Chapter Thirty-Two
Maisy arrived home from her part-time job to find her mother sitting in the kitchen. She wasn’t alone. Simon Furst sat at the table with her. Maisy did an automatic double take and stopped so abruptly she almost stumbled.
“Good afternoon,” Simon said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to be visiting with her mother and sipping coffee as though he hadn’t a care in the world.
“Mr. Furst,” she said, her voice scratchy with shock. “What are you doing here?”
He wasn’t allowed to answer before her mother spoke.
“We solved the mystery, Maisy,” her mother announced, smiling as big as if she’d won the lottery.
Maisy remained standing, frozen in place. “The mystery?”
Although she asked her mother the question, it was Simon Furst who answered. “I came because there are things you need to know.”
“Such as?” Her heart was pumping at an alarming rate as she tried to take in the fact that Simon Furst was here with her mother.
Simon’s hands cupped the coffee mug. “A while back, Chase sought me out for advice. He’d learned your family was struggling with the store’s debt.
He cared about you and was afraid of what would happen to the family if Sean wasn’t able to work after his truck was taken.
That Chase came to me for advice is rare enough.
My son learned a long time ago to stand on his own two feet. ”
“Sit down, Maisy,” her mother said, gesturing to the chair across from Chase’s father.
As if walking in a dream, she did as her mother suggested and slid onto the chair, still clenching her purse to her chest like a lifeline.
“Chase was deeply troubled and didn’t know if he could stand by idly and do nothing. Apparently, he’d given you his word that he wouldn’t step in.”
“He did promise me he wouldn’t,” Maisy stated stiffly.
“I mentioned earlier, when Chase brought you to Chicago, how important you’d become to him. You and your family. As you recall, I said you showed him what a real family looks like, how you pull together in a crisis. It was something he’d never witnessed before, and it changed him.”
“I remember what you said about not being able to give him a good home life,” she said.
“Chase never had that sense of belonging, of connection, or being a part of a whole. A family was the one thing his mother craved, and the one thing her body wouldn’t allow to happen. When I took away any chance of her having more children, she lost all hope, and that destroyed her.”
Chase had told Maisy what he knew about Michelle’s story, so this wasn’t new information.
“My son is more like his mother than I ever realized. He, too, is hungry for family, a family I failed to provide. My two marriages after Michelle were disasters. Chase had no aunts or uncles or cousins, and God knows my parents were no help in that area. Basically, my son grew up without the roots he so badly needed, although I doubt he was aware of it until he met all of you.”
“Which is one reason he loves Maisy so deeply,” her mother said, looking thoughtful.
Simon agreed. “Maisy showed him something my son has never known, and that’s the love and connection a family shares, the feeling of being grounded, a part of a whole, working together for the better good.
With Maisy came the desire to create his own family, giving his children what he never had himself. ”
Still unsure what any of this meant, she asked, “Can you tell me why you’re here?”
“The changes in Chase have been dramatic ever since you came into his life,” Simon continued, as if he hadn’t heard her question. “I’ve never known him to care as deeply about anyone the way he does you.”
“You mentioned Chase came to you for advice. What did you tell him?” Maisy’s mother asked.
“I suggested Chase do whatever it was he thought best.”
Maisy couldn’t remember Chase mentioning this conversation. Perhaps he had, but she didn’t remember it.
“Before I left for Europe, I asked Chase what he’d decided,” Simon continued. “Like I said, my son struggled with what he felt he should do. He loves you, Maisy, and as hard as it was for him to stand aside and do nothing, that was his decision.”
“He changed his mind because—”
“He didn’t,” Simon cut in, just as adamantly.
Maisy frowned. “He said it was you.”
“It was,” Simon insisted. “I was the one who made the offer on Gallagher Jewels,” he said.
“When Chase decided to do nothing, I submitted a bid without him knowing. I had other things on my mind. I didn’t feel it was necessary to say anything, as the offer came through one of my many companies.
I didn’t expect you to ever know it was me.
As far as I was concerned, problem solved. ”
“But you paid far and above what it was worth,” Sophie insisted.
“Did I?” Simon said with a small smile. “A business that has been operating for over three generations has value beyond a price tag. The goodwill, trust, and professional reputation are of incalculable worth. In addition, there’s Fergus.”
“Fred,” Sophie corrected. “He prefers to be called Fred.”
“Right. Fred. His contribution as a designer is a huge asset, which is why I insisted on keeping him on. The store, from what I was able to determine, went south when Fred couldn’t keep up with his design work and special orders.
Once he’s back to doing what he’s best qualified for, Gallagher Jewels will prove to be worth every penny of my offer. ”
Maisy didn’t know what to say. And from the look on her mother’s face, she felt the same way.
“I’ve been a successful businessman for over forty years,” Simon continued. “I don’t purchase companies to lose money.”
“But you’re taking a financial risk with Gallagher Jewels.”
“True, but my gut tells me otherwise. I have experience in these situations. When a small business is facing debt, all they tend to see is debt. Worries overtake their good sense. They cut back inventory and hours, their fears take root instead of their potential. I view the big picture. The store will join with other stores under our umbrella but keep the family name. With the financial backing of the conglomerate, they will achieve success. I am moving them out of the mall and placing the shop in a high-traffic area.”
“The offer…”
“I’ll agree it was higher than I normally would have submitted.”
Maisy knew it must have been. “You shouldn’t have—”
Again, he cut her off. “You gave Chase details about his mother that he might never have known. It gave him the closure he needed, and me as well. So I made a generous offer as a small way of thanking you. Remember, though, I’m a businessman, and I’m not na?ve when it comes to earning a profit.
I wouldn’t have purchased the store if I didn’t believe I would make money on it. ”
Maisy hardly knew what to say.
“Plus, you’ve been good for my son,” Simon added.
“No matter what your reasoning,” Sophie cut in, “we’re grateful. But we have no way of paying you back.”
“Paying me back?” Simon said with a curt laugh.
“That is ridiculous. I already said I fully intend to make money on this venture. Second, I’d hoped it would solve a problem for my son and the woman he loves.
I understand your family has an abundance of pride and you’d prefer to do without outside help, but there are times when that way of thinking is downright foolish. ”
“I agree,” her mother said. “You were an answer to our prayers and we’re grateful.” She looked to Maisy for confirmation.
“My mistake,” Simon continued, “was keeping what I did a secret. I didn’t realize it would all blow back on Chase. It was thoughtless of me to leave him in the dark. I thought I was helping, and instead I did more harm to my son than good.”
“What about my grandmother’s medical bills?” Maisy asked, her mind whirling. “Did you pay those, too?”
Simon frowned. “No. I wasn’t aware of any financial problems having to do with your grandmother.”
“What about Sean’s truck?”
Again, Simon shook his head. “I did hear about that, but no, if he got a new vehicle, it didn’t come from me.”
“And my schooling,” Maisy asked, although convinced that must have come from Chase.
“That was all me,” Simon said, with a quirky slant of his mouth, as if he was overly pleased with himself.
“Another investment?” her mother suggested.
“Far more than an investment,” Simon supplied. “I arranged that scholarship because Maisy told me why she’d dropped out of school. I admired her selflessness and felt it was only right to give her the opportunity to return to her studies.”
Once again, Maisy hardly knew what to say. “Thank you,” she whispered, as that seemed to be the only appropriate response.
“You’re welcome,” Simon said. “I have to admit it would be nice to have a nurse in the family.”
Sadness stole over her.
“Earlier you asked why I’m here, and the answer is simple. I muddled everything up when I stepped in. As a result, you broke off the relationship with Chase. My son is miserable. He hasn’t been worth a damn ever since. He can’t seem to keep his mind on the business.”
“It’s more than the money,” Maisy said. “I’m not the right woman for Chase. We—”
“I disagree,” Simon said, cutting her off. “If I were to handpick a wife for my son, it would be you. He knew you were the one soon after you met. I understand, because it was that way when I met his mother.
“You have Chase’s heart, and that isn’t going to change. I married twice after Michelle left, but it was a lost cause. She was the only woman I ever truly loved.”
Maisy listened intently, unsure what to think. She’d assumed she was doing them both a favor by stepping aside so Chase could meet a woman better suited to his wealth and prestige. Now she was confused and uncertain.
“Whatever differences you feel are keeping you apart can be resolved if you feel half as strongly for Chase as he does for you.”