Chapter 3
Walking away from him was difficult but it was something that needed to be done. While I wasn’t used to one-night stands, or whatever that was, I knew that it simply couldn’t be anything more. I was certain that it wouldn’t happen again. It couldn’t and since Mr. Shields was only in town for the week, I was certain I could survive long enough for him to ride off into the sunset.
The next morning, I found myself helping my mother with some household chores and conversation was slow, so I asked her if everything was all right.
When I only received a strained, one-word response, I was certain that I needed to pry a little in order to ensure that I hadn’t been caught sneaking out the night before.
“I suppose Daddy’s still upset about what happened?” I inquired, keeping my voice low, unsure of where my father had gone.
“You could say that,” my mother replied, “He’s been pouting around all night.”
“Why won’t Daddy just talk to him? I mean, it isn’t like he said for certain things were going to change. Isn’t business about give and take?”
“Yes, but your father has given his entire life to clients like the Shields and now that this…child is coming in place of his father and the first thing he wants to do is make his profit margin bigger, it’s infuriating.”
“But Momma, A-I mean Mr. Shields didn’t say anything other than they had to talk.”
“And when is that sentence ever lead to something good? He wasn’t selling anything to your father, he was dictating it. He thinks that he can just come in here and change the game so that he doesn’t have to work as hard. I don’t know if he thinks we’re stupid, or if he’s just stupid but either way, he’s not going to come here and push us around.”
“I don’t want him to push us around either but…”
“But what? Sahara, why are you defending him?” My mother demanded, and I felt my stomach drop with fear.
I swallowed hard, hoping my mother wouldn’t notice and tried to ignore the faint taste of Anthony still lingering on my lips.
“Umm, I’m not defending him, Momma but from the way I understand it, you and Daddy don’t have much of a choice. You need this deal. Daddy needs to sign this new agreement.”
“Your Daddy doesn’t need to do anything. If he decides to tell this northern prick to go to Hell, we’ll find some other way to make up the difference.”
“Why start a brand-new business arrangement when you can just work with what you’ve got?”
“Because if he gives into anything this year, then the next year, he’s just going to want more and more until we’re paying him to stay with us.”
My mother and I held one another’s stare for a long time, but in the end, I let out a deep breath and shook my head, “Well, I sure hope Daddy knows what he’s doing.”
“He does,” my mother insisted, “But what’s with you doubting him all of a sudden? It’s like you think you know better than we do. That’s the problem with the younger generation. Y’all think you know better than your parents. No one puts any worth in wisdom anymore.”
“It’s not that I’m questioning him, I’m trying to help you guys make a decision,” I replied, “You want me to be a part of the family business but any time I speak my mind, you accuse me of being against you.”
“Maybe because it seems like you are always against us.”
“Well, I’m not. I just want to speak my mind. I might actually have something useful to contribute.”
“If only,” my mother hissed, rolling her eyes at me.
This angered me, but I refrained from saying anything, just in case I got ahead of myself and said something I would ultimately regret.
That morning, we finished our housework in silence and I decided that until Anthony Shields was out of our life and I could justify going to back to trying to please my family, that silence would continue. There was nothing more I had to say to my parents anyway.
If they wanted to dig their own financial grave, I was going to let them.
So, in keeping with my vow of silence, for the next few days, I went about my business without speaking to anyone of merit. I didn’t speak to my parents and I didn’t hear anything from Anthony. If anyone spoke to me while I was in town I would smile and wave, pretending to be friendly long enough to escape.
I didn’t like the thoughts that tossed around inside my head but that was a small price to pay to avoid letting my secret out and having my parents hate me forever.
I didn’t regret what happened between Anthony and I but since I was stuck with my parents after he left, I didn’t want my life to become overly miserable. I knew I couldn’t let my rebellion get out until I could figure out how to get out of this damn town.
Yet, when I returned one evening after visiting a friend, I found my father waiting for me. I knew from the look on his face that he is wasn’t going to be good.
“Hi Dad,” I offered in a strained manner, “You’re up late.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve been waiting for you. I have a question for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah…I finally met with that northerner. I still don’t like him, but we talked, and he asked me something strange.”
My heart started to pound heavily in my chest and my hands started to shake. I pressed them firmly against my sides in an attempt to hide their instantaneous reaction, but I couldn’t tell exactly how obvious my nervousness was.
“What?”
“He asked about you,” my father insisted. “You didn’t have any contact with him, did you?”
“After the other night? At dinner? No,” I replied, suppressing the urge to tell my father exactly how much contact I have had with Anthony, simply to see his dumbfounded expression. To my merit, the comment came out sounding halfway decent.
“Then, why would he want to ask me how you are?”
“Maybe he was trying to be friendly,” I offered, surprised at how nonchalant my comment sounded. “I mean, you do seem to think that he is out to get you. Maybe you’re misjudging the situation.”
“No, I don’t think so,” my father ruffed, “But I guess it’s possible he fancied you.”
“That’s possible,” I replied, again trying to stifle another more damning comment. “Maybe he’s just bold and thought he would get somewhere.”
“Well, he’s definitely bold but fairly stupid, if he thinks you’re going to fall for a man like that. Disrespectful carpetbagger,” my father chuckled and shook his head, “I guess he doesn’t understand that there are far more fish in your sea than he could ever compete with. Gentleman who know their place.”
I gave my father a strained grin, nodded my head and turned around.
“Goodnight, Dad,” I offered, suddenly realizing that if I stayed too long I might once again say something I regretted.
By the time, I made it up to my room, I was fuming. Mostly, I was angry at my father and his blatant insolence, but I was also mad at Anthony.
He had no right or claim to me whatsoever!
So, I decided that as soon as I got up in the morning, when I could think a little clearer, I would go to his hotel and demand to know what the hell was going on.