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Katie pointed to the cookies. “Granny and me made peanut butter cookies. Want one?”
“You bet.”
Katie slipped to the floor and he smiled at his mother. Her brown hair was turning grayer every day, but she still looked the same to him, petite with a few extra pounds and a heart of gold. She stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“Hi, dear. How was your trip?”
“Pretty good.”
Katie came toward him walking very carefully with a cookie held in both hands. Bandy hopped up and down behind her. Althea grabbed a napkin and Katie deposited the treat gently on the table. Beau sat down and took a bite, Katie’s big brown eyes watching him.
“Is it good?” she wanted to know.
“The best ever.”
“It’s got lots of love in it. Granny and me always put it in.”
He kissed her forehead. “And I taste it.”
Andrew walked in, his glasses perched on his nose. “Beau, son, I didn’t know you were home.”
Beau stood and hugged him. Accepting his stepfather, Andrew Wellman, into his life after living with Joe McCain hadn’t been hard at all.
Beau was afraid of his father and his temper, but he’d never been afraid of Andrew. Everything he’d learned about kindness and caring, everything that wasn’t inherited, he learned from Andrew. He taught him about life and how to be a man with a sensitive heart and a strong faith. Church had been the cornerstone of his new life and he needed that just as his mother had. Without her eldest son, she was lost, and so was Beau.
Now they all had a second chance and he’d never seen his mother happier. She thrived on being a grandmother.
Andrew turned to Katie. “I’ve got the movie all set to go. Ready?”
“Yay.” Katie clapped her hands. “Is it about the donkey?”
“Yes.”
Katie looked at Beau. “Want to watch it?”
“No, thanks. I’ll talk to Granny.”
“Okay. Grandpa, Bandy and me will watch the movie.”
After they left, Althea brought more cookies to the table. “How about a cup of coffee?”
“Sure. Where’s Jake and Elise?” Katie was now in school so there had to be a reason she was here today.
“It’s a teacher workday so the kids didn’t have school, but Jake, Elise and Ben had a meeting with Ben’s teacher.”
“Is he okay?” Ben had developmental problems and they all worried about him.
“He’s fine. He wants to play Little League baseball. Elise and Jake are cautious and I don’t blame them. They just want to make sure he’s up for it.” She set a cup of coffee in front of him.
He took a sip. “Have you heard from Caleb?”
“They’re visiting Josie’s family in Beckett. They should be back tomorrow.” Althea smiled. “Caleb walks about six feet off the ground these days.”
“He’s very happy,” Beau commented.
“Yes, and it’s wonderful to see. I wish all my sons were as happy.”
Beau shifted uneasily. “Who’s not happy?” But he knew what was coming next. He’d opened a can of worms and he prepared himself for the stink. It took about a split second.
“You’re not happy. You’re my single son, my unmarried son.”
He gritted his teeth. “Not all men have to be married to be happy.”
“You do.”
“Mom.” He took a deep breath and shifted gears. “Macy’s sister, Delia, is back and she had a baby girl last night.”
“What!” Althea drew back, thrown completely off guard, as he’d intended.
“She gave birth last night,” he repeated.
“How is Macy taking this?”
“She hasn’t seen Delia in a year and she’s trying to be supportive.”
“Yes. That’s Macy.” Althea shook her head. “So sad what happened to that family. They just broke apart after the divorce, then Macy married that man. Don’t even remember his name, but he was all wrong for her. I haven’t talked to Irene in years. Macy said she’s remarried?”
“Yes. Divorce is sad. I deal with it every day. Maybe that’s why I’m not so strong on marriage. So far it hasn’t lived up to its billing.”
“Don’t be cynical. That’s not you.”
It wasn’t. He always suggested counseling to people who came to him wanting a divorce. If he could get them to talking, communicating, it helped with the process. Some only wanted to talk to him and he gladly obliged, saving a few marriages. When he did that, he knew he wasn’t a bad person, a bad son.
He decided to change the subject. “I have a job offer from the law firm I visited in Dallas. Senior partnership, big office, unbelievable perks—the works.”
She patted his hand. “How nice. Everyone knows what an excellent attorney you are and I’m sure there are a lot of firms who’d love to have you. But I’m also sure you refused.”
“Not yet. I’m giving it some thought.”
Althea’s eyes opened wide in disbelief. Without a word she got up and walked into the kitchen, putting dishes into the sink. The rattle of pans was deafening in the silence of the room. Beau was dumbfounded. Clearly his mother was upset. He never dreamed she’d react like this.
Andrew strolled in. “We need cookies and milk to watch the movie.”
His mother grabbed a plate and threw cookies onto it. “Beau’s moving to Dallas,” she said curtly.
“What?” Andrew looked from his wife to Beau.
“I had a great job offer,” Beau explained.
“Dallas is so far away,” Andrew mumbled, then caught himself. “But if it’s what you want, son, we’ll support you.”
“How can you say that?” Althea flared. “I need Beau. I depend on him, we all do.” His mom swung to face him. “I’ve depended on you since I had the courage to leave Joe McCain. You were just a kid, but very responsible for your age. After Caleb was born, I depended on you to help Caleb understand why his father denied who he really was. Most of all I depended on you to bring Jake back into the family. It took years, but you never let up on your brother.”
“Mom…”
“Jake was stubborn, though, believing all the lies Joe had told him about me. It wasn’t until Jake found out he had a son by another woman and needed your help legally that everything fell into place. You fought tirelessly to make that happen. That’s the type of person you are.”
“Thea,” Andrew intervened. “Why are you dredging up the past?”
“Because Beau is the foundation of this family. When Ben’s mother kidnapped him, Jake and Elise were beside themselves, not knowing if they’d ever see their son again. Then Jake turned to me needing my solace and comfort like he had when he was a boy. Ben was safely returned and old wounds began to heal. I had my son back and we became a family again. All because of Beau.”
Andrew put his arm around Althea. “Thea, we all recognize what a wonderful person Beau is, but he has a right to live his own life. I’m sure he has a good reason for considering this job offer and we should support him.”
His mother looked directly at him. “This is about Macy?”
“Mom…”
“She’s the reason you’ve never married. It’s always been Macy for you. Leaving isn’t going to change any of that.”
Beau got to his feet. “I came for support, but I can see I’m not going to get it.”
“Your family needs you,” Althea said.
Beau saw that for what it was—a guilt trip. He wouldn’t let his mother do this to him. “Maybe it’s time they needed someone else. I have my own life to live. I’m sorry if you don’t agree with my decision.”
“Your mother’s just upset.”
Beau looked into Althea’s clouded eyes and the urge was strong to tell her that he’d always be here for everyone, mending bridges, mending hurt feelings and attending to everyone’s needs but his own. Today wasn’t one of those days, though. He turned and walked out.
“Not my Beau,” he heard his mother cry. “Andrew, go after him. Tell him he can’t leave.”
“Thea, get yourself under control. We’ve never interfered in our grown sons’ lives and we’re not starting now.”
Beau didn’t wait to hear anymore. He’d spent his life nurturing his family, being the good son his mother wanted him to be. The good son he had to be. He never wanted to be like Joe McCain, unfeeling and uncaring.
As he drove away, for the first time, he felt a trace of Joe inside him. He’d hurt his mother and he’d never meant to do that. But he wasn’t going back to apologize. He’d call her later. For now he needed some space, some time.
It’s because of Macy.
His mother knew him well.
CHAPTER THREE
HE WENT BY HIS OFFICE and checked in with his secretary, Liz Meadows. The older woman was an invaluable asset. She’d been with him since he’d opened his practice fifteen years ago and her direct, no-nonsense manner kept his office running smoothly.
She handed him several messages. “Those need your attention. The rest I took care of.”
“Thanks, Liz.” He flipped through the names. There was nothing that couldn’t wait.
“Since it’s late, I assume you’re not planning on working.”
“No.” He didn’t feel he needed to explain further.
Liz stood with her hands on her hips, waiting.
“What?” He looked up.
“You know what I’m anxious to hear, so let’s have it.” She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose with one quick movement.
Liz knew the Dallas law firm might make him an offer—she was the only person who did and he trusted her discretion. But sometimes her avid curiosity, or just plain nosiness, got under his skin.
“The meetings went fine.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, don’t give me that bull. Did they make you an offer or not?”
“Yes.”
There was a long, awkward pause.
“Are you taking the job?” Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits.
“Liz…”
“There’s a lot of people in this office who depend on you for work and I’m one of them. You’re just gonna up and leave us high and dry? What are we going to do for jobs? At my age the job market is not all that appealing. This isn’t like you, Beau McCain. You’re responsible, dependable and…”
If he heard that one more time, he was going to scream or hit somebody. And that really wasn’t his nature. Liz’s voice drummed on inside his head like a steady, relentless rain, annoying the hell out of him.
“I haven’t made a final decision. But I will take care of everyone who works for me. No one will be without a job.”
“Yeah.” She snorted. “Like I want to work for someone else. I’m too old for this, Beau.”
“Change is good. Haven’t you heard that?”
“Ha.” She waved a hand. “You’re going through a midlife crisis, that’s what’s wrong with you. Take your family and your next-door neighbor off speed dial and go on one of those single’s cruises. Have a fling. Hell, have several flings. It’ll get that restlessness out of your system and make you feel young again. Then come home to your family and friends in Waco. Not Dallas. Dallas isn’t for you. Take it from someone who has known you for a very long time.”
He picked up a pencil and resisted the urge to break it in half. “I wish people would stop making assumptions and decisions about my life. Bottom line—it is my life, so butt out, Liz.”
Indignant, she stiffened. “Whatever,” she mumbled under her breath.
He stood and Liz knew just how far she could push him and when to stop. That’s why she still had a job.
“Jon is handling the Powers’ case and Natalie has the Coleman case.” Liz shifted to business. “Anything you’d like to tell them?”
“No. They do their jobs very well.” He stuffed the messages in his pocket. “I’ll be back on Monday.”
“Beau?”
He turned.
