Chasing Trust: A Small Town Steamy Romance (Harper Family series Book 3)

by Nancy Stopper

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chase stepped off the elevator, his booted foot sinking into the thick, plush carpet in the lobby of the place he’d avoided for years. He shuddered at the thought of how close he’d come to walking these halls every day, doing a job he despised, to try and earn love from his father.

  “May I help you?” The young receptionist wearing a smart, navy suit and her hair pulled back in a bun smiled up at him from the desk at the end of the lobby.

  He threw her a smile, but she didn’t respond. He didn’t recognize the woman. She must have joined the firm after he’d left San Francisco. “I’m here to see Elizabeth Foster, please.”

  “Your name?”

  “Chase, er, Edward Foster.”

  The woman’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. She fumbled for the phone, bumping the receiver off its base, knocking it onto the floor when she tried to pick it up. “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t recognize you. I’ll call back right away.”

  “It’s perfectly all right. Thank you.” Chase even found himself changing how he spoke when he was here, adopting the haughty tone that his father had turned his way for years.

  Barely a minute later, the glass door swung open and Elizabeth barreled through, throwing herself into his arms. “Chase. I can’t believe you’re finally here.”

  He wrapped his arms around his sister and heaved a huge sigh of relief. He’d stayed away too long. There was no excuse for him not staying in touch with her, of visiting her when he was nearby. Nothing but his own stubbornness and defiance of his father. “It’s good to see you, too, Elizabeth. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”

  She stepped back and swiped at her cheek. “Nonsense. Come on back.” She looped her arm through his elbow and practically dragged him down the hall. He slowed at the portraits of the generations of Foster men who had managed the firm, steeling himself for the empty frame at the end where Father had insisted Chase’s portrait would hang.

  But instead of an empty frame, he found Elizabeth’s image, her dark hair hanging long over her shoulders and a huge smile on her face. A sharp contrast from the stoic expressions of the men ahead of her.

  She led him into her office at the end of the hall and shut the door.

  “How’d you finally get the old man to agree to make you a partner? To put your portrait on the wall?”

  She plopped on the couch and threw her arms across the back. That little motion reminded him of Elizabeth’s energy when they were children. She lit up any room she occupied. It was exhausting but exhilarating to be around her. “Years of maintaining the highest billable hours of anyone in the firm, bringing in the most high-profile clients… and maybe because I threatened to leave and take all that with me if he didn’t.”

  Chase chuckled as he sank into the cushy side chair opposite the couch. Elizabeth deserved everything she wanted out of life. “Well, good for you. It’s about time someone showed Father the error of his ways. You look… well, you look happy, sis.”

  The smile on her face grew and her eyes lit up. “I am. I have a career that I love, and…” she held her left hand out and waggled her fingers. “I’m engaged.”

  His heart warmed. It was about time she let something other than the firm rule her life. “Really? That’s great. Who’s this guy? Do I need to have a talk with him?”

  “Cool your jets, little brother. Dad’s already given him the stink-eye enough for both of you.”

  “He’s here at the firm?”

  Elizabeth tucked her feet up under her. He loved seeing his sister so happy and comfortable with her life. “Are you kidding? No way. He’s a musician.”

  “That’s great. At least Father will be happy that he’s not after you for the family money.”

  She threw her head back and laughed.

  Chase joined her, her laughter infectious. “What did I say?”

  “He’s not a big-time musician. And he doesn’t want to be. He sings in small clubs and venues. He works as an accountant to make ends meet right now, but as soon as he can make enough with his music, he’s going to quit. He’s not suited for nine-to-five office work.”

  “And Father endorses your engagement?”

  “He doesn’t get a say. I love Chad and he loves me and we take care of each other. That’s all that matters to me and Father knows that if he doesn’t like it, then I’m happy to leave.”

  “You’ve got Father over a barrel?”

  “Kinda.” She laughed again.

  Chase envied his sister, that she’d been able to get everything she wanted in life. It had been made clear to Chase from the time he was little that it was his responsibility to marry the right girl with the right connections that portrayed the right image for the firm. He’d never wanted the firm and the society wife… and that had put him at odds with his father.

  One of the many things that had driven him away from home.

  What would Father think of Serena?

  Chase shook away that thought. Father’s opinion didn’t matter. Chase was in charge of his own life, he went where he wanted, when he wanted. Things were strained with Serena anyway. He hadn’t had a chance to call her since he’d decided to extend his trip and come to San Francisco. Who was he kidding? He chose not to make the time. He didn’t want to have a serious discussion about their relationship over the phone. He wanted to look her in the eye, to see her reaction first hand when he talked about his ideas.

  “What about you, Chase? What have you been up to recently? Do you have someone special in your life?” The smile dropped from Elizabeth’s face as her gaze shifted over his shoulder.

  “Yes, please, enlighten us about the life of a wayward photographer. Hello, Edward.” His father stepped into the office. Chase hopped to his feet as his father crossed the room and perched on the couch beside Elizabeth. He spared his only daughter a smile and then turned back to Chase.

  “I go by Chase now,” he said as he sank back into the chair, every muscle in his body tense and his back board-straight.

  “Yes, I knew that. I’m sorry.” Father’s expression softened and his words sounded almost… genuine. “I’ve been following your career for some time now, although it took a while for me to connect my son Edward with the internationally recognized photographer Chase Foster.”

  “You’ve kept up with my photography? Why?” Chase couldn’t believe his ears. As far as he’d known, Father had written him off the day he walked out, his name never to be spoken in the hallowed halls of Foster Glen, his childhood home, or the firm ever again. But to hear that Father had followed Chase’s career had him wondering what else he’d had wrong.

  “Because you’re my son. I’ve always wanted the best for you. I thought the best was here at the firm. What we’ve always done.”

  “I never wanted that.”

  “I realize that now. Now that it’s too late.” Father lowered his gaze.

  Chase studied the man. Was this change a result of his recent hospitalization? He didn’t look quite the vibrant and larger-than-life man that had intimidated Chase for most of his childhood. Whether it was the recent health risk or the fact that Chase was more than twelve years older than the last time he saw his father, he wasn’t sure. Either way, Father looked… different. Chase wondered for the first time whether the law firm was his father’s choice or he followed in the family footsteps because it was his duty.

  Maybe things weren’t always as they appeared on the surface and maybe it was time for Chase to let go of some of his childhood resentment and approach the possibility of an adult relationship with his father with an open mind.

  After another minute, his father spoke. “How long will you be staying?”

  Chase shook his head. “I’m not sure. Not long.”

  Chase’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Serena’s face on his screen. He smiled. Had she had second thoughts about sending him away Saturday night? Was she willing to discuss how they might make a relationship between them work? He had so muc
h to tell her about his assignment and the thoughts he was having about his career moving forward. She hadn’t given him an opportunity to discuss it before she shoved him out the door, declaring that the relationship was over before he gave her a chance to see the possibilities.

  Regardless, he was ready to declare this trip a success. He would never let this much time pass between visits with Elizabeth again, especially now that he’d seen her and he’d forged a civil if not almost cordial relationship with his father. Maybe it was the start of something more, he didn’t know. But what he did know is that a lot of things were headed in the right direction in his life right now.

  Serena was the remaining challenge that he hoped to resolve.

  “Pardon me a moment.” He stepped away and answered the call. “Hey.”

  “Hey, Chase.” Serena’s voice sounded wary. Had something happened since he left? Regardless, he was happy that she was calling him. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. Photo shoot is wrapping up.” He hadn’t told her that he was considering visiting his family. He wasn’t sure he would muster the nerve and couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in her eyes if he hadn’t followed through. She’d been encouraging him to reach out to his family, to make amends, ever since he’d discussed the strain around his career choice.

  Serena was very close with her family, despite her issues with her father and the way she found out about her new half-sister. Seeing her laughing and talking with them made him want that for himself.

  Her roots were deep in Cedar Hill, generations of Harpers living and thriving in that small town. It made him realize that not all family legacies were generations of unhappy, stoic faces on a wall. And for the first time, the lack of constraints on his life was stifling.

  His father and sister carried on what he could only describe as a lively, animated conversation behind him. He wasn’t sure he’d heard so much life and passion in his father’s voice. Ever.

  “What else has been going on? Have you met up with anyone else while you were out there?” She sucked in a breath as she spoke.

  Was she fishing for information about whether he was headed overseas anytime soon? This trip had caused stress in their relationship, he couldn’t imagine what an indeterminate time in a foreign country would mean for them. And he didn’t want to find out.

  “The trip’s been pretty uneventful, but I have a lot to tell you. When I get back to Cedar Hill.”

  He allowed his words to sink in, the idea that he would be returning to her. She finally let out a sigh on the other end of the phone. “Good. When do you think you’re coming back this way?”

  His sister let out a huge laugh at something Father said. He couldn’t believe how well they got along. They surely didn’t have that sort of relationship when Chase was home. He turned around to see his father smiling. He didn’t remember Father showing emotion like that growing up.

  Yes, he did. Dad used to be happy like that… before Mom died. When Chase thought back, he could remember days with Mom and Dad laughing in the kitchen, making dinner together, his father sneaking kisses when he thought no one was looking. But then Mom died and it became all about work for Father. About the family legacy. And he directed all of that energy at Chase.

  “Who was that?” Serena’s agitated voice echoed through the phone.

  He’d almost forgotten about Serena while he was reminiscing about happier times in his family.

  “Chase… who are you with? Did I interrupt something? Is that another woman?”

  Chase held the phone away from his ear. What had gotten Serena so all-fired upset? One minute, they were discussing his return to Cedar Hill and the next, she was going on about another woman.

  He brought the phone back to his ear and opened his mouth to explain, but he couldn’t get a word in between Serena’s rant.

  “This is why I never trusted a man. And I shouldn’t have now. I should have known, what with the picture on that web site.”

  What picture? What was she talking about?

  “Is this why you were so eager to get out of town? Maybe you have women lining up to jump into bed with you wherever you go.”

  “Wait a minute, —”

  Before he could explain that she’d heard his sister in the background, the call clicked off. He stared at the phone, screen dark in the palm of his hand. He couldn’t believe she’d hung up on him. Serena, the quiet but headstrong woman who wouldn’t hesitate to stand up for an injustice anywhere in the world.

  “Who was that?” His sister asked from across the room. His dad was tapping on the screen of his own phone.

  Chase smiled. Serena was jealous. Of his sister. This wasn’t so much about her inability to trust men, or herself, but that she’d let herself have feelings for him. And that scared her.

  He crossed the room and sat back in his chair. “That was Serena Harper. My, uh, I guess you could say she’s my girlfriend. Although, after that phone call, I’m not sure what you’d call us.”

  “Girlfriend, huh?” Elizabeth raised her brows in that signature Foster way. “Tell me all about her.”

  “She runs an animal shelter in Cedar Hill, Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia.”

  “So she’s like you, helping those that need it the most.”

  He hadn’t really thought of it that way, but his sister had a point. They each had a calling to help others in need—hers was directed at animals while his was... well, his was changing. “I guess so.”

  Elizabeth asked, “How did you meet this wonderful woman?”

  “What makes you say she’s wonderful?”

  “How about the huge smile on your face when you talk about her? Or the fact that you’re sitting here with me after not coming home for almost twelve years. Don’t tell me she didn’t at least have some part in getting you to reach out?”

  He couldn’t. Seeing Serena with her own family had prompted him to reconnect with the family he’d turned away from years ago.

  He proceeded to share the details of some of his recent trips overseas, how his publisher’s interest in a calendar helped him reconnect with a girl he’d met ten years earlier, and how for the first time, he’d considered turning down an opportunity to document an international crisis because he was thinking about settling down.

  “If you don’t take photos anymore, what will you do?” His father, ever the pragmatist.

  “I’m not going to completely stop taking photos, I’m just going to be more selective about the jobs I accept. I want to settle down and be calm for a while. And I was thinking I’d start a charity. I mean, I have that huge trust fund sitting there, earning interest and doing nothing else.” Not that he knew what he’d do if he didn’t fix whatever was wrong in his relationship with Serena.

  “You haven’t been living off your trust fund? I thought…” Father shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. What kind of charity were you thinking?”

  Chase scrubbed his hand over the scruff of beard that had grown since he’d arrived on the west coast. “I have a couple of ideas. I’ve already invested funds into some villages in Africa, helping to build wells for fresh water. I’d like to continue those investments. But I want to help in my own country as well. Before I few up here, I was taking photos of the tent cities in Los Angeles. Are you aware of how many homeless people we have in the United States? It’s men and women with mental health issues. Veterans who couldn’t face life back home. Women and children who can’t quite make enough to get by. I’d like to do something to help these people. Maybe set up transitional housing to get them off the streets, establish partnership agreements with some of the cities to offer jobs and job training so they can work towards productive lives of their own. I know I can’t help everyone but I can’t bear to sit by and not try. I haven’t thought this through in any detail yet, these are some general ideas I brainstormed on the flight up here.”

  Chase blew out a breath and collapsed into the chair. Explaining his idea out loud took a lot ou
t of him, but he’d put it out there now.

  He studied his sister and father, both quiet. He didn’t expect his father to support his career and life choices, but he’d at least like an acceptance that Chase would never be the son Father wanted him to be.

  Elizabeth glanced at Father and then back to Chase. “I think that’s great. You’re right, there is a growing problem in the United States. And what if the firm donates some pro bono hours for some of the legalities that might be necessary to help these people rejoin society?”

  Chase expected his father to explode, to leap off the couch and berate Elizabeth for even daring to suggest they do anything for free, but that wasn’t at all what came out of his mouth. “That sounds like a worthy cause, son. I’d like to invest. Maybe $100,000 to start.”

  Chase gulped in a breath. He hadn’t expected praise, much less a donation from his father. But should he accept the money? Would it mean cow-towing to his father again? That was ridiculous. Chase was his own man now and made his own decisions. He’d be stupid to turn down significant seed money because of old grudges. He stood and extended his hand. “Thanks, Father. That would be great.”

  His father stared at his offering for a moment and then reached out, but instead of shaking Chase’s hand, he pulled Chase into a hug. Stunned didn’t even begin to describe how he felt, having his father’s arms around him. After the initial shock wore off, he relaxed into his father’s embrace, a lifetime of emotions threatening to boil over.

  This trip had turned out to be so much more than Chase had ever expected… or even hoped for. He patted his father on the back and then stepped out of his embrace.

  “There’s only one thing left to do, little brother,” Elizabeth said.

  “What’s that?” He smiled at his sister as he struggled to calm his racing heart.

  “Go home and fix what’s wrong with Serena. You love her, and I doubt anyone can resist falling in love with my handsome brother. What are you waiting for? Go.”

  Chase darted his gaze between his father and sister, smiles on both of their faces. Elizabeth was absolutely right. He spun on his heel and hurried toward the door. “Thanks to both of you. I’ll be in touch soon.”