Her father shook his head. “I might be getting old, sweet pea, but I’m not that old. I can recognize a lovers’ quarrel when I see one.”
“Dad we’re not—”
“Hush. Don’t waste words on me. You should take him for a ride and talk to him. Tell him how you’re feeling.”
“Dad, you have no idea who he is. He’s . . . Charles Lawson. Lawson Steel.”
“Yup. I know.”
“He told you?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I recognized him the first time you brought him home. His face is all over those business magazines.”
“You read those things?” Now she was really puzzled.
“We get them because your mother liked to follow what Uncle Max was up to.”
She had seen them plenty of times, but they were always by the fireplace. She figured her father had picked them up to burn.
“Does Mom know about Uncle Max?”
“Her mind is slipping a lot. I didn’t tell her. It wouldn’t matter. In a few minutes she’d forget anyway. It’s better we don’t mention it.”
She wrapped her arms around her father and said, “I’m sorry, Dad. I wish there was something I could do to make this all better.”
“You can. Go talk to that man of yours and listen to what he has to say.”
“But Dad, we are from two different worlds.”
Her father laughed. “You think I can’t relate? Look at me and your mother. But we made it work. You can too. That is if you want to. Only you know the answer. And you can’t make it work until you talk to him.”
“But Dad, this isn’t the time. Uncle Max is missing.”
“No, sweet pea. They found the plane and there were no survivors. Uncle Max and Aunt Laura are gone, along with the pilot.”
She shook her head. “I want to feel something, but . . . but . . .”
“Rosslyn, he was my brother-in-law; I know exactly what you mean. The times we did see each other weren’t very pleasant. But he was still our family.”
“I feel horrible that I just up and left like that.” There was a lot more to it, but she wasn’t sharing that.
“There was nothing there for you. Well, except for Charles, who is patiently waiting for you while entertaining your mother. Now go before he changes his mind.”
She hugged her father and said, “I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, sweet pea.”
Rosslyn went inside and saw Charles sitting beside her mother’s wheelchair. He was talking to her about when they went magnet fishing. The sight of them really touched her heart. He is a good man. Just a very rich one.
Walking over, she gave her mother a quick hug and said, “Mom, I’m going out for a drive with Charles. We’ll be back later, okay?”
“Yes. You know your curfew. Be home by eight.”
Rosslyn smiled. “Yes, Mom.” She waved for Charles to follow her outside. Her father slipped past them and into the house.
They got into the car and Charles asked, “Where do you want to go?”
“How about our fishing place? It’s private there and we can talk.”