Chapter 26
Edward was not entirely without hopes of some favourable change in his mother towards him. —Sense and Sensibility
Edward
“You went and fell in love with that Greenwood girl, didn’t you?” my mom asks as she applies sunscreen. It’s a little after noon, and we’re sitting by her pool at her new home in Santa Barbara.
I drove here directly after leaving Norland Park early this morning.
I didn’t like the outcome of my conversation with Elinor yesterday, but it didn’t leave me totally dejected.
If anything, I arrived at my mom’s home feeling like a man on a mission, ready to set into action my crazy plan to save Norland Park.
“That’s not why I’m asking you to not sell the park.”
“But you’re not denying that you’ve fallen for this girl.”
“I might have.”
“You could lose your job over this,” she tuts as she reclines on her chaise lounge, covering her face with an enormous white hat.
My mom loves to sunbathe, but she’s also fastidious about protecting her skin.
It’s a conundrum. Her solution is to lather herself up with sunblock and keep her face covered.
She lays out by her pool—not to work on her tan, but to soak up the warmth of the sun, the same way a cat loves a sunny spot.
“What will you do?” she mumbles through the hat.
“I want to buy Norland Park.”
“Are you serious?” She sits up and the white hat falls to the ground. “But you can’t possibly afford it.”
“Not by myself. But if I sell the townhouse and my cars, I should have enough seed money to start my own development company. Of course, I need investors.”
“You’re thinking about starting your own company?” My mom sounds excited.
“That’s the plan.”
“You’re finally acting like a Norland. And you really think you could get enough money?”
“Possibly.”
“Edward! I’ve been waiting so long for this day.” She swings her legs over so she’s sitting on the lounge chair facing me. “Maybe I was wrong about this girl—when do I get to meet her?”
“Hard to say. We’re not actually dating.”
“So you’re doing this to win her over? So very Reginald.”
“I’m not doing this because of Elinor. Or rather, I didn’t know that I wanted to do this until I spent time with her at Norland Park and realized how special it is. I’m doing this because I’ve finally found a project I’m excited about.”
“Edward—I can’t say how pleased this makes me. Haven’t I always said you are C-suite material? But hon . . .” She reaches over, clasping both of my hands. “I’m so sorry, but you’re too late.”
“What?”
“I signed the papers selling the park.”
“When?” I pull my hands away and stand up.
“Friday. It’s still in escrow. I suppose it could fall through.”
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Frankly, I was sick of waiting. Lucinda told me she wouldn’t buy Norland Park without Bumble Cottage, and I could see the writing on the wall. I knew you’d never sell it.”
“How? I didn’t know for sure myself until yesterday.”
“I took a calculated risk.” She shrugs and puts her hat on. “And as usual, I was right.”
“Lucinda will be furious. I probably don’t have a job anymore.”
“I thought you wanted to start your own business. You don’t need Steele Properties.”
“I wanted to start with Norland Park. Now that it’s off the table, I might like to keep employment while I consider my next move. I can’t believe you sold Norland Park without telling me.”
“I knew you’d try to talk me out of it. I like to brag about being cold-hearted and cutthroat.
But you know, Edward, you are my only weakness.
I had to act fast before I caved to you.
” Sadly, that might be the sweetest thing my mom has ever said to me.
But damn! In one fell swoop she threatened my job and my plans for making things right with Elinor.
“Don’t worry, Lucinda likes you too much to fire you. She’ll blame me, not you. She knows me well enough to know that I couldn’t turn down an offer this good.”
“Was it good, then?”
“Yes, three percent more than Lucinda’s offer—and that’s without Bumble Cottage.”
“Who bought it?”
“I don’t know. A trust with some alphabet soup name.” She pulls out her phone and reads, “BTB LLC. They wanted to keep it anonymous. Lots of these buyers do. I just signed the documents. Kirby took care of the rest.”
“So that’s it. After more than a hundred years, Norland Park is no longer in the family.” I feel a surprising sense of loss, and it’s not just about how Elinor will take this.
“You still have the cottage—and just think how much more money I will have. I definitely can afford to invest in whatever project you take on. If I approve, that is.”
“Thanks Mom,” I say automatically. There’s no point in telling her that without Norland Park I’m not as excited about starting my own company.
Though at this point, I might have no other choice.
Who knows what Lucinda will do. I don’t have my mom’s confidence that she won’t fire me.
I certainly botched things up with Norland Park; I deserve to be fired.
The only person who doesn’t seem upset with me is my mom—the one person who is perpetually disappointed in me. How’s that for a plot twist?
While forming my plan to buy the park, I had no illusions that my mom would cut me a bargain. But I thought it just possible that she might invest if I started my own business. And it sounds like she would have. If only I had talked to her a week ago!
I have a couple more hours before I need to drive home. I may as well make the most of this time with my mom.
“Would you like me to read you a book?” I ask, thinking of Elinor’s father reading to her.
“Why would I want that?”
“I thought it might be something we could enjoy together.”
“No thank you, dear.” She lays back down. “But . . . I do like The Daily Mail. You could read that to me. It could be entertaining.”
And it is. Surprisingly so. My mom’s running commentary about each celebrity has me in stitches. It might not be Wodehouse, but it’s good fun, and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much with my mom.
When I leave, she says, “Next time, you bring that girl of yours. I want to meet her.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
She pats my cheeks. “There’s not a woman on earth who can resist that smile.”
***
I reach my townhouse long after dark. I’m tired, but surprisingly hopeful. On a hunch, I called Brandon on the drive. We ended up having a long conversation—one that leaves me with a lot to think about.
Meowing a whole litany of complaints, Mrs. Peacock greets me.
She rubs against my legs, shedding long gray fur on my best linen trousers.
As I reach down to meet her demands, I spy a note that must have been put through the mail slot.
I snatch it up. I recognize Elinor’s handwriting.
There’s no stamp, and mail isn’t delivered on Sunday.
She must have delivered it herself—Elinor was here at my house.
I can’t believe I missed her. I tear open the card. It’s not long, but it’s enough.
Dear Edward,
I take it all back. Whatever this is between us, it is absolutely worth pursuing.
Also, I love you.
Yours,
Elinor