“In Lovewell?” Her face was one of total disgust.
Heartsborough and Lovewell were the largest towns in this region, and both were fully devoted to the timber industry.
When we were kids, Lovewell was the prosperous town, with its beautiful square and lively town festivals.
They had a gorgeous lakefront, parks, and mountain views.
And Heartsborough had always been its dumpy cousin.
We all had chips on our shoulders where Lovewell was concerned. And for good reason. Lovewell was a much nicer community, and the people there always acted like they were better than us.
Not that our family struggled. No, our family’s business took good care of us, but historically, the LeBlancs were a Heartsborough family. We were loyal and dedicated to our own.
“I can’t believe it,” Celine said. “Forget the helipad. Now I know you’re too fancy for us. Lovewell? You gonna drink tea with your pinky in the air?”
I couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out of me at the image. “It’s not like that anymore,” I assured her. “They’ve had a tough time too. And we don’t have a lake here, so it just made sense.”
“Lakefront?” she scoffed.
“Hey, I bought the giant lake house so I could have a kick-ass summer with my amazing nieces and nephew. The damn thing even came with a boat.”
“You’re going to spoil them,” she said.
“Too late.” I grinned, then called for Ellie and Maggie to come over. “Did you girls hear? I bought a house on Lake Millinocket. It’s got a private beach and a dock and it even came with a boat.”
The wild shrieks that escaped my nieces were so loud I had to cover my ears.
Maggie was bouncing on her toes. “You’re the best auntie ever.”
“Do you have one of those water trampoline things?” Ellie asked, clutching my arm.
“Oh my god, can we live with you?”
“Oh, please? Do you have spare bedrooms? Our house is so boring.”
I gave my sister a satisfied smirk, and she responded by sticking her tongue out at me.
“The main house has five bedrooms,” I said, smiling so big my cheeks hurt. “But there are also two guest cottages.”
Cue more screaming and jumping.
“Can we go on your boat?”
“Sure,” I said. “How about this weekend?”
Julian wiggled out of his mother’s arms and took off after his sisters as they headed back to the yard to play.
Celine and I settled in the wicker chairs on the deck.
Rolling her shoulders, she regarded me with a concerned frown. “You said you’d only be here for a few months, but you bought a whole-ass house?”
“While you and the kids spend the summer on the lake, I’ll get changes implemented at the timber company, and then, come fall, I’ll bounce.”
“But a giant house?” She held out a seltzer she’d brought out with her when I arrived.
“Good investment.” I cracked the can, thankful it was still cold. “And I needed space for JJ and Karl.”
“Of course you brought your minions.”
“I don’t leave home without them. And they’re hardly minions.” I chuckled. “They’re valued colleagues, and they’re essential to helping me realize my vision for the company.” I would not have survived this long without them. We were a team, a small, scrappy team and a makeshift family, but a team, nonetheless, and we would get the job done.
She crossed her legs and leaned in, a smile dancing on her lips. “So what is this vision? Run it into the ground to punish Gus?”
“You’re evil,” I said, clutching my invisible pearls. “I don’t want to punish him.”
“Bullshit,” she coughed. “You’ve never gotten over his betrayal. Don’t lie to me. I see right through your tough act.”
It was true that I’d never gotten over it. No matter how hard I’d tried. Not that I would cop to it.
“I’m grown, Celine. And a successful businesswoman. Do I dislike him? Yes, very much. But while swooping in and buying his family’s disgraced company, the one he had always wanted to run—I’m only human after all—was one of the highlights of my life, I fully intend to make it successful.”
“Ooh, fun.” She dipped her chin in a teasing nod. “Now you’re lying to yourself, too.”
“There’s not nearly enough sustainable timber development in Maine. With these assets and my team’s expertise, we can update and future-proof this business to sustain the local economy for decades to come.”
“That sounds really nice. But I know you better than you think I do. Your black heart is full of revenge and blood lust.”
She wasn’t totally wrong. Seeing Gus after twenty years certainly ignited some, ahem, emotions. Again, not that I would dare admit it to anyone, including my sister.
