The Family He Needs by Lorraine Beatty

Author:Lorraine Beatty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-07-16T03:24:16+00:00

Chapter Eight

Joy glanced up as Simon came into her alcove a few days later. Life had settled back into a normal pattern though with a more warm and friendly atmosphere. Simon had changed. The scowl was gone from his rugged features, his shoulders were relaxed and he actually smiled now and then. She couldn’t explain it but if she had to guess, it had something to do with Mikey and Pickles and his daily check-in on their relationship. Simon had helped out at the theater last night and started teaching Arlo basic carpentry skills. He’d fit in well with the others. She attributed it to the fond memories he had of the Palace as a place of refuge.

She smiled and held up her hand. “Before you ask, yes, Pickles was a good boy last night. He didn’t whine once. I think he’s getting used to being in the cage overnight.”

He chuckled softly. “Still not letting him sleep with Mikey.”

“Nope. That’s not going to happen.”

Simon shook his head. “You are a very mean mother. Mikey told me so.”

“I know. He tells me that every day.” Simon smiled and her heart did its now-familiar flip-flop. His phone rang and he walked back into his office, leaving her with a funny buoyancy inside her rib cage that made it difficult to focus on her work.

She’d barely gotten started when she heard someone enter Simon’s office. She recognized Sheila Dixon’s voice. Curious, she rose and went toward his desk.

Sheila turned and smiled. “Hi, Joy. You’ll want to hear this. I come bearing good news.”

She sat down and pulled a folder from her briefcase. “I have an offer on the theater.” She handed the file to Simon. “Do you know Hank Robinson?”

Simon frowned but Joy spoke up. “I do. He owns several large car dealerships in the state.”

Sheila nodded. “Robinson Chevrolet. Five dealerships across the South. Well, it turns out he has a passion for restoring old movie theaters and he wants yours, and he’s willing to pay a pretty sum.”

The huge smile on Simon’s face sent Joy’s hopes plummeting into her toes.

Simon nodded. “I know that name. Isn’t he the guy who revived that old jingle about seeing the USA in your Chevrolet?”

Sheila crossed her arms in triumph. “That’s the one.”

Simon studied the paper. “This changes everything. With the theater sold, that leaves only the estate and the hotel. I can finally get back to Charlotte and get my business up and running.”

Joy tried to calm her fears. “Sheila, what will Robinson do with the theater? Will we still be able to use it? You know we have events scheduled through the bicentennial.”

Sheila grinned. “No worries. He knows all about that. He plans on sprucing up the place for the 200th birthday, then after that he’ll do a full restoration and leave it in the hands of a local manager.”

Joy breathed a small sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t going to take over and shut out the locals. But her mood quickly deflated when she realized that the sale meant Simon would be leaving Blessing.

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