Page 29 of Unwanted Vows

“Sorry I wasn’t around to help,” I say.

Richard shakes his head. “Don’t be. You were our early success story: the son who focused on philanthropy instead of profit. We’re proud of you. That escape you pulled off for the families in Mountain Hold, nothing short of amazing.”

I give a nervous laugh. “Scariest three months of my life. I wasn’t sure we could do it. But with so many lives at stake, we had to try.”

“Speaking of Mountain Hold, where is Leland this afternoon?” Richard asks.

“In conference with his father-in-law,” I say. “Tulok is a canny old son. He’s looking at all the possible legal dodges Grandfather might pull to get his hands on Paul or the twins – who could also be legitimate heirs. Fortunately, Madeline’s stellar reputation and work performance are in our favor, as is Catriona’s diplomatic visa as a visiting head of state. Grandfather is going to have a hard time proving incompetence or neglect.”

Richard rubs hard at the side of his nose. “Gotta wonder what this handfasting gig will do to her rep. Are you sure you shouldn’t just marry her? Make an honest woman of her, as they say in the old westerns?”

I blow out a breath in frustration. “She won’t hear of it. She’s insisting on separate bedrooms and autonomy. Don’t bump my elbow while I’m in the middle of surgery here, fellas.”

Richard grins at me. “Got a thing for her?” he asks.

I let memory take me inward. “Always. Memory of her has been my guiding light for the last ten years. Then, I didn’t even recognize her. I had a lot of head trauma when the bus crashed. Problem is, she didn’t know it because I was out of touch. And she is totally pissed about what she sees as desertion. Could be, she isn’t wrong.”

“You did kind of do the love-her and leave-her, lady-on-a-pedestal bit,” Austin observes. “She’s probably making a good choice by insisting on a little space while you get to know each other. One week and a child does not a relationship make.”

“I know. I know,” I say. “I couldn’t stay, but I could have asked her to go with me. But what kind of life would that have been for her? And then for the boy?”

“Let’s focus on the here and now,” Richard says. “Do you think this house will do?”

“I don’t see anything wrong with it,” I reply. “The plumbing all works. There’s a dishwasher, a clothes washer and dryer, and a working refrigerator with a big freezer compartment. It looks like paradise to me, but I’ve been living in the bush for the last ten years. Maybe you should ask Madeline.”

“Ask me what?” Maddy’s voice intrudes into the discussion. And there she is, in the doorway with Charles, Leland, and Kandis crowding in behind her.

“If you like the place,” Richard says. “It belongs to Austin, so I don’t think the rent will be too exorbitant.”

“Place needs a caretaker,” Austin chimes in helpfully. “I’ll even throw in the utilities.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Maddy asks. “Besides that I’ll have a housemate.”

“I’ll try to be good,” I say hopefully. “I’ll pick up after myself, and do my share of the chores.”

“Of course you will,” she says. “I’m too busy to look after you. Let me look at it, gentlemen, and I’ll get back to you.”

I didn’t exactly hold my breath, but I will say that I was anxious. I hear closets open and close, then cabinets. I hear water run, then shut off. She comes back into the living room where we had all been standing around talking. She has an odd expression on her face.

“I don’t hate it,” she says. “It’s bigger than my tiny house, even after considering that there will be three of us here. We could even house a tutor for Paul if sending him to school or daycare gets too dicey. But I do have a couple of questions.”

“Shoot,” Austin says, getting out a pad and pencil.

“Who takes care of repairs?” Maddy asks.

“I will,” Austin says. “Or I’ll hire someone to have it done if I don’t have time. As for a tutor, would you object to Paul running with the kid pack a while longer? Julia has to go back to work Monday, but I know a lady who retired recently and who is bored out of her mind with staying at home. I’m pretty sure I could talk her into re-opening her cottage school, especially if we underwrite it.”

“I’d like to meet her first,” Madeline says. “But it sounds like a workable idea. Austin does a great job with school security. But with the other children and parents in and out of the public school building, I do worry.”

“I’ll call and talk to her tonight,” Austin says. “I think you’ll like her. She’s one of the smartest women I’ve ever met. Lee adores her.”

It sounds so odd to hear Austin call his wife “Lee”. But in some ways, it fits her. He also calls her “little mermaid” which I have yet to figure out. But it is good to see that my little sister has grown up to manage her own business.

Better yet, it is good to see that she is happy, and has her head on straight, even if she does have a poetic way of expressing herself. Poor kid, she deserves all the good things in life. Our parents sure didn’t work toward giving them to her.

“With that settled, what about furniture?” Madeline asks. “I own most of what is in my apartment. It is shabby, but serviceable.”

“I can send a moving company to pick it up,” Richard says. “They are very good — they will even pack your trash, just in case.”

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