Chapter Eighteen #2
This was it, he mused. Grant was going to read him the riot act, grill him about the past and the pain he’d caused Beth and Olivia. He’d want reassurances that Logan was sincere about moving back in with Beth and Olivia. Time to man up, he decided, and swallow his medicine.
Grant closed the door and gestured for Logan to sit in the leather chair positioned in front of the wall-to-wall cherrywood bookcase. He walked over to the liquor cabinet and glanced over his shoulder.
“Brandy?” he asked.
Logan was about to automatically refuse, then changed his mind. He may well need alcohol to dull this ordeal. “Sure, thanks.”
Filling each crystal snifter about an inch, he handed Logan one and then sat in an adjacent chair.
Stiffening, Logan waited for the talk-down.
Instead, Grant relaxed against the back of the leather chair, crossed his legs, and said, “It was good of you to join us for Christmas.”
“I appreciate the welcome,” Logan replied, and was sincere. He hadn’t known what to expect. The hug from Irene had nearly brought tears to his eyes.
“I know why you asked to speak to me,” he said, holding on to the snifter with both hands and leaning forward. He avoided eye contact.
“Oh?” The lone word was filled with curiosity.
“I made a huge mistake when I left Beth; I won’t make excuses. I was wrong and I regret what I did.”
“Actually, Logan, I wanted to apologize to you.”
Certain he’d heard wrong, Logan jerked his head up. “Excuse me?”
“Irene and I should never have paid off Olivia’s medical bills without discussing it with both of you first. We knew those expenses were a financial struggle with Beth no longer working. We thought we were helping.”
“You did . . . You were.” His throat grew tight.
“I was a fool not to appreciate your generosity. For some crazy reason, I was convinced I’d failed Beth and Olivia and that they’d do better without me.
” His manhood had taken a hit, and fool that he was, he’d let pride nearly destroy the best thing that ever happened to him, and that was marrying Beth.
“My daughter loves you.”
“I know,” Logan agreed. “The thing is, I don’t deserve her, and I know it. I thought she would be better off without me.” That was the truth, the bottom line. Beth deserved so much more than anything he could offer her.
To his surprise, Grant chuckled. “Nothing could be further from the truth, son. I hope you know that.”
Logan continued. “I don’t know why you ever agreed to let a loser like me marry your daughter.”
“You think you’re a loser.” Grant spit out the word like he would a lemon seed. “Is that the way you view yourself? My goodness, that explains a great deal. As for Beth choosing to marry you, you’re dead wrong.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Grant sipped his brandy. “Irene and I raised all three of our children to be independent thinkers. If they made a mistake, we made sure they owned up to it. We didn’t water down the consequences, either.”
How he wished he’d been born into a family like this.
“Beth saw something in you few others had. She admired your determination to improve your situation with education and hard work. When you asked her to marry you with that ring, she understood the sacrifices you made to purchase the diamond and loved you even more for it. She believed in you; she still does.”
“You understand, don’t you? I didn’t have anything to offer her when I asked her to be my wife, and have even less now.”
“You love her, right?”
More than words would ever express. “Heart and soul. She could have married so much better than me.”
“She wanted you. Irene and I approved of the union because we saw in you the same things our daughter did. You have grit, young man, and that’s in short supply these days. Grit, determination, and a strong work ethic.
“I didn’t exactly come from a pristine home myself.
I enlisted in the Army the day after graduation to get away from a miserable home life.
The Army taught me discipline. When my enlistment ran out, I had a clear idea of what I wanted in the future.
I met Irene at a dance and was immediately drawn to her, the same way you felt when you met our Beth.
I was strapped for funds, working nights and attending school, hoping to obtain a law degree.
All while Irene stood by with support and love. Irene saw in me what Beth sees in you.”
Logan hardly knew what to say. He had no idea Grant came from a dysfunctional family.
“I fully suspect that one day you’ll run your own construction company. Yes, I know all about that, so don’t look so surprised. Beth mentioned it shortly after you proposed.”
Logan gasped. That had been his goal from the day he was first hired as a carpenter.
He’d shared his dream with Beth, believing at the time it would be impossible.
He half expected her to tell him to be more realistic.
Instead, she’d encouraged him and had even suggested the name of his company: Dream Homes.
To his embarrassment, hearing about Grant’s past, Logan felt tears leaking from his eyes. No one had ever believed in him like this, shown him this level of kindness. Certainly not anyone in his family.
“If that happens, me starting my own construction company, I’ll be doing it after I repay you for the medical expenses you footed for Olivia’s care.”
Grant hesitated and then agreed. “As you wish.”
A knock sounded against the door. “Dad?”
“Come in, Beth.”
Grant shared a smile with Logan. “My daughter is worried I’m giving you the third degree.”
Beth opened the door and paused as she anxiously glanced between Logan and her father. “Everything okay in here?” she asked.
“Never better,” he answered, and clicked glasses with his father-in-law.
Beth relaxed. “Olivia fell asleep in front of the television and Josie wants to know if you’ll play Monopoly with us.”
Logan smiled. “Sure thing.” He looked at Grant. “Are we done here, Dad?”
“We are, son. Merry Christmas.”
Merry Christmas, indeed. And it was by far the best one of his life.