"Is it?" She asked wearily, feeling the tears burning the back of her eyes. "He sits here and focuses on work, but to me he seems so far away. I can't marry him if all he feels is an obligation."
"Honey, the man is here. Has been here for two days. I don't know much about high finance and corporate companies, but I imagine he has obligations, places he could be right now, but he chose to be here. He hasn't left."
"The nurses are all aflutter over having someone like him here, but he has not given them a second look. I came here that first time before you woke up and saw the look on his face. He suffered."
Waving a hand in the air, Eloise gave her an impatient look. "As far as I know, this is the second time he proposed. The first time you blew him off according to you. Just give him some time."
"He could have anyone he wants." She said dismally. "What if he's regretting ever meeting me?"
"You worry too much." Pushing to her feet, Eloise walked over to kiss her cheeks. "I had my doubts about him before, but he's proven himself and David cannot stop talking about him."
Melanie smiled. "He thinks Rodney is cooler than his favorite football hero." Her smile faded. "I don't want him to think that I'm after his money."
Eloise squeezed her arm. "Like I said before, the man is not a fool."
*****
"Do you have a minute?" Eloise had been on her way out but changed directions when she saw him through the open doorway of the waiting room. He was alone in the room, and she supposed that a man of his caliber would be given all the privileges associated with his status.
"I'm just finishing up a conference call." Rodney gestured her to a chair, before turning his attention back to the conversation. "The shipment has been delayed twice in two weeks. I don't want any more excuses. Sort it out or we look for another shipper. Am I clear? Good."
Hanging up the phone, he put it away as well as the documents he had brought with him and gave his attention to the elderly woman seated across from him.
"Is everything all right? Melanie..."
"Is as fine as can be in the circumstances." Adjusting her well worn black coat, Eloise soothed a hand over the length of it. "I've had this for the past twenty years now and it's getting worn."
Rodney flickered a glance over the garment, a tiny frown on his brow. "What size are you? I'll call Romano's..."
Her laughter cut him off.
"That wasn't a hint to gouge a coat out of you son. I have more jackets and am quite comfortable. I was just making conversation, talking off the top of my head."
"I see."
"You proposed to my granddaughter."
"I suppose I should have asked for your blessings." His expression gave nothing away and had her wondering for a brief second if he really was in love with her girl.
"Seemed more like a business proposal, the way she spoke about it."
A flicker in his eyes had her staring. Not so unaffected after all.
"I assure you, it's not." Stretching his legs out, he tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. "I proposed once before."
"She mentioned it. Are you marrying her because she's carrying your seed, the heir to the throne?"
His thick brows lifted. "I can also assure you that there's no throne. And this is between me and Melanie."
"I've been there for that girl since she lost both her parents and again when that piece of garbage ran out on her. I'd say I'm entitled."
"You think I'm like that creep?"
"Not at all." She said smoothly. "I never liked him at all and certainly never liked him for her. But she had stars in her eyes, and she was young and foolish. He was too much of a smooth talker for me and much too old for her."
She shrugged. "But out of bad came forth good. David was the result of that disaster, and the good Lord always comes through for his people."
She eyed him thoughtfully. "If you're still in love with her and I suspect that you are, it's time to put away the past and forgive. She needs it. And if history proves right, she's in for a difficult pregnancy."
