Free London Harmony: The Pike by Erik Schubach

the car.”  She winked at McKenzie and said, Valkyrie One out.”
    This got the smile from Kezie that I think she was shooting for. Then McKenzie walked to sit beside me in front of the lawyer.
    Kincade picked up another stack of papers from the desk behind him and sat them beside himself.  He had let his bumbling charlatan act drop as soon as he had started the reading.  His eyes got this intelligent intensity as he seemed to measure and evaluate each person as he progressed.  Then he was miraculously super organized as he efficiently gathered the relevant signatures from those he needed.
    He saw no need for his act anymore as he got as serious as a balloon in a tack factory.  He clasped his hands, looking between us, determining where to begin.  He finally made the decision and turned his gaze on McKenzie as he pulled out some paperwork from the stack.  “This is the transfer of ownership paperwork for the Pike as per Emily's will.”
    He just held them and said, “You can do with it what you will.  Back when she wrote the will two years ago, she mentioned that you would most likely liquidate the business because you were already running your stables.”
    He set the papers down beside him with a pen on top then pulled out a second set of papers and set then down beside the others.  “We can start that if that is what you want.”
    McKenzie's eyes hardened and made no move toward the contracts.
    Stenson gave an appreciative grin then he said, “Before you made any decision, I thought I would bring up the fact that Emily had made an appointment with me for next month. We were to discuss writing up an equal partnership agreement between her and the woman she found to be an invaluable help at the Pike since she last updated her will.”
    McKenzie just nodded as if it were not news to her then she turned her head and gave me a smile as she laid her good hand on my arm.  “I'm aware.  Nana often spoke of Zoey and about wanting to create a partnership since Zoey has basically run the Pike the past few months as Nana Z's health deteriorated.”
    Stenson started swinging his legs, obviously pleased with himself as he picked up the pen and held it out to Kenz, almost daring her to sign as he said, “Good, as long as you were aware.  How would you like to proceed?”
    McKenzie took a deep breath and exhaled then looked between Kincade and me then said as she locked eyes with me like she was reading my soul.  “I really can't devote any time to the Pike, I have my hands full with the stables.”
    My heart sank, so this was it.  Goodbye to the place I felt so at home at.  The place I viewed as my second home these past couple years.  I had envisioned myself working the Pike the rest of my life and imagined all the people I'd meet and interact with.  I knew now why dad loved his diner so much.
    Then she said with a slight smirk on her face, “So I was wondering how you would feel about a forty-nine fifty-one split in your favor, with Katie and me as silent partners?”
    My heart stopped beating, and I just blinked at the woman.  She prompted with a smile, “What do you say?  It's what Nana would have wanted.”
    I just blinked at her a couple times as my heart started beating again, threatening to burst out of my chest as I just nodded dumbly.  The... partnership?  Me... controlling interest?  Her smile bloomed, and it transformed her from striking to beautiful as she turned to Kincade and cocked an eyebrow expectantly.
    The man was grinning like the Cheshire cat just then like he knew what she was going to say.  He reached for the last group of papers as he stacked the other two aside.  He said wistfully, “Golly, a  forty-nine, fifty-one partnership agreement for the bakery?  Who would ever have thought this would have happened?”
    He handed each of us some papers to look over as McKenzie said to the man, “Nobody likes a wiseass Kincade.  All sorts of accidents can happen to someone with such a