The Master's Chair (The Chronicles of Terah) by Mackenzie Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

have time to run by his motel, much less eat dinner, before his meeting with the O’Reillys. As it was, he was five minutes late when he pulled into their driveway.
    Their house was in one of the older residential sections, the ones that cost a small fortune and can’t be upgraded without approval from the local historical society. It was a southern colonial, complete with wide porch and columns, tall windows covered with lace sheers, and a third-floor balcony. Trees that were probably planted while the Chickasaw Indians still lived in the area graced their front yard.
    According to the information that he’d been given, the O’Reillys were relatively new to Memphis. Both of them had been born and raised in the Northeast, but when Mr. O’Reilly had graduated from law school, a Memphis firm had made him a very attractive offer, part of which included this house for a very reasonable price. Matthew O’Reilly had been with the firm for about ten years now, and was hoping to make partner soon. Nora O’Reilly didn’t work outside the house, or inside either. She spent her days at the local club, playing tennis, golf, bridge, or drinking tea with the wives of the other lawyers in her husband’s firm.
    As Pallor approached the front door he tried to picture a child playing in the yard and a dog sleeping on the porch, but somehow it just didn’t seem to fit. He knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman in a light blue uniform opened the door and moved aside. As soon as Pallor stepped inside, she quietly shut the door and asked him to follow her. She led him down a long hall, through a set of French doors and out onto a back patio. Mr. and Mrs. O’Reilly were seated around a wrought iron table covered with a white lace tablecloth. On the table was a platter of cheese, meat, and crackers, as well as a carafe of wine. Mrs. O’Reilly poured Pallor a glass of wine while her husband stood to greet him.
    “I’m sorry to be late,” Pallor said as he sat down. “My plane was delayed leaving Miami this morning.”
    Mr. O’Reilly nodded and said, “That’s all right. We have just managed to sit down ourselves. It’s been one of those days. Now, I understand that you would like to talk to us about possibly adopting a child that you’re representing?”
    Pallor hesitated. In one sentence, the man had turned the tables. He made it sound as if they would adopt only if Pallor could convince them that the child was worthy of them. “Before we get to that, I’d like to ask you why you’re choosing to go with a private adoption rather than a state-sponsored agency. You’re an attorney, so you know the ins and outs of the procedure.”
    “While that’s true, we prefer the confidentiality that surrounds a private adoption. We do not wish to advertise the intimate details of our family life. We don’t see it as anyone else’s business,” Mr. O’Reilly said stiffly.
    “I see. So you’re planning to pretend that your wife’s pregnant?”
    “I don’t see that that concerns you,” Mr. O’Reilly started, but then his wife interrupted.
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Matthew. You’re making it sound so … I don’t know. Anyway, yes, we’re going to let the world think that he’s our son. I think it would be best all the way around. That way no one would taunt him about his natural mother giving him up.”
    Pallor nodded. Good answer. Why didn’t he believe it? “Do you think you’ll be staying in Memphis? Or do you have plans to go back up north?”
    “Again, I don’t see that our plans should concern you, but to answer your question, we plan to stay. I’m up for partner in about a year, and I intend to make it.”
    Again Pallor nodded. He was sure there was something else going on here, but how to get to it? “You are aware that if my friend agrees to let you raise her son that I’ll have to be involved in his life, right?”
    “From what I understand, your