Absolutely, Positively

you walked away from your Stratton inheritance, I realized that Brandon actually envied your streak of foolish independence. It got worse after he married Olivia. Now he's convinced himself that he must go out on his own.”

    Harry slowly massaged the back of his neck. “You think Brandon is leaving the company in order to prove something? Maybe he just wants to start his own business. What would be so unusual about that? He's a Stratton. Business is in his blood.”

    “He's jealous of you, don't you understand?” Danielle stood up abruptly. “God knows why, but he is. He wants to prove to himself and to Olivia that he's as strong and self-reliant as you are. In the process he's going to ruin his life.

    “I think that's overstating the situation.”

    “No, it's not,” Danielle said. “It's the truth. If Brandon doesn't stay with Stratton Properties, my father will disinherit him. I know he will.”

    “You can't be sure Parker will go that far.”

    “I am sure of it,” Danielle retorted. “He disinherited Brittany when she ran off with Sean Trevelyan, didn't he? And he disinherited you, too, when you refused to join the company. He swore you'd never see a dime of the Stratton money. He means it, Harry.”

    “I don't doubt it, but the circumstances are a little different.”

    “I wish I could believe that, but I can't risk it. You must do something. Just because you don't want the Stratton money, that doesn't give you the right to influence Brandon. I will not stand by and see my son deprived of his inheritance because of you. Do you understand me, Harry?”

    “Even if I admit, for the sake of this idiotic discussion, that I am guilty of inadvertently persuading Brandon to leave Stratton Properties, what the hell do you expect me to do about it now?”

    “Talk him out of it.” Danielle turned on her expensively shod heel and went down the hall.

    Harry closed his eyes in weary resignation as Danielle went through the door and shut it behind her.

    After a moment he heard the study door open quietly. He looked across the room to where Molly stood watching him.

    “I couldn't help overhearing.” Molly propped one shoulder against the jamb. “Your aunt's voice carries.”

    “Tell me about it.” Harry massaged the back of his neck. “I'm sorry you had to sit through that.”

    “Did your grandfather really offer to reinstate you in his will if you joined the family firm?”

    “Yes.”

    “And you turned him down, of course.”

    “Parker Stratton uses money to control people. It's as natural for him as breathing.” Harry went into the kitchen to find the bottle that he kept in a cupboard next to the refrigerator. “Can I interest you in a little medicinal brandy?”

    “Sure.” Molly unpropped herself from the jamb and came forward. “What happens now? Will you try to talk Brandon out of leaving the family firm?”

    “No.” Harry splashed brandy into two glasses. “I'll talk to Parker. See if I can convince him to let Brandon go out on his own without reprisals.”

    Molly accepted the brandy snifter. “Do you think that's possible?”

    “Maybe.” Harry smiled humorlessly. “With a little luck, I think I can convince Parker to do the right thing.”

    Molly's eyes were very green as she regarded him over the rim of the brandy glass. “The way you convinced your uncle Leon to lay off Josh?”

    “Something like that, yes.”

    “Correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression that everyone on both sides of your family seems to think it's your job to solve all of their problems.”

    “Not all. Just some of them.”

    Molly was silent for a while. “How did you get into this situation, Harry?”

    He did not pretend to misunderstand the question. “Damned if I know.”

    “Harry, this is me, Molly, remember? You can't brush me off with that kind of answer. I'm too smart.”

    He smiled reluctantly. “Granted. And you've got the Abberwick curiosity. I mustn't forget that.”

    “Look, if you don't want to tell me why you put up with scenes like the one you just went through with your aunt, that's fine. It's your business. And it is a family matter. I have no right to pry.”

    “It's not that I don't want to explain the situation.” Harry contemplated his brandy. “I'm just not sure of the answer. No one's ever asked me that particular question before.”

    “Leave it to an Abberwick,” Molly said lightly. “We're inquisitive by nature.”

    Harry thought