Her Safe Harbor: Prairie Romance (Crawford Family Book 4) by Holly Bush Read Free Book Online Page B

when I overheard Father telling
his secretary that the week ahead was going to be very busy and he was
concerned that he and his staff were not going to be able to take care of all
the customers coming to see him in a timely manner.”
    “Mother was in a foul temper about it if I remember
correctly,” Jennifer said.
    “Mother was often in a foul temper,” Jolene replied.
“Anyway, I went to work with my father that week, with a maid of course, and
served coffee and tea and cakes from a pastry shop around the corner from the
bank to clients who were going to be delayed because my father was running late
with a previous appointment. I made polite conversation and kept notes so I
would know what to ask or comment on the next time the client visited.”
    “Father said half the reason the bank was doing so well was
because Jolene was greeting customers,” Jennifer said.
    “Men are notoriously silly when it comes to appearances. As
if I had the foggiest notion of the business of banking. However, after playing
hostess there for some years, I was much acquainted with how and why things
worked the way they did behind the scenes.”
    “Of course you did,” Max said, and waved his fork. “I have
said all along that you are very business savvy and bright. Obviously your
father recognized that.”
    “I would like to work somewhere when I grow up,” Melinda
said.
    Max grumbled.
    “You will, Melinda,” Jolene said. “You will be managing the
Shelby family’s considerable holdings in property and investments, and
preparing the next generation, and your sister or brother, to help you.”
    “That is not the same,” Melinda whined.
    “What would you like to do when it is time to decide?” Jolene
asked.
    Nothing in this conversation or in the energy surrounding it
was anything like the family dinners at Willow Tree, now often just Mother,
Father, and her, and done mostly in silence, other than when Mother berated
someone in her sphere. The great knot in Jennifer’s stomach was slowly
unwinding. How calming it would be to not have constant tension, to relax and
not be so wary. She awoke from her thoughts when Max spoke to her.
    “Jolene says that according to your father, a certain
gentleman has become a favorite of yours. When will we get to meet him?”
    Her peace was interrupted even without his name being
mentioned. How would she ever escape him? Would she ever have this comfort that
she felt with Jolene’s family as her own? She looked up at Max.
    “He is not my favorite, and I have recently told
Father so.”
    Jennifer concentrated on her meal then and keeping her hands
from shaking as she reached for her wineglass. Max excused himself early to
meet with a fellow senator, and Jolene gave her an extensive tour of the house,
from the attics to the staff quarters. Melinda held her hand and swung their
arms between them as if they did not have a care in the world. When they came
to Melinda’s rooms, she asked if she could stay behind from the rest of the tour
as she was still arranging them to her liking.
    “Of course,” Jolene said to her and kissed her forehead.
“Young ladies like to have their things just so.”
    “You and Melinda seem quite affectionate,” Jennifer said as
they settled themselves into comfortable chairs in Jolene’s private rooms.
    “We are. It is quite astonishing to you, I imagine, knowing
how we were with Mother growing up.”
    Jennifer nodded. “It seems as though that is the way it is
supposed to be. I remember going to my friend Ruth Edgewood’s house and
sometimes eating dinner with them when Mother allowed it. The Edgewoods talked
about all kinds of interesting things and there was always laughter and . . .
well, it always made me wonder why our family dinners were not like that.”
    “I am very fortunate to have found Maximillian. He has drawn
me into viewing life from a much different perspective. He is happy that he is
alive and that Melinda is well and that he married me . .