A Family Forever by Helen Scott Taylor Read Free Book Online Page B

drawing a frown from Adam. His son adored Tim and normally enjoyed his lessons. Today, Harry dropped down on the bench seat, his shoulders slumped. He barely managed a hello before he fired up his laptop.
    "What's the matter, pal?" Adam rested a hand on his son's shoulder.
    "Nothing," Harry mumbled.
    Adam met Tim's gaze and the young tutor raised his eyebrows in question. Adam shook his head to indicate he had no idea what had caused his son's bad mood.
    "Okay, Harry, let's turn to page sixteen," Tim encouraged.
    As the tutor continued his instructions, Adam joined them at the table and pulled his iPad out of its case to take advantage of the pub's wifi and send a few e-mails.
    The lesson progressed as Adam worked. His phone rang, and he took a call from the project manager at his Florida condo development, moving away from the table so he didn't interrupt Tim and Harry.
    When he returned, Harry had his arms crossed and a scowl back on his face. "I don't want to do math today, Dad."
    "Come on, pal. Math is useful. If I didn't know my math, I wouldn't be able to make head nor tail of the plans of my developments or check how much money I was making."
    "I don't care about your stupid developments." Harry glared at him, his cheeks pinking. "You're building houses on the place where Sophie's mum puts the hedgehogs, and it's making Soph sad."
    Whoa. Adam paused at the vehemence of his son's tone. His feelings had obviously been brewing for a while. "It's nice of you to worry about your friend and her mum. I feel the same way. That's why I'm trying to make things right for Sophie, Victoria, and the hedgehogs. I promise we won't move on until they're happy." He rested a hand on Harry's back, but got no response.
    Adam's phone chimed to indicate a text. "Do your math, pal. We'll talk about this again later."
    He observed his son for a few minutes as he grudgingly continued his work. Then Adam turned his attention to his phone. The text was a tip from a reliable contact—a potential development of luxury villas around a golf course near Marbella in southern Spain. The construction company that started it had gone bust. Adam had the chance to take over the project dirt cheap and make a killing in a couple of years when the Spanish property market picked up.
    Wandering back and forth, he massaged the tension in his neck and weighed his options. He'd rather not leave Great Monkton right now. He wanted to sort out the hedgehog issue as soon as possible so he could forge ahead with the Larchfield development. But he needed to act on the Spanish deal immediately or he'd likely miss out. The trip would only take a few days. He could be back here on Sunday.
    Mind made up, he carried his phone to the far end of the pub garden by the river where ducks dabbled among the reeds. He called his London office and asked them to book three seats on a flight to Malaga the following day.
    "Book a nice hotel, a suite," he said to his personal assistant. "I'd like a place right on the beach if possible with good water sports facilities." Harry needed to stop worrying. He'd have to grow up soon enough, but ten was far too young to be stressing over grown-up concerns. A few days on the beach might distract him.
    While he was talking to his office, he asked to be transferred to his research team. "There's a place I want info on." He gave the address of Willowbrook Farm. "The owner's name is Geoff Andrews. Give me everything you can find on the property and any dirt on the owner. I might need leverage to get him to sell me some land." He didn't normally resort to underhanded tactics to acquire what he wanted, but in this case he'd make an exception.
    He wandered back to see how Harry and Tim were progressing and was pleased to hear Harry chatting more happily.
    "Good news," Adam said with a smile. "We're going to shoot over to Spain for a few days. You can—"
    "No!"
    Harry's shout startled Adam into silence.
    "I won't go." Harry turned to his tutor. "Stay