AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No argument there.”
Cooper tried for an offhand tone. “Besides, this thing between us... It’ll pass. It always does.” He almost choked on the cavalier words. Maybe if he told himself that enough he’d believe it. Or at least, maybe his family would.
Jeff thrust a wet hand into his pants pocket and withdrew two pennies. He set them on the counter.
Cooper put a dry plate in the cabinet. He could reach for the silverware and ignore the two cents. Jeff wouldn’t say a word about it or hold it against him—Cooper had tested that theory enough during his teenage years to know that.
Or Cooper could pick them up.
He fastened his gaze on the shiny copper coins, sitting in a puddle of water. He slid them off the counter and tucked them into his pocket before he reached for the silverware.
Jeff waited only a moment before he spoke. “Where relationships are concerned, you tend to avoid commitment, Cooper. You only date women you could never come to care about. I think maybe you’ve intentionally kept things shallow and brief because you’re afraid of love.”
Cooper bristled. Pretty presumptive for a guy who was on his third marriage. “I think that was a little more than two-cents’ worth.”
“I’m not finished.”
Cooper stopped drying and frowned at him.
“You picked up the coins.”
Cooper didn’t like what he’d heard so far. But maybe that was because the words had hit a painful target. “Fine. Have your say.”
Jeff took his time finishing the crock and handed it to Cooper.“Your father was a bad example for you. He was a failure as a husband and father, and I think you’re afraid you’re just like him.”
Something inside him cowered from Jeff’s words. Cooper had already recognized his dad’s impact on his career. But this was more personal. Cooper raised his defenses like a shield. He wanted to deny Jeff’s words. He wanted to spit out that he was nothing like his father.Nothing.But the truth of Jeff’s words penetrated deeper into that soft, aching target.
Jeff dried his hands and faced Cooper. “For the record, you arenothinglike your father. You’re a good man, Coop. A loyal man. Someday when you figure out you’re deserving of it, you’re going to be a great husband and father.”
Cooper clenched his jaw. “I’m not loyal. Look what I did to Gavin.”
“And yet, out of concern for your brother, you’ve denied yourself the woman you’ve fallen in love with. If that’s not loyalty, what is?”
“Not before I helped myself to her.”
“You made a mistake. Happens to the best of us. You’re a warm, caring person and you need to get this through your head—you are not your father, and you never will be.”
Their gazes connected for a long, intense moment. Jeff was right about one thing. Cooper had been flittering like a moth around women because he was afraid he couldn’t be the kind of man he longed to be.
“You deserve to be happy, and you deserve to be loved.” Jeff squeezed Cooper’s shoulder. “There. That’s all the cents I have for you. Now, get down to the campaign office and get that acceptance speech nailed down.”
Cooper gave a wry grin. “I should probably focus on the concession speech.”
“Either way, it doesn’t matter to your mom and me. We couldn’t be prouder of you, Son.”
44
Allegations Against Sheriff Candidate Robinson Are False
The article was on page 1 of theHeraldjust below the fold. Katie hunched over the table, reading every word, her heart pulsating in her chest. The article, written by the same journalist who’d posted the original accusation, contained contrite quotes from Megan Taylor. She claimed that the father of Cooper’s opponent had bribed her to make the false accusation.
Wayne Curtis had refused to comment on the accusation, but Sean insisted he knew nothing about the things his father had allegedly done.
A weight fell from her shoulders. This was good news. Great news. She was elated for Cooper. Surely the article would earn Cooper the community’s support. But even if it didn’t, his reputation would surely be restored. And that would go a long way towardhealing him. He needed to know he was a good man—and that the people around here esteemed him.
She whispered a quick prayer for him, for the outcome of the election. This morning she’d awakened jittery and nervous for him. But now that the truth was out, hope surged once again to the surface.
She gulped the last of her coffee and set the paper aside. She had a lot of cleaning and packing to do today—but first she had a very important vote to cast.
