Page 57 of A Ferry Merry Christmas
When Beth brought him home to meet her family, he hadn’t known what to expect. Certainly not this easy acceptance. Even with all the odds stacked against him, Grant and Irene had welcomed him with as much enthusiasm as they would have a trust-fund baby.
Logan saw Beth every day that summer. When she returned for her last year of college, he was convinced she’d forget all about him. It made no sense that she’d stick with him when she could have any college guy she wanted.
Instead, they stayed in constant communication with texts and phone calls, often lasting for hours. He was so in love that he walked around with his head in a cloud that entire year. By going without lunches and eagerly working every chance for overtime, he was able to buy an engagement ring. When she agreed to become his wife, he was over the moon.
The next step was getting Grant’s permission to marry his daughter. He wanted to do everything right, even if that meant losing Beth.
His heart was in his throat when he approached Grant. His father-in-law had asked a few questions, mainly about why Logan loved Beth, and he’d wanted to know about his future plans. Logan had nearly wept when Grant said he approved and gave the union his blessing.
Logan’s attention was on the football game. The look Grant sent him messaged that he’d like for them to talk. Before he had a chance, however, Irene stepped out of the kitchen.
“Dinner’s ready,” Irene announced. He hadn’t noticed that the food had been set on the table. Standing, he moved to the formal dining table and took his place next to Olivia, with Beth on the other side of their daughter.
“Can I say the blessing?” Olivia asked, looking to her grandpa for permission.
Grant smiled and nodded.
Everyone bowed their heads.
“Thank you, God, for Christmas, and my iPad, and most of all for my daddy and mommy and my new sister or brother when the time is right and for Aunt Josie and Grandma and Grandpa and for sweet potatoes. Amen.”
“Amen,” Logan repeated, and caught Beth’s gaze to find her smiling at the mention of a little brother or sister.
Over dinner, Logan didn’t join in on the conversation, although he enjoyed the lively chatter that effortlessly flowed around the table. Beth’s family recounted Christmases past and the years when the three Walsh siblings woke up at the crack of dawn, eager to open their gifts.
His childhood Christmases couldn’t compare.
After a wonderful dinner, Logan helped with the dishes. He was about to go back to watching the football game when Grant asked him into the den.
This was it, he mused. Grant was going to read him the riot act, grill him about the past and the pain he’d caused Beth andOlivia. He’d want reassurances that Logan was sincere about moving back in with Beth and Olivia. Time to man up, he decided, and swallow his medicine.
Grant closed the door and gestured for Logan to sit in the leather chair positioned in front of the wall-to-wall cherrywood bookcase. He walked over to the liquor cabinet and glanced over his shoulder.
“Brandy?” he asked.
Logan was about to automatically refuse, then changed his mind. He may well need alcohol to dull this ordeal. “Sure, thanks.”
Filling each crystal snifter about an inch, he handed Logan one and then sat in an adjacent chair.
Stiffening, Logan waited for the talk-down.
Instead, Grant relaxed against the back of the leather chair, crossed his legs, and said, “It was good of you to join us for Christmas.”
“I appreciate the welcome,” Logan replied, and was sincere. He hadn’t known what to expect. The hug from Irene had nearly brought tears to his eyes.
“I know why you asked to speak to me,” he said, holding on to the snifter with both hands and leaning forward. He avoided eye contact.
“Oh?” The lone word was filled with curiosity.
“I made a huge mistake when I left Beth; I won’t make excuses. I was wrong and I regret what I did.”
“Actually, Logan, I wanted to apologize to you.”
Certain he’d heard wrong, Logan jerked his head up. “Excuse me?”
“Irene and I should never have paid off Olivia’s medical bills without discussing it with both of you first. We knew those expenses were a financial struggle with Beth no longer working. We thought we were helping.”
“You did . . . You were.” His throat grew tight. “I was a fool not to appreciate your generosity. For some crazy reason, I was convinced I’d failed Beth and Olivia and that they’d do better without me.” His manhood had taken a hit, and fool that he was, he’d let pride nearly destroy the best thing that ever happened to him, and that was marrying Beth.
