He wasn’t listed as a stockholder, board member, or anywhere among the employee information.
“You can’t do that,” Butler said.
“Julia has a say, too,” Mr. McGrath said. “The McGrath shares will be under her jurisdiction upon her marriage.”
I was awed by Julia’s expression, seeing the way she internalized her father’s acknowledgment of her position.
“Not to him,” Butler said, his chin coming my way. “Julia is kidding herself if she thinks she’ll have a say with him. He won’t listen. She’s handing Wade to the enemy.”
“How is Van the enemy?” Julia asked.
Her father spoke, “I think it’s best to keep tempers out of this. Right now, it’s business.”
“Your father wants to sell,” Julia said.
“No,” Butler rebutted. “I told you that his plan was to give the shares to us.”
Standing, I reached for Julia’s hand and spoke to her parents. “It was nice to meet you.”
The McGraths both stood, recognizing the cue I’d given for them to leave.
“Hopefully, by this time next year, we can celebrate together as a family. If you’ll excuse us, I don’t want our dinner to be overdone.”
“Please come home,” Mrs. McGrath said to Julia. “There is no rush for this...wedding.”
“Not for the wedding, but there is a rush,” Julia said. “The bank wants the balloon payment by the third.” Her blue eyes came to me. “Van is our only hope in making that payment. I can’t and won’t ask him to do that without him knowing I’m steadfast in my decision to marry him. He deserves that.”
“You can reassure him from Chicago,” her mother said.
“No, Mom, I’m staying. I’m marrying Van, writing his story, and taking a more active role at Wade.” Before anyone could comment, she looked at me and grinned. “Sixty-five to seventy-five percent.”
I nodded.
“Julia...” Her mother’s plea faded away.
Julia turned to her mother. “Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad. I love you. That hasn’t changed, but I have.” She looked down to where our hands were connected. “Whether Van entering my life was fate or red sin, he’s shown me in this short time that I have a voice and I can use it.”
“You’ve always had a voice.”
“No, Mom. I’ve always gone along with yours. Grandpa’s will gives me power. Van’s encouragement has given me the strength to assert it.”
Mr. McGrath offered me his hand. “Mr. Sherman, my daughter is my single greatest joy. Keeping Wade afloat has been my greatest struggle. I don’t know you, but if you’re sincere, I hope you’re right, and in a year, we can be one family.”
Releasing Julia, I shook his hand.
Julia went to her mother and offered her a hug. “Bye, Mom. I’ll be in touch after the first of the year.”
Mrs. McGrath hesitated. “I don’t want to leave you here all alone.”
“I’m not alone.”
“I do my homework too,” Butler announced.
All eyes turned to him.
“If you have something to say,” I said, “we’re listening.”
He spoke to Julia. “You want information, I’ll send you information.”
“If you have something to say,” Julia repeated, “say it. I’m done with this fake reconciliation.”
“Sherman is lying to you,” Butler said. “Dad has known him since before his name was Sherman.”
“I’m well aware of his name change,” Julia said. “That isn’t news.”
Mr. McGrath motioned to Butler. “It’s time that we leave.”
After a few more tense goodbyes and Butler whispering something to Julia, she and I stood in the entry and watched as all three got back into the SUV. I wrapped my arm around her. “You did wonderfully.”
Her smile beamed up at me. “Because I knew I wasn’t alone. You were here with me. And my dad actually listened.”
“You are a powerhouse, Julia. I believe in you.”
Julia
Back in the kitchen, I reached for the oven mitts and opened the top wall oven, removing the turkey breast. The second oven contained the casseroles to complete our holiday meal.
“What did Butler whisper before he left?” Van asked.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s celebrate. My parents are gone and this is our first Christmas.”
Van’s smile returned. “The first item on that list definitely deserves celebration.”
As I arranged the dishes, Van pulled a bottle of wine from the rack and brought down two glasses. My mind was on what Skylar had said.
I knew I shouldn’t give Skylar or his ideas the time of day, but what he’d mentioned wasn’t new. It was something I’d already wondered about. It was also the subject that Mrs. Mayhand had commented about, saying that some questions were better not asked.
Van handed me a glass of wine and lifted his own. “To our guests leaving.”
A smile curled my lips as I stared at him, deep into his emerald eyes, and brought my glass to his. “To us being alone.”
Our glasses clinked before we both took a sip.
A few minutes later before we had the opportunity to sit, our food plated and wine glasses refilled and on the table, Van reached for my hand. “I want to tell you every day that you amaze me because you do.”
“I didn’t make this meal.”
“No,” he said, the gold flecks in his orbs shimmering under the kitchen lights. “You did so much more. You stood up for yourself, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his solid strength and to the place I wanted to be. Van had become that to me. He’d become my place of restoration, whether here in this big house, in the cabin, or in the wilderness. Within his presence, I felt at peace.
And yet there was a lingering question.
I looked up. “Van, who is Madison?”
The muscles of his torso tightened as his head tilted to the side. “Why are you asking?”
“Skylar said something. I don’t want to believe him.” I shook my head, still keeping my arms wrapped around Van. “After all, I have all the reason in the world not to believe him. I believe you. Why is your company called Sherman and Madison?”
He inhaled. “Once you go through all the information, you’ll learn that Madison was a friend and I chose to honor that friendship.”
“Just a friend?”
Inhaling, he shook his head.
“I’m not asking as the writer,” I said. “I’m asking as your fiancée. Who is Madison?” I said a silent prayer that Skylar had lied. After all, it couldn’t be true. The pieces didn’t fit.
Van’s voice was deadpan as he answered, shattering our snow globe, “My wife.”
Thank you for beginning the journey on the “White Ribbon” and plunging into RED SIN.
You won’t want to miss a moment of Van and Julia’s story as more twists and turns and sexy times come along with book two of the Sin Series, GREEN ENVY.