Billionaire Bosses Collection. Кэрол Мортимер
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whatever I want. We didn’t discuss skiing.”
“C’mon, Zach,” Ryan said. “Garrett, you, too. Let’s fly up there after Christmas and ski. I’ll come, Will, right after New Year’s if you’re staying that long.”
“Sure. All of you come join us. You can bring anyone you want with you.”
“I’ll see how it goes in Italy,” Zach said. “I doubt if I’ll be back that soon.”
“The bird has flown the coop again,” Will teased. “You just can’t stay put. We’ll see you next summer.”
“I’ll pass this time, but thanks,” Garrett said. “I’m building furniture and Sophia is painting.”
“Still the workaholic,” Ryan stated. “Some things never change.”
They ate ribs until they had a platter filled with bones. When they finished, they all cleaned up and soon they returned to the family room to open gifts.
The first gift went to Caroline and her eyes sparkled as she unwrapped a box that held a new doll. She gave Zach a hug and he smiled at her. “Merry Christmas, sweetie,” he said, wishing Emma was with him.
After the gifts were unwrapped and stacked neatly to go, Zach said he had something else for them.
He left and returned with a box holding the gold pocket watch, the Colt revolver and the Henry rifle. “My secretary and I have been through a lot of the memorabilia. I don’t know why these things were buried under the letters. So far, we found these three items. Why doesn’t each family take one. We can draw if you want to see who gets what, regarding this stuff.”
“You ought to have something,” Garrett said. “Leave me out. These are Delaney possessions and I’m not a Delaney.”
“Sophia is,” Zach said immediately. “There was a locket that I gave to my secretary. Sorry, I didn’t wait to ask you, Sophia, when I gave Emma the necklace. She has pored over this stuff and enjoyed it. You’d think these people were related to her.”
“That’s fine, Zach,” Sophia said. “Really. I don’t need it and it’s nice you gave it to her.”
“Sophia, you participate,” Zach said. “I’m staying out of it because all of you know I don’t care about the letters and the ancestors and our past. It’s history.”
“Our parents weren’t sentimental, and you’re really a chip off the old block,” Will said.
“Now that remark and comparison, I can do without.” Zach scribbled out words on three pieces of paper and wadded each up. “We can draw or you can each say what you want and see if anyone else wants it. Or we can go in order of age.”
“Hand us the papers and that will be that,” Will said.
Zach held out his hand and in seconds Will picked up the Henry rifle, Ryan the Colt revolver and Sophia the pocket watch. “Okay. Is everyone happy with what you got?” Zach asked.
“Sure,” Ryan said, rubbing his hand along the Colt. “This is excellent.”
“I love this watch—more than I would the rifle or the revolver,” Sophia said. “I would like one of the letters to put with it.”
“Good choice. I like the watch,” Garrett said, exchanging a smile with his wife.
“Go to the office and pick out whatever letters you want,” Zach instructed. “We can divide them all three ways when someone finishes going through them.”
“These things are treasures,” Ryan said, continuing to turn the revolver in his hand.
“The Henry rifle is fantastic. I’m definitely happy,” Will added.
It was late afternoon when Garrett stood. “We need to get home because we’re flying back to Dallas.”
Ryan stood and gathered his gifts. “I’ll go, too. Soon I’ll fly out for a tropical paradise, palm trees and warm breezes and a beautiful woman.”
“Won’t seem like Christmas,” Will said. “Of course, you may not care. I’ll bet you’ll be ready for snow-covered mountains before New Year’s.”
“Probably will,” Ryan replied cheerfully.
“You can bring your friend with you.”
Ryan winked. “I think I’ll come alone and see if I can find a new friend. See you in the summer, Zach, and thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll let your drivers know you’re going.”
Zach saw them out, then returned to join Will and Ava while Caroline played with her new doll. “Want one more beer? You don’t have to go because they did.”
“Sure, I’ll have a beer. Is your foot hurting?”
“No. It’s healed,” Zach said, getting two beers from the bar.
“You don’t look so great. Anything worrying you?”
“No. Maybe you’re getting me mixed up with Ryan. He’s the one who’s always got a smile. Remember, I don’t have his rosy outlook on life. This is my natural look all the time.”
“I know that, but you aren’t usually as quiet as today and you look as if something’s on your mind besides Christmas and us.”
“Actually, Christmas hasn’t been on my mind, which I’m sure, surprises no one.”
“What do you think about the prospects for the Cowboys this next year?”
“Great,” Will answered and the talk shifted to football and then moved to business while they told each other what the current projects were.
When Ava and Will finally stood to go, he paused. “Will you come back from Italy or just go to a job site?”
“Probably just go to a site. I’m through here, so I’m dumping the letters and memorabilia. It’s up to you and Ryan now. Garrett, too, if you can rope him into it because of Sophia.”
“I’ll see. So you sent your secretary back to the Dallas office.”
“Yes. We won’t see each other again. She turned out to be efficient and good, Will. She’s read a mountain of old letters.”
“I don’t want to shred them. She’s right about a tie to our past.”
“With time they’ll disintegrate. She copied some of them carefully and put them in a scrapbook between clear acid-free sheets. She said that way we can make copies for family members who want them.”
“I’m astounded they got through our parents without being destroyed. You know Mom wouldn’t care at all about them. Dad didn’t until the end of his life.”
“Frankly, I can’t work up a lot of interest.”
Will chuckled. “So how did she get you to go home for Thanksgiving with her? Is there something going on here that I haven’t been told?”
“Will, don’t quiz your brother about his personal life,” Ava said, smiling at Will. “Caroline and I will say goodbye. The ribs were delicious and thank you for the gifts. You know we’ll all love everything.”
“Merry Christmas, Ava,” Zach said, walking her and Caroline outside. “Take care of him.”
“Merry Christmas, Zach. I intend to,” she answered and waited while he hugged Caroline before the two of them climbed into the limo to wait for Will.
“So how did your secretary get you to go home for Thanksgiving with her?” Will persisted.
“I think she’s trying to rescue me. You can’t imagine how sorry she feels for me and how much sympathy I get.”
“Sympathy.” The word burst from Will and he started laughing. “She