Legal Heirs - Box Set Edition: Books 5-8 (Surrendering Charlotte Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

lounged on the sofa in her nightgown and ran a finger over the scar on her forehead. She wanted her father to take his problems and his sordid love life elsewhere. She wanted to be left alone to grieve, and she wondered why Finn was so late getting home. “You are married, aren’t you, Charles? Wouldn’t you be a bigamist if you married Bly’s… if you married Evangeline?”
    “I’m getting a divorce, and don’t give me that look, it was my wife’s idea. She won’t let herself be happy since we lost our son. I miss him, too, Charlotte, but those who are left behind have to go on living.”
    “Well, it sounds like you are, living that is. I imagine you’ve been sleeping with Evangeline, is that right, Charles?” Charlotte said, and although she was angry, her voice sounded flat.
    “Now listen here, young lady. I’m your father, and no matter how badly you’re hurting, there’s no excuse for rude behavior or bad manners. I’m sure your sweet mother raised you better, you’re still alive, darlin’. You have this exceptional little boy right here and a husband and a father who adore you. So pull yourself together Charlotte, and count your blessings, and by God, don’t judge unless you want to be judged yourself.”
    She started to say something mean, to make him hurt like she was hurting, but she knew he was right.
    “I’m sorry… Dad, I do have so much to be thankful for,” she said, and realized how selfish she was acting. “What was his name, your son?”
    “Christopher, he was always a good boy, and a very good man,” he sat beside her and gave her a warm hug, and wiped tears from his eyes. Then he forced a smile and brushed a finger over the cut on her forehead. “That’s not bad at all, it’ll heal just fine. It won’t hurt you to have a little scar, you’re too perfect as it is. Now go have a hot shower and we’ll go someplace nice for dinner. Where’s that husband of yours?”
    Charlotte dressed up and in a cerulean-blue Dolce and Gabana dress and pulled her long hair into a low, messy ponytail. She dressed Atticus in a Polo shirt and faded jeans and the tiny pair of cowboy boots Charles had brought for him.
    “What about you?” her father asked, “you can wear western boots with that fancy short dress, can’t you?”
    He pushed the open Lucchese box toward Charlotte as she walked down the stairs, and inside was the most amazing pair of handmade cowboy boots she’d ever seen.
    “Handmade in San Antonio,” he said, “just for my beautiful daughter.”
    “I love them!” she said, pulling them on. They were exquisite hand-tooled leather with pattered inlay, they came up to her knees and fit like a glove. “Let’s go find my husband, Dad,” she said, and for the first time since the accident, two weeks before, she felt like herself again.
    *
    “Let me run in and see what’s keeping him,” Charlotte said as they parked in front of the Thomas and Hale offices. “Finn?” she called out as she walked into the dark office, only a light in the back was still on.
    “Hey, my love, we’re back here,” he called out, then stood up behind his desk and said, “Wow, you look amazing! What’s the occasion?” He looked at his watch then, and said, “Damn, I had no idea it was so late, let’s get back to these depositions in the morning, Nina.”
    Nina looked at Charlotte like she had showed up at exactly the wrong time, or exactly the right time, depending on whose side you were on.
    “Hello, Charlotte. You do look lovely, interesting boots.” Nina said, as she stood with bare feet and gathered stacks of papers. “I’m really sorry about your accident,” she said, and as she leaned forward over Finn’s desk, Charlotte thought her boobs would surely fall out of her low-cut blouse. When she stood up and stretched, muttering something about her back, it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra.
    “Thank you, don’t give it another thought,” Charlotte said, and she felt a surge