Mist on the Meadow (33 page)

“Doctor?”

Marissa shook her head.

“I tried calling, but your phone went
straight to voicemail.”

Marissa gasped. “Oh! I forgot. My dad is
going to have a fit. I promised to text him every night before I
went to bed and every morning.” She powered up her phone and typed
in a quick “everything’s fine” message.

“Is it?” Angela stood over her shoulder,
watching her send the text to her father.

Marissa grinned. “Yes.”

“Okay, you’ve got those roses in your cheeks
and your eyes are sparkling. What’s going on?”

“It’s the cold weather, you know.”

“It’s not just the cold.”

Marissa took hold of Angela’s hands. “Okay,
but you can’t say a word. Not until I’ve told my parents.”

Angela’s eyes grew large. “Promise.”

But which news should she tell first? Marissa
voted for less volatile. “Wolf asked me to marry him.”

Angela’s mouth gaped open. “After how many
dates? Wait. What about that picture in the paper?”

“She’s an old girlfriend. It doesn’t
matter.”

“So you said yes?”

Marissa nodded and Angela drew her into a
hug. “And you’re happy?” Angela asked, a break in her voice. “Look
at you. Of course you’re happy.”

Marissa nodded again.

“Did you set a date?”

“Give me a day or two to get used to the idea
first, willya?” Marissa laughed.

They started on their morning routine side by
side.

“It’s awfully quick, don’t you think?” Angela
said while she filled muffin cups.

“Yeah, but it’s right. You know?”

“If you say so.” Angela shrugged. “I keep
hearing your mother telling you—telling
us
— that sex doesn’t
equal love.”

Marissa laughed. “The night of Uncle Balt’s
funeral, all he did was hold me, well, at least initially. And
yesterday, he took care of me. Made me soup for dinner. Washed my
dishes, Angela. It’s not just sex.” But thinking of the sex sent a
heat wave through her.

“Wolf Harper? We’re talking about the same
guy, right?”

Becky appeared at the front door and Marissa
checked the clock. “Geez. Seven o’clock already.” She wiped her
hands on her apron and let Becky in. As the door closed, Wolf’s
green Mercedes drove into the parking lot.

“He’s ba-a-a-ck,” Becky said.

Marissa waited at the door and Wolf greeted
her with a hug.

“You should have woken me up,” he said.

“I was worried you’d make me late,” Marissa
replied.

Becky cleared her throat. “Excuse me. I don’t
think I want to overhear any more of this conversation. In case you
didn’t realize I could hear you, that is.”

Marissa smiled. “Sorry.” She glanced at Wolf.
“I have work to do.”

“I’ll grab a coffee and read the paper in the
corner.” He kissed her before he let go of her hand and approached
Becky.

“Coffee. Got it,” Becky said.

“He does look different,” Angela whispered
when Marissa resumed her place in the kitchen. “Less uptight. But
are you sure, girlfriend? I mean, he’s still following you to work.
You sure he’s not a creepy stalker?”

Marissa nodded. “Never been more sure. You do
remember someone tried to blow this place up? And I’m sure I told
you someone broke into my apartment.” She smiled. “Not a stalker.
More like a guard dog.”

Angela shrugged. “Promise me a long
engagement? I don’t want to see you rush into something.”

“Engagement?” Becky asked from the doorway.
“You’re engaged to Wolf Harper?”

“Blabbermouth.” Marissa laughed.

“But the picture in the paper—” Becky
said.

“Will you guys trust me on this?” Marissa
pointed at Becky. “And don’t say anything yet. I haven’t told
anyone. Except Angela. And now you.”

Becky crossed her heart and held a finger to
her lips.

Max walked into the kitchen. “Your
boyfriend’s back. And so is Senator Blankenship. He said something
about a town hall meeting?”

“I almost forgot,” Marissa said.

Becky slipped past Max and took her place
behind the counter. Marissa and Angela both approached the
doorway.

“I thought he had ‘people’ to arrange these
things for him,” Angela whispered.

“Maybe that’s the point. He wants to be more
people-friendly, more hands-on,” Marissa said.

Angela raised an eyebrow. “We’re talking
Illinois politics here, and he’s entrenched. I’ll talk to him.” She
slipped off her apron and wiped her hands before she passed Marissa
to the counter.

“Good morning, Senator. Welcome to
Mangela
,” Angela said. “I’m Angela DeMarco, co-owner.” She
turned and presented Marissa. “And this is Marissa Maitland, my
partner.”

The senator had dark, beady eyes and silver
hair. He smiled at Angela and dimples creased his cheeks. “Good
morning.” He extended a hand to Angela with a smile for Becky, who
gawked at him. “I heard you might be willing to host a town hall
meeting. Thank you for your support.”

Marissa stepped to the counter beside Angela.
There was something familiar about the senator, but as he was
frequently in the news, that was probably to be expected. She
narrowed her eyes and the now-familiar cramping squeezed her
stomach.

Wolf appeared by her side, wrapped his arm
around her waist, and the cramp subsided. He took the senator’s
hand. “Wolf Harper.”

Blankenship smiled to reveal yellowed teeth.
“Of course. I remember you. Harper Electronics?”

“Yes sir.”

“What a coincidence meeting you here. Do I
understand correctly that you will be assuming control of your
family’s company?” the senator asked.

Wolf’s arm tightened around Marissa’s waist.
“That decision will be made by the board of directors.”

“I was sorry to read about your uncle. Will
there be a negative impact on the company?”

“That remains to be seen,” Wolf replied, his
lips drawn tight.

Wolf’s fingers dug into Marissa waist. She
took hold of his hand and forced a smile. “When did you want to
schedule your town hall meeting?”

Blankenship blinked twice and turned to
Marissa. “Your café is just what this State is all about. Two
ladies realizing a dream. Thank you so much for contacting my
office. Maybe we could do something a week from Saturday?”

“We generally close at three-thirty,” Angela
told him. “Would Saturday afternoon work for you? We could extend
our hours for one day.”

“Why don’t you two work out the details,”
Marissa said. “I have some cakes in the oven that I should check
on.”

Angela nodded to Marissa.

“Let me buy you a cup of coffee,” Wolf said.
“And you should definitely try one of the pastries. These ladies
are unparalleled.”

Blankenship nodded. “I’d like that.”

Marissa retreated to the kitchen.

Five minutes later, Angela appeared at her
side. “That guy has a creep factor,” she whispered

“Wolf?” Marissa asked. “I think you already
mentioned that.”

“No, he actually seems different, almost
likeable. I meant the senator.”

“He represents people like us.” She glanced
toward the dining room, where Wolf and Blankenship were huddled
over a table.

“How can you be so sure?”

Wolf looked up from his conversation and gave
her a wink.

Marissa returned a smile.

* * *

Wolf was surprised at how easily he’d been
able to read the senator. Was this how Marissa’s psychic powers
worked? Except that her insight seemed to cause her pain. Uncle
Pete had complained about the same kind of pain. How much did Uncle
Pete know?

“So how did you hear about my uncle?” he
asked the senator.

“It’s been in the news.”

Wolf had played enough poker during college
to recognize a nervous “tell.” The senator’s appeared to be an
extra blink.

“I’m sure I read something about him getting
arrested.”

The story wasn’t in the papers yet. Wolf
looked for Marissa again.

The senator lowered his voice. “Unless I
heard it somewhere else.”

Wolf leaned over his elbows. “Okay.”

Blankenship blinked twice again. “Maybe the
same place I heard you would be the heir apparent.”

“Okay,” Wolf said again. He normally stayed
clear of the political arena. Blankenship was the only politician
he’d ever met in person, the senator appeared to be holding
something back. Would Marissa know what it was? “Would you mind if
I invited my fiancée to sit with us?”

Blankenship straightened, his eyes open wide.
“Your fiancée?”

Wolf raised his arm and curled a finger for
Marissa to join them.

The senator rose to his feet and took her
hand between his when Marissa approached the table. “My
congratulations to you both,” he said.

Marissa winced and bent at the waist again.
Wolf reached for her free hand and her expression softened.

“Thank you.” She maintained her grip on the
senator’s hand.

Electricity coursed through the circuit of
clasped hands. An image of Senator Blankenship with Uncle Pete
flashed into Wolf’s head, in a warehouse full of components. Boxes
marked Harper Electronics. In a warehouse that wasn’t Harper
Electronics.

Blankenship withdrew his hand and the circuit
was broken. He blinked twice and Wolf wondered how the senator
figured into the equation.

“You know what? I have another appointment
that I’m going to be late for,” Blankenship said. He rose from his
seat and zipped his down coat. “Please say goodbye to Miss DeMarco
for me and tell her my secretary will be in touch to firm up the
town hall meeting with her.”

“What does he want with Harper Electronics?”
Marissa asked in a whisper after Blankenship had left the shop.

“I think I’ve found the link to our missing
inventory.”

First things first. Wolf stopped at the
jeweler to pick up the ring. He wouldn’t go to her parents without
it. He’d already done enough to make a bad impression. Her father
hadn’t kicked him out the day of Uncle Balt’s funeral, but if Wolf
hoped to win Marissa’s parents over, he knew he’d have to prove
himself.

Diamonds and sapphires. Wolf smiled as he
snapped the box shut and tucked it in his pocket.

Fifteen minutes later he stood at the
Maitlands’ front door. Marissa’s mother greeted him and cocked her
head. “Marissa’s still at work.”

“Yes, ma’am. I was hoping for a word with you
and your husband.” Wolf’s palms sweated in spite of the winter
cold.

“Come in.” She opened the door and stepped to
one side. “Stuart’s in the living room watching the game.”

Mr. Maitland rose from his seat and hit the
mute button on the remote control. “Wolf. How are you? Marissa’s
still at work.”

“Yes sir.”

“He wants to talk to us,” Mrs. Maitland said.
“Let me take your coat, Wolf.”

He shrugged out of his jacket and sat on the
edge of the recliner.

“What can we do for you?” Mr. Maitland
asked.

The room seemed warmer than on Christmas Eve.
Wolf scrubbed his hands together. “This is going to sound like it’s
coming out of the blue.”

Mrs. Maitland took a seat on the sofa beside
Mr. Maitland, a front row seat to watch him squirm. Wolf took a
deep breath.

“I feel as if we’ve gotten off on the wrong
foot, but I’d like for you to know how much I think of your
daughter, how much Marissa means to me.” Did he sound as stupid as
he felt? Wolf took another deep breath. He probably should have
rehearsed his speech, should have come up with the perfect words,
but all he had was how he felt, what he knew. “Marissa is something
special. I’ve never met anyone quite like her, and quite honestly,
I don’t want to try. She’s knocked me off my feet to the point
where I’m sure you see me as some kind of lunatic. I’m crazy about
her, and if I can get your blessing, I want to spend the rest of my
life with her.”

Mrs. Maitland’s mouth dropped open and Mr.
Maitland’s nostrils flared.

Wolf fumbled for his pocket and produced the
box. He notched it open and held the ring for them to see. “I’m
usually more eloquent. I apologize for what probably appears to be
odd behavior, but this is new to me, too. I can promise you I will
do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy.”

“Well, it would solve the problem with her
living alone in that apartment,” Mr. Maitland said.

Mrs. Maitland cuffed him in the arm. “That’s
not funny, Stuart.”

Mr. Maitland smiled at her. He reached for
the jeweler’s box, but Mrs. Maitland was faster. She looked at the
ring and gasped. “This is beautiful.” She showed it to Mr.
Maitland. “Look at this, Stuart.”

Mr. Maitland pursed his lips and sniffed. If
Wolf didn’t know better, he’d swear Marissa’s father was welling
up. He handed the ring back to Wolf and looked away. “I’m
good.”

I’m good?
Wolf furrowed his brow and
looked to Mrs. Maitland.

Mrs. Maitland looked at her husband quickly,
color rising in her cheeks. “It isn’t because . . . Is she . . .?”
Mrs. Maitland licked her lips and drew a breath.

Wolf curled his hands into fists. He didn’t
realize Marissa had said anything to her parents about the baby.
Nothing like telling your girlfriend’s parents you’d knocked her
up.

Mr. Maitland raised an eyebrow. “Is she
pregnant?”

Wolf met his stare. “I’m not sure I’m the one
who should answer that question.”

Mrs. Maitland issued a sob and Mr. Maitland
rested his head in one of his hands.

“You want to marry her, but you don’t care
enough about her health to take precautions?” Mr. Maitland
asked.

“She said they did take precautions,” Mrs.
Maitland said through gritted teeth, and then she stared at Wolf
again. “But these things don’t happen when you keep it zipped.”

Wolf tried not to smile. His own mother would
have said the same thing. “Whether she is or isn’t pregnant, that
doesn’t change anything. I am head over heels in love with Marissa.
She means the world to me.”