“As per Dave’s request, Jinx will take over all the farm duties. Cumberland Finance is overseeing the contract negotiations for mining the coquina from the back acres of the farm. I’m not sure you realize, but y’all have been sitting on a gold mine out there. You and your family will be financially stable if the earnings are handled properly. There will also be plenty of money to take care of your father’s medical costs.” Mr. Fitzgerald handed me another envelope, adding to the overwhelming information.

Long after the conference room cleared out, Vance patiently went through all of the paperwork and explained everything to me once again. I already knew about the coquina, but it was surprising that Pa had actually made the decision to have it mined when he’d never wanted to do that before. Maybe he was more aware of how dire things were getting than I realized.

“How’d Pa even know to go to your father?”

“It was my father who went to him about all this.”

I glared at him. “This was none of your father’s business! You know I don’t take too kindly to that.”

“Be mad at me about it, not him. I asked him to do it. My father knows how much you and your family mean to me. We wanted to help. You can’t deny how much y’all need it right now.” Vance ran his hands through his hair and heaved a long exhale. “Hopefully, with things getting squared away, you and I can have a real chance too.”

“We’re at different stages.” I motioned toward him. “College is behind you —you’re living on your own, helping your uncle run a daggum million-dollar company, for heaven’s sake!” I rubbed my forehead. “You’re a grown man and . . .”

He grabbed my wrist. Using his free hand, he gestured between us. “My feelings aren’t going to change, so this will keep. Now is your chance to maybe go to college and do the stuff I’ve already done. Heck, do none of it. Regardless, do every single thing you’ve ever wanted to but put to the side for your family. Either way, I’ll be right here where you leave me.”

“But that’s not fair to you, Vance,” I said on a hoarse cry. “And what about Charlotte and my brothers?”

“What about them?”

“Boss is slow on the uptake. And Peg —”

Vance snorted a laugh. “His handicap doesn’t give him any trouble.”

I mimicked his snorting laugh. “No, but his mouth does. He’d be in jail or the hospital if I weren’t paying enough attention to keep him in line.”