knew his lineage was part English, part French and sprinkled with Cajun from his father’s side.
But he, just like his long-gone father, had disgraced his mother’s family one time too many to use their geneology for leverage. No, Campbell Dupree did things his way. Always had and always would. And that included running Maxwell Financial Group. Only this time around, he’d have the guidance of God on his side, he prayed. This time around, Campbell would do things his way, but only after he’d prayed to God for help and understanding.
“Whether the heiress-apparent likes it or not.”
Campbell downed his milk, clutched his aching stomach and wondered why it was so important that Autumn Maxwell did approve of him.
“So you don’t approve of your father’s choice to run the firm?”
Autumn turned to her mother, shaking her head. “I didn’t say that. I just said he seems a bit too self-assured and arrogant for my taste.”
Gayle Maxwell settled back in the overstuffed chair in one of the many bedrooms of the Big M ranch house, one hand moving through her clipped auburn hair. “Funny, he reminds me so much of your father.”
“Daddy?” Autumn’s shocked expression reflected in the mirror of the antique vanity. Rubbing lotion over her freshly washed face, she laughed. “Mother, that man is nothing like my father.”
“Not in looks,” Gayle agreed, a hand touching the crocheted pillow she held in her lap. “But…the way he acts. Honestly, I think your daddy handpicked him because they are so much alike.”
Autumn whirled to stare over at her mother, glad the family was staying here at the ranch for the weekend. She wasn’t ready to go home to Atlanta and face Campbell Dupree just yet. “Why did Daddy pick him? I mean, why didn’t he talk to me about all of this? I am his only child, after all.”
Gayle shrugged, then carefully placed the lace pillow back behind her in the chair. “We all urged him to do just that. But you know how stubborn your father can be. He refused to pull you away from your career in New York. He thought you were happy there.”
“I was,” Autumn admitted. “Then everything changed.”
“Well, that’s exactly what happened here, too,” her mother said. “Your uncle Stuart passed on, then James decided to retire from gallivanting around and settle down in Athens. And—” She stopped, taking a breath.
“What?” Autumn asked, getting up to sit on the stool at her mother’s feet. “What is it that y’all aren’t telling me?”
“Your father had a light heart attack a few weeks back,” Gayle said.
Autumn gasped. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“He wouldn’t let me,” Gayle said. “He wouldn’t even let me call James and Elsie. He didn’t want to worry anyone. He said it was too soon after Stu’s death.” She took Autumn’s hand. “He’s fine now, honey, honestly. I watch him like a hawk and he’s got a whole team of doctors lined up to help him. We are blessed that it was very mild.” She shrugged. “You know how he is—he doesn’t like to make a big deal out of things. I had to honor his wishes and keep this to myself.” Then she looked down at the floor. “Of course, we had to tell Campbell—”
Autumn threw down her plastic lotion bottle. “Of course! Let’s tell a perfect stranger, but not our own daughter. I don’t get—” Then she stopped, her hand flying to her mouth at the distress on her mother’s face. “I’m sorry, Mother. This isn’t about Campbell and me. I know Daddy had his reasons, but it still doesn’t sit very well. I’m just glad he’s okay now.”
Gayle nodded. “He is, honey. And he would have told you sooner, but, well, everything is changing so fast with our families these days. Death, weddings, retirements.”
Autumn pulled a brush through her hair. “I guess so. I mean, Summer’s grandparents moved into a retirement home without even letting her know a thing about it.”
“Exactly,” Gayle said, shaking her head. “It’s almost too much to keep up with.”
“And we were all three so caught up in our lives in New York. We should have communicated better.”
“Not that it would have mattered,” her mother replied. “Stubbornness and pride seem to be the dominating traits in our family tree.”
Autumn got up to pace around the carpeted bedroom. “I don’t understand the Maxwell men. Uncle Stuart kept his illness from April until it was almost too late for her to make it home in time to see him before he died. Uncle James had some sort of late-life crisis that had everyone thinking he was going to run off with some rodeo queen, until he broke down and told Summer and Aunt Elsie the truth—that he’s just afraid of getting old. And now this with Daddy. Why can’t they just open up to the people who love them?”
Gayle laughed again. “Because they are Maxwell men, honey. You know the stories and the legends. Rough and tumble, tough and ornery. Their ancestors helped win Texas from Mexico, helped build empires and conquer worlds, including everything from oil to railroads to the Alamo. They can’t show any signs of failure or weakness. And they can’t communicate for anything, I’m afraid.”
Autumn had to agree there. “So he decided to retire after Uncle Stuart died?”
“No, actually just before he died. He hired Campbell back in the spring, but your father officially retired a few weeks ago.”
“Right after the heart attack?”
“That pretty much sealed it, yes.”
“But he decided way back?”
“Yes,” Gayle said, puzzled.
“I knew it,” Autumn said, bobbing her head. “I think April knew about this. I wonder why she didn’t tell me?”
Gayle looked up at her. “Well, she’s had a lot to deal with—her father’s death, moving back to Texas from New York, starting a new job and planning a wedding. Don’t blame her if she didn’t put this at the top of her priority list.”
“Oh, I’m not blaming April. She kept urging me to call Daddy and talk to him. I blame myself—and him, of course.”
“Like father, like daughter,” her mother said, getting up to smooth the wrinkles out of her pink satin robe.
“I’m not quite as stubborn as Daddy,” Autumn retorted.
“Oh, really? So you don’t call it stubborn, turning your father down flat today?”
“That was before I knew about his heart attack. He just told me he’d had a little scare.”
“More like a big scare for me,” Gayle said. “I was so worried.”
“But you didn’t call me,” Autumn said, her heart hurting with all the undercurrents running through this day.
“No, and I’m sorry for that,” Gayle said. “But I promised your father I wouldn’t tell anyone. And I’m sure he won’t like it that I told you today. He’ll think you feel sorry for him, and we wouldn’t
