Chapter 19
JANE
Jane stood beside her father in the library, her stomach churning with nerves. The room felt too small, too warm, despite the winter chill outside. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Four fifteen. Any minute now, Pamela and Simon would arrive.
“I’m sorry it has to come to this, Dad,” Jane said quietly, her voice catching slightly. “I know it’s not what we wanted.”
Jack’s jaw was tight, his hands clenched at his sides. “Sometimes we don’t get what we want, sweetheart. Sometimes we have to accept what is.”
The resignation in his voice made Jane’s chest ache. After everything they’d been through, after all the work, all the community support, all the hope, it had come to this. They really didn’t need more drama and stress in their lives.
A knock at the door made them both turn as Marco stuck his head in the door. “They’re here. Do you want me to show them in?”
Jack looked at Jane. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”
“I still think Gran should be here,” Jane said softly.
“Sweetheart, we’re the Christmas bloodline; this has to be just you and me,” Jack told her. He turned to Marco. “Send them in.”
Jane took a deep breath, and Marco disappeared. A few moments later, the door opened again.
Pamela swept in first, looking immaculate in a cream-colored suit that probably cost more than Jane made in three months. Simon followed behind her, carrying his leather briefcase, his expression professionally neutral.
“Where’s Victor?” Jack asked, his voice flat. “Where’s Terry? We told you to bring them.”
“Victor had other business to attend to,” Pamela said smoothly, settling into one of the chairs at the large table. “And Terry... well, she’s not feeling well. The stress of everything, you understand.”
Simon took the seat beside Pamela, setting his briefcase on the table with a solid thunk. “Shall we get started? I’m sure you’re all eager to finalize this arrangement.”
There was something in his tone. Something smug. Like a cat that had cornered a mouse.
Before anyone could respond, and as Jane and Jack were taking their seats, the library door burst open.
Charlie rushed in, her face flushed, with Holly and Julie right behind her.
“Jack, Jane, please,” Charlie said, slightly out of breath. “Don’t do this. Don’t sign anything yet. I might have another way.”
“Charlie, we’ve been through this,” Jack said. “There’s no other way.”
“There has to be,” Holly said, moving toward Jane. “Please, just give us more time. We can figure something out.”
Julie’s eyes were blazing as she looked at Pamela. “You’re not taking this inn. Not like this.”
Pamela’s smile was cold and satisfied. “I told you, Julie. I told you I’d get what was mine. You should have listened.”
“Please, just go,” Jack said to Julie and Holly, his voice strained. “We’ll talk about this later. This is already hard enough.”
“I’m not leaving,” Charlie said firmly. “If this is happening, you need legal representation. I’m staying.”
Simon leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I have no problem with that. In fact, I welcome it. Let Ms. Burke witness how thoroughly we’ve prepared our case.”
Jack looked at Holly, and something passed between them that Jane couldn’t quite read. “Fine. Charlie stays. Holly, Mom, please. I can’t do this with you here.”
Holly’s face crumpled slightly. “Come on, Julie. Let’s not watch this.”
Julie turned to Pamela, her voice scathing and sharp. “I don’t care what my son says. This is far from over, Pamela. Mark my words.”
Pamela waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, Julie. Always so dramatic. Face it. You’ve lost.”
Holly gently took Julie’s arm and led her from the room. The door closed behind them with a soft click that sounded far too final.
Jane sat down at the table across from Pamela and Simon, her father beside her, Charlie on his other side. The room felt like it was closing in.
Simon opened his briefcase with deliberate care, pulling out a thick folder of documents. “Now then. Let’s discuss the revised offer.”
“Revised?” Jack asked.
“Yes,” Simon said, sliding a paper across the table. “Given the additional information that’s come to light about the property’s condition, we’ve had to adjust our proposal.”
Jane picked up the paper and felt her stomach drop. The number was even lower than before. Insultingly low.
“What additional information?” Charlie asked sharply.
Simon pulled out another document. “This is an updated inspection report. It seems there are more significant foundational problems than initially assessed. The cost to repair would be... substantial.”
He slid the report toward them. Jane saw Abe Tanner’s signature at the bottom and felt something twist in her chest. Even Abe. Even he had betrayed them.
“This is outrageous,” Charlie said, though her voice lacked the heat Jane expected. “The inn just passed inspection yesterday.”
“Did it?” Simon asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because, according to this official report, there are serious concerns about structural integrity. I’m afraid the original offer is no longer viable given these findings.”
Pamela leaned forward, her eyes glittering with triumph. “Be reasonable, Jack. This is more than fair considering what you’re actually selling us. A building that needs hundreds of thousands in repairs? You should be grateful we’re still interested at all.”
Jack took the offer and handed it to Charlie without looking at it. “Look it over.”
Charlie pulled the documents toward her and began reading slowly, methodically. Minutes ticked by. Simon drummed his fingers on the table. Pamela checked her watch twice.
“This will take hours,” Pamela said impatiently.
“Then we’ll take hours,” Charlie said coolly, not looking up. “My clients aren’t signing anything until I’ve reviewed every word.”
Simon settled back in his chair. “By all means. Take your time.”
More minutes passed. Jane watched her father’s profile, trying to read his expression, but his face was carefully blank.
Pamela turned to Jane with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Jane, sweetheart. Could I have a word with you? In private? Mother to daughter?”
Jane felt her father stiffen beside her. She glanced at him and Charlie, who were both bent over the paperwork, then back at Pamela.
“Sure,” Jane said, standing. “Why not?”
Pamela rose gracefully and led the way out of the library. Jane followed, her heart pounding.
“We can talk in the ladies’ room.”
They walked down the hallway and into the ladies’ room.
Jane quickly checked the stalls. “All clear,” she said and walked back to where Pamela was standing near the bathroom counter. A completely different expression washed over Pamela’s face in that instant. Gone was the cold businesswoman. In her place was something almost... maternal.
“Jane, baby, I need you to understand something,” Pamela said, her voice softer. “I don’t want to take the inn away from you. I want to give you half of it.”
Jane blinked. “What?”
“Your father and grandmother, they’ve kept so much from you,” Pamela continued. “Things you deserve to know. Things about your heritage. About who you really are.”
“I know who I am,” Jane said carefully.
“Do you?” Pamela moved closer. “Did you know that your grandfather, my father, owned one of the largest tech companies in the country? RD Electronics?”
Jane’s eyes widened. RD Electronics. Everyone knew that name. They’d revolutionized personal computing in the eighties and nineties. The company was worth a fortune.
“Your father owned that?” Jane breathed.
Pamela nodded. “Richard Sullivan. And he left something for you. Enough that you won’t ever have to work again.”
Jane felt the room tilt slightly. This couldn’t be real.
“But there’s a catch,” Pamela continued. “Your grandfather’s will has certain... provisions. In order for you to claim your inheritance, you need to sign some paperwork. Legal documents that establish your claim.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out a thick stack of papers. “These documents. Once you sign these, everything that’s rightfully yours becomes accessible.”
Jane stared at the papers. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this before?”
“Because I was trying to protect you and your money,” Pamela said, her voice taking on an edge.
“Your father, your grandmother, even that new man in your life. They’d try to milk your fortune to save this horrible inn.
” Her eyes scanned the ladies’ room. “I couldn’t let them do that to you.
I need you to sign these papers before they find out.
Before they try to manipulate you into giving everything away to save this dump.
” She clutched the documents tighter. “Once the sale of the inn goes through, I’m divorcing Victor.
This is just between us, Jane. Mother and daughter.
I want you to have what’s yours.” Her eyes glazed over slightly as she smiled, lost in her own thoughts.
“I’m going to turn this inn into something beautiful, a modern beach house where we can spend time together.
Make up for all the years we lost because your father and grandparents kept us apart. ”
Jane felt anger flare hot in her chest at the thought of Pamela tearing down the Christmas Inn, but she forced herself to stay calm. To remember what she was supposed to do, and that made her hold herself back from slapping this delusional woman.
“Okay,” Jane said slowly. “Let me see the papers.”
“I just need you to sign,” Pamela said, pulling them back slightly. “I promise you, Jane baby, it’s all in order. We don’t have time for you to read them. I also can’t have you going to your father with the amounts, or he’ll try to do something stupid like—”
“Buy an inn with it?” William Moore’s voice filled the bathroom space as a stall door banged open.
The other two stall doors opened, and Julie and Holly stepped out.
“You!” Pamela hissed, immediately starting to stuff the documents back into her purse.