Chapter Twenty-One
On his way in to work Monday morning, Chase stopped for coffee and bought an extra for Guy.
Over time, he’d managed to get Guy to talk beyond a few mumbled words of thanks.
He continued to refuse to give up his name, but seemed okay with Chase calling him Guy.
Chase looked forward to their brief exchanges each day.
Building trust would take time, but Chase was patient.
Guy seemed reluctant to accept the gifts Chase brought him.
Chase suspected he shared the clothes and other items with his street friends.
He knew next to nothing about Guy’s past life.
When Chase offered to set him up in an apartment and find him work, Guy pretended not to hear him.
Chase hoped Guy would eventually be willing to accept his help, but he wasn’t quite yet.
His father met Chase in the lobby, and they entered the elevator together. As the doors closed, Simon Furst turned to his son and asked, “How was your weekend?”
Chase hardly knew how to answer. His time in Seattle with Maisy had been one of the best days of his life. He’d enjoyed every minute, especially the lunch with all her family gathered around to celebrate Patrick’s home run.
“Great. Just great.”
His thoughts went to Maisy and the last few minutes of his visit before he headed back to the airport.
Leaving her had been hard. More than anything, he’d yearned to stay an extra day.
She’d wanted that, too. That was impossible, however, as he had a tee time with a business executive that he couldn’t miss.
Before boarding the plane, he’d kissed and held Maisy for several minutes, unwilling to let her go. She had tears in her eyes when they finally broke apart. Anyone watching would assume he was heading off to war, from the way they clung to each other.
Sunday, after eighteen holes of golf, he couldn’t wait to get home to call Maisy. They spoke for three hours. He had prearranged everything for her visit the following weekend. The time couldn’t come fast enough.
“I had a marvelous weekend,” Chase added.
“I could tell from that silly smile you’re wearing.”
Chase laughed.
“You’re falling for Maisy, aren’t you?”
It surprised Chase that his father knew her name, which told him Simon was paying attention. This was a rarity, as women had generally passed in and out of Chase’s life until he started dating Astrid. “Yeah, I am,” he admitted. And he was falling hard. He didn’t say it aloud, however.
Concern showed in his father’s eyes. “It’s a little soon, isn’t it? I mean, the two of you only met, what…a couple of months ago?”
“Something like that.” Chase stiffened. He wanted it understood that he wasn’t looking for Simon’s approval in this matter.
“She’s made a difference in you.”
“She has.” No use denying it. When he told Maisy she’d turned his world upside down, it wasn’t an exaggeration. He was completely different from the man she’d met on the plane that day.
Maisy had made him a better man. He saw things he had never bothered to notice until after they’d met. Guy was a good example of his heightened awareness of others.
This was all new to Chase. Even his relationship with his team from the office had changed for the better. He listened more. Considered the role they played in the organization, and was far more open to their ideas.
“Maisy and her brother agreed to come to Chicago. They’ll arrive next weekend.”
“Her brother? Isn’t that a bit unusual?”
“He’s ten and a huge Cubs fan.”
“I see.”
Chase listened for censure in his father’s voice and heard none. They were out of the elevator and entered Simon’s office.
Simon closed the door as he took a seat behind his massive desk.
“Maisy put up a fuss about the expense,” Chase said, and smiled at the memory. “It’s hard for her to accept generosity.”
Simon nodded, and it looked as if he had something more to say.
“I want you to meet her, Dad. Once you do, you’ll understand why I feel about her the way I do.”
His father didn’t look convinced. “You’re sure about her?”
“Absolutely. Without question.” Chase knew his father had once fallen for a woman who wasn’t interested in him as much as she was in his position and his money.
A lesson Chase held in the back of his mind with every relationship.
At the time, he was still a boy. He’d disliked Mimi, his father’s third wife, mainly because she considered him nothing but a nuisance.
It was only when Simon overheard her berating Chase, calling him names—words he was too young to understand—that her true character had been revealed.
It came to Chase then, something he should have expected when his father mentioned Maisy’s name. “You had her investigated, didn’t you?”
“I did,” he admitted without apology.
“And you found nothing, right?” It wasn’t a real question, as he’d done the same himself.
Chase would have staked his fortune on the fact there was nothing negative about her or her family.
They were a good, hardworking family. These people were genuine; there was nothing fake or problematic about a single one of them.
What was that phrase? Salt of the earth. That was the Gallagher family.
His father walked over to the window that offered a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline.
“Dad?”
Simon released a sigh and turned to face Chase. “The family is deeply in debt. The store, jewelry, isn’t it?”
Chase nodded.
“It’s on the verge of bankruptcy. I’m surprised they have held on this long. The downturn seemed to have come about shortly after the death of Michael Gallagher.”
Chase had suspected the store was in dire straits, from what little Maisy had mentioned.
“Michael was Maisy’s father,” Chase explained. “She dropped out of nursing school to help the family, which is unfortunate. Maisy’s exactly the kind of person anyone would want at their bedside in a health crisis. She has the heart and the brains for it.”
His father took in this information with an abrupt nod.
“I knew the family was struggling,” Chase said.
“Are you willing to help?”
“In a heartbeat, if I thought they’d accept. They won’t, and offering would offend them.” As much as he wanted to step in, Chase refused to do anything that would risk damaging his relationship with Maisy.
Before Chase could respond, his father continued.
“I understand that you’re infatuated with Maisy, and that’s all well and good.”
“But?” There was clearly an objection coming.
“But,” his father went on, “you need to be realistic, son. Promise me you’ll carefully consider this relationship, think things through with a clear head. Would Maisy fit in to our world? How would she handle the pressures that come with your position? And what about…”
“Dad.” Chase stopped him before he could continue.
“I couldn’t care less about any of these differences.
They don’t mean a thing to me. After three failed marriages, I find it hard to accept your advice when it comes to marrying the right woman.
” He didn’t mean to offend Simon, but this needed to be said.
His father went silent.
“As for Maisy, she’d make me the happiest man alive if she were to agree to be my wife one day. I don’t care that she doesn’t meet the criteria you consider important. I believe that once you meet her, you’ll understand why I feel as strongly about her as I do.”
His father’s eyes rounded. “You honestly would be willing to marry Maisy? Son, please rethink this. It is far too soon for you to even consider anything permanent. You barely know the woman.”
“I know everything I need to know about her.” If she was willing, he’d marry her in a heartbeat. He knew it as surely as he knew his own name; she was the woman for him. At this point, he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
His father didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Proceed with caution, son. It isn’t like you to get ahead of yourself.”
“I’ll take your words into consideration.” He was ready to head toward his own office. He had meetings scheduled all day, and his mind was already shifting gears to what would be required of him.
“Do that,” his father said, stopping him.
Chase paused. “We recently spoke about my mother, remember?”
“Of course,” Simon said, frowning slightly.
“I keep thinking about something you mentioned, about when you first met Michelle. Do you recall that part of our conversation?”
Simon shrugged. “Remind me.”
“You told me the minute you saw her you knew she was the one for you.”
His father’s frown dissolved into a smile. “It’s true. I was dumbfounded, speechless. I took one look at your mother and instantly knew this was the woman I wanted to share my life with.”
Chase had his hand on the door handle. “It seems that’s a family trait. I promise all your concerns about Maisy will shift when you meet her.”
His father didn’t look nearly as convinced as Chase had hoped.
—
That evening, Chase met with a business associate at the country club. He was sitting at the bar, sipping a Manhattan, when Harry Newman, Astrid’s father, walked in fresh from the golf course. He brightened when he saw Chase.
“How’s it going?” he asked, and slapped Chase across the back. “I’m pleased I bumped into you. I have great news.”
Before Chase could comment, Harry continued.
“I talked with Dori the other day, briefly, as we had a weak signal. I told her I was able to book the club for the reception. Fortunately, long-standing members are given preference. The office was able to set a date for us. It’s only temporary at this point, until we confirm, but as far as I’m concerned it will give Dori and Astrid plenty of time to do whatever it is women do to prepare for a wedding.
How does September seventh fit into your schedule? ”
“Wedding?” Chase asked, his mind buzzing, certain he’d misunderstood Harry. “What wedding?”
Harry’s eyes rounded with surprise. “The one for you and Astrid, of course.”
Chase sat up straighter as shock and dismay bolted through his entire body. “This didn’t come from Astrid,” he insisted. “We aren’t together anymore; we decided to part as friends.”
Harry looked completely flummoxed. Dori told me plain as day that Astrid has decided she wants to be your wife.”
Chase mentally reviewed his conversations with Astrid right before she left. Certainly he hadn’t misunderstood. He started to speak, but before he could get a word out, Harry chuckled and said good-naturedly, “Don’t look so shocked.”
“I’m sure we can clear this up—” Chase managed, his thoughts whirling. He was convinced Astrid had nothing to do with this. He’d wager his investment portfolio that this was another manipulation tactic to force them into a marriage neither of them wanted.
“No misunderstanding,” Harry said, cutting him off.
“This time away has helped my daughter settle her mind,” he continued.
“I don’t know what got into her. The last thing she should have done was go on that cruise with her mother.
Thankfully, she’s come to her senses and accepted what was obvious all along. You two are perfect together.”
Chase was speechless. From what Harry said, Chase assumed the minute mother and daughter were off on the cruise, the subtle manipulation had started, to the point that Astrid felt obligated to agree.
It was either that or she knew nothing about any of this.
He preferred to think she was clueless about what her parents had set in motion.
Harry seemed to think he could convince Chase to fall into this ridiculous scheme.
If word got out of this engagement and wedding plans, Chase would look like a heel if he backed out, especially while she was out of reach in the middle of the ocean. It wouldn’t work.
“Listen, Harry, I don’t know what you’re up to here, but Astrid and I aren’t getting married. You need to cancel whatever arrangements you’ve made.”
Now it was Harry’s turn to look shocked, or at least pretend to be.
“That’s not the way I heard it.” He narrowed his eyes and raised his voice to be sure he was heard throughout the lounge, with several of their business associates listening in with avid attention.
“Do you mean to say you’re willing to break my daughter’s heart while she’s away and can’t be reached? What kind of man are you, Chase Furst?”
Angry now, Chase raised the volume of his own voice. “We were never going to marry, so there’s no wedding to cancel.”
As if disgusted, Harry started to turn away from Chase, but not before giving him a parting insult. “You’ll never be the man your father is.” With that, he stalked out of the lounge as if he couldn’t bear to be in the same room as Chase.