Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
I’m stunned, and when I glance around the room, Kitty and my parents look the same.
But Jett… Well, he’s livid.
“Those are not the terms that we agreed on, Phillip and I,” he seethes, his whole body shaking with anger. “I was told I would take over. That it would be mine.” He looks back at my father. “I was promised that.”
Dad throws up his hands, and I’m totally confused by the exchange. I look back to Jami as she swallows, her face tighter than any amount of Botox could provide. “He changed this a little over six months ago, and the letters he has written to you contain his reasoning.”
Jett just blinks. “I don’t give a fuck what the letter says. The Ice Thistle is mine! I’ve run it alongside him for fifteen years. Kitty!”
Kitty looks stricken as she holds out her hands. “Jett, I don’t know what is happening. That’s not what he told me he planned to do.”
Jett comes out of his seat. “She doesn’t even live here!”
He’s not wrong, and the hurt look on his face leaves me breathless. “It’s fine. I don’t want the money. The Ice Thistle is Jett’s.”
Jami winces, looking down at the file in front of her, as Dad says, “Now, Fable. Let’s not be hasty. You can do a lot for our town, for our program.”
“I don’t live here. I don’t want to be here.”
I notice Kitty wiping away tears as Jett says, “I don’t want you to be out the money.”
Before I can answer, though, Jami’s voice fills the space between us. “If the terms are not met, not only does Ms. Winthrop forfeit her inheritance, but the Ice Thistle will be awarded to Richie Winthrop.”
In the moment before a tornado hits, everything goes quiet.
That’s how quiet it is in my grandfather’s study as Jami’s words settle like a bomb in the room. I’m breathless, my heart pounding so loudly, and blood rushes to my ears. I look over at Kitty, an expression of utter shock and confusion all over her beautiful face. She glances at me, and all I can do is stare at her. How could Phillip do this?
He’s forcing me to stay here and run the rink. And if I don’t, not only do I lose my money, but Jett loses something that is obviously important to him. I know he sees this as his chance to be more than what his name identifies him as. He’s always wished his mom didn’t keep her maiden name, that he had been given his father’s last name, because then he would have had a chance to be someone different. The Cook family is known for their struggles, money-wise, and living on the other side of the tracks. I know they’re good people, but a lot of the upper class of Thistlebrook looks down on them. Especially my parents.
None of this makes sense, and when I look over at the tornado also known as Jett Cook, he roars, “Over my dead fucking body!”
Dad preens. “I love the sound of that.”
Jett’s glare has my dad cowering as Kitty says, “No, that won’t happen. I know Phillip wanted Jett to have the Ice Thistle. This has to be a mistake.”
Jami shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but it’s not. He was of sound mind and told me this is for the best.” She turns her gaze on Jett. “I fought him for you because I know Ms. Winthrop doesn’t live here, nor does she want to be here, but he said he had to do it this way to make sure Kitty was taken care of.”
Her words hit me in the gut, and one look at Jett lets me know he feels the same. Grandpa’s love for my grandma knew no bounds. He didn’t care who he inconvenienced as long as Kitty was taken care of. Tears blur my vision as I look down at the letter in my hand, and I wonder what it says. I wonder if he’ll explain it all. But really, what can he say? I know why he did this. For Kitty—and I can’t fault him for it.
But can I move to Thistlebrook for a year?
Going against my grandpa’s wishes, I tear open the letter, and his handwriting has fresh tears streaming down my face when I spot the nickname he had for me. He didn’t call me snowflake often, but when he did, it was during times when he was truly proud.
“Fable, darling, you are supposed to read it on your own,” Kitty chides, but I ignore her, focusing on his words.
Snowflake,
I know that while I never showed you how much I loved you, I did. So much. You are Kitty 2.0, and watching you grow, skate, and live is an honor I will always hold close to my heart. I know you are probably upset with me, wondering how I could ever make you stay somewhere you don’t want to be. I am truly sorry, but I need you to be there for Kitty. She will struggle, and she needs you. You’ve always been her sunshine, and I need you to help her heal. I hate to hold money over your head or even hold back Jett getting the Thistle, but you have to understand, I love your grandmother, and I need to know she’ll be okay.