Free Family Matters by Barbara White Daille Page B

arm. “Oh, Matthew—”
    â€œSell?” Uncle Bren roared, drowning her out. “What are you thinking, lad? We threw that idea out long ago.”
    Matt froze. So did Kerry.
    The room settled into a breathless silence.
    Several long seconds later, he turned slowly in her direction, his eyes wide in disbelief.
    A wave of guilt washed through her. She hadn’t yet been able to bring herself to tell Uncle Bren—or anyone else—about Matt’s sixty-day ultimatum. She didn’t want them digging in their heels over it. But she’d convinced the residents it was in their best interest to fix up the amusement park and sell it for a profit.
    At least, she thought she had.
    Still, she raised her chin defiantly. “I presented the proposal this morning. It passed.”
    â€œTotally uuuuu nanimously,” Uncle Bren put in. “We’re keeping the park.”
    Trust him to make the situation worse!
    â€œBut, Uncle Bren,” she began, “we didn’t say anything about keep—”
    â€œIt was after you went to the office to get that package,” he mumbled, then turned back to Matt. “We’ve just told you the place is fit for running. We’ve all agreed on it, too.”
    â€œFine,” Matt snapped at him. “My original argument stands. So, get the place up and running—that will make it easier to find a buyer so you can refund my mother’s money.”
    Olivia Lawrence opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Matt turned on his heel and walked away. Hislong-legged stride carried him across the room and out of Kerry’s sight before she could do much more than blink.
    Olivia met Gran’s frown with a resigned shrug. Obviously, the woman knew her son.
    The gesture confirmed Kerry’s worst fear.
    Matt wouldn’t budge on his ultimatum. Especially not if Uncle Bren and Olivia had unknowingly pushed his concerns to another level.
    Part of her—a tiny part—couldn’t help feeling sympathy for Matt. She would fight just as hard, if she thought someone wanted to take advantage of her family. And clearly, he had suspicions along that line.
    But one look at the shock on Uncle Bren’s face and the fire in Gran’s eyes told her she had to do more than stand there flapping her eyelids.

Chapter Seven
    After taking a deep breath and stalking to the doorway, Kerry stared down the hall, where Matt paced furiously enough to wear the flowers off the carpet.
    Chicken that she was, she waited until he was striding away from her before following him. Unfortunately, before she could think of what to say, he made an abrupt U-turn and nearly ran her down. She almost tripped backing up a step.
    â€œYour grandmother shoved this in my pocket.” He raised one fist between them, then spread his fingers wide to reveal a wad of multicolored wool resting on his palm. “What the heck is it?”
    â€œIt’s a green bag.”
    â€œIt’s not green.” His expression clearly showed he found her as nutty as the rest of her family.
    â€œI mean, it’s green as in recycled. Gran’s very big on saving the environment. It’s a shopping bag—she knits them by the dozens and gives them out to everyone she meets.”
    â€œWhat a letdown,” he said, his tone loaded with sarcasm. “Here, I thought I was special.”
    You are special. She wished she could say those words.
    â€œUmm…Matt. Can we talk a minute? About those empty threats you keep making…?” When she saw the hardness in his eyes, she faltered but pushed herself to go on. “You wouldn’t have my uncle put in jail. You couldn’t.”
    â€œCouldn’t I?” His lips curved upward.
    Her heart gave an erratic double beat. From stress, no doubt. Her blood pressure was probably sky-high from this fiasco, too.
    She wished she could fade away, like the trampled flowers worn beneath Matt’s feet.