Finding Forever(31)

“A caller? What do you mean by that?”

“A gentleman caller. A man has come to call upon her. Surely you know that expression. Do you remember The Glass Menagerie?”

It took a few moments for the meaning of his father’s words to penetrate.

“I wasn’t aware she knew anyone here.” Liam was trying to seem casual, but feeling anything but that.

“She apparently met someone at the market,” Frederick told his son.

“She’s not staying. Why would she care to meet anyone?” Liam snapped.

“This is a good thing, son,” Frederick said. “For her and for us.”

Liam sent an irritated look his father’s way. “Why is it a good thing?”

“Because if she falls in love with someone here, she will most certainly want to stay. Then we get to be with the children without our being monsters,” Frederick told him.

“We aren’t monsters for wanting my brother’s children to have the best possible life they can,” Liam told his father. But he did feel like a monster for wanting to take the kids away from their loving aunt.

“Your brother also stated, very clearly, that he wanted to have his children raised by Whitney. He spent many years with her. If he trusted her with the children, shouldn’t we?”

“It’s not about trust,” Liam practically thundered.

“Then what is it about?” Frederick asked.

“We’ve spoken about this already, Father. It’s about the children having the advantages that come along with carrying the Felton name.”

“They already carry the Felton name. Whitney hasn’t tried to change it to Steele. And there’s more to life than a name, or even money. It took me too long to learn that. Your brother figured it out and then was lucky enough to fall in love and have a family.”

“And that family is also ours,” Liam reminded his father.

“Yes. So, as I said, hopefully this suitor here to see Whitney is a charismatic man who sweeps her off her feet. Then we get the best of both worlds,” Frederick said.

Liam was done with this conversation.

“It would be rude if I didn’t say go and say hello to this suitor,” he told his father.

And without another word, he rose and walked from the room. He made his way quickly down the hall and the first thing he heard was Whitney’s laughter, which tightened his gut.

“I’m so delighted you’ve agreed to come with me,” a man was saying, making Liam tense up even more.

When he stepped into the room and saw the guy, he grew even angrier. This worthless stranger was obviously trying to sweep Whitney off her feet, just as his father wanted, and it looked as if it was working.

“I’m thrilled you thought of me,” she said, and laughed again.

Liam coughed to make his presence known. “I see you have a visitor, Whitney.”

“Oh, Liam, this is Sam Linston. Sam Linston, Liam Felton.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Liam,” Sam said, holding out his hand.

Liam ignored the gesture. Yes, he knew he was being rude, but he didn’t care.

“So, what are your plans this evening?” he asked crisply.

“I’m going to take this beautiful lady to dinner and a show,” Sam said. The man looked a bit uneasy as he started picking up on the tension.

Liam stared at him a moment longer, and then turned his attention back to Whitney.

“I thought you were taking the children to a play tonight,” he said, with clear disapproval in his tone.

Whitney gaped at him for a few seconds. “The play I took the kids to was last night, Liam.”

“My mistake. I hope you have a pleasant evening,” he told them, and he quickly spun on his heel and began walking away.

Still, he heard Sam tell her that he’d be back in a couple of hours to pick her up for the show. Since dinner would be afterward, it would evidently be a long night.

Liam had meant to go toward his father’s office and then to leave the house altogether. He in no way needed to talk to Whitney about her date. But somehow he found himself moving toward her bedroom.

What in the hell was he thinking?





Chapter Sixteen


How did you meet Sam?” Liam asked just as she reached her door.

Whitney hadn’t expected to see him again today, and the sound of his voice, clipped and formal in the extreme, nearly made her jump a foot into the air. Her heart was racing as she whirled around to face him.

“You scared me to death, Liam.”

His arms were crossed over his chest as he waited for her to answer his question. She finally did.

“I met him at the market when I took the kids to town. I was surprised that he came over here to see me.”