Ruby
My mind raced with the horrid possibilities of what Dad had done the longer he was quiet. “Dad," I promoted.
His eyes flicked back to me, and his expression softened. “What I mean is, I stopped considering the place ours—I mean yours the moment Stephen Thorne walked in here and offered to buy you out."
I still glowered at him, but some of my suspicions seeped away. “That's ridiculous. You didn't think I'd fight to keep the place? It's Mom's baby, the place keeping her memory alive."
“I know. Of course, you'd want to fight to keep it." He sighed. “It's just that it's hopeless, Ruby. I don't see how you can hold on to it."
My shoulders dropped as that earlier determination I felt took a nose-dive. Dad had never been encouraging. The breath I blew out ruffled the strands of hair
