Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers 4)

“Of course. Gotta meet the in-laws. Looking forward to all of those judgey eyes and questions about my meager salary.”

“Glad you know what to expect.”

He leaned over and kissed my cheek, waving before he rounded the corner. “Love you!” he called back just before the door chimed.

“We don’t love you back!” Jojo yelled.

The room was quiet except for the forks scraping against the plates and Daddy sipping his water from a wine glass. Felix was standing by the door like a militant waiting for Tyler or me to attempt escape, and mother hadn’t looked me in the eye since we’d arrived.

Finley was busy texting on her phone, just as embarrassed to be in the same room with Tyler as he was with her.

Sally looked up to wink at me occasionally to make sure I wasn’t too stressed. Tyler was cutting through his lamb shank, happily eating the fourth course of a five-course dinner.

“Ellison,” Mother began in her voice that warned of impending doom. “Your father has spoken with the board, and they’re very interested in using your newfound talents within the company. I’m sure you’ll find the salary very agreeable in comparison with your current pay.”

I swallowed quickly, and then cleared my throat. “I like the job I have now.”

“You can do the same job at Edson Tech, sweetheart,” she said.

“I can’t hike mountains and photograph wildfires at Edson Tech.”

Mother pursed her lips, deepening the wrinkles around her mouth. “Precisely. Your father and I feel that your higher wages will better assist with the cost of your new condo, and—”

“Uh … you insisted on that condo, and I complied.”

“But it still costs money, dear. Money that, as an adult, you should provide.”

“I was living in a great apartment that I could afford.”

“We agreed a move would help create the feeling of a fresh start.”

“I could have found a more affordable apartment, I—”

“Meredith,” Sally interjected. I had grown to love her calm, soothing voice—a voice I once believed was manipulative and fake. Now that she was someone I trusted to call when in trouble, Daddy thought it would be a good idea to hire her back “Ellison likes the job she has now. It might be counterproductive to her path to wellness if we pull her away from a place where she feels comfortable and push her into an employment that may pay more, but is something she’s not quite as happy with.”

“She’ll like it just fine,” Mother said, blatantly dismissive.

“Meredith,” Daddy began.

“Philip,” Mother snapped, her voice rising an octave. She smiled, regaining her composure. “We agreed that it would be good for Ellison to find her place in the company and be an active participant in paying her bills.”

“Ellison disagrees,” Sally said. “And she’s doing very well.” She smiled at me. “She was paying bills before we moved her to the condo.”

“Ellison doesn’t have a choice,” Mother said.

“Actually, she does,” Sally responded. “She could just as easily move into a different apartment if you insist on holding it over her head. I’m sure that’s not what your intention was when you secured it for her. I recall you being very concerned about her recovery and wanting to offer something to reduce her stress level.”

“Sally,” Mother said with a stiff smile. She patted her mouth with her napkin. “You work for me, not for Ellison.”

Sally didn’t flinch. “I’m an independent service, one which you sought out to help you guide Ellison to a better life. She’s happy. What you’re proposing is the opposite of that. Especially now, in the beginning of her recovery … Meredith. You can’t honestly think this is what’s best for your daughter at this time.”

Mother glared at Daddy, waiting for him to interject.

He sat up, clearing his throat and chewing quickly. “Your mother”—she glared at him—“and I … feel that now that you’ve moved past your college … ways … that your place is at Edson Tech. She’s taken great care to create a station that includes photography, and she wants you to have the position and respect you deserve. It’s been very difficult for her to think of her daughter as a secretary, or this … dirty, camping, forest person snapping pictures of squirrels.”

Tyler leaned forward. “I’m sorry, sir … have you seen Ellie’s work? She’s not photographing squirrels, she’s documenting the containment of large wildfires around the U.S., and she’s very, very talented. She’s published, and she’s sought after. She’s given up a few offers, including National Geographic.”

“Really? That’s so great, Elliebee,” Finley said, a proud smile stretching across her face.

“Thanks,” I said.

Tyler grabbed my hand under the table, and I sat up tall. “If you want me to move out of the condo, I’m happy to do that. But I’m not quitting my job.”

Mother narrowed her eyes at Tyler. “I suppose this has something to do with him.”

“No, actually, it’s just about me loving my job. But I also love him, and taking a job with Edson Tech would mean moving to the East Coast, and I want to stay in Estes Park.”

Mother rolled her eyes. “It’s a tourist town, Ellison. It’s not somewhere you plant roots.”

“That’s not true,” I said. “My roots are pretty firmly planted.”

Tyler squeezed my hand.

Mother put her elbow on the table and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re really marrying a firefighter, Ellison? No offense, Mr. Maddox, but how do you plan to provide for our daughter?”

He tossed his napkin on the table, his shoulders relaxed. “Ellie doesn’t really need me to support her financially, but I make six figures annually, Mrs. Edson. That ain’t bad.”

“Really?” Daddy said, intrigued.

Tyler shrugged. “I make a lot of overtime, and hazard pay is the tits.”

“Is the…?” Mother began.

“He means it’s lucrative, Mother,” Finley said, glancing at me.

“Well,” Daddy said, loosening his tie. “I think it sounds like they’ve got it nailed down.”