Page 34 of Bride in Blue
“All that and more.”
The sound of the door opening caused them to break apart. “We are closed for the evening,” Max said, moving Cassie behind him.
“I am hoping that you at least let me come in.” The man looked around the shop. “It looks like a barnyard in here. I can’t believe that this is how you do business.” Max felt Cassie stiffen behind him.
“What do you want?”
“Didn’t you get my letter?”
Max shook his head. “No. I didn’t.”
“Imagine my surprise when my merchandiser told me that you were displeased with the quality of the work coming out of my factory.” The man walked around to the pants that were thrown in a pile on one of the tables. “Imagine how truly surprised I was when I found out it was you.”
“What do you want?” Max repeated.
The man came closer. Max held his gaze fast. No matter how much animosity he had towards the man, he had forgiven him a long time ago.
“Is that any way to talk to your father, son.”
“You aren’t my father,” Max hissed back.
A small gasp came out from behind Max and he felt Cassie slump to the ground.
Cassie fluttered her eyes open. Where was she?
“You’re awake,” the man said, helping her into a sitting position. She was in the sitting room on the settee.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled. “I’m Dr. JT, and you need to stop fainting.” He held a glass of water to Cassie’s lips. “Only take a few sips at a time. I might have to start treating Max soon if you keep this up.”
Cassie’s eyes darted around the room. “Where is he?”
“I sent him out. Would you like me to get him?”
Cassie nodded.
“I think your father would like to see you as well.”
“Alright,” she responded softly.
The doctor left and suddenly Max appeared in the doorway. He rushed to her side and clasped both her hands in his. She noticed his eyes were red, as if he had been crying. He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them repeatedly. “You scared me, Cassie. Please don’t do that again. I love you.”
Cassie looked at him in surprise.He loved her.Didn’t he know who she was?
“That man was your father?”
“No. That man was someone who raised me for the first part of my life and then sent me away when my mother died.”
“You. You are the boy that disappeared.”
“I went to school in San Francisco. When I returned home, I took my mother’s name, Blue. I had all my connections at the docks, so I started working as an importer of fine fabrics. When I moved out here, I flipped those relationships and started buying from the various garment factories. I didn’t realize that one of my contacts represented my father’s factory. Can you forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive you for. I saw the letter and thought maybe he had found us. Father and I ran away because he was the man who wanted to force my father to let me marry him. I couldn’t be married to someone so terrible.”
“I hope you don’t think I’m terrible, Cassie. I know I’m flawed. I know I prefer order, but I do love you.”
“Why would you say that?”
