like to show it to you first, though. Okay?”
Linc agreed and sat in the recliner while Lori disappeared into the bedroom. His heart was heavy. He felt her disappointment but they couldn’t spend money indiscriminately, especially money they didn’t have.
His wife reappeared dressed in a see-through chiffon piece of nothing. Linc’s mouth sagged open. “That’s … the gift you got me?” Her tempting body was all but revealed, and Linc swallowed hard. “I … I think we might find room in our budget for that.” He got the words out, but with some difficulty.
“No, you’re right. I should know better than to buy—”
“Lori,” he said, closing his eyes. “I’m nearly broke. The business is failing. I don’t even know if I’ll last the month. I haven’t wanted to tell you, but I can’t hide it anymore.”
She placed her hand over her mouth and stared at him, wide-eyed with shock.
“I realize I was wrong to keep this from you, but I. have my reasons.”
Lori continued to stare at him as if she didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. Leaning forward, he rubbed his hand across his face. “I’m so sorry.”
She came to him then, climbing onto his lap and wrapping her arms around him. “I married you because I love you. I don’t need anything but you.”
Linc buried his face in her neck and pulled her close. She lifted his head and he kissed her. Then she abruptly broke off the kiss, sliding off his lap and standing directly in front of him, her eyes flashing. “Don’t you ever do that to me again. Do you understand?”
“Kiss you?” he asked in bewilderment.
“Of course not! I’m talking about keeping the truth from me.” Whirling around, she went into their bedroom, returning a few minutes later, fully dressed. “Okay. What happened?” Her voice was brisk, all seductiveness gone.
“Happened?”
“To cause this financial shortfall. You’re …” She paused as though everything had started to come together in her mind. “My father.” She spoke in a low voice, then repeated the two words more loudly and with more conviction. “My father’s done something, hasn’t he?”
Linc didn’t reply.
“Hasn’t he?” she demanded again.
“I … can’t say for sure, but it seems that way.”
She began to pace, five steps in one direction, five in the other, making quick, precise turns.
Linc found her movements almost hypnotic. “Now, Lori,” he began, “there’s no need to get upset. I have everything under control.”
“That’s low, even for him.” Either she hadn’t heard a word he’d said or she recognized his statement for the lie it was. “This is going to change and it’s going to change right now.” She reached for her purse and yanked out her cell phone, punching a single button.
“Lori,” he asked, “who are you phoning?”
“Who do you think?” she muttered.
Linc stood and circled her waist with his arms. “Lori,” he said again, drawing her close. “Tell me what you’re doing.”
She moved the cell away from her ear. “I’m calling Daddy. And I’m having it out with him.”
Linc had seen that look in her eyes only once before and that, too, had been an instance involving her father.
“Hello, Helen, this is Lori Wyse. Is my father still in?”
He started to tell Lori that maybe they should discuss this first, but one sharp glance from his wife told him to forget it. She was furious—and determined.
A minute later Bellamy got on the phone. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, all sweetness.
“Hi, baby girl. If you’re calling, I figure that means you’ve come to your senses and dumped that useless husband of yours.”
Linc stood close enough to hear Bellamy’s half of the conversation. At his father-in-law’s comment, his back stiffened. He released Lori, automatically clenching his fists.
“No, Daddy, it’s the Bellamys I’m—as you so delicately put it—dumping. For most of my life I’ve cowered in front of you, caving in to your wishes. No more. You’ve gone too far this time. You want to hurt the man I love, the man I married. I won’t stand for that. I won’t! In fact … I never want to hear your name or see you again. You have tried to manipulate me my entire life. Well, I chose to marry Linc. He is my husband and you will stop meddling in our lives. Is that clear?”
Leonard Bellamy seemed amused. “You’re talking mighty big for a girl living in an apartment her father owns.”
“That’s another thing. Linc and I will be out of here just as soon as we can find another place.”
For once Bellamy didn’t seem quite so sure. “Don’t be hasty….”
“No, just the opposite. It’s taken me too long. You’ve done everything you can to ruin my husband, but you don’t know what kind of man he is. He’s going to make it, regardless of what you say or what you do. And as of this minute I am finished with this family.”
“What about your mother?”
“She’ll have to make her own decision. I’ve made mine, and while I hate to exclude her from my life, I won’t give you access to any part of me or my marriage. If that means never seeing Mom again, then so be it.”
Bellamy didn’t appear to believe her. “Like I said, you’re talking big now. But you’ll change your mind at the first sign of trouble.”
“Will I, Dad? When’s the last time I changed my mind about anything? When’s the last time you convinced me to back down?”
His hesitation was answer enough.
“Listen, Lori …”
“Goodbye, Daddy,” she said softly, and disconnected. With a hiccuping sigh, Lori dropped her cell phone back inside her purse. Then, as if she’d suddenly realized he was right behind her, she walked into Linc’s embrace and hugged him hard.
Linc hugged her back. “I wish you’d talked to me before you did that.” Linc knew what it was like to be without parents. He didn’t fully grasp how important a father and mother could be until he’d lost his own.
“You’re the only family I need now.”
“Oh, Lori …”
“We have to move,” she said. She straightened and rubbed her moist eyes.
“Yes, well, that could be a problem,” Linc felt compelled to tell her. He’d known a move was imminent after his last dreadful confrontation
