Chapter 14 #2
Laurel had the sense that the last bit was as much a warning to her father as a promise to her.
True to his word, he’d stayed by her side almost all day, acting as her shield.
She didn’t know what he’d said to her dad, but so far Lawrence had behaved himself.
Still, her stomach tightened as everybody disbursed to their pre-dinner tasks, leaving her alone with him.
She braced for a cross-examination, wishing alcohol wasn’t off the menu for the night.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were unhappy?” Her father’s voice was gentle rather than accusatory—a tone she’d never heard from him.
Cautiously hopeful that this time he might actually listen, she didn’t censor herself. “Seriously? You practically excommunicated Logan when he quit grad school.”
He opened his mouth, and she could see him stop himself to change his answer. “Do you want to finish law school?”
“Yes.” That part had never been in question for her.
“Then it’s not the same.”
She was beyond done with his attitude toward her brother.
If she couldn’t call him out on it today, when he was less likely to snap back because of what she’d been through, when could she?
“Logan doesn’t deserve to be punished for having a different dream than you.
He finally figured out what he wanted and he went after it.
And he’s made it come to fruition. What he’s done here is nothing short of miraculous, and it deserves respect, even if it’s not the choice you’d make. ”
For maybe the first time in her life, her father looked…embarrassed? He heaved a sigh. “You’re right.”
Laurel blinked, positive she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Excuse me?
“You’re right. I’ve behaved badly—to both of you.”
It was official. Hell had frozen over. Maybe she should go buy a lottery ticket.
He leaned forward, hands loosely clasped between his knees.
“When I was growing up, I had nothing in common with my father. He was a working man—a dairy farmer—and I was a scholar. I resented every hour I had to spend laboring with those cows. He did the best that he could, and he supported our family, always. We never wanted for anything we needed. But I had bigger ambitions. I swore to myself I’d do better for myself, for my family.
That you wouldn’t have to do that kind of work, wouldn’t have to sacrifice your potential in the name of just getting by.
You and your brother are so smart, so capable, and it was easy to dream big dreams about what the two of you could accomplish.
It was easy to pull you into mine. It hurt when Logan didn’t want to do law school.
I’d always imagined a father and son firm.
And it was worse that he wanted to do almost the exact thing I’d tried to save him from.
All those years when you were growing up, I didn’t ignore you on purpose.
I didn’t know what to do or say to a little girl.
But then you announced your interest in pursuing the law, and it was like I got a second chance.
You and I jibed on that front. You’ve done so incredibly well, and I’m so very proud of you. ”
“I know. And that was why I couldn’t tell you.
Every single conversation we had was about school, about work, about what I would do, should do.
I don’t know when the pressure started to get unbearable.
I think it happened so gradually, I didn’t even realize until things were really bad.
And then it felt like I was in too deep to change things. ”
His throat worked. “I should have asked you what you wanted instead of assuming it was what I wanted.”
Hearing him say that was balm to some wound she’d been carting around for years. But the fault didn’t lie entirely with him. “I should have asked myself. But no one asked me. Not until Sebastian.”
Her father hesitated. “You…care for him.”
Care seemed like too pale a word for what she felt for Sebastian, but she’d given her dad enough shocks the last twenty-four hours. “Very much.”
“He’s very protective of you.”
“He’s a good man, Dad. One of the best ones I know.”
“You’re going to keep him, aren’t you?”
Laurel’s mouth fell open. “I don’t know. I hope so. But that’s not entirely up to me.”
His expression was caught somewhere between discomfort and approval. “He looks at you like I look at your mother.”
What was she supposed to say to that?
He didn’t wait for a reply. “When you finish school in May, you’ll be coming back here?”
“We haven’t worked out the details yet, but probably.”
“And what will you do for a living? Your brother at least had a plan.”
“Actually, I have a plan, and it’s something I’m hoping you can help me with.” The idea for this olive branch had come to her on the long drive back from the hospital in Johnson City.
“Me? What can I do?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of research on non-profits and grants since I’ve been here.
Sebastian has really taken ownership of the equine rescue, but he’s out of space.
We’re looking to move beyond that, into a bigger program that includes equine-assisted therapy.
To really turn it into something, he needs his own place, and to afford that, he needs funding.
So I’ve been looking into various grant programs, putting together packets on the ones I think are the best fit, that he has the best shot at landing.
All my analytic skills and ability to understand legalese mean I’ve got a leg up on most people who’d even look at these grant mechanisms, let alone actually apply for them.
I want to help other people through that process. ”
“You want to be a professional grant-writer?”
“Yeah. That’s part of it. There’s always a need for someone to help navigate the needless complication. And it’s a thing I can do from anywhere.”
“It’s not what I would have imagined, but I can see how you’d be good at it. What does that have to do with me?”
“Well, I’m a Maxwell, so of course I can’t stop with just that.”
His lips curved. “Got a little of me in you, after all.”
“I don’t just want to help people write grants. I come into my trust in a couple of months, and I wanted to—”
Logan strode into the living room. “Hey, you two! Dinner’s ready.”
“We’ll be along in a minute,” Lawrence said.
Laurel pushed to her feet. “Oh no. It’s rude to keep the chef waiting. We’ll finish talking about it after dinner, okay?”
Her brother glanced between them. “Everything okay?”
For the first time in a long time, she felt like it actually was.
She looped her arm through her brother’s. “Everything’s fine. Let’s eat.”