Victoria Staten entered the foyer in front of her son Robert, her expression drawn, her eyes dark with sadness as Keiley stood at the entrance to the living room and watched Mac step back to let them in.
Robert was a few years older than Mac. He was shorter, distinguished rather than rough around the edges, controlled and methodical. He ran the family businesses now, a mix of enterprises from computer hardware to cotton production. His shoulders were broad, his dark hair cut close, his sea-green eyes shuttered as he and Mac shook hands before Mac introduced him to Jethro.
“Can we talk?” Robert pushed his hands into the pockets of his slacks as he stared back at Jethro and Mac.
“Come in, Robert. Victoria. ” Keiley stepped forward as she extended her hand to the living room. “I’ll fix some coffee. ”
“No, dear,” Victoria said firmly. “This is something you need to hear as well. ”
Keiley glanced to Robert. He nodded abruptly.
?
?Come on in,” Mac said then.
Jethro moved ahead of them, standing by the couch and indicating the two chairs that faced it across a low coffee table. Once Victoria had sat down, Jethro moved to one end of the couch as Keiley took her seat beside him, with Mac on her other side.
The move wasn’t lost on Victoria. She watched them with a closed expression, but her eyes took in the nuances of the seating arrangements.
“I want to apologize for Delia’s behavior, Mac,” Robert stated as he stared back at them. “I know she received the picture from Wes Bridges. The sheriff found the e-mail on his laptop. She’s been a nuisance, and I take the blame for that. ”
“Why?” Keiley asked him, seeing his surprise. “Why take the blame for her?”
“Because I knew she was rabid where Mac was concerned and I married her anyway,” he stated coolly. “She won’t bother you any longer. ”
“What makes you so certain?” Mac’s voice was dangerously low.
Keiley knew his anger toward Delia, but she also knew his fear that Robert’s anger could have manifested itself in physical harm toward her. No matter how angry he was, he wouldn’t have condoned Robert striking her.
“Delia’s staying with her sister in Pennsylvania until our divorce is final,” Robert stated then. “I doubt she’ll be back. I know the condemnation against her was strong. She didn’t have many friends left the way it was. ”
“And I would like to extend my apologies as well,” Victoria sighed. “I should have kept closer tabs on her. I had hoped Robert’s warnings that he would divorce her would stay her hand. And I’m sorry for that. ”
Keiley glanced away as Victoria caught her eye.
“We don’t blame you or Robert, Victoria,” Mac said then. “But I won’t have this backlashing on Keiley from your end. ”
“In what manner?” Victoria suddenly straightened imperiously. “Young man, since when did you get big enough for your breeches that you could dictate to me?”
Keiley turned her head as Jethro snickered. Mac did have the good grace to flush at her rebuke, but he wasn’t to be outdone that easily.
“When my wife’s position in this community is placed at risk because of your daughter-in-law’s actions,” he stated coolly. “Delia demanded her resignation from the charity committee, and your board members were present when she did so. I want your assurance that her position there will be upheld and that your support toward her is still in place. ”
Keiley winced. She expected Victoria to calmly tear a strip off his head for even suggesting she would back Keiley now. Instead, her lips twitched.
“It’s going to be interesting watching the two of you serve hot dogs this summer,” Victoria drawled instead. “My support remains constant as long as you and Jethro both are in attendance at that booth. If your wife can face the public with the grace and pride I heard she showed at Casey’s, then you can do the same at the festival. Are we agreed?”
“I have work—” Jethro sounded almost panicked.
“Young man, are we understood?” Victoria demanded, her voice frosting over. “If you are going to be a part of this small family, and if I am going to back such a relationship, then I shall, of course, demand my own satisfaction. That satisfaction being watching all the droves of curious women spending good money to buy hot dogs from the two bad boys of our fair county. This is not negotiable. ”
Jethro sent Mac a furious look. A demand to intercede.
Mac held his hands up in surrender. “You don’t fight her, man. She’s tougher than you are. ”
Robert leaned back in his chair and chuckled at the display, his gaze meeting Keiley’s with an edge of admiration.
“Congratulations, Keiley,” he said. “I can safely say you are the only woman I know of to have survived such scandal intact and with such a promise from Mother. ”