“Where did you get that information, Mama? It’s not true. Flynn donated money to the university. It was an endowment.”
“Right. Like I said, he bribed them.”
Is she fucking kidding me right now? This is what she’s been calling a bribe for the past ten years? “So, you knew this whole time that he’d made a contribution to the university? It wasn’t some under-the-table, palm-greasing? How could you let me blame Knox all these years?”
She purses her lips and studies me. “How can you not see it’s the same thing?”
That brings me up short. Sure, one is legal and the other isn’t. One is an accepted practice and the other will land you in jail, but they essentially serve the same result. “I see your point, Mama, but Knox was in the top five applicants. He got in on his own merits. Turns out Flynn wasted his money.”
She grunts. “Doesn’t change the intent.”
“The thing is, Mama, I’ve been hearing about the Everhearts since I was a little girl. Long before I went off to college, you had something against Flynn.”
She looks uncomfortable then. Moving around in her chair, avoiding eye contact with me.
“Mama?”
Daddy says, “Leave it alone, Rowan.”
“No, you may as well know. Especially since you’re pursuing this thing with Knox.”
I sit up and perch myself on the edge of the couch. I start worrying the inside of my cheek because I have a feeling I’m not going to like what’s coming next. I almost tell her to stop. Almost.
“You know I met Flynn when we were in grade school.”
I nod.
“There was a group of us. We all hung out together and were mostly inseparable growing up. When we figured out we had the same interest, Flynn and I agreed to start a restaurant together once we finished school.” She stops and takes a couple of deep breaths.
“As soon as he got out there, he met Lia. He said it was love at first sight. She was a pastry chef but had no interest in starting a restaurant, so he said he was still committed to our plan. He married Lia before they even finished school, had those three boys back-to-back.
“By that time, I’d married your father and put my dreams on hold while I helped him build up his business. You came along in the meantime too.”
I get up and sit on the floor at her feet.
“Lia died. He was heartbroken and turned into the man you know now. He poured everything into his restaurant and into his boys, becoming an overbearing nightmare, but willing to do anything for them. Control became second nature to him. But he also decided to honor that promise he’d made all those years before and bought the building where Smothered in Love calls home. Or at least we did up until a few weeks ago.”
I stare at her with raised brows. “I don’t understand. He owned the building but not the restaurant?”
She nods. “Exactly right. He bought the building, but withdrew support at the last minute when it was time to sign the contracts. Thankfully your father’s business had been doing well for a while so we were able to open the restaurant on our own. Flynn kept the lease reasonable so it was manageable. It was also easier to forgive him for breaking his promise.” Her face clouds over and her next words are tight. “We had a big falling out over the whole college mess, and it’s been downhill from there, but I had an airtight long-term lease. The lease is up now and you know the rest.”
“Why didn’t you tell me Flynn was the landlord?”
“You were never interested in the business part of running the restaurant. Plus, I guess I was embarrassed that I’d allowed him to have so much power. And when you called me crying that Knox had said Flynn was taking care of us, I called him right up and gave him a good piece of my mind. How dare he tell his son that nonsense when we were paying fair market value in rent? We were supposed to be business partners, but in the end, it was just him trying to lord control over me. It’s all worked out for the best though.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you. If it helps, I didn’t like him much before you told me he was the one kicking us out.”
Daddy gets up and walks up behind her, rubbing her shoulders. “Now that you two have gone down memory lane, Wyatt and I have something important to tell you. Keep in mind what you just said about it all working out for the best.”
I put my head in my hands because I’ve had enough surprises today.
Lillie’s Herbal Tea
8 ounces cold water
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp fresh turmeric, grated
Lemon zest from 1/2 lemon
1 lemon, sliced
1 tsp coconut oil
In a pot over high heat, bowl water. Remove from heat and add the next 4 ingredients. Cover and allow to steep. Add coconut oil while warm.
Yield: 1 serving
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Damn right.
Knox and I lie on top of the seafoam-green comforter on my bed, legs tangled, utterly spent after everything I’ve told him after meeting with my family earlier in the afternoon. It’s dinnertime, but neither of us have mentioned eating.
He leans into me, tentatively kissing the corner of my mouth. “How do you feel about our parents and all their secrets?”
“I don’t like it, but it’s almost over. I just hope they’ll be able to get along in the future.” I tense up when the thought hits me that maybe Knox knew his dad was our landlord the whole time. “How do you feel?”
“Same. I just hate that my father is such an ass. I still can’t believe that while you were trying to save the restaurant, he was the one putting you in such a tough position. He never said a word.” He kisses me full
