Page 70 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“What’s to explain? I already know how you feel. Your last words to me made that crystal clear when you fired me from Father’s company.” A bit of mocking slipped in. Very slight, but she picked up on it.

“We’ve been over this—it was a business decision. You were too immature to run a real estate conglomerate.”

“Father didn’t think so.”

“Your father thought he would be around longer than he was.”

For the first time ever, he saw a flicker of grief in his mother’s eyes. After his father died, they had mourned separately. She had been so calm and business focused, he thought she never had a moment of grief. He wasn’t sure it was real now—he wouldn’t put it past her to fake it to manipulate him.

“You were too young, too focused on proving yourself that you were making terrible decisions,” she continued. “If we must rehash the past, you weren’t capable of being president.” Her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly. “But with time and training, you would have been.”

He stilled. She’d inherited a majority share of the company and a seat on the board and had used her influence to demote him to basically a trainee, taking what was rightfully his. “You never told me that.”

“Because you took off for California and refused my calls in a juvenile fit of pique.”

That was rich. “The silent treatment works both ways. Nothing like getting a taste of your own medicine, right?”

“Don’t be rude. You will treat me with respect. We are family.”

“Just because we’re blood doesn’t mean we’re family.” He calmly pulled out his phone, despite the heavy, painful weight in his chest. Found Bennett’s number. Voicemail. It would do. “Leo Brewster here. If Constance Brewster tries to contact you in any way, let me know.”

She glared at him.

“She’s also not allowed to go near Second Chapter. Consider her a trespasser if she does.”

“How dare you, Leonardo. I am your mother.”

He hung up. He’d contact Bennett again on Monday and explain. But from her reaction, she got the message. “Go back to New York, Constance. There’s nothing for you here.”

She hesitated, and he thought for a moment she would continue to challenge him. But he had time, distance, and success on him. He was no longer the immature child she thought he was. And she must have sensed that she couldn’t win this time, because she strode over to a Mercedes he hadn’t noticed when he pulled the Turismo in front of Second Chapter.

He watched Constance get in the rental and drive away. He was sure he’d never see her again, and that was the goal. He’d been just fine going without contact for the past eight years. He’d be fine after this too. Now to go back into Pawsitive Vibes and pretend nothing happened. Eventually the pounding in his head and his battering pulse would go away.

When Constance disappeared completely from Pecan Corner, he finally took a huge breath, the crisp air filling his lungs. Then another. There. Completely under control again.

Via was shutting down the coffee machines when he walked inside. She hurried over to him. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” His temple throbbed.

She tilted her head and studied him. “You don’t look okay.”

“I’m fine.” His tone was snappish. He probably should have waited a few more minutes to shove down every emotion possible before coming in here. Time for a complete mood and subject shift. “Ready to go camping?”

“Wait, you still want to go?”

“I said I would—”

“But you don’t have to—”

“I’mgoing. Final answer.”

She stilled, then folded the cat-themed dish towel she was holding and placed it on the counter. “I’ll meet you by my car in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll drive—”

“I’m driving.” She turned and went back behind the coffee counter.

Discussion closed, not that there would be any discussion anyway. She was just responding to his mood in kind. He thought about apologizing, but he hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d made it perfectly clear he wasn’t going to let her be alone in the woods. Even if he hadn’t agreed to her bucket list, he couldn’t tolerate her camping alone.