Falling for the Millionaire(32)

"I'm sure they would be proud of the way you've used the money from the  sale. Lots of people are benefiting from your generosity." Warmth  radiated from Melody's smile this time. "But I still say it's not like  any farm I've ever known. It's like something you see in the movies  about old Southern plantations with Spanish moss dripping from the  trees."         

     



 

"Yeah, it's a special place for me. I loved going there when I was a  kid. We swam in the lake and went hiking in the woods. There was an  adventure around every bend and over every hill. We would ride horses,  and Granddaddy would take me out on his tractor for a special treat."

"Sounds like fun." Melody pointed ahead. "Turn right at the stop sign  and go five blocks, then turn left onto Magnolia Street. On that street  go three more blocks to Oak Lane, the street where I grew up."

While Hudson drove slowly through the residential neighborhood filled  with modest clapboard houses in a variety of colors, he tried to imagine  Melody as a little girl running up and down the street or riding her  bike. Her childhood had probably been carefree, not orchestrated like  his. That was why he'd loved the farm so much. It was his chance to be  unencumbered. He loved being with Melody because with her he was able to  be himself. Everything they did together reinforced that idea. His  doubts had disintegrated.

The weeks since Melody had agreed to date him had been a whirlwind of  activities that they'd shared. The road rally had been a resounding  success. The following weekend he'd escorted her to Kirsten and Brady's  wedding. Hudson wondered what it meant that he'd grabbed the garter, but  Melody had made no attempt to get the bouquet that had been  deliberately tossed in her direction.

Was he way ahead of himself when he thought of her in terms of marriage?  He was finding it harder and harder to hide his feelings. What would  she say if he told her that he loved her? Did she feel the same?

He'd tried not to think about that question but concentrate on the good  times they'd shared and the good things happening at The Village as the  construction project drew closer to completion. A week ago they'd joined  with Kirsten and Brady to rejoice in their adoption of Zach and Tyler,  the two boys who'd been under Brady's foster care. Hudson wanted to  celebrate everything with Melody, including the opening of the new  women's shelter.

And he'd been thinking of adding a personal touch. Would she consider  skydivers as part of the ceremony, or would she balk at the idea?

Questions of all sorts floated through his mind, but today he had to concentrate on one thing-getting to know Melody's family.

"The white house with the blue shutters is the place." He saw her take a  deep breath and put on that less-than-genuine smile again. "You can  park out front."

A flowering dogwood tree in the front yard still had a smattering of  white blossoms. Tall pines and gnarly oaks shaded the house while a  chain-link fence surrounded the yard. Hudson parked, then hurried around  to open Melody's door. He wished he could take away her anxious  expression as he opened the gate and escorted her up the front walk.

Before they reached the three steps going onto the porch, a woman with  short dishwater-blond hair opened the screen door and stepped out. He  was looking at an older version of Melody. The resemblance between  mother and daughter was remarkable.

"You're here! I'm so happy y'all could come for a visit."

Melody hurried to greet her mother with a hug, then turned to him. "Mom, this is my friend Hudson Conrick."

Hudson nodded, trying not to let the friend reference annoy him. They  were more than friends. Why didn't Melody want to acknowledge that? "I'm  pleased to meet you, ma'am."

"Please call me Regina." She extended her hand.

Hudson shook it. "Thank you for inviting me, Regina. Melody tells me I'm  in for a treat because you're serving your fabulous fried chicken."

"Well, I know it's Melody's favorite." A pleased smile brightened  Regina's face as she ushered them into the house. "I hope you don't mind  that I invited Will and Rob and their families. It's not every day your  brothers get to see you."

"That's super." Melody looked over at Hudson, her brow wrinkled. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all." Happy to meet more of her family, Hudson took in the pine  flooring and overstuffed sofa and chair and the decor that featured the  same pale blue color as on the shutters outside. The house was plain but  neat and clean.

"I was fixin' to set the table." Regina turned toward the kitchen. "Your brothers should be here shortly."

Melody immediately volunteered to help, and Hudson insisted on helping,  too, even though both women protested that he was a guest.

"This is my first chance to use Ms. Lily's china and sterling." Regina  opened a built-in china cabinet on the far side of the small dining  room. "Your daddy always said such finery wasn't necessary, but I just  like to come in here and look at it sometimes."

"Momma, it does look nice here. It'll look even better on the table."

Regina took out a stack of plates with gold trim and a rose pattern on  the edges and handed them to Hudson. "Ms. Lily was my neighbor for  years, and she gave me these nice things when she became very ill  because she said her kids and grandkids wouldn't appreciate them. She  was such a dear. I hated to lose her. She was right. After she died, her  kids sold everything."         

     



 

Melody hugged her mother. "Momma, I'm so glad she gave you these lovely things."

Laughing, Regina gave her daughter another stack of dishes. "It's so wonderful to have you here. I wish you lived closer."

"I've tried to get you to move up to Atlanta."

Regina waved a hand at Melody. "I'd never survive in the city."

"Where I live it's still more country than city."

"That's what you think. There's too much traffic for me. Besides, I don't want to leave my friends."

As they finished setting the table, Regina asked Hudson about his work.  He only mentioned what he did at The Village. He didn't know what Melody  had told her mother, but he wasn't going to talk about Conrick  Industries if he didn't have to. Today he wanted to be plain Hudson, not  Hudson Paine Conrick, the Fourth, heir to millions.

As Regina went to the kitchen to start the chicken, she insisted they  relax in the front room. He followed Melody and sat on the sofa with  her. She still seemed uncomfortable as she crossed and uncrossed her  legs and picked at invisible lint on her slacks. Before he could  question her about it, two little girls, full of giggles, raced into the  house.

They stopped short when they spied Hudson. "Are you Aunt Melody's beau?" the taller of the two asked.

He grinned but remembered how Melody had introduced him to her mother. "Maybe you should ask your aunt."

The little girls gathered around Melody. "Is he?"

"He's my friend."

"Ah. That's no good." The older girl frowned and turned back to Hudson.  "Grammy says Aunt Melody should get married, and she needs a beau to do  that. So could you be her beau?"

He had no clue how to respond. He needed to think fast. "What should I do to make her my girl?"

"You could kiss her." The smaller girl looked him over as if she was trying to figure out if he was worthy of her aunt.

As Hudson struggled to come up with a response, two men, one toting a  baby in a carrier, two women and two young boys entered the house and  rescued him from the inquiries of the little girls. Melody sprang up  from the sofa and hugged them all and cooed over the baby dressed in  pink-a girl, for sure. Then Melody turned to him. "Everyone, I'd like  you to meet my friend Hudson Conrick."

Trying not to let Melody's introduction bug him again, he shook hands  with everyone as they said their names and the kids' names. Now he knew  how Melody probably felt that day at his parents' house when she'd been  introduced to twice as many people. He tried repeating the names in his  head. Will was married to Lauren, and their kids were Chloe, Ella and  Micah. Rob, the younger brother, was married to Dana, and their kids  were Robbie and Grace.

Wiping her hands on her apron, Regina joined the group and doted on her  grandkids while they bounced around her like jumping jacks. Despite  Melody's denial of a serious relationship with him, happiness grabbed  hold of him.

While she helped her mother and sisters-in-law put the food out on the  kitchen counter, the men got their children settled and served them at  the kitchen table, all except baby Grace, who had fallen asleep in the  carrier. With everyone gathered, Will gave thanks for the food. Then the  adults filled their plates and went into the dining room.

Mealtime was filled with jovial conversation and laughter. Hudson saw  how this family bonded together. The tension that often accompanied his  family get-togethers was absent here. He envied their camaraderie. Did  Melody realize what a fantastic family she had?