"Do I need to act as referee between you two again?" Susan smiled up at her husband.
"No, just talk some sense into him."
Susan looked over at Hudson. "Can you stay for lunch?"
Hudson wondered whether his mother could help his dad see the wisdom of granting Elizabeth her wish. Maybe his dad needed a woman's point of view. "Yeah."
"Excellent. We're having some of Sarah's chili. It's simmering on the stove as we speak." Susan slipped an arm through her husband's and paraded him to the door.
Watching his parents, Hudson followed. They were a happy couple, with a very traditional marriage where his mother, unlike his sisters, worked inside the home. Still fit for her age and still young looking thanks to the hairdresser who made sure she stayed a brunette rather than a graying matriarch, his mom was a pampered Southern belle with a housekeeper, cook and gardener. She spent her time doing church charity functions or community service, besides playing tennis and golf weekly when the weather permitted. Her charity activities should bode well for his efforts to help The Village.
When they reached the kitchen, Sarah, his parents' longtime cook, was busy at the stove. She turned to greet them. Her face lit up when she saw Hudson. She wiped her hands on a towel and hurried to greet him with a hug. "My favorite boy."
Hudson chuckled. "Sarah, you'd think one of these days you'd realize I'm grown up."
"Never." She laughed as she returned to the stove.
"Mom tells me you're serving us your famous chili." Hudson remembered many a time when Sarah would sneak him cookies when he was a little boy.
"Absolutely, and the biggest serving is for you." She handed him an oversize bowl, steaming with the delicious mixture.
"Thanks." Hudson cradled it in his hands, the heat warming his heart. "Come join us."
Sarah shook her head. "Thanks, but I've already eaten, and I need to get dinner ready."
After Sarah served his parents, they found seats at the round oak table in the kitchen nook. H.P. gave thanks for the food, and they began eating in silence. Hudson wanted to bring up their earlier discussion but decided to wait for his father to start the conversation.
Setting down her spoon, Hudson's mother broke the silence. "What were you two arguing about?"
H.P. gave his wife an annoyed look. "We were having a discussion."
"True, but we're on opposite sides of the issue." Hudson nodded as he explained the situation.
"H.P., this time your son's right." Susan patted her husband's arm. "You can't push your kids into doing something they don't want to do. Give Hudson some freedom. Let him fly."
His father harrumphed. "What do you mean let him fly? He wants to skydive. What a waste of time."
"Give him wings to do what he chooses. He jumped out of planes to serve his country. He deserves to use that skill however he wants." Susan raised an eyebrow.
Hudson listened to his parents bicker back and forth about his future. He needed to stand up for himself rather than let his mother argue for him. "Dad, I've worked for you ever since I got out of the army. I've done your bidding. Now I'm going to chart my own path. I'd like your blessing to run the construction division, but if not, don't plan on me taking over Conrick Industries. Elizabeth can do that far better than I can."
A muscle worked in H.P.'s jaw. The silence in the room shouted louder than anything his father could have said. Hudson feared he could never convince his father that his sister deserved a chance to prove herself.
"Mr. C., you should listen to your son. Ms. Elizabeth is one smart lady." Sarah turned back to the stove.
A frown knitting his brow, H.P. glanced at her. Hudson held his breath, waiting for his father to boom out his disapproval. Instead, he set down his spoon and eyed Hudson. "You can't use these women to persuade me to turn things over to Elizabeth. You're a Conrick son, and you will run the company when I retire. However, I'll let you see what you can do with the construction division, but I'll reevaluate things in six months."
"Thanks, Dad. You won't be disappointed." Frustrated that he couldn't change his father's mind, Hudson had to make do with whatever opportunity he was offered for now.
* * *
"The bid from Conrick Construction wins my vote."
Melody's heart sank as Bob Franklin, chairman of the board for The Village, voiced his opinion. After their detailed discussion of each bid, how could she disagree with the three men who sat around the table with her?
"What do you think, Melody?" Ian raised his eyebrows as he looked her way.
Melody sighed. "I concur. They've given us the best bid."
"It's a good choice." Adam nodded. "I was impressed when Mr. Conrick and Mr. Duncan came out to view the building. I believe we'll be happy with this choice."
A murmur of agreement went around the table as Melody resigned herself to working with Hudson. She'd prayed that God would lead the group to make the wisest decision, even if it meant hiring Hudson's company. She hoped he would honor her wishes and not push for another date, especially now that they would be associates on this project. As the head of Conrick Construction, how much would Hudson be involved with the day-to-day activities? She could hope not much, but something told her the chances were slim.
"Looks as though you have a phone call to make, Melody." Adam stood and pushed in his chair.
She grabbed her satchel from the floor. "After we have a signed contract bond, I'll send an email to everyone with a full report."
"Good job today." Bob Franklin shook hands with everyone, then accompanied Melody to the door and opened it for her. "I'll be looking for that report. Thanks."
She nodded and slipped down the hall to her office. Once inside, she leaned back against the door and closed her eyes. Now she had to call Hudson. With a heavy sigh, she made her way across the room and plopped onto her chair as she put her satchel on the desk. She extracted her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she came to his name.
She stared at the screen, willing herself to dial the number, but she couldn't do it yet. Instead, she bowed her head. She needed strength in order to make this call and not come across in a negative manner. This project was important to a lot of women who needed a safe place, and she couldn't let personal feelings jeopardize it in any way. Lord, please give me wisdom where Hudson Conrick is concerned. Please provide me peace for this situation. Let me have a loving heart for all concerned.
Taking a deep breath, Melody tapped the screen. The phone began to ring while her heart raced.
"Hudson Conrick."
His deep voice made Melody's heart beat even faster. "Hello, Mr. Conrick. This is Melody Hammond from The Village. I'm calling to let you know that we've decided to award Conrick Construction the contract for the women's shelter."
"That's great news! I'm looking forward to working with you on this very worthy project."
Melody wished she could say, "me, too," but it would be a lie. "Ian has prepared a contract bond for you or a representative from the company to sign."
"When would be a good time for me to meet with you?"
"Contact Ian. He's in charge of contracts."
"I will."
"When do you plan to start the work?" Melody wanted to prepare herself for Hudson's presence on campus.
"I hope to sign the contract today, and we'll get started as soon as the permits are in place."
"Good. So we'll talk after everything's ready." Melody ended the call, already eager for him to finish, so she wouldn't have to deal with him. But this was her project and she would see it through. She'd already spent a sleepless night thinking about today's decision. Now it was done.
She walked to the window and stared out at the quad. The sun glinted off the water cascading in the fountain. Bare-branched trees lifted their limbs into the blue sky. The mild winter weather reminded her of the night she'd gone out with Hudson. She couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed the evening. It would be so easy to accept another date with him, but she couldn't let herself get tangled up with a man who liked to take chances, or a wealthy man who used his money and influence to get what he wanted.
Hudson was every bit that person.
But she knew she wasn't being fair to him. She couldn't go into the project with a negative attitude. Prayer. That was what she needed again. It had helped her through the phone conversation. It would help her again while she worked with him.
Lord, help me to see Hudson through Your eyes and not my own. Help us to have a good working relationship so this project can move forward in a way that is pleasing to You.
When she raised her head, she tried to analyze why she was on pins and needles. The answer wasn't hard to find. Hudson represented a temptation she wasn't sure she could resist, despite her fears. She would be strong and determined. She wouldn't succumb to his appeals no matter how attractive. Now she had things to do and didn't have time to worry about Hudson's presence on campus.