CHAPTER THREE
HE WENT BY HIS OFFICE and checked in with his secretary, Liz Meadows. The older woman was an invaluable asset. She’d been with him since he’d opened his practice fifteen years ago and her direct, no-nonsense manner kept his office running smoothly.
She handed him several messages. “Those need your attention. The rest I took care of.”
“Thanks, Liz.” He flipped through the names. There was nothing that couldn’t wait.
“Since it’s late, I assume you’re not planning on working.”
“No.” He didn’t feel he needed to explain further.
Liz stood with her hands on her hips, waiting.
“What?” He looked up.
“You know what I’m anxious to hear, so let’s have it.” She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose with one quick movement.
Liz knew the Dallas law firm might make him an offer—she was the only person who did and he trusted her discretion. But sometimes her avid curiosity, or just plain nosiness, got under his skin.
“The meetings went fine.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, don’t give me that bull. Did they make you an offer or not?”
“Yes.”
There was a long, awkward pause.
“Are you taking the job?” Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits.
“Liz…”
“There’s a lot of people in this office who depend on you for work and I’m one of them. You’re just gonna up and leave us high and dry? What are we going to do for jobs? At my age the job market is not all that appealing. This isn’t like you, Beau McCain. You’re responsible, dependable and…”
If he heard that one more time, he was going to scream or hit somebody. And that really wasn’t his nature. Liz’s voice drummed on inside his head like a steady, relentless rain, annoying the hell out of him.
“I haven’t made a final decision. But I will take care of everyone who works for me. No one will be without a job.”
“Yeah.” She snorted. “Like I want to work for someone else. I’m too old for this, Beau.”
“Change is good. Haven’t you heard that?”
“Ha.” She waved a hand. “You’re going through a midlife crisis, that’s what’s wrong with you. Take your family and your next-door neighbor off speed dial and go on one of those single’s cruises. Have a fling. Hell, have several flings. It’ll get that restlessness out of your system and make you feel young again. Then come home to your family and friends in Waco. Not Dallas. Dallas isn’t for you. Take it from someone who has known you for a very long time.”
He picked up a pencil and resisted the urge to break it in half. “I wish people would stop making assumptions and decisions about my life. Bottom line—it is my life, so butt out, Liz.”
Indignant, she stiffened. “Whatever,” she mumbled under her breath.
He stood and Liz knew just how far she could push him and when to stop. That’s why she still had a job.
“Jon is handling the Powers’ case and Natalie has the Coleman case.” Liz shifted to business. “Anything you’d like to tell them?”
“No. They do their jobs very well.” He stuffed the messages in his pocket. “I’ll be back on Monday.”
“Beau?”
He turned.
“You’ve earned this big fancy job, but I’ll miss you. We’ll all miss you. That’s all I’m trying to say.”
“I know. Thanks.”
“But…”
“No buts, Liz. Stop while you’re ahead. I’ll let you know as soon as I decide.” With that, he walked out.
IN HIS CAR HE TOOK a couple of deep breaths. He wasn’t expecting this kind of opposition and it was starting to get to him. His whole life was here and he had a good job, good family and friends. Why was he running away? Why did he feel that leaving would change his feelings for Macy?
Before he could answer the questions, his cell buzzed. He saw the number. Jake. His mom had found reinforcements.
“Hey, Beau, what’s going on? I just left Mom’s and she’s pretty upset. She said you’re thinking about moving to Dallas.”
His hand tightened on the cell. “It’s a very good job offer. I haven’t decided yet.”
“This is awful sudden, isn’t it?”
“I was hoping for some support, big brother.”
There was a moment of silence. “Hell, Beau. I’m sorry. I was thinking about myself and my kids and the family. We all depend on you. You keep us all together and never fail to remind us about the brothers’ meeting every month. We never worry about the date because we know you’ll call us. But if this is something you really want to do, then I’m there for you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Beau?”
“Hmm?”
“You sound strange. Are you okay?”
No. He wasn’t okay. He felt like a traitor—deserting his family and friends.
“I’m fine. This is just a difficult decision.”
“Don’t worry about Mom. I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks, Jake. How’s Ben?” Beau wanted to change the subject.
“He’s fine. We talked to his teacher and the coach and we’ve agreed to let him play in Little League. It’s past the sign-up day, but we got everything okayed. We were worried because he doesn’t have great coordination, but the coach thought it would be good for him. Ben is so excited that he’s going to get a uniform and play with some of his friends. I told Ben you and I would practice with him, but since you might not be here Elise will have to help. Can you imagine that?”
Beau closed his eyes briefly. This was his family and he’d never let them down. He made sure he was always there for them. A paralyzing pain shot through his heart. What was he doing? Why was he feeling so guilty about the choice in front of him?
“She might be better than you think.”
“Yeah. Now wouldn’t that be something. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Beau stared at the phone for a few minutes then headed for the hospital. Now that his mother was aware of his plans, it was only a matter of time before Macy found out. He had to tell her before that happened.
For his mother to enlist Jake’s help, she had to be really upset. That reaction still floored him. All his life she’d encouraged and supported everything he’d done. But he’d been within easy access, not far from her. This was different. Dallas was two hours away.
She’d said that she depended on him. And she had. It had been just him and her in that one-room apartment after she’d left Joe. She’d tell him that everything was going to be okay, but he’d cry at night because he missed Jake. She cried, too. Then somehow their positions shifted and he was the one telling her everything was going to be okay.
Althea depended on him to keep them together, as did Jake. Even though they were busy with their own lives, he made sure they all stayed in contact. Suddenly he knew what his mother was so afraid of. With him in Dallas, she was afraid the family would fall apart again, as the Randall family had.
He could call her, but