A Chesapeake Shores Christmas

Mick shook his head. “You are the most contrary woman I’ve ever known. What kind of person turns down help from someone who loves them?”

“One who needs to maintain some independence,” she responded candidly.

“Why, so you can turn right around and leave me again?”

“No, so there will never be a question in your mind that I’m with you because I love you, not because of what you can do for me.”

“That’s Connor talking,” he said. “I won’t have him meddling in our relationship or making you question the way every little thing we do might look to him.”

“It’s not about Connor,” she insisted. “It’s about me, Mick. I’ve learned to stand on my own two feet. I’m not the naive, dependent girl who expected you to dance attendance and make my life complete. If it’s going to work between us, we have to be equals.”

“So if I decide on impulse to give you a car, you have to turn right around and buy something for me?” he asked.

“That might be exaggerating just a bit,” she said dryly.

“Well, I should hope so, because it sounds ridiculous. If I’m your husband and I decide on a whim to give you something, what happened to accepting it graciously?”

“Mick, this isn’t about cars or jewelry or impulsive gestures.”

“Then explain it to me.”

Megan wasn’t sure she could. She just knew that gifts per se weren’t the problem. It was all the strings implied. And if she wasn’t careful, those strings were going to bind them together for all the wrong reasons.

And their marriage wouldn’t stand a chance.

* * *

Mick had been thoroughly frustrated by his conversation with Megan the night before. He was still stewing over it on Monday morning after he’d driven her to Baltimore to the airport. He knew Connor was behind her attitude, no matter how much she’d tried to deny it. He also knew he needed to settle a thing or two with his younger son.

He pulled out his cell phone and called Connor at the office. “Take a break,” he ordered without preamble. “I’ll meet you at the coffee shop on the corner in ten minutes.”

“I can’t. I have an appointment with a new client in an hour.”

“This won’t take long,” Mick said grimly. “I’ll talk and you can listen.”

Of course, that was an optimistic outlook. Connor had never once suffered a lecture in silence. Those strong opinions of his were bound to surface. Still, Mick wanted to clear the air and make a few things plain. His son might be a grown man, but Mick still ran the family. He was due a little respect of his own.

Connor was already waiting at a table with two cups of coffee by the time Mick had found a parking place and walked the two blocks to the crowded little café. “Parking in this city is a nuisance,” he grumbled as he sat.

“Is that why you wanted to see me,” Connor inquired, “to complain about the parking in downtown Baltimore?”

Mick frowned at the sarcasm. “You know perfectly well it’s not. We need to discuss the wedding.”

Connor looked as if he was ready to launch into another diatribe, so Mick cut him off before he could get started.

“You will not interfere,” Mick told him flatly. “You don’t have to approve of it. You don’t have to like it. But you will stay out of it.” He leveled a hard look into his son’s eyes. “And you will show up for the ceremony with a smile on your face. Is that understood?”

Connor gave him a knowing look. “Mom’s talking about postponing, isn’t she?”

“That’s not an option,” Mick said forcefully.

“But I got to her yesterday and now she’s having second thoughts,” Connor said with a triumphant note. “Good for her.”

Mick regarded him with sorrow. “Do you care nothing for my feelings?”

Connor looked shocked by the question. “Of course I do! Dad, can’t you see that I’m trying to protect you? You’ve gotten all caught up in sentiment. You’re not thinking clearly.”

Mick was none too pleased by his son’s determination to interfere, to say nothing of his confidence that only he knew what was best for his parents. “Connor, I’m a grown man. I don’t need looking after, no matter how well-intentioned it might be. I love your mother. I always have. God’s seen fit to give me a second chance with her, and I won’t let you or anyone else take that away from us.”

“She’ll break your heart again,” Connor predicted.

“I don’t believe that, but if it happens, so be it.”

“You can’t mean that. The last time she left, it almost destroyed you. It almost ruined our entire family.”

“I thought Bree was the one in the family with a flair for drama,” Mick chided. “What happened was devastating for all of us, no question about it. But look at Abby, Bree and Kevin today. They’re all happily married. Jess has a thriving business she loves. And even you have found your life’s work. We’re more tight-knit as a family than we have been in years.”

“All of that’s in spite of Mom, not because of her.”

“Maybe so, but we can hardly claim that what she did ruined our lives. It shaped us, to be sure. It changed her, as well—for the better, I think. She’s stronger and more independent.”

“You almost sound as if you approve of that,” Connor said.

“Well, of course I do. I made your mother very unhappy. I wasn’t the partner she needed. I think we’re a better match today than we were back then.”

“Just how long do you think it will take before this independent streak of hers gets on your nerves?” Connor asked.

Mick chuckled. “It already has. More than once, in fact. That doesn’t mean it’s not for the best. None of this is your worry, son. All we need from you is your blessing, even if you disagree with the choice we’re making.”

Looking genuinely distressed, Connor shook his head. “I can’t do it, Dad. Not when this marriage has disaster written all over it. I’ve already told Mom I’m going to draw up a prenuptial agreement.”

“You did what?” Mick was aghast. “You most certainly will not. I don’t believe in starting a marriage trying to figure out how it will end.”

“It’s commonplace for someone in your position,” Connor insisted.

“No!” Mick said, slamming his fist on the table.

Connor didn’t bend. “Dad, I’ll do whatever I can to protect you, whether you want me to or not.”

Mick bristled at his unrelenting attitude. “Then you’ll stay away,” he ordered. “From this moment on, you’ll stay away.”

“Stay away?” Connor repeated, his expression incredulous.

“From Chesapeake Shores, from our house,” Mick said, his gaze unyielding.

“I’m not welcome in my own home?” Connor said, looking shaken.

“Not until you can see your way clear to treat your mother with the respect she deserves and can accept our marriage.”