An Unexpected Family. Jenna Mindel

refusing to move.

      Cam placed a hand on Greg’s shoulder. “Let’s get the rest of the stuff we need and then we can talk while we eat.”

      Greg looked ready to argue but glanced at her for direction.

      “Go ahead with Cam. I’ll get us each a pop and we can sit at the counter.” Rose dragged herself out of the chair and headed for the soft-drink dispenser. She grabbed three plastic tumblers stacked on the shelf below and filled them halfway with ice followed by cola for her and root beer for her son. She didn’t know what Cam liked. “What kind of pop do you want?”

      He shrugged as he flipped each burger. “Doesn’t matter.”

      “Are you going to tell me, Mom?”

      Rose looked at Cam. He didn’t look back and concentrated on placing a slice of cheddar on each burger. She faced her son. “Your uncles want to buy the diner.”

      “But we just got it.” Greg’s voice rose.

      “I know.”

      “Will we move back home?”

      She watched Cam construct each cheeseburger on the plates. He was clearly staying out of the conversation. As he should, but then Rose realized she’d raised her son’s hopes by keeping quiet on the Dean boys’ threat. “I don’t want to sell, Greg. I’d like to have something that’s ours. Yours and mine. Something you can take over after college.”

      Greg mulled what she’d said. “What if I don’t want it?”

      Rose chose her words carefully. “We can cross that bridge when we get there. For now, I like being my own boss. Here, I have more time with you.”

      Greg shifted. “Awww, Mom...”

      “It’s time we make our own home.” Furious for having to talk her son into this all over again, Rose quickly changed the subject. “Greg, will you grab the bag of chips in back? Cam’s got our burgers done.”

      “K.”

      When Greg walked away, Cam looked her in the eyes. “This diner might be worth more than you think. Maybe you should talk to Linda’s attorney, get his thoughts about today’s events. He’s right here in Maple Springs.”

      “I can’t afford an attorney,” she hissed.

      “You might not have a choice.”

      Rose hated that he was probably right.

      Greg tossed the bag of chips on the counter and sat on one of the stools and spun around a couple of times.

      “Three cheeseburgers.” Cam set down three plates.

      Rose wasn’t in the mood to eat, but took a bite anyway. The burgers were sloppy, stacked with lettuce and tomato and pickles. Perfect.

      “Aren’t we going to pray?” Greg challenged her. He did that a lot lately.

      She nodded, her mouth full.

      Cam cleared his throat. “I’ll pray.”

      Her gaze flew to Cam, but he’d already bowed his head. She did the same while he recited a formal-sounding prayer.

       “Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts...”

      Her mind wandered. She didn’t want to sell. The deed hadn’t even transferred to her yet, so how could she sell?

       “Which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty...”

      But then, what if Karl and Kory contested the will and she lost? She’d have nothing. No legacy for Greg. Nothing.

       “Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.”

      She felt a warm, large hand cover hers. Startled, her eyes flew open and locked with Cam’s. He looked kind and genuine.

      His hand remained on hers. “How’d you find out that you’d inherited the diner?”

      Rose slid her hand back and tried to think. She’d met this man only a few hours ago. Even though he’d helped her when things had gone from bad to worse, she shouldn’t trust him. Still, it’d be nice to unload on someone other than her parents. They worried about her enough as it was. “Um, I received a letter enclosed in a packet that I had to sign for. Would you like to read it?”

      “Uh...sure.”

      Rose popped off the stool and darted upstairs, returning in moments with a fat folder. Rifling through the financials that had been sent, as well, Rose pulled out the letter and handed it to Cam.

      His gazed raked over the document as he chewed, then he waved it away. “Why don’t you read it?”

      Rose glanced at Greg. Her son nodded in agreement as he took the last bite of his cheeseburger. She slid her plate toward him. “You can have mine.”

      Greg reached for her sandwich with only two bites taken. “Mmm, yeah.”

      Rose made the mistake of looking back at Cam. Gazing into those brilliant blue eyes full of concern brought a hitch in her breathing. Now was not the time to fall apart. Taking a deep breath, Rose rallied her strength and read.

       “‘I am hereby writing to inform you that the inheritance process has been successfully completed and the will of Linda M. Dean has been put into action. According to said will, Rose Dean will immediately inherit the business titled Dean’s Hometown Grille and the commercial building therein at the bequest left by Linda M. Dean to you.’”

      Rose lowered the letter. “Then there’s the stuff about transference of property and Linda’s wish for Greg to eventually take over. Financials were also included in the package.”

      “Sounds legit,” Cam finally said.

      “Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

      “I don’t know.” Cam gestured to the packet. “So all that came with the letter?”

      Rose nodded and pushed the folder toward Cam. “Three years’ worth of business tax returns.”

      “Have you looked at them?”

      Rose shook her head. She’d never been good with that sort of thing. She couldn’t even figure out her own tax returns let alone a business like this one. “I don’t know what to look for.”

      Cam pushed his plate out of the way. “Greg, would you mind taking the dishes to the kitchen? I’d like to talk to your mom a minute.”

      Greg looked at her.

      Rose nodded. “I got these. Why don’t you go upstairs and clean up.”

      Greg slid off the stool, but he gathered up the empty plates anyway. “Thanks, Cam. The burgers were really good.”

      “You’re welcome.” After her boy entered the kitchen, he added, “You’ve done a good job. He’s a good kid.”

      “Thanks. My parents helped, especially my dad.” She searched Cam’s face. “What am I going to do?”

      “To my knowledge, the Deans live downstate and have never been involved in the diner. My guess is that they think you’re sitting on a gold mine. You need to find out if that’s true in those financials.”

      “I can’t afford an accountant and even if I could, would he have the answer in a week?”

      “I can take a look.”

      Rose stared at him. “You know what to look for?”

      Cam nodded. “I know how to find a business’s cash flow. I’ve kept track of my own and double-checked my business manager’s figures.”

      Cam had a business manager? Rose wrestled with that bit of information. What exactly did this man do for a living?

      “Rose, you can trust me.”