I knew treating Jessica’s parents with respect was going to go a long way.
“Why don’t you join me in the living room so we can get things hashed out with Kevin.”
I felt Jess bristle next to me, and I understood why. Her dad wanted to talk about her life but wasn’t including her in the conversation.
Maneuvering this was going to require delicacy. I wasn’t going to call Ed out—especially in front of Jess and Carol, but I needed to let Jessica know I had her back.
I turned to her and asked, “Are you okay with that?”
My question seemed to surprise her because she drew her shoulders back when she looked up at me.
“Ye—yeah.”
I subtly gave her hip a tiny squeeze before following Ed down the hall and into the living room.
Kevin was sitting on the couch with one hand flung across the back cushion with a bored expression, like he didn’t have a care in the world.
His jiggling foot, however, told a different story.
Ed sat down in a recliner and motioned toward the loveseat across from him. “Have a seat.”
As I did what he suggested, he addressed both me and Kevin. “You two have already met?”
I nodded. “Jess introduced us the other day.”
Ed continued, “So, Alan, you said on the phone you wanted to talk to me about Jessica?”
I glanced over at Kevin. I think Ed thought he was making a power play by having Kevin in the room, like that would make me uncomfortable.
Hardly.
“I’m going to ask her to marry me, and the honorable thing to do is talk to her father first.”
“You want my permission to marry my daughter?”
No, not really. I couldn’t give a shit less, but I know it’s important to Jess.
“That’s why I’m here, sir.”
He crossed his ankle over his knee and studied me for a minute.
“Kevin also wants to marry her. He’s got a good job with the county and his own house. What can you offer her?”
He wasn’t interested in if Jess and I were in love, just what I brought to the table.
“Well, I own a construction company that was just awarded a grant to build low-income housing. And, I have a few other contracts with the government.”
I purposefully phrased it that way so he’d think my “other contracts” with the government were through my construction company. Not as a contracted counterintelligence agent.
I continued, “Both my houses are free and clear. Jess and Ruthie will be well-provided for.”
I wanted to add, “Not to mention, I’m not old enough to be Jess’s dad or Ruthie’s grandpa,” but that seemed like a given.
Ed nodded solemnly as he stroked his chin.
“Bothyour houses?”
“I have a beach house on the Cape plus my house in Lancastle.”
