The Family You Choose
Page 28
The Hendrickson name should also be carried on. "And when was the last time you spoke to Lucy Bartolome?"
Jim stopped eating his toast and looked up. "Last week, Dad," he said quietly. "As I told you. And as I told you, I don’t think she’s interested in me."
"Don’t settle, Jimmy," Gerald said in a rare show of exasperation. "Sometimes you have to work to get what you want."
"Maybe, Dad," Jim said as he put on his coat, "but you shouldn’t have to work too hard. I’ll be home same time, alright?"
"Have a good day son." Jim smiled as he walked out the door. Gerald sighed. He was proud of his son, but there were some things he’d change if he could. Gerald knew that Jim had been in love with Lucy Bartolome since they’d gone to college together. She’d been the University’s It Girl, and not least because her grandfather Leighton was one of the founders. Maybe most of her would-be suitors weren’t good enough for John Bartolome, but Jim was. Still no joy. But that was alright for now, because Gerald wasn’t nearly as good at taking no as his son was.
Gerald knew that his time on this earth was limited. Death was not imminent, but he could see it. Annabelle wasn’t going to have any Hendricksons. That duty fell to Jim. Lucy, blonde, bright and dynamic, would be a perfect Hendrickson mother. And really, who was she to be too picky? Her mother had been a Leighton, but she’d married this Bartolome from Louisiana. Dear God! Gerald had no tolerance for John’s airs. Plus there was Tom, Lucy’s older brother. Another subject of ugly rumors. So who was Lucy to look down her nose at Jim?
Gerald pushed away his food and walked over to the window. All of these kids- and that’s what they’d always be to him- had trouble seeing everything clearly, and none of them knew how to get things done. Gerald smiled. There was one. Alex Sheldon. Gerald knew Annabelle didn’t like him, but she’d have to accept that he came with Stephen. Which wasn’t even a bad thing as far as Gerald was concerned, because he’d attributed most of Stephen’s cleverness, such as there was, to Alex’s influence. And Alex had a special something that none of the others did. He was ambitious, and God love him for it. He needed to be. He was a young man waiting for his opportunity, but Gerald could see that he didn’t just wait. He measured, calculated, tested. He was someone who knew how to get things done. And Gerald smiled again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Nam-Krane has been writing in one way or another since she was eight years old (and telling stories well before that). As an adult she brought many of her characters together to begin the New Pioneers series. The first book of the series The Smartest Girl in the Room was published in 2013.
In 2012 she wrote the History section of her sister Suzanne Nam’s Moon Thailand (Moon Handbooks).
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A book reviewer for Amazon for the last decade, she is grateful for all of the reader reviews she has received so far. After sales, they are the best promotion a new author can get. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review on the retail site you purchased from, Goodreads, your blog or wherever you share your opinions.