Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar, #2)(95)

“What?” She brought her hands to her cheeks as she paced around the room. “You can’t sell Alcott. Why? What? Why? No.”

“It’s gotta go, Molly.”

“But why? You love Alcott. This is your job. Your passion. Think of all the time and energy you’ve put in here. The blood and sweat you’ve put into this place. You can’t just sell it.”

“It’s sold.”

“You already did it? Are you crazy?” she yelled. “To who?”

I chuckled. “About a year ago, this guy from California called me. He’d had a huge landscaping company in Sacramento and had sold it. He moved to Bozeman to retire but turns out, retirement didn’t suit him. He didn’t feel like starting from the ground up, so he asked me if I’d ever sell. At the time, I said hell no. Then things changed. I called him on Monday. We’ve been negotiating the price all week. Landed on one yesterday. Now all I have to do is sign the papers. So do you.”

“But, Finn.” Molly’s eyes flooded with tears. “This . . . this was everything.”

“It was. When we did it together. But Alcott Landscaping hasn’t been Alcott Landscaping for a long time. Since before the divorce. When you stopped working here, a lot of the heart left. It took me a long time to realize, but I’ve been pouring myself into a glass that’s got a huge hole in the bottom.”

“No, Finn. You can’t give it up.”

I crossed the room and took both of her hands in mine. “I’m gaining more than I’m losing here. The kids, our life, it comes first. Alcott is in good hands.”

“This doesn’t make any sense. Alcott is your dream.”

“My dream was a job where I could work outside doing what I love. But I haven’t planted a tree in the name of Alcott Landscaping in over seven years. I had more fun working on the yard with you than I’ve had here in ages. Being confined to my office, driving by and giving crews orders without actually working with them side by side, that was never my dream. The only time I’ve actually done much work has been loading up trucks in the yard, and look how that went. I nearly died.”

She sighed. “I think we need to talk this through. An impulse decision like this, you’ll regret it.”

“I won’t.”

Molly stepped away and paced the room again. She toyed with the hair ties on her wrist. Today’s were yellow and orange. “What will you do? You’ll go crazy if you sit around at home all day.”

“I’ll find something. I don’t have to decide right away.”

“But your employees. They’ll lose their jobs.”

I shook my head. “This guy wants to keep the existing employees. He wants to be the office guy.”

I’d even given him Bridget’s name. As angry as I was at how she’d treated Molly, I didn’t wish her bad fortune. I knew from the grapevine she didn’t have another job yet, so I’d tossed her name out there as a gesture of goodwill.

“He might destroy everything you built.”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “He might. And I’m not going to say that won’t be hard to watch. But I’m not selling this place cheap. He’s coming to the table with a hell of a check. I’m thinking he’s plenty motivated to keep Alcott at the top of its game.”

“Oh my God. I can’t believe this is happening. I’m dreaming. This has to be a dream.”

I walked to my desk and picked up the contract I’d printed yesterday. “Here. Maybe this will make it more real.”

She eyed the papers for a few moments then gave in and took them from my hand. She plopped down into one of the chairs next to my desk, set the contract on top and started scanning. I knew right away when she read the purchase price.

“One point five million dollars. He’s buying Alcott for one and a half million dollars?”

I nodded. “We’ve had a good few years in business.”

“Understatement,” she mumbled.

“With that kind of money, we can pay off the house, set aside a good chunk for the kids and then get creative. Maybe start another business. Together.”

“I don’t want to quit my job at the restaurant.”

“Then don’t. The point is, this gives us the freedom to do whatever we want. And it gives me a chance to right some wrongs. I love Alcott. I always will. I’m proud of what we created here. But it’s time to say good-bye.”

“Are you sure? I mean, really sure? I don’t want you to resent me for this later.”

“This is my decision. And I know in my bones it’s the right one.”

She nodded hesitantly. I gave her time to think on it, to let the surprise of my announcement fade. Molly nodded again, this time with more confidence.

When she met my gaze, it was solid as a rock. “Okay. Then I’ll support you.”

“Good.” I picked up a pen and handed it over. “Then sign on the last page.”

Molly flipped to where my attorney had flagged the signature lines with yellow tags. The pen hovered over the paper as she sucked in a deep breath. Then, as she blew it out, her hand moved, signing her name.

With it done, she pushed the paper and pen my way.

I didn’t hesitate to scribble my name alongside hers, not even a second.