“Right on time. What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have a beer, an IPA on draft if they have it.”
Mandy, the bartender, winked at Cole as she slid a freshly poured beer toward him.
“Nice to see you, Cole. It’s been awhile,” she said with a smile. Mandy had just graduated too and Cole had known her for years. He hadn’t been to the club in a long time. He used to golf more but in recent months it hadn’t been on his mind much.
“Thanks. It’s been too long.”
“You ready to sit down? Our table is ready whenever you are,” his father said as his two friends paid their tab and left.
“Sure.” As ready as he’d ever be. His father led them to a corner table by a window that faced out onto the course. Two menus were already there and the other two settings had been removed. They sat and his father took a long sip of his drink. He looked like he was about to say something, then opened his menu instead. A moment later, Edwin, the waiter that had been at the club for as long as Cole could remember, came by to tell them the specials and take their orders. They both got the same thing they always did, sirloin strip steaks and a loaded baked potato. Once Edwin left, his father turned to him.
“All right. Out with it. What’s so important that we’re having this conversation here?”
Cole took a deep breath. His father was still dressed for success in a rich tweed blazer and red silk tie and he exuded power. He was tan too, from spending the last week in the Bahamas. Although he was in his early fifties, he had only a dusting of gray around his temples, which was mostly hidden by the gel he used on his thick, black hair.
“It’s Laura. You know how I told you a month or so ago that we wanted to get married?”
His father scowled and reached for a hot roll as Edwin set a bread basket on the table with a tub of butter.
“I thought we decided that it was too soon for you to be thinking marriage? Better to wait until you are out of college. See if you’re still even together then?” He slathered butter on his bread, took a bite and then added, “Maybe you’ll find someone more …..appropriate?”
Cole clenched his fist and fought the urge to smash something. He had to look away from the sneer on his father’s face. When he spoke about Laura it was as if he was thinking of something distasteful and it disgusted Cole.
“Dad, there is no one who is more appropriate for me than Laura.”
“You say that now. You have to think of your future, and where you are going and choose a partner that will be an asset. Bernie Thirwood told me just the other day that he’d be happy to have you join them when you finish law school.”
Cole sighed. “I’ve never said I would go to law school. I don’t think I want to be a lawyer.”
“It’s an excellent choice for you. It will give you options. Open doors for other things. If you major in tax that would be really helpful for the business. If you eventually decide to come on board.”
“I don’t see myself following in your footsteps Dad. I’m sorry, but real estate development doesn’t interest me.”
“Well, what does then? You’re not still thinking foolish thoughts about Nashville and country music?”
“I am. That’s my dream.” Cole lifted his chin and met his father’s eyes. “I’m good too. People have said so.”
His father laughed. “Who said that? Your girlfriend? And you wonder why I don’t think she is a good choice for you. You need to be practical, son. Play around with music all you want, as a hobby. But you need a good education, a business degree at least, followed by law school.”
“I’ll think about it, law school that is. I am in for the business program.” Cole figured it might not be a bad idea to make his father seem like he was going along with his recommendations. To calm him before they headed into stormy waters.
“Good. And I’m glad you decided on Clemson. Now what’s so important?”
Their meals arrived and Cole waited a moment, letting his father cut into his steak and take his first bite before proceeding to ruin his meal.
“Dad, we’re going through with getting married, sometime over the next few weeks and then we’ll get a place together near Clemson.”
“Why would you do that? I thought you said she was going out of state? Washington or Montana?”
He cut another bite of steak and Cole did the same, and was just about to explain when his father set his fork down.
“She’s pregnant?” His voice was cold, his eyes stormy as he glared at his son.
Cole nodded.
“This isn’t good, for any of us.”
Cole nodded again.
His father furrowed his brow and Cole knew he was scrambling for a solution, a way out.
“You know I’m considering a run for governor? People are telling me the time is right. I think it might be, too. But this isn’t good. This is the kind of thing that won’t reflect well on us. She lives in a trailer park for god’s sake.”
“It’s not like that. Not really. Where she lives is nice and neat.”
“You can put lipstick on a pig, but everyone knows it’s still a pig. It’s a trailer park, no matter what else you want to call it.”
“Fine, but still, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“And she’s pregnant and now you want to marry her. You should be starting your college years unencumbered, not with a baby on the way.” He paused for a moment and then asked, “Will she consider an abortion?” He brightened as he said it and Cole cringed. His father was such a hypocrite.
“I didn’t think you approved of that? That you were pro-life?”
“Well, yes, I am. Of course I am. But sometimes hard decisions must be made, for extenuating circumstances. As long as it’s handled discreetly, no one needs to know.”
“She doesn’t want an abortion. Neither do I.”
They finished their meals in silence. His father ordered another martini and checked emails on his phone while Cole gladly accepted another beer. When their plates were cleared, his father turned to him with an offer.
“If she agrees to get an abortion, I will pay for her to attend that school in Montana. I think that would be the best for everyone. If you’re still wanting to be together after you finish college, then so be it. But I think it would be a huge mistake for the two of you to have this baby. You’ll run this by her, let her decide?”
Cole felt his meal threaten to come back up.
“She won’t agree. I know her.”
“That may be. But you’ll ask her?”
“Fine. I’ll ask her. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”
* * *
“I think it’s really sweet that Cole wants to come with you,” Laura’s mother said as they pulled up to the Dawson mansion. Laura had spoken to Cole briefly earlier that day. He’d called and confirmed that he still wanted to come for the doctor visit. Her doctor was going to do the first ultrasound and they were both excited to see their baby. Cole had sounded tense on the phone though. She’d asked him how the dinner had gone the night before and all he’d said was that it had gone about as well as he’d expected and he’d fill her in later.
Laura jumped out to walk to the front door and get Cole, while her mother waited in the car. Since it was the middle of the afternoon, she knew she wasn’t likely to run into his father, but she was still nervous as she approached the front door. It was an intimidating house. It was huge, and they had live-in help. When Laura knocked on the door, it was opened by Sergio, their Brazilian butler. He broke into a wide smile when he saw Laura.
“Come on in, I’ll tell Cole that you’re here.”
Laura stepped inside and waited in the foyer while Sergio went to get Cole. She glanced around, at the sleek marble floors and soaring ceilings with elegant artwork on the softly shaded walls. His house was gorgeous and felt more like a museum than a home to her. But she never said anything to Cole, as it was all he knew, and it was beautiful. Just not what she would ever want. She heard foots
teps and looked up to see him bounding down the stairs, a smile on his face.
“You’re in a good mood,” she said as he pulled her in for a quick kiss.
“I’m in a great mood. We’re going to meet our baby for the first time. How cool is that?” Laura relaxed a bit as they walked outside and toward the car, where her mother was smiling and waving at them. She’d trusted that Cole wouldn’t let his father get to him, to change their plans, but still the worry had been there. Dalton Dawson was a powerful, and ruthless man and she knew that he had never approved of her.
Laura got back into the front seat and Cole settled into the back. They both buckled up as her mother pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road. The doctor’s office was just a few miles away.
“Thanks for coming to get me,” Cole said to her mother.
“Of course. I’m thrilled that you wanted to be there for Laura.”
Traffic was light, and they were running a few minutes ahead of schedule. The last thing that any of them remembered was a large SUV that was going much too fast. It swerved into the opposite lane—and there was no time for her mother to react, to get out of the way. The SUV hit them head on, and in the span of just a few seconds, everything changed.
* * *
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Also by Pamela M. Kelley
Six Months in Montana
Mistletoe in Montana
Mischief in Montana
Match-Making in Montana
Winter in Ireland
The Wedding Photo (a friends to lovers romance)
Trust (Waverly Beach Mystery Series #1)
Motive (Waverly Beach Mystery Series #2)
Rivers End Ranch series
Veterinarian’s Vacation
Charming Chef
About the Author
Pamela M. Kelley lives in the historic seaside town of Plymouth, MA near Cape Cod. She has always been a book worm and still reads often and widely, contemporary and historical romance, suspense, and cookbooks. She writes contemporary romance and suspense and you'll probably see food featured and possibly a recipe or two.
connect with Pam
@pamelamkelley
pamelakelleybooks
www.pamelakelley.com
[email protected]
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