One Bossy Offer (137)

“I don’t know if he even wants children,” I say.

“He doesn’t get a choice. You owe me grandkids—human children who aren’t beasts that can knock me over.”

“That’s not what I meant, Mom. It just hasn’t really come up yet, and I’m cool with that.”

I am cool, aren’t I?

She shakes her head like she knows. “Don’t go down that road. Everyone gets the jitters on their wedding day, but these things always work themselves out.”

I hope she’s right. I hope she’s—

Knock! Knock!

“Who’s there?” I call. My mind is racing now with a million things that could go wrong today.

What if it’s Miles?

What if he just realized he doesn’t know if I want kids?

“What now?” Mom rolls her eyes and approaches the door. “You’re fine, hon. The kind of men who build lighthouses to propose aren’t the sort who’d leave their bride jilted at the altar.”

“Mrs. Landers? Hi. Your husband told me I could come up for a minute. I’m Waldo Spencer, Lottie’s estate attorney. Is Jenn around?”

“Yes, but... forgive me, does she really need a lawyer on her wedding day?”

“Mom, it’s fine.” I step forward, my curiosity piqued.

“I’ll only be a moment.” Waldo studies me, a slight man with perfectly round spectacles. “Miss Landers, you are stunning. I’m sure your grandmother would agree if she could see you. My sincerest congratulations.”

“Thank you.” I smile. “But is something wrong, Waldo?”

“Nothing at all. I just have a special delivery from your grandmother, per her instructions.”

I blink. “How is that possible?”

“She left a letter and instructed me to deliver it on your wedding day. I always take care of my clients’ requests, however unorthodox, so here I am. Of course, I’ll stay for the reception,” he says with a wink.

“Thank you.” I grab the letter he holds out before he walks away.

“Wow. That was sweet of her,” Mom says once she closes the door. “What does it say?”

“Let’s find out.” I rip the envelope open and take the letter out.

It still smells faintly like her, this bright summery scent of flowers and honey that’s totally Gram and hard to pin down. I fight back a tear at the corner of my eye as I begin reading.



Dearest Jenn,

You finally did it! I hope your wedding day is as beautiful and magical as you. Most of all, I hope you’re happy.

If you’re reading this, then Waldo knows you’ve decided to marry your neighbor, Miles Cromwell.

You’ve probably figured out by now that I tried to give you the tiniest nudge toward destiny.

Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said, ‘All’s well that ends well?’

I’ve lived my entire life like an open book and now that I’m gone, I’m not one to start keeping secrets.

Here’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but, or may lightning strike me down (again, I guess).

I was friends with Royal and Colleen Cromwell, and later, their workaholic son.

I knew Miles had a terrible time with his mother’s dreadful death, and though I never got him to admit it in words, I always felt he blamed himself.

By now, you know Miles is a good man.

Generous and kind, even if he experienced so much loss that he walled himself off from the world. I tried to set him up with a couple different girls over the years, a debutante and a farmer’s daughter. He was unimpressed with both and said they told him what they thought he wanted to hear.

That’s when I knew he needed a headstrong young woman with beauty and brains like my granddaughter.

That’s when I knew I had to tip the scales, even from the Great Beyond, and I’m not the least bit sorry I did.

Jenn, you love so fearlessly. You’re the kind of old soul who can help him learn to live and love again. But I also know that loving fearlessly doesn’t come without costs. Too many men feel threatened by women with backbone. Too few could ever balance your dreams with theirs, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that.

So I gave you my greatest gift, worth so much more than the inn—a good man.

He’ll protect my granddaughter.

He’ll be your missing piece.

You’ll complement each other, and if you’re still reading this through the tears, I’m certain you complete him.

Setting you two up was easy. Miles had his eye on my property for years.

I told him to make you a decent offer knowing full well it would be overly generous, so if by chance you happened to sell too soon, you’d be better off than you were before. And, of course, that stubborn man would do something marvelously stupid that would keep throwing you two together again and again.

But I didn’t believe you’d sell, and I didn’t think he’d walk away.

I knew you’d give him the hell he needs. Just like I knew Miles would give you his heart.

That’s why I left so many instructions for poor Waldo. He assured me they weren’t legal, and you could’ve overturned them in a heartbeat with any two-bit lawyer, but I knew you wouldn’t.

You’ve never let your old grandmother down, dearest heart.