeting,” his granddad said. When Will’s father started to argue, his own father silenced him with a look. “I know you want Grand Babies to be an empire but Will is right. What we’ve done has worked. What I wanted was a family-run business in a city I love. That’s what we have. That’s what I want to leave behind.”
Will’s gaze snapped to his granddad. “Are you okay?”
His grandpa chuckled. “I’m just fine, William. But I do have some news. I was waiting for the birthday party to share but maybe this is better with just us. Just family.”
Will gripped the pen in his hand to the point that his knuckles turned white. “What news?”
The rest of his family leaned in as though Jeremy Grand didn’t have a booming voice that could captivate an entire ballroom.
“I’m retiring. Stepping down.”
“What? Dad. Why?” Will’s dad pushed back from the table. “What’s going on?”
“Are you ill, Jeremy?” his mother asked.
“No, Emily. I’m old,” Jeremy said with a laugh. “I want to travel with my wife. I want to sleep in and go to bed late. I want to pass the torch. It’s time. Fifty years. I don’t know where they went. I can tell you, though, they’ve been incredible. Watching all of you come aboard and help me make my dream soar is more than any man could ask for. Now that there’s a chance for a clear direction for Kyra to come aboard as well? That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“You don’t think that if you were going to cast me in the role of CEO, you should have given me a heads-up?” Will’s dad put his hands on his hips, his suit jacket stretching with the movement.
Will didn’t understand how that was his dad’s takeaway from all of this. He looked at Maddie, who was oddly silent, before turning toward his grandfather. “I’m happy for you. You deserve this next chapter.”
Jeremy reached out, patted Will’s hand. “Thank you, William. So do you.” He looked at his own son, the cool expression of a man who’d made many powerful decisions. “To answer your question, no, Jackson. I didn’t think that, because I’m not naming you as CEO.” He looked over at Maddie. “Madeline is stepping into my shoes.”
The look his sister gave their grandfather suggested that she’d known. Will shook his head, a smile gracing his lips. “You knew.”
Maddie grinned. “You’re not the only one with secrets.”
Kyra clapped and hugged their sister even while their parents were frozen in shock. “I’m so happy for you.”
“This is outrageous. And an insult,” Will’s dad finally said.
“This is how you thank us for giving you our whole lives? Our children? Our time and energy? Really, Jeremy, I thought more of you.”
His grandfather waved away the words with a hand through the air. “Oh, stop. This is what’s best for all of you. You can be mad but you’ll see, staying in the positions you currently hold will give you time to be together. To figure out what your own next steps are. I love this place with my whole heart and soul but I love my wife too, and it’s time to make our lives together the priority. Don’t wait as long as I did to realize time is fleeting. There’s more to it than work.”
The words churned in Will’s gut. “You’re really okay, though?”
“I’m excellent, William. I’m following my gut and my heart like I did when I started this company. If you’re smart, you’ll do the same. I look forward to meeting Lexi.”
“Would have been nice to meet her before you invited her to join the family,” his mother said, huffing out a breath.
Will stood. “I apologized for springing that on you. You need to let it go. She’s an incredible person who cares for everyone around her. You’ll respect her or you won’t see either of us.” He put a hand on his grandfather’s shoulder. “I’m happy for you, Granddad.” Looking over at Maddie, he smiled, his chest tight. “I’m happy for you, too, Sis.”
The grin she gave him reminded him of when they were younger. “I’m your boss now. You have to say that.”
Will laughed, his emotions feeling like dice in a Yahtzee cup. “I have a meeting.”
He hadn’t reached his office yet by the time his sisters were on his heels, following after him, Kyra overtaking him and reaching his office first.
When they were all inside, Maddie shut the door. Kyra pounced. “It’s not pretend anymore.”
He knew what she was talking about. “The only part that was ever pretend was the engagement.”
“You’re in love with her,” Maddie said, leaning against the door.
“I don’t know what I am,” he said honestly. Was this what love felt like? The worry that someone wouldn’t want him back the same way? The fear that Alexandria could walk away at any moment and leave him with an emptiness he’d never be able to get over? A lightness at the thought of her? Images of what it would be like to wake up next to her every single day? For good?
Before either of them could push, he looked at Kyra. “She needs a dress for the party. I told her you might have something she could borrow and that I’d give you her number.”
Kyra walked over and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him hard. He squeezed her back, his thoughts whirling like a tornado. When Kyra stepped away, he looked at Maddie.
“You didn’t tell us.”
Maddie left her spot at the door and moved to the leather couch, sat down. “I was shocked. He only told me a couple of weeks ago. He’s been thinking about it for a lot longer, though.”
“Dad is pissed.” Kyra shook her head as she walked to the mini fridge beside the couch and pulled out a water. “So is Mom. But Grandpa made the right decision. You’re going to be awesome at this, Mads.”
“You absolutely are. And Dad will get over it. So will Mom. Your vision for the future aligns more with Gramps’s. We tried Dad’s way. It wasn’t going to end well.”
They sat there, the three of them, all a little lost in the events of the morning. Things were changing. Will knew change was inevitable. That didn’t make it less frightening. His fingers itched to text Lexi, to call her and hear her voice. But clearly, she needed some space. He just hoped it was temporary.