Herman''s worries finally came true.

The permit still hadn''te through, and he''d had a bad feeling something was about to go wrong.

"Nelson, get in touch with Mr. Goad right now. I''ll take him out for dinner tonight," Herman said.

Mr. Goad was the man to talk to at customs.

Nelson shook his head. "Mr. Salstrom, I''ve already tried. His secretary says he''s fully booked-even into next month. They''re obviously dragging their feet, stalling us for a couple of weeks. If we can''t deliver on time, there''s no way to exin it to the buyer."

Nelson had been working alongside Herman for years, and had gotten good at anticipating problems before they evennded on Herman''s desk.

He always tried to handle things before Herman had to give instructions.

Herman paused, thinking. "Where''s Mr. Goad tonight?"fn0f60 For original chapters go to Find~Novel/fn0f60

"I checked-he''s having dinner with Mr. Taylor at the Crescent Grill."

"Guess we''ll have to catch him there." Herman didn''t seem too bothered. He waved Nelson off. "Go get started, clear my schedule tonight."

"Understood, Mr. Salstrom."

Nelson turned to leave, but Herman added, "Let Henry know I''ll need him with me tonight."

"Yes, Mr. Salstrom," Nelson said, and headed out.

Once Nelson was gone, Herman lit a cigarette and settled into his chair, mulling over the situation with Mr. Walker.

It was obvious now-Mr. Walker was going to back Autumn no matter what.

That meant he''d have to switch up the n. So be it-he''d take Walker head-on if he had to.

As evening fell, city lights flickered on.

Anastasia finally made it home from the studio-it was almost ten.

Herman wasn''t back yet.

The twins were still awake, and Pattie had already turned in for the night.

Tonight, Katelyn was over. She sat with Emmie and Nancy, both kids glued to the TV. She tried to distract them, "Too much screen time will hurt your eyes, Emmie, Nancy. Why don''t youe y a game with Nana? Or maybe it''s time for bed?"

But the girls were lost in their show and didn''t even hear her.

Katelyn nced over as Anastasia walked in. "These two have been watching TV for half an hour. Won''t go to bed. Last time your mom let them watch, I said kids shouldn''t get hooked on TV so young-it''s a hard habit to break. But your mom spoils them."

Anastasia had gotten used to this. In Katelyn''s eyes, every one of the twins'' bad habits came from their grandmother.

"That wasn''t my mom''s doing. Pattie

was watching TV and just forgot to turn it off, so Emmie and Nancy watched for a bit Anastasia exined gently.  s

Katelyn didn''t look pleased. She always felt like Anastasia was talking back.

Anastasia pped her hands. "Emmie, Nancy, TV off-time to go upstairs and get ready for bed."

The girls listened, and Emmie obediently grabbed the remote and switched off the TV.

Anastasia called Liana to take them upstairs.

Since Pattie had started school, Liana had be their live-in tutor, looking after Emmie and Nancy''s lessons.

The twins trotted up with Liana, waving at Anastasia as they went. In their sweet little voices, they said, "Night night, Mommy."

"Goodnight, sweethearts," Anastasia called after them. "Be good-don''t kick off your nkets."

Seeing how well the girls listened,

Katelyn grumbled, "They only listen to their mom Nothing I say works anymore just an old grandma-useless now."  s

Anastasia said nothing.

That was clearly aimed at her.

Katelyn hadn''t always been like this.

Anastasia poured her a ss of orange juice and handed it over. "Mom, thank you

for looking after the girls today. Have some juice, you''ve earned it."

People just want to feel needed as they get older.

That was exactly what Katelyn wanted-some authority at home.

Katelyn took the juice, looking a bit more cheerful. "Ana, you and Herman are always so busy. If you dont have time for the girls, why not

let me take them to Salstrom

Manor? It''d be livelier there."

belongs to s

Anastasia just smiled. "If you want to take them to Salstrom Manor for a few days, that''s totally fine."

"Really?" Katelyn''s face lit up—she''d just been testing her.

Anastasia grinned. "Of course. If Emmie and Nancy want to go, that''s fine. Take them over tomorrow."

But then Katelyn''s face fell. "Those two would never agree to go."

Emmie and Nancy always begged to stay with their grandma-they never wanted

to go to Salstrom Manor.

That was the real reason Katelyn felt left out.

Anastasia smiled softly. "Mom, I know how much you love them—”

Before she could finish, her phone rang in her bag. Hanna''s name lit up the screen.