Authors: Jennifer Grayson
Jenny’s father didn’t return to the house that night. He had ordered her home
telling her that he would deal with her later. He had hardly spoken to her or
been able to face her after her outburst in court, but she didn’t regret what
she had done. She couldn’t let Geoff suffer for her actions, even if he wanted
nothing more to do with her in the future after what he had been through. She
just hoped that it wouldn’t ruin his plans for his college education. He had
set his heart on it and it would destroy him to have to give it up.
Judge Lester had asked the housekeeper to stay on and ensure that Jenny was
cared for and he had decided to stay in town. There were decisions to make –
decisions that would determine the path that the rest of his life would take.
Jenny wasn’t aware of this. She was sure that his absence was his way of
punishing her and that she would never be able to gain his trust and love
again. She didn’t even know what Geoff’s thoughts about her were. Was it the
end of their life together?
It was the next day, late afternoon that Jenny heard her father arrive home.
She had been in her room still devastated from what had happened and warily
descended the stairs to meet him. But her fears and devastation evaporated as
he took her in his arms. She felt his tears on her cheek as he embraced her
with the strength that she remembered as a child and the sense of protection
she used to get from him was there again. The relief that he was no longer
angry with her was overwhelming and she too shed tears as they hugged.
He pulled away. “I’m so sorry,” he said, “I have been such a fool. I hadn’t
realized what a poor father I had turned into. I didn’t mean to be a bad father.
The blame for all this is mine.”
“No, Daddy, it’s not true,” Jenny tried to reassure him.
“It is, Jenny. When your mother died I became so self absorbed, so self pitying
that I neglected you. Neglected the only thing I had left.” He slumped heavily
into a chair. “If only I had taken a step back at the time and realized that I
still had you. That I still had a big responsibility and that you must have
been missing your mother as much as I. You must hate me, but I am going to make
it up to you”
“It’s okay, Daddy, I don’t hate you, I love you and always will,” Jenny
suddenly felt so grown up as she held her father’s face in her hands and looked
into his eyes, “we will get through this.”
“I know and I have already started making things right. I have resigned from
the bench and . . .”
“Oh, no. You can’t.”
“I already have,” he said, “I was going to retire at the end of this year,
anyhow. I have just brought it forward by a few months. You see, I need the
time to catch up with my daughter. I need to spend more time with you. Besides
I still have the law practice, although it will be more an advisory role for me
now. We have other, younger lawyers who can spend their days in court. I am
sure that you will be sick of the sight of me after having me around for most
of the day”
“That will never happen,” Jenny said, “we have a lot to make up for.”
For the first time since her mother had died Jenny now saw her father as he
really was. Not as a tyrant, but as a lonely man, pathetically eager for the
same love and understanding that she always wanted. She knew everything would
be all right now.
“The first thing I am going to do as a retired judge,” he said, suddenly
smiling, “is help the less well off in our society with their education. Like
the teenagers that live on the housing estate. Did you know that most of them
don’t get a college education because their parents can’t afford it? I am going
to make sure that changes.”
“Oh,” Jenny said, “can you afford to do that?”
“I won’t be doing it alone. There are many successful businessmen in this town
and together we have a collective responsibility to help the underprivileged.
In fact, we have found our first student who will benefit from this financial
sponsorship. He is coming to see me later to discuss the details.”
Just then the chimes of the front door sounded. “That might be him now. I’ll
like you to meet him and give me your opinion.”
“I don’t have enough knowledge to give a fair opinion.” Jenny said as her
father headed for the door.
“We’ll see.” He said as he left the room.
Jenny sat alone for what seemed an eternity, feeling a little guilty that she
begrudged the fact that a stranger was about to enter, taking up valuable time
that she wanted her with her father.
Her father finally re-entered the room. “Jenny, I would like you to meet a
fine young man who is going to receive our first scholarship to study law.”
Jenny’s heart leapt when she saw Geoff standing at the door. He was dressed so
smart and looked so well.
“I have learned a lot from this young man of yours. He is fine and honorable
and far more decent than I could ever wish to be. Come in, son”
Jenny rushed over to Geoff. “Geoff, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.”
He put his arms round her and held her close, “it’s all over, Jenny.”
Jenny’s father put his hand on Geoff’s shoulder. “I hope you will not judge me
too harshly, Geoff. When I think of how you two tried to protect me. I hope you
can forgive me?
“There is nothing to forgive, sir,” Geoff assured him.
“You two must have a lot to talk about. I’ll go and talk to cook and get her to
prepare dinner. Hope you can join us, Geoff?”
“I would like that, sir,” Geoff said.
“My name is Bill. I would prefer that than you keep calling me sir. After all,
I hope one day to be your father-in-law,” he smiled.
“That is our dream, sir, I mean Bill.”
“Good. We’ll have a chat about your college courses after dinner and the
problems that have arisen from all this. There are still a few legal matters to
sort out. I am afraid both of you are going to have to face some sort of
punishment, but I am sure that two upstanding citizens like you will be looked
on favorably. At least you won’t have a bigoted judge like me dealing with the
case.”
Jenny fell into Geoff’s arms when her father had left the room. She was so
happy again.
“Well, what do you think, honey. I will be studying law and a have been offered
a job if and when I graduate. You’re the judge’s daughter, but one day you’ll be
a lawyer’s wife.”
“Oh, Geoff, I am so happy I can’t stop crying.”
“No time for tears, Jenny. Just time for this.” He pulled her close and they
kissed, passionately, and all their worries dissolved.
Jenny was so happy and relieved. There would be no need for her to sneak around
behind her father’s back anymore and although the road ahead would not be
smooth, Jenny wasn’t afraid to face any punishment knowing she had the love and
trust again of the only two men that mattered to her. Her father and Geoff.
Cowboy Angel
Hannah
was on her way to her Aunt's house when she had a car accident in a snowstorm.
Will Masterson saved her, and nursed her back to health. During the weeks of
snow and getting better the couple found love. But there was a problem.
Available in the U.S
at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B0MPF52
And in the U.K. at
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B0MPF52
Charlie's Angel
Charlie
was a man who thought he would never settle down. That was until he found
Cindy. She was a woman, recently widowed who was trying to run a farm single
handed. When he went to visit his friends on holiday, Charlie and Cindy found
love where neither thought it would ever be.
Available in the U.S
at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BL508A0
And in the U.K. at
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BL508A0