Page 30 of Unwanted Vows

“But . . .” Madeline starts to say.

“It’s a good idea,” I jump in before she can object. I remembered those last days in Mountain Hold all too well.

It was only days ago that an Aims Corps building had inexplicably collapsed. Maybe it was selfish of me, but I’d rather hired hands were in the line of danger rather than my…what? Dream woman? Lover? Affianced bride? Handfasted lover?

I knew where she fit in my dreams, but not how we would come together in life. Suddenly, I feel extremely nervous.

I’d let this gorgeous, brilliant woman slip out of my life before I even realized what she could mean to me. After working with her for a week, I realize what a treasure she is. After we deal with the very real danger to her and to Paul, will she kick me out? Or will she let me stay?

I’ve dreamed of her so many nights. Will she be my salvation or the death of me?

I don’t have death to worry about. Or at least I don’t think I do. But my mother’s father is a looming menace — and one that I truly do not understand.

Like the old man in the movie “Godfather”, he has held onto customs and attitudes from a previous time. They are not only out of place and inappropriate for our modern times, but dangerous as well. So I will do all I can to protect my son and his mother. And hope that I can win her love and trust while still keeping her safe.

MOVING IN

MADDY

When four high-powered men put their heads together, things happen quickly. In record time, all my shabby furniture was moved in and placed in a cute cottage that was far nicer than anything I could afford.

A few things of Andrew’s were mingled with them: a woven grass mat, a dining room table made from a slab of natural wood, a bed and nightstand that went in one of the smaller bedrooms. He had been living in an extended stay hotel room, so he did not have many personal belongings.

Andrew has one small bedroom, I have another bedroom. By mutual consent, we’ve given Paul the bigger bedroom. A kid’s room is their private place, a multi-purpose retreat, not just storage for a bed and clothing. The big bedroom gives him room for a set of shelves to hold his treasures. The unit was donated by Austin, purchased from a weird little pawn shop in Freedom.

It has a matching desk, a lidded box for less important possessions, as well as a double bed, a chest of drawers, and a closet.

I’d never skimped on material things for Paul, but I hadn’t indulged him, either. I earn a good salary at the clinic, but I still have student loans, and credit card debt I ran up while I was getting my degree and certification. We’d have enough, but not a lot of extra.

Now, Paul spins in place in the middle of his new room. “Wow!” he says, looking at his computer set up on the desk, the shelves with his things placed on them in some semblance of order. “Can I hang things on the walls?” he asks.

“You’ll have to ask Austin,” I say. “It’s his house.”

“Ask Austin what?” Austin walks in, carrying a floor lamp. “Thought you might like a bedside lamp.”

“If I can put stuff on the walls?” Paul asks.

“Sure,” Austin said. “If you decide to move stuff around, or if you guys move out, I’ll get you to help me fix the holes. Just try to keep it down to pin pricks or small nail holes, ok? No fist holes through the wallboard.”

Paul giggles. “As if I would ever,” he says. “Mom would skin me for that.”

Andrew sticks his head around the doorframe. “Everything okay in here? Do you need anything else, Paul? New mouse for the computer? Some puzzles?”

Paul gets a funny look on his face. “Mom? How old does he think I am? Six?”

I laughed. “Sweetie, he’s only been around kids in hospital settings.”

“That’s not quite true,” Andrew protested. “I spent last summer on Ildogis where there are lots of kids, including Hilda and Ezekial, the royal twins. They all loved puzzles.”

I look at Paul, and he looks back at me, a big grin spreading across his face. “Yep, he thinks I’m six,” he said. “Although, I wouldn’t mind a pad of watercolor paper and a set of paints. Maybe a table easel, if you want to go big?”

This was a test, and I think Andrew knows it. He looks at me, and says, “If it is all right with your mother, I’ll gladly buy you a whole art kit. Let’s call it a make-up birthday gift to try to make up for all the birthdays I’ve missed.”

When he put it like that, how could I refuse? “As long as the paint stays on the paper. If you decide you want to paint murals on your walls, you have to clear it with Austin first.”

“I have a big collection of art material catalogs,” Paul says excitedly. “Can I have anything I want?”

“Um,” Andrew looks at me, then at Austin, realizing that he might have started something more than he anticipated.

---