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“Yeah?”
“When I give my annual fall party, you will be there, right?”
“I’ll be there, Frazier,” Roland said, figuring he could make a quick appearance and then leave.
“Good.”
It had taken them uniting as brothers to protect their niece Margo, when her life had been threatened a few yearsago. Since then, Frazier had apologized for his actions and Roland had forgiven him. They were brothers and nothing would change that. After all, Harold Connelly’s blood flowed through both their veins.
Besides, there was Margo to think of-- God bless her sweet soul. She had the heart of her father Murdock, and she would never let him and Frazier forget they were the uncles she adored.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about, Roland.”
He heard the seriousness in his brother’s tone. “What?”
“I’d rather do it in person. There’s no hurry, but I suggest we talk within the next few weeks.”
Roland wondered what this was about. “I’ll be moving next weekend. Can it wait until after that?”
“Yes, it should be fine.”
“Is there anything else, Frazier?”
“No. I just wanted to remind you that you can bring a date to the fall party if you’d like.”
“I’m coming alone, Frazier.”
He hoped like hell his brother wasn’t trying to push him into something he didn’t want—like going out with someone. Frazier had never done anything like that before and he would have to let him know he shouldn’t start now.
A few moments later, he and Frazier ended their call. Roland was forty-five. Frazier was four years older. If it was time for anyone to think about settling down, it was Frazier.
But Roland honestly couldn’t see that happening. Frazier loved being single and swore he would remain a bachelor for life. Roland believed him, but Margo did not. Shebelieved there was a woman out there capable of capturing her Uncle Frazier’s heart.
Only time would tell if that was true.
• • •
Frazier Connelly leaned back against the cushions of the sofa and took a sip of wine, thinking about the conversation he’d just had with Roland—and the conversation he still needed to have. It was about what he’d found in a cabin in Tennessee. A cabin Frazier hadn’t even known existed until he received notice that there was an interested buyer.
He’d flown to Tennessee to check out the cabin himself and had discovered a lot of his father’s secrets stored there—especially those involving Roland’s mother, Valerie Summers. It was obvious the place had been their lovers’ hideaway for years. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if Roland had been conceived there.
Frazier had uncovered his father’s journal in one of the drawers and had taken the time to read it. Doing so had shed a light on a number of things. He had known his father was a man who was kind, thoughtful and considerate. He’d also known his mother was pampered, selfish and inconsiderate. She’d had no problem cutting people down when they didn’t go along with what she wanted—he’d seen it often enough.
So, really, he should not have been surprised that his father had sought love someplace else. And from what Harold Connelly had written in the journal, Frazier could tell that Harold had loved Roland’s mother. His father hadpoured out his love for her, as well as his anguish at being bound to a loveless marriage.
Through his father’s words, Frazier learned that Audrey Connelly had suspected her husband of having a serious affair and that she had demanded he end it or else she would find out the woman’s identity and make her life a living hell.
There had been no doubt in Harold Connelly’s mind his wife would carry out her threat, so he had ended the affair to protect Valerie. He hadn’t known at the time that Valerie was carrying his child.
Standing, Frazier picked the journal off the coffee table and placed it in the safe where he now kept it. The only person he’d told about the journal was Margo. They felt it should be given to Roland so he would know the full extent of Harold Connelly’s love for his mother. Valerie wasn’t the side-piece Frazier had thought her to be. She’d been the love of Harold Connelly’s life.
Frazier poured himself a glass a wine then returned to the sofa and sat down. Tonight was one of those rare times he had no plans to go out. The editors at the Daily Progress would be disappointed that they wouldn’t have photos to splash across their society pages of him, with some woman on his arm, attending some charity event or dinner engagement.
It seemed everyone was interested in finding out just how long he intended to remain a bachelor. After all, at forty-nine, he was one of the wealthiest men in the city. He’d be a good catch for any woman. And he would…if he was interested in such a thing. But he wasn’t. And so far, he’d never come across a woman who could make him change his mind.
Had his mother lived, Frazier knew she would have hand-picked a bride for him years ago…and would probably have gone along with it. Unlike Murdock, who’d defied their mother and married his soulmate, Frazier had never believed in the notion of marrying for love. A marriage of convenience would have been just fine with him.
However, he had to admit now, that marrying without love would have been terrible. He’d seen the loving relationship between Murdock and Karlis—likely the reason Margo had such a positive attitude when it came to love. She’d had parents who’d loved and respected each other and they’d had no problem showing it.
