“We have four investment consultants, and Herman, who’s our executive assistant, our receptionist…actually,” Jason said, “Herman is pretty much in charge of things.”
“Too many people are too busy to do things the way they did them, even five years ago,” Phillip said. “Business models are changing. What makes our firm stand out is our focus is on being an online business. You don’t need to come into downtown Manhattan to meet with us. Thanks to Skype, scanning, and the Internet, we’re able to see to the needs of our clients quickly and efficiently.”
“So you don’t have to be in New York to conduct business?” Kate asked. “You could do that from anywhere, if you wanted to?”
Prior to arriving in Lusty the day before, Jason might have thought that Kate’s question was her attempt to understand their business model. It hadn’t taken him long to know that the woman was sharp as a tack and likely knew a hell of a lot more about the business world than he could even imagine.
“Yes, ma’am. We actually don’t, either of us, have any in-person appointments for at least a month.”
Her smile looked a combination of satisfaction and mischievousness. She set down her teacup and folded her hands in front of her.
“That’s very good news.” She nodded. “Gentlemen, I have a proposition for you.”
Chapter Three
Kate Benedict’s words from the day before still echoed in Phillip’s thoughts. Even now, more than twelve hours later, he could picture the moment and hear her words as if she stood right beside him, right then and there.
“I know that you didn’t grow up knowing your family history, or even that you had so many cousins here in Texas. I also know that you’ve been laboring under a few misconceptions.”
Phillip looked over at his cousin, not in the least surprised to see that slight look of embarrassment on Jason’s face.
“Above and beyond that, I think the two of you could use some ‘down time.’” Kate’s gaze stayed on Jason. “Sweetheart, you pop those antacids as if they were candy. As a nurse, I can tell you that’s not good. Instead of trying to treat the symptoms of your stress, why not target the source? Human beings weren’t meant to live under so much pressure all the time.”
Phillip had wondered if Kate had already figured out that the real source of that pressure was Jason himself. But she hadn’t elaborated, and Jason hadn’t asked.
“You mentioned a proposition. What did you have in mind?” Jason asked.
“There’s a nice house here in town not currently being used. It’s the property of the Town Trust. You could stay there for a few weeks, a month or more, however long you like, in order to spend some time here with us. Get to know your family history—our museum is the place to do that, as is the cemetery. Get to know your family here—and those two young men your sister is going to marry. The last, at least, should alleviate any apprehensions you may have about the path she’s chosen to walk.”
Phillip thought Kate’s timing was excellent. Before heading to Boston for that conference, they’d begun talking about taking a vacation somewhere, though they hadn’t yet hashed out the details.
This visit to Lusty had only been meant to be a quick jaunt, and then—as Jason had outlined it—he, Phillip, and Alice would be headed back to New York.
In response to Kate’s offer, Jason had looked at him. Phillip had held his gaze. Because he sensed his best friend wanted to know right then what Phillip thought, he shrugged. “Why not? At the very least, we could consider it.”
Phillip wanted to stay. His reasons weren’t anything he wanted to talk about in front of these relatives he didn’t yet know. And they weren’t anything he necessarily wanted to discuss with J. Coop—yet.
“We appreciate the invitation,” Jason said. “Can we let you know tomorrow afternoon, Grandma Kate?”
“Take all the time you need, Jason. We all hope you’ll choose to stay and get to know us better and let us get to know you. But that’s completely up to you.”
A few minutes ago, Phillip had awakened well rested and headed downstairs at the inn, coffee his immediate goal.
J. Coop was also up and downstairs and, Phillip could see as he reached the bottom of the stairs, standing on the front porch. Phillip went to the kitchen, made himself a cup of joe, and then headed out to join him. His best friend appeared to be lost in thought, but Phillip sensed the man was a little more relaxed than usual.
“Mom and Dad called just as I got up,” Jason said. “We’ve been invited to Chance, Logan, and Bailey’s for breakfast. I hope you don’t mind, but I accepted for us both and told Maggie that we’d be headed there so she didn’t have to feed us.”
“Sounds good. Have you given Grandma Kate’s offer any thought?”
“Yes, you?”
Phillip mentally crossed his fingers. “I have. I’d like to accept. I need a break, we both do, and we talked about that before Boston. But since I talked to my dad about what he knew of our family history, I’ve really wanted to know more about this part of our family.” He didn’t add anything about the main point Kate had made—that Jason was eating too many antacid tablets. He explained his reasons only in terms of himself.
It was usually the best way he knew of to get J. Coop to do something to benefit himself—if he thought he was doing something Phillip wanted or needed.
“All right, we’ll accept.” He shrugged then used his coffee cup as a pointer. “Whichever house they have for us to use, I can’t imagine it will be anything except clean and in good repair.”
“I know. This is the neatest small town I’ve ever seen.” He looked over at Jason and wondered at the look of calculation he saw in his gaze. Mostly, he knew exactly what his best friend was
