Page 92 of Impurrfections

He nodded, miming zipping his lips. I felt a rush of affection. This meeting was no fun, but having Shane at my side made it so much easier.

Arthur said, “A new location wouldn’t be the same. This site’s already fully built and a bunch of it can be used as-is. The washrooms, the kitchen, the fancy front lobby, utilities, parking. With luck, we could be open by May. If we have to find another site, especially outside of town, I don’t know how long it’d take. There’d be sewer and electric and construction and plumbing and paving and everything.” He looked up at the mayor. “Frankly, I’m tired. I’ve been doing the foster thing a long time. Pam and all her foster people? We’re all tired. I’ve said no to people needing me to take their dog, and I’ve cried about it when they left, not knowing if they’re just going to dump the dog somewhere. I’m not ashamed to admit that.” He ran his gaze up and down the table on the dais, meeting all the councilmembers’ eyes. “If this rescue property goes through, we’ll have a new hope. I’ll do my best to keep the place quiet and clean. All I’m asking is, don’t crush that hope.”

The mayor cleared her throat. I thought they might vote, but then I heard the door behind us open and shut, and Van Doren held up a hand. “Ah. Here he is. There’s one other legal issue with the proposed site which could delay things indefinitely, and make a different site much better.” He looked up toward the back of the room. “Welcome, Mr. Lafontaine. Glad you could make it.”

CHAPTER23

THEO

I almost gave myself whiplash,turning around. The man strolling down the aisle toward the front only looked vaguely familiar.How many years since I saw my father? Twenty-five?This older man with carefully highlighted hair and a designer sweater looked more like my grandfather, but when he said, “I appreciate your informing me,” to Van Doren, his voice rang a chime in my head.

Shane grabbed my hand in his and squeezed, whispering, “Is that…?”

“Yeah.” I clung to his fingers, and then, as my father drew level with us, made myself let go.

Papa walked up to the mic and said, “Thanks for inviting me to speak here. I had no idea this was happening until Mr. Van Doren tracked me down and notified me.”

Because it’s none of your fucking business.I gritted my teeth. His voice had a new layer of accent from his years in France, but I remembered that voice saying, “You’ll be staying with your grandparents for a while,” with no more emotion. I didn’t remember him saying goodbye, because he never bothered.

The mayor asked, “Can you please tell us who you are and why your input is relevant today.”

“I’m Henri Lafontaine.” He pronounced it the French way,On-ree, and I couldn’t keep my lip from curling.

You used “Henry” around my mother’s friends. I haven’t forgotten.

“I’m the son of Louise and Guy Lafontaine who owned that wine-tasting venue, and Thibault is my son. By all rights, that venue should’ve come to me, and I’ve been contesting the inheritance in court. Nothing can be done with it until I get my rights.”

Beside me, Shane said, “Bullshit,” rather loudly.

That got me up on my feet. “Hello, Papa.” My throat clamped down tight.

He turned my way. “Thibault. Good to see you?—”

I coughed. “After dumping me on my grandparents at the age of five and flying off to live the playboy life in France?”

“Now, son, that’s rather harsh. You know?—”

“What Iknow,” I snapped, my voice free at last, “is that you don’t get to call me son. What Iknowis that after leaving me in theirtendercare for years without a word, the moment they died, you swooped back like a vulture looking for your share of the carrion. Youtrieda lawsuit. It failed. The judge dismissed all your claims. Your appeal was denied. The property’s mine. The money’s mine.”

My father glared at me. “I’ve uncovered new information, a new statement of intent from my parents. They wanted the property to continue in the family line in perpetuity. Generation to generation. I have two more children. If they’d known you were gay, they wouldneverhave left a dime to you.”

Two more children.I had half-siblings.Did you abandon them, too?I didn’t want to air all our dirty laundry. “Too bad you didn’t get to tell Grand-mère and Grand-père before they died. But then, they hadn’t spoken to you in twenty-two years.”

“A misunderstanding.”

“Maybe. Would they have been more upset with me being gay, or you running off to have fun with three million dollars they could’ve used in the vineyard?” I tilted my head. “Guess we’ll never find out because they picked me.”

“A judge might think differently.” My father turned to the council. “And clearly, the value to the town of reopening a wine-tasting venue that would bring a high-class group of tourists to spend money locally is far more than a mangey animal shelter. When I own the property, I’ll sell it to someone who’ll preserve its character.”

I laughed hoarsely. “Doesn’t matter. The probate’s over. I already gave away the vineyard to Manuel.”

“You did what?” He whirled back to stare at me. “When?”

“As soon as I got word that probate was complete. And I’m giving the venue to the Safe Haven Animal Rescue of Gaynor Beach the moment their paperwork goes through.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

A familiar voice behind me said, “Which you don’t.” Wynn pushed to his feet. “I’m Mr. Theo Lafontaine’s lawyer, and I attest that there are no more legal avenues to pursue against his inheritance. None. He can do whatever he wants with it.”

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