The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

Author:Karen Barnett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2017-06-06T04:00:00+00:00

Margie stood in her childhood bedroom, slipping off the blue gown along with her hopes for the evening. She’d come to Tacoma to speak to her father, but instead she’d stood and watched as Philip whipped the gala crowd into a drooling frenzy. Those businessmen couldn’t wait to get their hands on her treasured Paradise and transform it into a circus sideshow.

Somehow Philip had managed to ensnare her father in his vulgar plans. It was up to her to untangle this mess she’d created.

And then there was Ford. Margie sighed. What a kiss. But he was her boss—and an unbeliever. Hadn’t she always said she wouldn’t get entangled with someone who didn’t share her faith? Then again, Philip claimed to be a believer but showed little evidence of it. Lord, what am I supposed to do? Forgetting that kiss would not be an option.

And all this happened with her dressed like a molting Steller’s jay. Margie tossed the detestable garment over a chair. Knowing who’d picked it out, she was certain to never wear it again. Perhaps she should cast it out the window—set it free. She stood in her slip and swiped a handkerchief across her damp eyes. Reaching for the dress she’d worn from Longmire, she pressed it to her chest.

Was Ford changing out of his tuxedo at this moment? Her throat tightened. He’d done so much for her tonight.

A knock sounded at her door.

“Just a moment.” She yanked on the simple dress, fastening the buttons as quickly as she could. After pulling a brush through her disheveled locks and blowing her nose, she hurried to the door and opened it.

Ford stood there, dressed in his own suit. “I was going to head downstairs. But this house is so large, I wasn’t sure which staircase to take.”

Margie stepped back. “Let me finish getting ready, and I’ll walk you down.”

He hovered in the doorway. “I probably should wait out here.”

“I’ll just be a moment.” She sat down at the dressing table and dug in the drawer for a clip. Anything that would make this mop more presentable to her mother. After clipping her hair back, she pulled on her shoes and grabbed her sweater. “I think I heard my parents come in. It’s time we got some answers.”

Her mother’s voice drew Margie to her father’s study. The double doors stood ajar, light spilling out into the living room. “You let Philip do all the talking. What’s wrong with you this evening?”

Margie shot a quick glance at Ford. Perhaps they’d chosen a bad time to descend the stairs. And yet she could hardly suggest a return to her room.

“Katherine, you know Philip had me at a disadvantage. What was I supposed to say?”

“He wanted you to announce his and Margie’s engagement.”

Margie gasped, backing straight into Ford.

“Never.” Her father cleared his throat. “I’ll not see that man wed my only daughter.”

Margie strode forward. “And nothing could convince me to marry Philip. Is that why you’re doing this?”

Her father jerked his head up at her intrusion, his cheeks splotched with color.

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