My dad’s voice hardened. “Who is this man?”

“Dad, he’s the reason I know about Marlin. I know that he was playing you, using me, and possibly using Skylar as a pawn to sell Wade out from under all of us. The jury is out on what Skylar knew.”

“No,” my mom said. “That isn’t true. Whoever this man is, he’s feeding you lies, Julia. Come home. Everyone who knows the truth about what happened understands why you postponed the wedding.”

“I didn’t postpone it.” The meal we’d recently eaten churned in my stomach. “And I don’t want the whole world to know.”

“It’s not the whole world. It’s the people who matter. Even so, Skylar and Beth were wrong, but the Butlers have been our friends since before you were born. Marlin wouldn’t do what you’re suggesting. The person who bought the shares is responsible for the current state of Wade.”

“Julia.” Dad’s voice was growing sterner by the minute. “What is the name of the man who bought twenty-one percent of Wade stock?”

“His name is Donovan Sherman.”

My mother’s gasp was all I heard.

Does my mother know him?

Does my father?

Or do they only know Van’s reputation?

“Dad, I’m telling you that despite what you may have heard about Van, he’s not trying to destroy Wade. He’s trying to help.”

“Julia,” Mom said, “I’m texting the pilot. We can get a company plane to you in a few hours.” She spoke to my father. “Do you know how close we can land to Ashland?”

“Mom,” I interjected, “I’m not leaving, not yet. I’m going to stay here with Van.”

“That man will ruin us and ruin you,” Dad said. “That’s what he does.”

“He won’t ruin me,” I replied. “I know his reputation and that’s what he usually does, but this time he has an incentive to help Wade.”

“What?” Dad asked. “Why would he help us?”

“Van will help because I agreed to marry him.” I let out a long breath. My parents were talking, yet all I could hear was a buzz of relief. Now that I’d said the words, the tension tightening my muscles since I hit the call button began to dissipate, flowing away.

Maybe my concern was telling others, not actually being engaged again.

“Julia, this is too soon. You’re on a rebound and that man is taking advantage of you.”

Van had taken advantage of me but not in the way Mom meant and not in a way I minded.

“Van asked me to marry him. Together we’ll have controlling interest in Wade. With Van’s help Wade will thrive. He won’t hurt it.”

I wasn’t certain if the phone on the other end had disconnected or if it was suddenly muted.

“Mom? Dad?”