An Ideal Father. Elaine Grant

than I ever wanted, I assure you.”

      Another click brought her to a page that listed the homes Cimarron had restored or refurbished. At the beginning of his career he’d apparently contracted out to others, restoring private family homes and historically relevant property.

      Over the years, those jobs had given way to his own projects. Before-and-after photos of each house had a short caption underneath noting the beginning and ending dates of each project and usually included photos of the smiling new owners. A plantation house he’d just completed in Louisiana was on the market for several million dollars. No doubt he realized a significant profit on every house, otherwise why would he keep doing it? He’d recover his investment in Sarah’s house ten times over—when he sold it. Sarah’s optimism caved, leaving an empty spot that opened up like a sinkhole and swallowed her future.

      Kaycee ran her finger lightly down the screen along the list of houses and prices. “He flips houses. Restores them and sells them off.”

      “Looks like,” Sarah murmured. “What am I going to do?”

      “If you need help buying it back or paying a lawyer, you know Jon and I will do as much as we can.”

      Sarah put her hand over Kaycee’s on the desk. A true friend, who would no doubt dish out plenty of money for her. But this wasn’t Kaycee’s battle.

      “Thanks. I know you would, but I don’t think it would do any good. I can see why he’s dead set on restoring the house and making a killing off it. But you never can tell…Maybe fate will intervene.”