“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He glanced at the wall clock. “I have to leave for work in twenty minutes. If you have something of interest to say, let’s hear it.”
“Heidi’s getting married tomorrow.”
Heat coiled in his center and anger consumed him. He fisted his hands at his side. “That’s not news. Now if you’ll excuse me…”
“Stop it, Michael!”
“What do you want from me, Ellie?” He stuck his arm out. “Here, take some of my blood because that’s all I have left. She’s gone back to Oklahoma City. She’s marrying the man she reminded me was her betrothed when she arrived. I’m a smart man, I understand.”
“Michael, I saw her earlier this week. She has to be the most miserable bride I’ve ever seen. She’s pale, her dark circles look like they were painted on, and she’s lost weight.”
Michael sat in the chair and slumped, dangling his hands between his knees. “You’re killing me, Ellie.” He raised his eyes to her. “There isn’t anything I can do. I wish to God there was, but before she left, Heidi made it quite clear she wanted to marry Clarence Manfred.”
“Wanted to, or had to?”
Michael shrugged. “She’s made her decision. No one is making her do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
Ellie shook her head. “No. Something’s going on.” She narrowed her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re willing to accept that.”
He stood and headed to the door, then stopped, his back to her. “She left me no choice.”
****
“Do you want to explain what this paper means?”
Tears brimmed Heidi’s eyes, and rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t tell you.”
Her mother stabbed the paper with a stiff finger. “This is the reason you’ve changed your mind about marrying Clarence, isn’t it?”
Heidi took the handkerchief Mother held out, and wiped her nose. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve made my decision, and tomorrow I’ll stick by it.”
Mother moved to the bed, and patted the area next to her. “Sit down. I want to hear the whole story.”
Heidi joined her mother, the words hesitant at first. Soon a feeling of relief swept over her as she unburdened herself. All the pain, sadness, and rage she’d lived with the past month came pouring out like a deluge. She twisted her handkerchief, mopped her eyes and talked. Sometimes she sat, other times she paced. Finally, when no words remained, she settled back on the bed, spent. Her mother remained silent throughout her tirade.
She tapped tightened lips with her finger, her eyes flashing. “Let me understand. You’re about to marry a man tomorrow, who has blackmailed you, told you he would keep a mistress, frightened you at one point, and claims to not even like you?” She took a deep breath. “Do I understand the situation?”
Heidi deflated like a child’s balloon. “Yes.”
Mother stiffened. “I’m cancelling the wedding.”
“No!” Heidi lunged when her mother started for the door. “You can’t do that. Clarence will send the information on that paper to the newspapers and Senator Cochran will be destroyed.”
“Oh, Heidi, I hardly think it’s that dramatic.”
“You don’t understand. Senator Cochran stands for family values, and if this news gets out, his career is over, and his entire family will be embarrassed.”
“Don’t you think this letter is something you should have shared with Michael before you so hastily made a decision on your own, and left?”
“No. I didn’t want him to be in a position where he had to decide between me and his family.”
“Now you know you’re expecting, you have to allow him the opportunity to do that.”
Heidi crossed her arms. “No.”
“Why not?”
She flung her hands out. “Because I love him-more than anything.” She waved her hand. “Oh, of course I love you and Papa, but you have each other. I wanted the kind of marriage you two have. I know Michael loves me that way. But I love him too much to watch his feelings for me change from love to loathing because I ruined his family.”