I quickly typed my reply.
Me: Yes, I’m at their place. Where are you?
The phone rang, and I answered it. “Hudson? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s great. I’m right around the corner.”
“Okay, well, just come on in. We’re all in the kitchen.”
“All?” he asked.
“Yeah, Kyle and Aiden are here as well.”
He paused for a moment. “I’m parking out front now. See you in a second.”
Hanging up, I glanced at the others. “That’s Hudson. He said he needs to speak with me right away.”
Before I had a chance to ask Kyle who he thought the buyer might be, there was a knock on the door and then Hudson’s voice.
“In the kitchen!” my mother called out.
Hudson appeared, and my heart did a little skip. It was crazy how even when I felt like utter shit, simply seeing him made me feel so much better.
“Hey,” he said softly. His smile seemed forced…and not relaxed at all.
“Hey,” I repeated.
He glanced around, then looked at me. “Could we maybe talk in private?”
“Of course, let’s head out onto the back porch.”
Once the door shut, his smile grew, though he looked nervous. “I’ve got some news for you.”
I tried to smile back because clearly Hudson was happy about something. A part of me wanted to fall into his arms and sob and tell him the bookstore was done. I was going to have to move it and start over again somewhere else. The other part wanted to just forget my problems and get lost in Hudson.
“Oh yeah?” I said with a forced calm I didn’t feel.
He handed me a folded piece of paper, and I took it.
“Open it.”
This time I did smile, only because I could hear the excitement in his voice.
I started to read it…and realized it was a legal document. I sucked in a breath as it dawned on me what I was looking at.
I snapped my head up to look at him. “What is this?”
“I couldn’t sleep last night, and so I sent an email to my lawyer and financial advisor. I told them both what was going on, that I needed some help with a few things. My lawyer drew up the contracts, my financial advisor moved some money around…and here we are. The building is yours still, Greer. You’re not going to lose it.”
Stunned, I looked back at the document and continued reading.
Tom had sold my building to Hudson. Part of the agreement stipulated that the deed to the building would be put in my name. I looked back up at Hudson in confusion. “You bought the building?”
He nodded. “Yes. For you.”
I slowly shook my head. “W-why?”
His brows pulled down in confusion. “What do you mean, why? Mr. Brooks knew damn well you didn’t have the means to purchase it. So I offered him twenty-five dollars more than the original investor was offering. I told him I intended to let you keep the building for Turning Pages, as it states in the legal documents my lawyer drew up. Once Mr. Brooks understood that I had every intention of letting you buy the building back from me, he agreed. He actually seemed relieved, claimed he never wanted you to lose it, but he had to think of his family first. It’s a win-win, Greer.”
My mouth opened and closed a few times before I was able to find my voice. “So, you went behind my back and bought it?”
His smile faded some. “Well, I had to move quickly. I didn’t want any other players coming into the game.”
I stumbled back until I found one of the chairs and dropped down into it. “You bought the building?”
“Yes. I mean, I will, once the paperwork at the title company is approved. The full amount for the sale is in an account with them.”
Pressing my fingers against my temples, I started to gently rub. “Let me get this straight.” I dropped my hands to my lap as I focused on Hudson. “You had enough money simply laying around that you were able to wire it to the title company.”
He blushed. “Well, we had to move some around, but…yes. I did.”
I looked away and took a few deep breaths before I stood and faced him. “You didn’t think this was something you should have spoken with me about?”
Confusion made him stumble on his words when he first spoke. “Um…you…well…you were so upset. You thought you were losing your dream. I just wanted to help.”
Frustration boiled up inside of me. “But…Hudson, why didn’t you talk to me first? This isn’t like going into a store and buying something small. This was a half-a-million dollars. I can’t afford that loan. The amount Tom and I had agreed on was one thing, but this…I can’t.”
“You can buy it back at the purchase price you and Mr. Brooks agreed upon, minus what you’ve already paid him in rent over the last five years. I don’t want anything other than your happiness, Greer.”