Ready for Marriage

She did, gratefully, uncertain how much longer her knees would support her. She set her purse on the carpet and waited for her heart rate to return to normal before she told him the purpose of her visit.

“Did Mary offer you a cup of coffee?”

“Yes. I’m fine, thank you,” she said hurriedly. Her hands were trembling.

Evan sat down again and waited.

“I—guess you’re wondering why I’m here….”

He leaned back in his chair, looking cool and composed. It’d been three long years since she’d last seen him. He hadn’t changed, at least not outwardly. He remained one of the handsomest men she’d ever seen. His hair was as dark as his eyes, the color of rich Swiss chocolate. His features were well defined, almost chiseled, but that was too harsh a word for the finely cut, yet pronounced lines of his face. Walter Dryden, Evan’s father, was a Massachusetts senator, and it was commonly accepted that Evan would one day enter politics himself. He certainly had the smooth, clean-cut good looks for such a calling.

What had made him fall in love with Mary Jo? She’d always wondered, always been fascinated by that question. She suspected it had something to do with being different from the other women he’d dated. She’d amused him, hadn’t taken him too seriously, made him laugh.

“You have something you wanted to discuss with me?” he prompted, his tone revealing the slightest hint of irritation.

“Yes…sorry,” she said, quickly returning her attention to the matter at hand. “My parents…actually, my father…he retired not long ago,” she said, rushing the words together, “and he invested his savings with a financial company, Adison Investments. Have you ever heard of the firm?”

“No, I can’t say that I have.”

This didn’t surprise Mary Jo. Wealthy men like Evan had huge financial portfolios with varied and multiple investments. Her father had taken his life’s savings and entrusted it to a man he’d met and trusted completely.

“Dad invested everything he had with the company,” she continued. “According to the terms of the agreement, he was to receive monthly interest checks. He hasn’t. At first there were a number of plausible excuses, which Dad readily accepted. He wanted to believe this Bill Adison so much that it was easier to accept the excuses than face the truth.”

“Which is?” Evan asked.

“I…I don’t know. That’s why I’m here. My father’s worked thirty-five years as a construction electrician. He’s raised six children, scrimped and saved all that time to put something extra away for his retirement. He wanted to be able to travel with Mom. They’ve dreamed of touring the South Pacific, and now I’m afraid they’re going to be cheated out of everything.”

Evan scribbled down a few notes.

“I’m coming to you because I’m afraid my brothers are about to take things into their own hands. Jack and Rich went to Adison’s office last week and made such a fuss they were almost arrested. It’d destroy my parents if my brothers ended up in jail over this. As far as I can see, the only way to handle it is through an attorney.”

Evan made another note. “Did you bring the papers your father signed?”

“No. I didn’t tell anyone I was coming to see you. I thought if I could convince you to accept this case for my family, I’d bring my parents in and you could discuss the details with them. You need to understand that it’s more than the money. My dad’s embarrassed that he could have trusted such a man. He feels like an old fool.” Her father had become very depressed. Adison Investments had robbed him of far more than his retirement savings. They’d taken his self-confidence and left him feeling vulnerable and inept.

“There are strict laws governing investments in this state.”

Anxious to hear what he had to say, Mary Jo leaned forward in her chair. This was the very reason she’d swallowed her pride and come to Evan. He had the knowledge and political clout to be effective in ways her family never could.

“Then you can help us?” she asked eagerly. Evan’s hesitation sent her heart plummeting. “I’ll be happy to pay you whatever your fee is,” she added, as if that was his sole concern. “I wouldn’t expect you to charge less than you’d receive from anyone else.”

Evan stood and walked over to the window, his back to her. “Our firm specializes in corporate law.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t take this case, does it?”

Evan clenched his hands at his sides, then flexed his fingers. “No, but these sorts of cases have a tendency to become involved. You may end up having to sue.”

“My family is willing to do whatever to takes to settle this matter,” she said with a stubborn tilt to her jaw.

“Lawsuits don’t come cheap,” he warned, turning around to face her.

“I don’t care and neither do my brothers. True, they don’t know I made an appointment to see you, but once I tell them, I’m sure they’ll be willing to chip in whatever they can to cover your fee.” They wouldn’t be able to afford much. Mary Jo was the youngest of six and the only girl. Her brothers were all married and raising young families. There never seemed to be enough money to go around. The burden of the expense would fall on her shoulders, but Mary Jo readily accepted that.

“You’re sure you want me to handle this?” Evan asked, frowning.

“Positive. There isn’t anyone I trust more,” she said simply. Her eyes met his and she refused to look away.

“I could recommend another attorney, someone far more qualified in the area of investment fraud—”

“No,” she broke in. “I don’t trust anyone but you.” She hadn’t meant to tell him that and, embarrassed, quickly lowered her gaze.

He didn’t say anything for what seemed like a very long time. Mary Jo held her breath, waiting. If he expected her to plead, she’d do it willingly. It was fair compensation for the appalling way she’d treated him. “Please,” she added, her voice low and trembling.

Evan’s shoulders lifted with a drawn-out sigh. “Before I decide, fill me in on what you’ve been doing for the past three years.”

Mary Jo hadn’t anticipated this, wasn’t prepared to detail her life. “I’m still teaching.”

“Kindergarten?”

“Yes,” she said enthusiastically. She loved her job. “Five-year-olds are still my favorites.”

“I notice you’re not wearing a wedding band.”

Her gaze automatically fell to her ring finger, and she pinched her lips tightly together.

“So you didn’t marry lover boy, after all.”

“No.”

“What happened?” he asked. He seemed almost to enjoy questioning her. Mary Jo felt as though she were on the witness stand being cross-examined.

She shrugged, not wanting to become trapped in a growing web of untruths. She’d regretted that stupid lie every day for the past three years.

“It didn’t work out?” he suggested.

This was agony for her. “You’re right. It didn’t work out.”

He grinned then, for the first time, as if this information delighted him.

“Are you seeing someone now?”

“I don’t believe that information’s necessary to the case. You’re my attorney, not my confessor.”

“I’m nothing to you,” he said and his words were sharp. “At least not yet.”

“Will you take the case or won’t you?” she demanded.

“I haven’t decided yet.”