Page 42 of The Best Kind of Bad

He expression grows serious. “Every last one.”

My stomach flips.

“Well, anyhow. I know you’re in touch with Carl Steiner. You run this offer by him, he’ll play you straight. If he thinks we need to come back to the drawing board, just holler.” He holds out his hand, that intense glint is back in his eye. “It was a real pleasure to meet you, Marnie. I mean that.”

I wait until his truck is out of the yard, before unfolding the paper.

“Holy shit.”

Ed cranes his head to look at me.

I knew the land was worth something. I just didn’t know it was worththatmuch.

There are more commas and zeros in one number than I’ve seen in my life.

With that kind of cash, I could open a whole chain of bakeries.

28.

Dusty

I’m not spying on Jerry and Marnie.

I tried heading inside to give them privacy. Got some coffee. Checked through the bills and invoices piled up on the counter. But when I came back out, they were still out there.

True, there’s about twenty things I need to do today and unloading the pickup isn’t one of them.

But it allows me a good view of the farmyard.

It also gives me a good view of the moment my future transfers from Jerry’s hands to Marnie’s.

She’s got the power right there, in black and white. I don’t know many people who could see that many numbers and not go for the instant cash.

I’d tell her she’d be better off renting, but I’m not sure how to do that without sounding self-serving.

Inheriting farm ground is kind of like winning the lottery.

You can take the initial payout, right out of the gate.

But you’ll make more in the long run if you take the payments.

Bo wasn’t exaggerating when he said she’d have an income for life from the rent alone.

Probably wouldn’t have to work another day in her life if she didn’t want to.

But it wouldn’t put hard cash in her bank account to rebuild her dreams.

Funny how taking back her dream will require the dismantling of mine.

I can’t hold her personally responsible. I won’t.

But that doesn’t change the fact that my life is about to get dumped upside down.

I suppose five years of stability was a pretty good run.

Ed trots across the yard, Marnie trails behind him.

She stops on the other side of the pickup truck, propping her elbows on the side.

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