Sweet Reunion by Melanie Shawn Read Free Book Online

and taken aback.
    “I don't understand this,”
Justin said, “Henry, when you told me Parker left something to me, I thought it
would be more in the neighborhood of a memento, a token. Something small and
meaningful.”
    “Well, son,” Henry said,
amused, “you were expecting something small and meaningful, and what you got
was something big and meaningful. I'd say that's better all around.”
    “Who is this person?”
Geoffrey's frustrated voice cut in.
    “Justin used to live here,”
Amanda interjected softly, holding her head a little higher. “he was my Dad's
right hand man for many years. He was like a son to him.”
    Justin gave Geoffrey a
steely-eyed suspicious stare. “And who is this person?” he returned the
inquiry.
    “I'm Amanda's boyfriend,”
Geoffrey said territorially, slipping his arm around her shoulder, almost as an
afterthought.
    The two men stared each
other down for a moment, clearly sizing each other up. The atmosphere in the
room became increasingly tense, until finally Karina said, “OK, guys, look...if
you're really gonna do this, why not just drop trou and we can settle it once
and for all. Whip 'em out and we'll see who has the bigger dick. Otherwise,
let's just get on with the will reading, shall we? Amanda doesn't need this
crap.”
    “Fine,” Justin agreed, but
his stare didn't waver.
    Geoffrey quickly looked away
towards Henry and said petulantly, “I don't understand how this person could
possibly be given 20% of Amanda's business when he's done nothing to earn it.”
    “Geoffrey, stop,” Amanda
protested, “I don't have a problem with it, in fact, I think it's perfect.”
    “Well, it's a good thing you
feel that way, Manda girl. Because there's one more condition.” Henry
continued, and this time Amanda was sure that it was not her imagination, she
definitely did see a sparkle in his bright blue eyes.
    “What condition?” she
inquired.
    “Simply this: although you,
Manda, own 80% and Justin only 20%, you both do have to agree on big decisions
about the property. For instance, selling. Both of you would need to sign off
on that. Secondly, no decisions whatsoever about the future of the park can be
made until you and Justin have run it together for at least one full month.
After that time, if you both agree to sell, you can go down that road. But you're
going to have to run it together for one full month before that.”
    “What if Justin runs off
before the month is up?” Lauren asked stiffly.
    “Lauren!” Amanda exclaimed,
her eyes wide.
    “What?” Lauren shot back,
“It does seem to be what he's good at.”
    “I deserve that...” Justin
began.
    “You deserve worse than
that,” Lauren cut him off.
    “Lauren, stop it!” Amanda
begged.
    Henry put his hands up.
“Okay, folks, let's settle it down. Emotions are running high right now, of
course they are. It's been an emotional day. Why don't we stop this for the
moment. Amanda has the memorial service to get ready for, and all of these
details can wait until next week. I'll come over to the main administration
building and Manda and Justin and I can have a meeting. We'll get all the
details straightened out then.”  Henry looked pointedly at Geoffrey when he
made clear who the attendees of that meeting would be.
    Amanda, shaken, nodded her
head, “Yes, that sounds good. That sounds really good. I think I need to lie
down.”
    Justin nodded numbly, “I
think I might need to lie down as well.”
    “Where are you staying,
Justin?” Amanda strove to keep her voice even as she asked Justin this
question, even though everything inside of her was screaming for the answer.
    “Well, I hadn't actually worked
that out yet,” Justin said ruefully, “I walked straight over here from getting
off of the bus, and dropped my bag in the front hall. I was figuring I'd walk
back into town and see what I could scare up. Is Sue Ann still renting out the
couple of rooms over the cafe?”
    Amanda made a conscious
effort to