New Beginnings (Marie) by Mel Steele novel Chapter 48

As we waited for my appointment, I couldn’t help but rub my hands together nervously Colo reached over and took my hands in his. It still amazed me how he was able to calms me with a

simple touch.

“Are you OK?” He asked. The concern filled his face

“Yeah, I just don’t understand why I needed to come to the office”

“I’m sure it’s just a formality.”

“Maybe.”

Our conversation was stopped when my Grandmother’s lawyer, Henry, came walking over to us

“Marie. It’s good to see you.”

I introduced Colton and Henry and we followed him to his office.

I signed a few papers and then he handed me a key with some paperwork.

“Your Grandmother left you a safety deposit box and this is the key.”

“Do you know what’s in it?”

“No I don’t, but I can tell you that your aunt tried for years to get access.”

“Thank you.”

We walked out of the building in silence. So many thoughts were running through my head.

“Marie?”

Colton and I stopped and I turned to see a very handsome man with the same blue eyes as mine.

I knew it was my father. I had seen pictures when I was younger and he looked the same, just a

little older.

“Yes?”

“Wow, you look so much like Jeanie.”

I just smiled at him. This man had caused me more pain than he would ever know and I didn’t want

to act as if I knew him.

“Thank you.” I turned and grabbed Colton’s hand and began walking towards our rental car.

“But you have my eyes.” He called after me.

I looked over at Colton and he smiled at me and I turned around again.

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“I suppose I do. Have a nice day”

“Walt….I know I have no right to ask you this, but could I buy you lunch?”

$29 Pants

“Listen ummm Steve right? I didn’t come to Florida for a Father and Daughter day, so no thank you.

Tlooked back at Colton and he seemed a bit taken back by my abrasiveness towards my father, but I didn’t know the man and he declined taking me in when he knew I would end up in the foster

system.

“I know I messed up a lot with you, Marie, but please one lunch?”

“Fine one lunch.”

We found a local place to eat and I introduced Colton to the man that got my mother pregnant and

then left and never looked back.

“Where do you live now?” He asked as we waited for our food.

“Texas.”

“What brings you back to Florida?”

I don’t know why, but something just didn’t feel right. I wasn’t sure why, but our meeting didn’t

seem all that random.

“My fiancé has never seen Florida, so I thought it would be a nice vacation.”

“Oh I see. How long will you be staying?”

“Does it matter?” I asked, not giving him one inch.

“Well, I would really like you to meet your half sister.

“No thank you.” I said extremely politely.

The shock on my father’s face almost made me laugh. Why would I want to meet a girl that had a home while I was left to fend for myself?

I know it wasn’t her fault, but I just didn’t care.

“Oh well, she would really like to meet you. She is a sophomore at Carrollton,” which was a private school. A very expensive private school.

“OK.” Was my only response.

“Would the two of you like to come to my house for dinner tonight?”

“Look Steve, for 21 years you have had nothing to do with me. Why now?”

“I realized how much I messed up, Marie, and I am hoping we can try and have some sort of a

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relationship.

I took a deep breath and before I could respond, Steve’s phone started ringing.

“Excuse me, I have to take this.” He stood and walked toward the door.

Colton kissed my cheek and I turned and smiled at him. His arm was securely around me through this entire lunch with my father.

“You are amazing, Colton.”

“Why is that?”

“No matter what, you are always right here with me

“Get used to it babe. This is forever.”

“I’m going to run to the bathroom.” I stood and walked towards the ladies‘ room. As I went to turn down the hall I heard Steve on his phone.

“Yes, I am here with her now.”

“No, she doesn’t suspect a thing. But I had better get my money when this is done. I need that money, who knew private school was so expensive.

I swallowed hard. I don’t know who he was talking to but I knew it was about me.

“I could care less about this girl, but she has been giving me the cold shoulder all through lunch. It might be harder than I thought to get her to trust me.”

I didn’t need to hear anything else. I turned around and made my way back to the table.

Colton could tell I was visibly shaken as I sat back down next to him in the booth.

“What happened?”

“Let’s just get through this lunch and go back to our hotel and we can talk.”

Steve made his appearance again right as our food was brought to the table. Steve kept trying to talk to me but I was short with my responses.

When the waiter brought the bill, I quickly grabbed it and reached for my purse. Colton didn’t allo it and took it from me with a smile.

“Can I see you again, Marie?” Steve asked.

“No, I don’t think we should.” I said curtly and looked toward Colton. “I have a bit of a headache. Can we go back to our hotel?”

“Sure babe.”

I didn’t bother to look at Steve again as we made our way back to our hotel.

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Once inside our room, I told him everything I heard

“Do you think he planned to bump into you at the lawyers office?

“I do and I am sure it has to do with the safety deposit box or the large sum of money I received

“Don’t worry, we can go to the bank tomorrow first thing and avoid Steve at all cost.”

“Why didn’t he want me?”

He took a deep breath and pulled me to him.

“He is an idiot. I can’t imagine anybody now wanting to be a part of your life. You are smart, funny,

and hot.”

I gave him a weird look and he started laughing. “OK, the hot part is just for me, but babe he has

the issue, not you.”

I lay in his arms and realized I didn’t need Steve or his acceptance. I had an amazing man and family that accepted me as I was and when I had nothing.

“Let’s get married.”

“I believe I already asked you.”

“I mean when we get home. Let’s just do it and get married.”

“Are you sure?”

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