“What are you going to do?”
Hatch smiled grimly. “Keep an eye on you and make sure you lock the doors and stay out of dark alleys for a while.”
Jessie was not particularly surprised to get the summons from her father the next morning on her answering machine. The message was gruff and betrayed no hint of any emotion except anger.
“I want to talk to you ASAP. Not at the office. I'm going home early. Come by the house around five.”
At five that afternoon Jessie dutifully went up the steps of the big white house in which she had been raised. The Queen Anne neighborhood was one of the nicest in Seattle, the homes large, expensive, and well-maintained. The house to which Vincent Benedict had brought two brides was an old one with a graceful garden. A professional took care of the flowers. Jessie's father had no interest in gardening.
Vincent answered the doorbell with a glass of whiskey in his hand. He glowered at his daughter.
“About time you got here.” His gaze went past her to where Hatch's Mercedes was parked at the curb. Hatch was leaning against the fender, idly studying the tree-lined street. He did not glance at the doorway. “What the hell's that bastard doing here?”
“Keeping an eye on me.”
Vincent's face turned red. “What in damnation for? Is he afraid I'll make you see sense?”
“Not exactly.” Jessie walked on into the hall and headed for the living room.
Vincent closed the door and followed her. “Wait just a blasted minute. Did Hatch send you in here to argue his side of this thing?”
“I'm here because you asked me to stop by, remember? It's only five o'clock, Dad. Hours before your usual quitting time. I assume we are about to discuss something on a par with World War III?” Jessie examined the garden outside the bay windows. It was as pristine and perfect as the rest of the house. Nothing was out of place. It was a house in which nobody really lived. Her father came here only to sleep and change his clothes. He lived at Benedict Fasteners. He always had.
“You know damn well what we're going to discuss. Jessie, things have blown up in our faces.”
“Not my face. I'm strictly on the sidelines this time.” She sat down on the arm of one of the cream-colored chairs Constance had bought while she was in residence. The furniture in the room was about equally divided between Lilian's selections and Constance's. Everything meshed beautifully, which spoke volumes about the relationship between Vincent's two ex-wives.
“Don't give me that crap about being on the sidelines. In this family, you're never on the sidelines. You're always right square in the middle. You want something to drink?”
“No, thanks. I promised Hatch I wouldn't stay long.”
“Hatch. That sonofabitch. I just wish to God I'd known what a viper I was bringing into my nest when I hired him.”
Jessie raised her chin. “Watch it, Dad. You're talking about the man I'm going to marry. The future father of your grandchildren.”
“Jesus. You can't marry him, Jessie. That's just it. At least not until he comes to his senses and backs off. He's gone crazy, wanting me to split up the company. This whole thing has gone far enough, and you're the only one who can end it.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Do what you usually do, dammit.” Vincent waved the hand that held the whiskey glass. “Fix it. Make everybody calm down and do the reasonable thing.”
“In this case the reasonable thing means make everybody do what you want, right?”
“It so happens that what I want is the best thing for the company and therefore the best thing for the family,” Vincent growled.
“Hatch doesn't think so.”
“Who gives a damn what that man thinks?”
“I do.” Jessie smiled. “And I'm sorry, Dad, but this time I can't fix things. I can't even try.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Well, for starters, Hatch has threatened to paddle me if I try to mediate between the two of you.”
“Threatened you?” Vincent's head came around swiftly, eyes glittering with rage. “That sonofabitch has threatened to beat my little girl? I'll tear him apart, by God. I'll rip him to shreds.”
“Relax. You know as well as I do that Hatch would never hurt me,” Jessie said.
“No, I damn well do not know that. I don't know what to expect from Sam Hatchard now. I thought I knew that man, but I was obviously wrong. He's turned on me, Jessie. Like the shark he is.”
Jessie raised her eyes heavenward. “Give me a break, Dad. That's a gross exaggeration and you know it.”
“So fix it, dammit. Do something. You can't go running off with him.”
“Why not?”
“Because the company needs him and the family needs you, that's why not.”
“I'm sorry, Dad. But this is something you're going to have to fix on your own.” Jessie got to her feet and walked over to him. She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips against his cheek.
“What about the family?” Vincent rasped as she turned to leave.
“I love all of you, but you're forcing me to make a choice. I've made it.”
“Jessie, wait, goddammit. Come back here.” Vincent's voice was ragged. “Don't you see? If you leave, I'll lose all of 'em. Elizabeth, David, Connie, and Lilian. You're the only thing that keeps them tied to me. You and Benedict Fasteners.”
“I'm sorry, Dad, but I don't want to go on doing the job alone anymore. You're going to have to help.”
“I won't let Hatch tear apart everything I've worked to build,” Vincent bellowed. “Do you hear me? I won't let him do it, Jessie. I can't.”
“Dad, if you want it all—me, the family, and the bright future you see for the company—you're going to have to trust Hatch as if he really were your son.” Jessie walked down the hall toward the front door. She paused before opening it. “By the way, you're invited to our engagement party. Seven-thirty tomorrow evening. I gave Grace the name of the restaurant, just in case.”
“Don't be expecting me, goddammit. I won't sanction this…this damn engagement.”
“I only invited family,” Jessie said gently. “So I'm not expecting a big turnout at all.”
Out on the street Hatch watched with interest as a light green Buick pulled in to the curb and Glenna Ringstead got out. She had her hair in its familiar tight coil and she was wearing her usual formal gray suit and black pumps. She did not immediately see Hatch lounging against the Mercedes fender. It was obvious she was concentrating on her mission to Vincent Benedict's house.
Hatch wondered how she had known that Vincent was home at this time of day.
“Hello, Glenna.”
Glenna whipped around, startled amazement registering on her handsome features. “Hatchard. What are you doing here?”
“Jessie's inside talking to her father. She'll be out soon. I don't think they've got a lot to say to each other.”
Glenna's eyes narrowed. “It's true, then? You and Vincent have quarreled and Jessie's running off with you?”
“Somehow when the bride is twenty-seven and the groom is staring forty in the face, ‘running off’ doesn't seem like quite the right description. That sounds more like two high-school kids eloping.”
Glenna looked impatient. “But you are going to marry her?”
“Yes. I'm going to marry her.”
“And Vincent did fire you?”
“I was told to clean out my desk and be out of the building within an hour. Didn't even get two weeks' notice, which Jessie tells me is standard. She ought to know.”
Glenna's eyes brightened with rare satisfaction. “I knew it wouldn't work. I told Vincent all along that he was making a mistake bringing you into the company. He didn't need you to take Benedict Fasteners to the top. All he had to do was train David to follow in his footsteps. Now maybe he'll see reason.”
Hatch shrugged. “Something tells me David is never going to want the job.”
“He will. He just needed a little time to grow
up and mature. Now that you're out of the picture, it's only logical for Vincent to give my son another chance. He owes David that much, and he knows it. I'm going to tell him so.”
“I wouldn't count on it, Glenna. David's not cut out for the corporate world. Jessie's right. He'll be much happier in an academic environment.”
“Jessie doesn't know what she's talking about. How could she? She's had no training in psychology, no advanced degrees of any kind. She can't even hold on to a job, for God's sake. Yet she thinks she knows what's best for everyone. It's about time she got out of the way. Without her around we're all going to be a great deal better off.”
Hatch raised his brows. “Think so?”
“I know so.” Glenna turned and strode up the walk.
The door opened and Jessie emerged from the house just as her aunt started up the steps. Her eyes flickered with surprise.
“Hi, Aunt Glenna. What are you doing here?”
“I've come to see your father.”
“Right. Well, I hope you can make it to the engagement party tomorrow night. Seven-thirty.”
Glenna nodded stiffly. “I'll be there.”
“Good.”
Hatch straightened away from the fender as Jessie came down the steps. He opened the car door for her. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I'm sure.” She smiled wearily up at him as she slid into the front seat. “It's strange how people box themselves into little corners and won't come out, even though it's in their own best interests to do so, isn't it?”
“People get into patterns, like you said. Patterns are hard to break.”
“Aunt Glenna was the one who first pointed out the patterns in people's lives to me.”
“Speaking of Glenna…” Hatch glanced back toward the house. The front door was just closing. Hatch shut the car door and went around to get behind the wheel.
“What about Aunt Glenna?” Jessie asked as he turned the key in the ignition.
“She seems to think she's finally gotten what she's apparently wanted all along.”
“Me out of the picture?” Jessie asked shrewdly. “Yes, I know.” She gazed back at the closed door of the big white house as the Mercedes pulled away from the curb. “I hope she's happy now.”
“Something tells me that woman is never going to be happy for long,” Hatch observed. “But I'll give you odds she'll come to the engagement party to celebrate this turn of events.”
The waiter took in the five faces seated at the table that had been set for eight. He cleared his throat as he handed out menus. “Are we still waiting for the other members of the party, sir?” he said to Hatch.
Jessie bit her lip and Hatch glanced at his watch. In addition to herself and Hatch, only Aunt Glenna, David, and Elizabeth had arrived at the restaurant for the engagement party.
“I don't think there's much point waiting any longer,” Hatch said. “It looks like they won't be joining us, after all. Bring out the champagne and that bottle of sparkling water.”
“Yes, sir. I'll be right back.” The waiter moved off through the crowded dining room.
Elizabeth stared at Hatch, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I can't believe you both got fired on the same day.”
“Must have been fate,” Hatch murmured.
David grinned. “Sounds more like bad luck to me.”
“Same thing.” The corner of Hatch's mouth kicked up as he traded a look with the younger man.
Glenna gave Jessie a cool, remote, oddly satisfied smile. “I'm sure it's all for the best.”
David glanced toward the door. “Looks like the old bastard is going to stand you up, Jessie. You know, somehow I thought he'd at least put in an appearance.”
“He's not real happy with me right now,” Jessie said quietly.
“It's the moms I don't understand,” Elizabeth said. “I told them they should come, even if they were mad at you. But they said you were making the biggest mistake of your life and that you were going to cause everyone a whole lot of trouble and be real sorry later. They said they couldn't be a part of it.”
“Maybe in time they'll understand that I had to do it,” Jessie said, her eyes going to Hatch. He smiled at her and grasped her hand under the table.
“So, where are you two going to wind up living?” David asked quickly, obviously determined to turn the conversation into less troubling channels.
“Portland, probably,” Hatch said.
Elizabeth brightened. “Good. That's not far away at all.”
Hatch grinned. “That's why I decided to take Jessie there instead of Phoenix. We wanted to be someplace where you could come and visit easily.”
“Thanks.” Elizabeth looked at her sister. “Like I said, I can come down on the train.”
“It's going to work out just fine,” Jessie said firmly.
The waiter returned with the champagne and the sparkling water. Everyone watched attentively as he went through the ritual of opening the wine and pouring it. When he had left the table, Hatch picked up his glass.
“We're here tonight to make my engagement to Jessie official. I'd like to thank everyone—”
“Hold it,” David broke in, his eyes on the door of the restaurant. “We've got more guests.”
Jessie and the others turned to look toward the entrance. Lilian and Constance stood there, handing their coats to the hostess.
“It's the moms,” Elizabeth announced gleefully. “They came after all!”
Jessie realized she was suddenly feeling a little more relaxed and happy. She smiled at her mother as Lilian moved toward the table. Lilian smiled back ruefully.
“Hello, Mother, Connie,” Jessie said softly. “I'm glad you could make it after all.”
“You're just in time to join us in a toast.” Hatch got to his feet and held out a chair.
“So I see,” Lilian murmured, her eyes on her daughter.
Elizabeth grinned up at Constance as David rose to seat her. “Hi, Mom. I'm sure glad you two decided to come. We missed you guys.”
“Well, it was fairly obvious you were going to go ahead without us,” Constance said in her usual pragmatic fashion. “Didn't seem much point in ignoring the whole thing. If Hatch is determined to carry Jessie off, I suppose we're all going to have to learn to adjust to the situation.”
“We are, of course, overwhelmed by your gracious acceptance of the situation, Mrs. Benedict,” Hatch said.
“We're here, aren't we?” Lilian retorted.
“Yes, you are, Mrs. Benedict,” Hatch allowed. “And we appreciate it. I think. Have some champagne.”
Glenna gave Constance and Lilian a distant but approving glance. “On the whole, I think it was a good idea for the two of you to put in an appearance. Failure to be supportive at times like this can cause irreparable damage to the parent-child relationship later on.”
“I don't think they need your approval, Mom,” David said in an undertone. “They're here because they care about Jessie just as much as everyone else does. Even if they do think she's making a mistake.”
“How true,” Constance drawled. Then she smiled at Hatch. “I do hope you find a job soon. Lord knows Jessie isn't a reliable means of support. She can't hold a position longer than six months.”
Jessie grinned. “Hey, I resent that. I may not be able to hold a job, but I can sure find them. I've found more jobs than you can count.”
Lilian groaned. “That's the truth.” She turned to Hatch. “Well? Have you got anything lined up yet?”
“I'm still figuring out how to collect unemployment,” Hatch murmured. “It's rather complicated. I had no idea there was so much paperwork involved. But if I don't get it sorted out fairly soon, there's always welfare.”
“Unemployment? Welfare? You mean you haven't even started looking for another job? And you're going to marry my daughter?” Lilian stared at him, clearly aghast.
“Relax, Mom.” Jessie chuckled. “That was a joke. Ha
tch has a little trouble with jokes. Or maybe I should say people have a problem with Hatch's sense of humor.”
Lilian rolled her eyes and looked at Constance for backup. “Just what I need. A son-in-law with a warped sense of humor.”
“Better than one with no sense of humor at all,” Constance pointed out.
“Come on, you guys,” Elizabeth interrupted. She seized her glass of orange sparkling water. “We were just about to drink a toast to Hatch and Jessie. I've never gotten to drink a toast before.”
Hatch picked up his glass. “Let's try this again. We are here tonight to officially announce the fact that Jessie and I plan to marry as soon as possible. I thank you all for being here to celebrate this momentous event with us. I know it isn't easy for some among you to accept this situation, but who the hell cares? This is the way it's going to be. First, to my lovely, loyal, beloved Jessie.”
Jessie blushed warmly under Hatch's searing gaze. There was so much love and possessiveness in his eyes that she trembled under the onslaught. A deep certainty welled up within her. There was no doubt about it. She was doing the right thing.
Everyone at the table was in the process of hoisting his or her glass when David halted the toast for a second time. Once again his eyes were on the restaurant entrance. “Wait,” he said softly. “We've got one more late arrival.”
“Who on earth?” Frowning, Glenna turned her head to glance toward the door.
“Well, for heaven's sake. Who would have guessed?” Lilian shook her head in silent wonder.
“I'll be damned,” Constance stated, her eyes warm.
“I always knew he was as stubborn as a rogue elephant,” Hatch said with cool satisfaction. “But I never said he was stupid.”
Jessie was already on her feet, Elizabeth right behind her. They both raced toward the big man standing near the hostess's desk.
“Dad.” Jessie reached Vincent first and wrapped her arms around his waist, laughing joyously. “I'm so glad you came.”
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