Chapter 13 Building Up Speed #2
She looked over the area again. “Instead of keeping the setup as is, you could make your storage section along the back wall. Instead of taking up valuable floor space, you could add deep shelves. Maybe a rolling ladder that helps you reach the upper shelves. Like the library in Beauty and the Beast.”
He laughed as he looked at the space with that idea in mind. “I haven’t seen that movie, but I get the idea. I need access to the front doors for the mechanical bays and the restoration work. Keeping the back area for storage and tools makes the most sense.”
“If you built your bays along the outer edges of the big door, the center aisle could be open for vehicle storage and make it easier to get them in and out of the barn. It would also give you room for workbenches along the edges with specific tools for the work area.”
He slung his arm over her shoulder. “Good vision. I’ll have to sketch it out and show it to Ford. With his background in carpentry and construction, I’m sure he’ll have ideas to help.”
Bibi returned from the depths of the barn and walked back into the sunshine.
Lawson took Dani’s hand. “That’s enough for now. I’m starving. Let’s go see about some breakfast.”
In the kitchen, Knox and Thea were making oatmeal. “What? No pancakes from the pancake master this morning?”
Knox laughed. “Only on special occasions. Too much to do, but there’s plenty of oatmeal and fruit if you want some.”
Dani knew she should feel awkward. From the early hour, and the fact that Lawson was wearing yesterday’s clothes, it was obvious they’d spent the night together.
While it was weird having people know her business, she couldn’t bring herself to mind. In fact, she wouldn’t mind shouting to the world that this incredible man found her interesting enough that he wanted to sleep with her and spend time together.
Lawson squeezed her hand. “Do you like oatmeal? It was a staple in our grandfather’s house, and we all love it.”
She watched him and Knox exchange a grin. Then they both intoned. “It’ll warm up your bones and make you strong.”
Grinning, Lawson smiled at her. “Our grandfather Fox always made up sayings that may or may not have been true to get us to do things his way.”
Knox nodded. “With five kids to raise, he kept things simple when he could. Oatmeal was easy.”
Lawson laughed. “And thanks to Amber, we learned how to make it different and interesting all the time. Honey, cinnamon, jams, fruit.”
Her ears perked up at that. “I should have brought over some honey. I’ll do that later.”
Gray and Amber entered from the mudroom. More smiles and memories of the Malssum breakfasts filled the kitchen with joy and laughter.
Dani didn’t add much to the conversation, but it was wonderful to be surrounded by it. By them. With Lawson at her side.
Jolie and Ford entered next, having come from releasing the ducks from their coop.
Jolie sat next to Dani and kept her voice quiet. “Anything more on the paperwork your mom sent you? Sorry, maybe you don’t want to talk about it in front of a crowd.”
Her friend had kept her voice low, but Dani smiled. “It’s fine. There’s nothing secretive. The courier came yesterday with a letter from a lawyer. My family wants to merge the business my great-grandmother created with another one. The name my Frannie B chose would disappear.”
Dani’s voice choked up on the last part. That was what hurt the most.
Lawson’s arm came around her shoulders, and he squeezed her.
She smiled at him. “I’m okay. Talking about it out loud just made me realize I don’t want Frannie B’s legacy to disappear as if it never existed.”
“Then you know what you want to do.”
She sighed. Did she? The group was waiting quietly. She knew she didn’t have to fill them in, but she also knew they were curious. It was weird to have people interested because they were worried about her.
She decided to share. “I didn’t know until yesterday that I have some rights in the company my family owns, the one created by my great-grandmother Frannie B.
I thought my parents were the only ones with any say in how things happened.
But my great-grandmother gave me veto power over her company changing its name or merging with another. ”
Amber smiled from across the table. “It sounds like your great-grandmother thought you were very special if she entrusted you with that part of her legacy.”
Tears filled Dani’s eyes, but she batted them away with a smile. “Thank you. Frannie B was my favorite person in the world. She’s the reason I was brave enough to come to Vermont and start my own business.”
Amber’s smile proved she understood all the emotions behind that statement. “I bet your Frannie B is still cheering you on. She’d be so proud of you.”
This time, a tear fell, but she wiped it away with another smile. “Thank you.”
Then she leaned into Lawson and smiled at the group. “You’ve helped me decide. Looks like I need to make some phone calls.”
She doubted her family would like it, but she wasn’t giving up Frannie B’s legacy without a fight.