Falling for the Millionaire(23)

Susan motioned to a chair at one end of the table. "Let's have you sit here."

She nodded as she sat on the padded chair. "Thank you."

"Let's say a prayer of thanksgiving for our food, and then we'll make  some introductions." Susan sat in the empty chair to Melody's right.

After the prayer, each lady introduced herself, and Melody employed her  memory techniques to remember at least each first name. During the  introductions, two women dressed in uniforms quietly rolled a cart into  the room and began serving the salads-a combination of greens and fruit.

As they worked their way through the different courses, the women traded  stories about their latest trips abroad and their grandchildren. Melody  smiled and nodded and laughed at the appropriate times, but she had  little to contribute to the conversation. It only served as a reminder  to her that she didn't fit into this world. She'd hoped not to feel this  way, but it happened every time she had to attend such an event.

After everyone had finished eating, Susan stood. "I hope y'all enjoyed  the lunch. We'll go to the seating area for Melody's presentation."

A murmur of agreement accompanied the group as they made their way  across the room. Melody congratulated herself when she remembered each  lady's name. After everyone was seated, she passed out brochures  outlining the ministries at The Village. The women took a few moments to  look over the information, then listened while she explained the  services.         

     



 

She finished her talk and asked for questions. Soon a lively  conversation ensued and Melody's nerves vanished as she talked about the  things that were dearest to her heart and how God worked wonders in so  many lives at The Village. As she answered questions, she realized she'd  been all wrong about not fitting into their world. She might not have  the same lifestyle, but they shared one thing-the desire to help others.

By the time she had finished, she had more volunteers for The Village  shop and more monetary pledges for the expansion of the women's shelter.  Today's meeting had turned out better than she'd ever expected. She  should have known God would make everything good.

Susan came up to Melody as the others were leaving. "Please stay for a moment, so we can talk some more. If you have time."

"I do." Melody wondered what else Hudson's mom had to say. Susan ushered  Melody back into the solarium. "We might as well make ourselves  comfortable here."

Melody sat on one of the colorful couches and tried to relax. "What did you want to talk about?"

"First, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation. You did a wonderful job."

"Thanks. It's always a blessing to share the work of The Village."

"I can tell it's something you really care about." Susan hesitated for a  moment. "I'd like for you to share the same things with my whole family  next weekend. It's my husband's birthday, and we always have a big  celebration. Would you be able to join us on Saturday for dinner?"

Melody wondered why Susan couldn't tell her family about The Village  herself, or why her son couldn't do it. Was she trying to promote a  relationship between her and Hudson? Surely not. Melody doubted that she  fit the profile of the ideal woman for Hudson-one who shared his social  circle. She shouldn't second-guess the reasons for this request. She  should be glad for the opportunity. "I think I'm free, but I need to  double-check my calendar and get back to you."

"Excellent." Susan settled back on the couch. "Tell me a little about yourself."

Melody tried not to read anything into the conversation, but she  couldn't help wondering whether Susan was trying to get information  because she suspected her son had an interest in a woman who didn't fit  into their world. "There isn't much to tell."

Susan waved a hand at Melody. "I'm sorry. That was really too open-ended. Did you grow up in Atlanta?"

Melody shook her head. "I'm from a small town in southern Georgia. My mother still lives there."

"Do you get back to visit her very often?"

"Probably not as often as I should. I've tried to get her to move to this area, but she doesn't like big cities."

"She sounds like my mother. Bless her soul. We lived on a farm in South  Georgia, and she never understood why I would want to live here. But I  went to college and fell in love with a city boy."

"How do you feel now about living in an urban area?"

"I don't mind, but you must admit that our house isn't exactly in the  city." Smiling, Susan shrugged. "It's kind of the best of both worlds."

"You do have a good bit of privacy here."

"When my parents passed away, they gave Hudson the farm because he was  the only grandson. You see, I was an only child. My parents wanted more  children, but it wasn't meant to be, so they were thrilled when I gave  them four grandchildren. They doted on Hudson. The girls got money, and  Hudson got the land."

Hudson owned a farm. Melody wondered whether it was close to her  hometown. What did it matter? She had no interest in the man. At least  that's what she kept telling herself. "What does he do with it?"

"The farm is made up of a lot of timberland, and he pays a manager to  take care of it. We sometimes go down there for long weekends. The big,  old rambling house where I lived as a child is still on the property.  That's where we stay. Sometimes Hudson rents out the house during  hunting season."

Melody chatted with Susan for several more minutes about nothing of much  importance. Finally, she excused herself, but as Melody stepped onto  the front porch, Susan acted as though she wanted to say something else.  In the end she must have thought better of it.

Walking to her car, Melody wished she knew what was on the older woman's  mind. Did it have anything to do with Hudson, or was it something of  little consequence?

Hudson's mother was warm and charming. He must have taken after her  rather than his father. Melody kept telling herself that she didn't want  to become involved with a man who participated in dangerous activities,  but she was finding it harder and harder to convince herself that  Hudson's interest in those things was so terrible. But fear continued to  niggle at the back of her mind whenever she thought of throwing caution  aside and embracing a relationship with the handsome risk taker.





Chapter Nine

"We're here. I hope you enjoy the evening," Hudson said after parking his car in front of his parents' house.         

     



 

"You sound doubtful."

"Didn't mean for it to come across that way." He gave Melody a lopsided  grin, hoping he wouldn't have to take back his statement. His mom would  make the evening wonderful even though he suspected she was matchmaking.  That didn't bother him, but what his dad might do concerned Hudson. The  man could be charming but foreboding and unpredictable, as well.

Hudson walked Melody to the front door and prayed for a positive outcome  for this party. For many years he'd dreaded attending his father's  birthday party. Too many times H.P. had used his birthday party to give  Hudson new marching orders. Would that happen tonight, despite their  recent talk?

For many of the recent ones, he'd been overseas and unable to attend. He  couldn't get out of this one, and to make things worse, his mother had  invited Melody so she could tell the whole family about The Village.

He didn't mind that she was coming with him or that she'd asked him to  share his project, but he feared what kind of pronouncement his father  would make on the occasion of his sixty-eighth birthday. Hudson didn't  want to argue with his father in front of company. In front of family  was bad enough. Hudson could only hope the event would be one of  celebration, peace and harmony. Even though he had numerous  disagreements with his father, Hudson loved the man. He wanted Melody to  like his family, too.

The door opened before they reached the front porch. His mother stepped  out and gave him a hug, then turned to Melody. "Welcome. I'm so glad you  could join us."

"Me, too."

Hudson watched for that tight smile that so often formed on Melody's  lips when she was trying to make you believe she was happy. But tonight  her smile was genuine, and that buoyed his spirits. Maybe tonight  wouldn't be so bad after all. "So where's the birthday boy?"

Susan looped her arm through her son's. "He's waiting for you in the  sitting room. Your sisters and the rest of the family have already  arrived."

"Then, we can make our grand entrance." Hudson laughed halfheartedly.

Susan glanced over at Melody. "Don't listen to him. There will be no  grand entrances. As soon as he walks into that room, he'll be smothered  with nieces and nephews."

Shrugging, Hudson laughed again. "What can I say? They love me."

"They adore him, but he shouldn't let it go to his head. They like their  grandmother more." Susan nodded as she patted his arm. "Hudson, will  you put your jackets in the coat closet?"