Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
“What?” he said, exploding.
When Beau started to pull over to the side of the road, Maisie said quickly, “Beau, you have to get to my father’s house before he does anything foolish.”
Shaking his head, Beau steered the car back into the lane. “What did she do? Offer you a wad of cash?”
“She had it in an envelope. I walked out before I told her off. I thought that was the best thing to do. A courier appeared while I waited for you. A staff member gave him the envelope and drove off. That’s when I marched back in to find you.”
“And I was drinking scotch with my father, totally clueless that she was bribing you to leave me in the other room.” Beau raised his hand and slammed it down on the steering wheel.
“It’s okay, Beau. Let’s just get to my house.”
Walking in the battered front door, Maisie called, “Dad?”
“I’m in the kitchen,” he called back.
Maisie led the way through the family room to the kitchen. She froze in the door and felt Beau look over her shoulder. Her father sat in his regular chair counting the money into stacks. Tears ran down his face.
“Dad? Are you okay?” She and Beau walked into the room and took seats in the rickety, mismatched chairs.
“I could have made your mom well with all this money. A man just handed it to me and left. Mrs. Granville wrote a note inside stating I can use this money only if I prevent you from marrying Beau. Your folks did this?” he asked, looking at Beau.
“I’m afraid so, sir.”
“Are you going to marry my daughter?” he asked.
“I am. I love her, Mr. Woodson.”
“Your mom told me he loved you when you were in the seventh grade, Maisie. She always said Beau had the same look in his eye when he looked at you as I did when I courted her.”
Tears filled Maisie’s eyes. “She did?”
“Your mom was wise. She knew lots of things,” he said to Maisie as he stacked up the bills into one pile and tucked them back into the envelope. “I think you need to return this to your parents, Beau. There’s no way I’m going to stand in the way of you two getting married.”
“Sir, you can keep that money,” Beau assured him.
“No way. Maisie’s mother would come back to whoop me good.”
“She would, too,” Maisie said, wiping her eyes. “Dad, we don’t have the date for the wedding yet, but I’ll send it as soon as I can.”
“I don’t want to embarrass you, Maisie. I don’t have a fancy suit to wear.”
“None of that matters. What’s important is that I have you there,” she told him.
“Then I’ll be there with bells on,” her father assured her. He paused for a second before looking at Beau.
“Are you going to protect Maisie from your parents?”
“I will. My parents have always been opinionated. This, however, severs my ties with them. Caring for Maisie is my priority. Nothing else matters,” Beau shared with him.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to be.” He handed the envelope to Beau as if it were a snake waiting to bite him. “Watch your back, Beau. They came after us when Maisie was in the seventh grade—indirectly, of course. The bank suddenly called our loan due. I thought I’d lose the house over the kids and their mama’s heads.”
Beau shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t know, either. Is that when you were both working two jobs?” Maisie said, trying to remember.
“We were able to meet the bank’s deadlines. It was close, but the manager there strung out the due date for us so we could make it. You had his son as a teacher.”
“Mr. Chamberlain?” Maisie guessed.
“That’s him. His banker father was mighty proud of his son, even though he’d chosen education instead of banking. I guess he’d heard a lot about the five of you.”
Maisie couldn’t even look at Beau. Mr. Chamberlain. She felt Beau’s arm wrap around her waist and he pulled her tight against him.
“We’re heading back to DC tomorrow. Here’s my cell number if you need anything, Mr. Woodson.”
“Thanks. My daughter turns her phone off on me.”
“On me, too. My apologies for my parents.”
“It’s not on you. They did a good job raising you. That’s one positive they accomplished. You know, the last thing I wanted was for my daughter to associate with a rich politician who was interested in lining his own pockets. Maisie has sent me articles over the years about all the good you’re trying to do in Washington. Perhaps I need to rethink my opinion of politicians. At least one.”
“Thank you, sir.”
They turned to leave but Beau stopped when he remembered something else to talk to his future father-in-law about. “Mr. Woodson, reporters may come to talk to you when they hear of our wedding.”