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"You’re wrong, I don’t find that hard to believe I find it iue, Linc said, "My point is this Like you, I’ to work hard I’m ambitious--"

"Of course you’re ambitious That’s the reason you hter because I’ that’s ever happened to ainst et your approval before we iven it, anyway, so it’s a ht?"

"As a matter of fact, it isn’t," he countered "And my situation was completely unlike yours I fell in love with Kate the minute I set eyes on her When I learned she was from one of the richest fao out with me"

"But she did" Noas Linc’s turn to interrupt and show his father-in-law that he wasn’t completely in the dark Thanks to Kate, he knew the fas toward him

"Yes, Kate did accept when I asked her to a school dance"

"You were college juniors"

Bellaht have squirmed under such scrutiny, but instead he smiled pleasantly and waited for Bellamy to continue

"I know darn edid you date?"

"Five years," Leonard said, and greistful "I worked three jobs and saved every penny I could"

"And Kate’s father? How did he take to his daughter dating the son of a welder?"

"Ambrose and I were…friendly" He didn’t elaborate beyond that

"In the end, perhaps, but that’s not the way I heard it Kate said that when you first started seeing each other, her father objected"

"I proved myself to Ambrose and to Kate’s nored the reference to Kate

"Five years I waited," he said, growing morose "Five torturous years By the time I married Kate, I’d purchasedfor a second"

"I’ for the opportunity to prove myself to you," Linc said "The way you proved yourself to Kate’s family" He paused for afoot, but I’ones if you are"

Bellahed but there was little amusement "I’ll wait five years to make my decision about you, the saave h I should tell you that Lori and I plan to have a fanored the comment

"Kate wanted us to elope," Leonardto prove to her father first"

"Which you did in spades"

"Don’t try to flatterman"

Linc raised both hands "No flattery intended"

Bellamy relaxed in his chair, hands folded across his middle "Before he died, Ambrose claihter"

Linc carefully considered his response "My hope is that one day you’ll say the sa about ain, Linc didn’t feel it was necessary to argue

Shifting in his chair, Bella with Kate"

"Not me so much as Lori"

He cleared his throat "How is she?"

"Lori or Kate?"

"Kate, of course!" he snapped

Linc enjoyed seeing the other man uncomfortable "Fine, as far as I can tell"

"I see"

"Have you spoken to her lately?" Linc asked, knowing Bellaht" Feeling that the conversation had reached a natural end, Linc stood "I appreciate your taking the time to meet with me, Mr Bellamy I trust we understand each other now"

Bella e"

"Good, and if you happen to see…Kate in the next while, would you give her my best?"

Linc hesitated on his way out the door "Doubt me if you will, Mr Bellamy, but one fact you’ll never be able to dispute is that I love your daughter"

"That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?" He accompanied Linc to the door and opened it for hireement that caused her to leave et her back"

"Lori isn’t nearly as stubborn as her mother," Bellamy barked

"No, I’d say she’s far ard" With those words, Linc walked out of the office

Thirty-Two

Dad and I painted the baby’s bedroom The text came on Rachel’s cell phone

Rachel texted back What color?

Yellow