“You’re not the one getting poked and prodded, a damn light shining in my eyes every two hours,” his father grumbled.
Archer chuckled.
“What’s eating you?” his father asked.
“I’ll go get some coffee,” Clara offered.
“No, stay.” Archer sighed. “It’s about Eden.”
Clara sat on the bed by his father.
“Go on,” his father prodded.
“Give me a sec,” he said, running a hand over his face. “I’m taking her out tonight—Renata’s watching the girls... Thing is, I love her. I want her and the girls to stay.”
“Say that,” Teddy said.
Clara smiled. “Teddy—”
“I can’t just throw it out there,” Archer argued. “She deserves more.”
Clara shook her head. “Archer, hearing that will be enough, I promise you. Love has always come with strings and addendums for Eden. Always. If you give her your heart, unconditionally, you will have given her something she’s never had before.”
He shook his head. “You don’t understand, Clara, I’m not an easy man—”
“But you are the man she wants, Archer. This, I know,” Clara finished. “Teddy, I am going to help Renata this evening.”
Teddy nodded. “I know, I know.” He looked at Archer. “When you ask for her hand, you let her know she’s getting a family out of this. It might help.” He winked at Archer.
“Thanks, Dad.” Archer sat back in his chair, pleased to see color in his father’s cheeks. And the smile on his face, on Clara’s face, was nice, too. He should stay a while, take some notes. He could use some tips on courting a woman, since tonight he was going to propose to the only woman he could see a future with.
Chapter Fifteen
Eden soaked in the tub, reviewing the proposal she’d finished for the refuge. She knew what the board looked for and could find no objective reason to deny funding. Especially since she now had proof that her mother wanted to support the refuge. She hadn’t had to read through the last packet of letters; her mother had stated clearly that she wanted to use her inheritance for a charitable endowment for the refuge after her first visit.
She’d scanned the letter and added it to the proposal. That alone should warrant the board’s approval.
But she’d learned so much more about her mother. How disillusioned she was with life. How unhappy and unloved she’d felt. How alone she was. Her parents had wholeheartedly supported her marriage to her father—wealth married wealth. Two powerful, ambitious families combining. Even if her mother was lost in the shuffle.
Coming to the refuge, she’d felt free of all the restraints and expectations her life placed upon her. Eden related to that.
She toweled off and slipped into the only dress she’d packed. Soft blue cotton with tiny white flowers and a ribbon under her breasts. It was feminine and pretty, exactly how she wanted Archer to see her tonight. She tied on her sandals and brushed through her hair, leaving it down. He liked running his fingers through her hair. She liked it, too.
And if dressing to please him would ease what she had to tell him, she’d do it. Her stomach was in knots, anxious for the night to begin—so she could finally get the weight of this horrible lie off her chest. If he could forgive her, love her, was another matter altogether.
“Momma, you look so pretty.” Ivy smiled. “Beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Eden kissed the tip of Ivy’s nose, breathing deep to calm her nerves. “No tears tonight?”
Ivy nodded. “No tears. But Lily might cry. A lot.”
Eden smiled. “She might.”
“No promises,” Ivy continued, shrugging.
“Maybe you can help Renata?” Eden suggested.
“I’m a good helper,” Ivy agreed.