Page 46 of Spilling the Tea

“Kurt, what’s wrong?” Jantz asked in concern, stepping aside. When he did, Kurt entered, followed by Ms. Penny, Charlotte, Reverend Potts, and Waylon.

Milton met Waylon’s gaze. Over the years, he and Waylon had mastered the ability to silently communicate with each other, especially when some crazy bullshit was about to go down. The look in his best friend’s eyes warned him this would be one of those times.

When everyone was inside, Jantz closed the door. By then, Milton’s mother and sister had come out of the dining room. Victoria stood beside Milton, but Etta Madaris went to stand next to her husband when it was apparent the Satterfields were upset about something.

Reverend Potts looked like he’d hastily gotten dressed and preferred being anyplace than here, and probably didn’t like the fact he was missing his supper.

“Kurt, I’m going to ask you again, what’s wrong? What’s this about?” Jantzen asked.

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong and what this is about,” Kurt said in a loud, booming voice that almost shook the rafters. “Your son,” he said, pointing at Milton. “Got my daughter in a family way, and there’s going to be a wedding tonight or a funeral.”

Chapter Fourteen

Milton went completely still, and then, when he realized the impact of Mr. Satterfield’s words, he became enraged—fully enraged—especially when everyone, the Satterfields, his parents, and Reverend Potts, were staring at him.

His gaze flew to Charlotte and to his way of thinking, she had some smug look on her face. That enraged him even more. He turned to Mr. Satterfield. “I don’t know what your daughter told you, but if she’s in a family way, her baby isn’t mine. I’ve never touched her. I’m an engaged man.”

“You did touch me!” Charlotte screamed, her eyes flowing with what he knew were fake tears. “I was a virgin, and you told me if I got pregnant, that you would marry me!”

This was damn unbelievable, Milton thought. He couldn’t believe this shit. Charlotte was lying, and they both knew it. Turning to his parents, still staring at him, he said furiously, “She’s lying, Dad. I would not have touched her that way. I love Felicia and would not have betrayed her.”

“I believe my daughter, and there will be a wedding tonight,” Kurt snarled.

“Over my dead body,” Milton snarled back.

“That is your only other option,” Kurt snapped.

“That’s enough!” Jantzen bellowed loudly before Milton had a chance to say anything else. “I need to speak with my son alone.” His father turned and walked toward his study, and Milton followed.

When the door closed behind them, an angry Jantzen stared long and hard at his son before asking, “Is Charlotte Satterfield pregnant with your child?”

Milton wanted to kick something. Hadn’t he just said in front of everyone that she wasn’t? Charlotte was putting on a believable act, but his family had to know she was lying through her teeth.

Drawing a deep breath, he knew he had to regain his composure and answer his father. “No, Pa. If she is pregnant, it is not my child.”

Seeing the Madaris family Bible on his father’s desk, he picked it up and placed his hand, palm down, on top of it. “This is our family Bible, Pa. In it are the names of all the Madarises before me, back to Carlos Madaris. It has been handed down from generation to generation with honor. It is an honor I’ve never taken lightly. An honor I’ve always been proud of. On this Bible, I swear to you, as your son, as a Madaris, that I have never touched Charlotte Satterfield. If she is pregnant, her baby isn’t mine.”

Milton then returned the Bible to the desk. He had no idea what Jantzen Madaris was thinking. Usually, when a woman made such an accusation, her word was to be believed. He hoped, in this case, his father would believe him. He just had to.

Finally, his father said, “I believe you, Milton.”

Relief flowed through him. “Thanks, Pa.” He paused momentarily and then said, “Even if you had said you didn’t believe me, I still would not marry her. Doing so would be a slap to the faces of all the Madarises before me.”

He paused before continuing, needing his father to understand what he meant. “Whispering Pines is Madaris land. It is a Madaris birthright. I would willingly die by Mr. Kurt’s shotgun before being forced into a marriage where I knew the next person to inherit our land was not a true Madaris. If Charlotte is pregnant, her baby isnota Madaris.”

He knew his words had hit home when he saw fury in his father’s face. “Why is she lying, Milton? Has Charlotte ever come on to you before?”

Milton shrugged. “She’s been a nuisance all her life, Pa. However, never in a million years would I have thought she would stoop so low as to try something like this. I love Felicia. She is the woman I love and the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

Jantzen nodded. “Alright, let me handle this. Kurt’s allegations are an attack on my family and the Madaris name, and I won’t stand for it.”

Milton had never seen his father this angry, and considering the circumstances, he understood. He followed his father from the study. Everyone was standing in the same spot they had been in when they’d left them minutes ago. He met his mother’s and sister’s gazes and knew, without them saying a word, they believed his denials. He glanced at Waylon. Although to others he might have had an unreadable expression on his face, Milton understood. His best friend believed him and was taking his word over that of his own sister.

“What’s it going to be, Jantzen?” Kurt Satterfield asked in an angry tone. “A funeral or a wedding?”

Jantzen frowned. “There won’t be a funeral.”

Milton’s gaze was trained on Charlotte, who, in turn, met his gaze and had the nerve to smirk.

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