Page 29 of Sweet Redemption
Feeling the heat on my back, Markus leaned against me and said, “I didn’t know. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. We were going to tell you today,” Beth said with a shrug.
“Why not sit down for breakfast? I’m starving,” Markus Sr. said coolly.
The four of us nodded in unison.
I followed Markus and took a plate and added scrambled eggs, bacon and some potatoes chopped with onions and green peppers. After two pieces of toast, I sat down next to where Markus had placed his plate, opposite to Bryce and Beth. Markus’s father sat at the head of the large glass dining table.
Markus grabbed some juice and tea for me, and coffee for himself. “Thank you,” I uttered, not sure if I should even speak. He squeezed my hand and then sat down.
“So Charlie. What do you do for a living?” Markus Sr. asked after he wiped the cloth napkin across his lips.
“I’m a librarian.”
The surprised look on all three of their faces almost made me chuckle.
“Seriously?” Beth asked, but the question was directed to Markus.
“Yes. Seriously,” I answered right back with a smile. It would be rude to start the day off with a condescending comment. That wasn’t me.Kill them with your kindness, Charlie.
“How did you two meet?” Bryce added his two cents. “Because I can’t picture Markus walking into a library…unless you—”
“I met her on the way here,” Markus said it like was no big deal. It really wasn’t, but at the same time, it was. Apparently he had never dated a librarian.
“Who would bring a perfect stranger to a family funeral? For all I know you could have picked her up on the side of he road,” his father spat out.
Markus shot up from his seat and spat out, “Fuck you. Apologize to Charlie right fucking now.”
“Wait. Dad is only asking where you met Charlie. I’m sure he didn’t mean what you’re thinking,” Bryce argued.
“Stop defending him. He practically called Charlie a whore and you’re going to sit here and tell me that wasn’t blatant.” Markus shook his head. “What the hell happened to you?”
“What happened to me? You haven’t been home in two years to fucking know,” Bryce rifled back.
“Please. Stop arguing,” Beth said firmly.
Both men clamped their mouths shut. Silence rang loud throughout the room.
“Wow. What’s your magic?” I said to Beth without much thought.
Beth looked at me with surprise and then let out a snort of laughter with such a radiant smile that it was infectious. I smiled right back, letting everyone know I wasn’t a least bothered by the ignorant man to my right.
She turned to Bryce and said in a soothing tone, “Please, let’s have a good morning because baby, it’s going to be a hard rest of the day.”
The woman was right. Darn, I liked Beth a lot.
Markus grabbed hold of my hand. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Do you want to go?”
I gave him a brilliant grin. “No. Let’s stay, enjoy Beth’s marvelous breakfast.”
Markus calmed but I still saw a note of anger in his eyes. He leaned in and kissed my temple. “Then eat.” He picked up his fork, ignoring his father.
“So tell me, Charlie, how did you really meet this guy?” Beth pointed at Markus with a forkful of fruit.
“Markus hit something on the road near the town where I live. We met, and the rest is history. It was as simple as that.” I wasn’t going to elaborate that he came to my house and we shagged our butts off.
Markus’s father snickered. “I bet.”
