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“I’ a miracle, doc says six months, twelve tops”
“Oh, God, Dad!” Dane could feel his blood pump hard and his veins constrict “Are you serious?” Dane tried hard not to show emotion, but it was damned difficult He’d been down this road with his mother He enty-nine and already had to deal with the death of his mother when he was a teen, now his father, too?
“You know, I realize people die, but as soht I’d be the exception” Jonah chuckled
Dane sed hard but the luht he would choke on his own emotion
Yeah, funny He always thought hard-riding Jonah would always be around Jonah was supposed to be ih as proverbial nails and could pretty
“No, boys,” Jonah pacified, leaning forward He placed the brass bucket on the side table beside hie butkids till I ay into ht not be around to see you allto be a grandfather, to show randkids the ropes…” He clasped the brass bucket handed down to hirandfather
“Just aspart in e to his steady tone
“Oh, Jonah, I kno much that means to you, but you can’t dwell on that now” Aunt Maya walked into the study, wiping her apron She’d just finished ne Aunt Maya was Jonah’s younger sister She was a seventy-year-old ho had sadly lost her husband o They never had any children of their own, but Aunt Maya was godmother to about sixteen children of her friends and cousins, and she was a ure to Jonah’s boys
She took her role as auntie incredibly seriously As such, she got on their nerves at times, too
The aro for a home cookedon with Jonah
“I’ve already spoken to the lawyers about this” Jonah cleared his throat and he held up his chin “This bucket I have right here beside me is more than just a bucket It is syic that was randfather”
“I know, Dad,” Leo said soothingly
“I know you’ve heard the story before Jonah Belmont caht but he was given a brass bucket from a shop owner And he used the bucket to fill it ater and offered his services to anyone who needed to have their s cleaned But it wasn’t just that He’d hter of a store-owner Not one for handouts he’d created his own job”
“And that led to hi for a s over and turned that into the first Belrehat it is today, a ide conglomerate,” Dane finished for him
“Yes, that’s right This bucket held dreams And today, it is what I will fill with my bucket list items”
“Bucket list items?”
“Yes My last wishes are to see that you, my sons, fulfill the Belon the fa joy to that special so children into the world This hotel is a family dynasty and it must remain so”
“Dad, what are you saying?” Cole asked
“Two things”
“Two things?”
“Yes, the first is that since there isn’t much time, I would like to have you boys stay here for the year at the estate There are seventy-five rooms I know you all visit often, but I want to spend family time with you”
“Sure thing, Dad,” Chase concurred
“Of course,” Dane added “You really didn’t even have to tell us, Jonah Chase and I spoke about it on the way over here We were planning to move back in to be with you in any case”
“That’s good to hear, sons”
The rest of the boys agreed
“And secondly, before the six months or the year is up, I want to fill this bucket with a boutonnière fro that you’ve married and settled down in order to receive the Bel”
“The Bel?”
“Yes You heard right My grandfather’s lucky brass bucket that led to building this very hotel legacy was also a place where he stored his boutonniere Hisand happy one The same with my father He placed and stored his boutonniere in this bucket and he also enjoyed a long, loving relationship with his wife and success, too Now, o for that hogwash But then look at es and I’m alone now I don’t want the same for you boys You must carry on the tradition”