“Babe, I’ll always ensure you get everything you want and need.”
“I love you!” Oakley wailed, and I laughed.
“This isn’t the way I expected to hear your first I love you!”
“But I do!”
“I know, and I love you. That’s why this is your decision, too.”
“Why can’t we have two workshops? I’ll work in Chicago when you’re here and then have one at home, too,” Oakley demanded as she wiped her tears.
“You decide, Oakley, but this needs to be a joint decision.”
“Then I choose you play ball, and I have two workshops. That’s acceptable. As long as we can move whatever I’m working on back to Rapid City when we spend the off-season there,” Oakley said.
“Sure. Mom has a private plane, remember?”
“So cool,” Oakley muttered.
“We’re in agreement that I sign, just for a year? We’ll reassess after that.”
“Yes! You had your dream stolen once, and I’d never destroy your second chance. Reach out, honey, with both hands and accept how lucky you are. You deserve this, Harley. Even if it only lasts a year, grab hold tightly and enjoy every moment of it. You get to play with your brother!”
“Thank you, babe, your support means so much. Guess I gotta call Mom and Dad, and then we need to decide what to do with the Smithy. Maybe the club can rent it out, I don’t want it just sitting there. The MC invested a lot of money in it, and although I’ve paid them back, it’s a waste.”
“Could you find someone who’d share it with you?” Oakley asked, stroking my chest.
“Probably. I’m going to have to work longer days to finish up the orders I have and then attend training. We need to find somewhere to live and get a workshop for you. And we need bedrooms for Aspen and Archer when we find them,” I said as my mind raced ahead.
Oakley’s hand stilled on my chest.
“You want them to live with us?” she asked with a hitch in her voice.
“Of course. We’ve no idea where they’ve been hidden or locked up. Aspen will need you with her, and Archer will need family,” I answered.
“I love you even more now!” Oakley wailed, and with a sigh, I pulled her in close. My girl was feeling emotional!
Chapter Eleven.
Oakley
Isat nervously with the lawyer that Harley had introduced me to. The guy worked for the Trusts but was highly trusted. His name was Steven, and he scoured the papers in front of him with a beady eye. Finally, Steven leaned back.
“Oakley, Harley.”
“Steven, thanks for seeing us,” Harley replied, and I murmured an agreement.
“Not a problem. I’ve been studying these for a few days. This isn’t quite my remit, but these are straightforward. Do you understand them?” Steven asked.
“Yes. I think so,” I answered.
“I’ll nutshell it. Your grandfather’s will is simple. The entire inheritance was bequeathed to you and your cousin Aspen, and her son Archer. You and Aspen inherited one quarter each and Archer half. Mr Ferguson left you and Aspen the rights to an invention, which you both also helped design. Your grandfather completely cut out your parents,” Steven said.
“That’s correct.”
“Here’s where it gets sticky. Your inheritances were put into trust funds until you turned twenty-five. However, in Archer’s case, his could be accessed to the tune of ten thousand a month for his care and needs. Aspen was the one in charge of this, and from what I’ve seen from bank statements, she pulled ten thousand every couple of months. They lived quite simply,” Steven said.
“Yes, Aspen didn’t see the need for designer shit.”