An Act of Love. Marion Ekholm
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“He’s at the house.”
Chloe turned, her forehead puckered. “Who?” Then in delight she blurted, “Brant!”
Startled, Marley immediately shook her head. “No. Red. Our father.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Chloe glanced at her daughter. “Oh?” She leaned over and wiped some syrup off her daughter’s chin.
“He’s giving Lindy away. Did you know about this?”
Chloe studied her hands and swallowed. “Yes.” She looked up. “We all did.”
“I don’t believe this.” Marley shifted in her seat and glanced at her niece. Instead of having the screaming fit she felt entitled to, she controlled herself so as not to disturb the little girl with her outburst.
“When was anyone going to tell me?” Marley stood, choking back tears. She bent over and kissed her niece on top of her head. “You have fun, sweetheart. I’ll see you...” She turned to Chloe. “When will I see her? You dropping her off when you get back?”
“No. She’ll stay with us.”
Marley went for the door, ignoring all the pleading calls behind her.
* * *
MARLEY FUMED. How could she avoid her father during her stay? Why hadn’t anyone told her he’d be there? That question she could answer herself. Because you’d never have come. Well, the family was right on that score. She drove to the house and parked in the driveway. Easy access in case she wanted a quick escape.
Poppy sat in the living room with a newspaper when she entered. “Hi, Poppy. May I speak to you a moment? In my room?” She headed for the stairs after he nodded.
Marley took a seat on the bed and waited for him to take the rocking chair. “You heard?” he asked as he took the seat.
“Are you okay with this?”
Poppy sighed. “If there’s one thing my old age has taught me—you can’t force people to do what you think is right for them. You’re parents are grown and maybe they might even have developed a little maturity over the years.”
He looked past Marley and his expression neutralized. Poppy got out of the chair and started for the door, acknowledging the man standing there. “Hello, Red. I guess you and Marley may have some catching up to do. Well, see you around,” he said over his shoulder as he stepped through the doorway.
Basil Roman hesitated in the door frame. “Heard you had returned from Phoenix.”
For a split second, Marley could only stare. “Dad?”
“Have I changed that much?” he asked, moving into the room.
The puffy quality in his jowls and his additional girth hardly resembled the athletic man she remembered. “Red,” as family and friends called him, had provided the genes that gave her hair its distinctive color and curl. What little he had left no longer resembled its former brilliance. She wouldn’t have recognized him if she’d met him on the street.
When she didn’t answer, he said, “Lindy asked me to give her away.”
Marley cleared her throat. She moved over to the rocker and stood behind it, not only distancing herself but also providing a barrier between her father and herself. “She mentioned you were coming to the wedding.”
“I’m staying here with your grandfather until the wedding.” When Marley didn’t respond, he added, “He invited me.”
Marley couldn’t handle it. Not when painful memories impaired her ability to see straight. She gripped the back of the rocking chair so hard her knuckles turned white. Why Lindy? Marley’s thoughts screamed. Why had he chosen to give Lindy away, when he’d never bothered to even attend any of his other daughters’ weddings? Lindy was the youngest, the one he’d abandoned soon after her birth along with the rest of his family.
He must have honed in on her thoughts because he said, “I was hoping to give you away, as well. Sort of make up for lost time.”
Coldness slithered down her spine. No way would she ever allow that to happen. “Thanks for offering, but I don’t plan on marrying for quite a while.”
“No? I thought your mother said you’d just gotten engaged.”
Of all the stupid... Marley twirled the ring around her finger with her thumb. How had she forgotten that minor detail? “Right. I...I...” She looked down at her hand. The fake diamonds caught the sunlight and tossed rainbows around the room. Placing her hand in her pocket, she tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t jeopardize her engagement and still keep her father out of any future wedding. “We haven’t set a date.”
“I look forward to meeting your young man.” He nodded and walked toward the hall, only to retrace his steps. “I know you took all the problems between your mother and me hard. We pushed a lot of responsibility on you because you were the oldest, and I’m sorry for that. I hope you can forgive me and let me make it up to you.”
Like that’s ever going to happen. She remained silent until he left. Marley tried shaking off the unwanted thoughts. More than half her life had been spent despising her father for destroying their family and hurting her mother.
She paced her room, feeling drained emotionally by having to participate in yet another wedding. Just once she’d like to see a wedding from the front pew and not have to deal with all the backstage drama. Then to top everything, her father had to show up asking for her forgiveness? She couldn’t face it. Not now. Maybe never.
She took out her cell phone. A little after nine o’clock. The three hour difference from Arizona switching to Pacific Time when everyone else went on Daylight Saving Time meant Dede might still be at home before heading for work. “¡Hola!” Marley said. “I really need to talk.”
“You sound horrible. Didn’t the engagement thing go okay?”
“Yes and no.” Marley paused, hoping to control her voice. “Everyone’s happy about that, but my father’s here!” She ended on a high note, unable to contain her frustration.
“What?”
“He’s staying with Poppy and giving Lindy away.” Dede knew all the details of Marley’s past; she’d understand her friend’s dilemma.
After a short pause, Dede chuckled. “So the soap opera goes on.”
“It’s not funny.”
“Right. But there’s nothing you can do about it, so chill out.” After another pause, she continued, her voice lilting. “I saw your betrothed.” When Marley didn’t offer any remark, Dede added, “He asked about you. Sounded very concerned. Wanted to get in touch.”
Marley collapsed onto the rocker and began to rock. “Right. The guy’s an actor, remember? Did he give you his ‘I adore you—let’s make love’ smile?”
“No.” Dede giggled. “He must save that one for you, although it comes close on that poster you see everywhere. He’s having a hard time dodging all the people who recognize him.” After another short hesitation, she said, “He hopes to connect with you, maybe go out on a date. He wasn’t specific, but he asked for your cell phone number.”
Marley stopped rocking. “You didn’t give it to him, did you?”
Dede sighed. “No. I don’t do that without people’s permission.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you plan to do? Move to avoid him?”
Marley loved her condo, but... “If I have to.”
“Forget your ditsy rules. This guy could be the one. Give him a chance.”
Remembering how much Brant’s nearness had upset her, Marley shuddered and said, “No