Chapter 4

The date was going better than she could have hoped for. He was charming but not overly so. He was great at conversations and didn’t push her to answer anything that she didn’t want to, like talking about Richardson. He’d not brought him up; she had, and when she’d told him that the man was still in jail, he seemed disappointed about that. Mac had an idea that Richardson wouldn’t have been long out before someone took him to task. But being in jail? It was a place that he deserved to be more than anyone else that she could think of.

The thing about the date that had her really liking Axel was when she got dessert, he didn’t. Nor did he take any of hers. Not until she offered anyway. That showed that she could control what happened between them. Why that was even a thought, she didn’t know but she didn’t want to give up her control of situations when all around her was out of control.

“Your dad was telling me that two of the bedrooms upstairs are finished up. The wiring I guess you’d done.” She told him how she had done it during the night. She didn’t sleep all that much. “I don’t either, as a matter of fact. I never have my mom told me once.”

“I can work better in a room without having several thousand interruptions going on all the time. When there is a crew around, they’ll make it their mission to find me and ask me all the questions they had in an hour that they’d been saving up all week or something.” He asked about the cable issue. “Thanks to your dad, several people at the cable company have been fired. Which is good as he’d found out that—wouldn’t he have told you this?”

“I, for the most part, stay out of the way of my parents’ businesses. I’ll help them out if they need a heavy but for the most part, they run the cable company as well as several other places on their own. It works out well for us all.” She asked him if he had all that many businesses. “Yes. I have a partnership in the grocery store. Not that I have a lot to do with that other than to fix the occasional issue they might have. Several years ago, it burnt to the ground, and I did take out a loan to have it rebuilt. It’s a nice little country store, and I love going there when I need groceries. Not that I have all that many needs for foodstuffs. I usually eat fast food or dine with my parents. I think that all of us eat with them several times a week.”

When they were finished up, and the bill was brought to them, Mac wanted to snatch it from Axel and pay it for herself. She didn’t want any entanglements that happened with a man paying the check. When they were leaving the table after it was paid, she was glad now that she’d allowed him to pay for her dinner. Axel told her that when he or she asked the other out, it was the person who also paid the bill. She liked that.

The evening was still warm out, so they decided to take a walk around the town. There really wasn’t that much to see, but it felt good when Axel reached for her hand. She told herself not to get used to this sort of treatment and that it was only the first date. But almost as soon as she thought that, she let it go. He would be a romantic no matter how long they’d be married.

That thought had her stopping so abruptly that she nearly tripped over the chair that was directly in front of her. She looked at Axel when he said her name.

“Are you all right? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Is everything all right?” She shook her head, meaning that she didn’t want to talk about it, but he asked her again, coming to her to wrap his arms around her while holding her. “Tell me what’s the matter and I’ll try my best to fix it for you.”

“I thought about us marrying.” He paused for just a second before asking her if she was proposing to him. “And what if I am? Would you say to me?” Axel tucked her head under his chin and held her until he spoke.

“I’d say yes, of course. But you’d have to help with the house by picking out colors. I’m not going to have carpets put in, but there are about a million billion questions that need answers to that I’m not sure how to answer.” She looked up at him to see if he was teasing her. “I’m not. Teasing you, I mean. I’ve been thinking about you a great deal for the past several days. And I’ve fallen in love with you too. You do love me, don’t you?”

“I’m not sure. I mean, if what I’m feeling right now—it’s nothing I’ve ever felt before, but if this is love, I can get on board with it.” He didn’t let her go but continued to hold her until people were coming out of one of the little diners that were sprinkled all over town. It didn’t bother her that they’d been caught in an embrace, just the opposite. She felt like she could shout from the rooftops how lucky she was feeling. “What do you think about us heading back to wherever you live and having some sexy time?”

He picked her up in his arms and swung her around. They were both laughing when he sat her down on her feet, and she wanted so much to rush home and have all-night sex with Axel before he changed his mind about…about whatever they were feeling for each other. It was much too soon, she thought that they should be making marriage plans, but she found she didn’t care. It was perfect for the two of them.

They walked around the area for another hour. It wasn’t that there was anyone out that would talk to them but they did enjoy the privacy of it all, her especially. There were times when she thought that too many people were up in the business of people that they had no right to. She wanted her life to be hers and not plastered all over the place on social media, not that she had any accounts, but it was their business what they did, and she wished more people would realize that.

On the way back to the car, he said that he was going to take her straight home. She was sorely disappointed but didn’t say anything. She had a feeling that he’d been thinking about what she’d said to him, and he was beginning to have second thoughts.

“I don’t know what’s going on in your head right now, but it’s not terrible. Or as terrible as you seem to be making it out to be. I’m taking you home because I’ve only just realized that I only have a twin bed at the condo as my mattress is being cleaned.” She asked him if he was serious. “I am. Had you asked me a month ago if it was possible, I would have said no. But now that I know, even my brothers are having their mattresses cleaned up. It’s supposed to lengthen the life of the mattress and to help with allergens.”

“I need a new mattress. I’ve been saying that for five years, but I just haven’t done it. I’m worried that once I get it home, then it’s going to be my bed for the next five years or so. Even if it’s lumpy.” He told her that he had the same problem, and that was why he had his cleaned. “I’ll keep that in mind when I finally have time to look for one. I’d like to say that I do buy pillows but I don’t do well with that either. Right now, I have about a half dozen pillows on my bed because whenever I buy one, it’s not right. Even if I buy the same brand that I love sleeping on, it’s not right.”

“Next time I’m in town, we’ll have to go to the store to look for one for us both. I’m in the same boat as you. The issue that I have is my cleaning lady. When she changes the sheets, she doesn’t know which one I sleep on, and it’ll take me to get her to return sometimes to find the one I love. I think that I’d be better off just having some random person picking out those things for me and tell me I have to live with it. It might save me a bundle.”

They talked about anything and everything while they were driving back to her house. Once there, she couldn’t believe how late it was and used her key to get in so as not to wake her parents. As soon as he kissed her goodnight, a long and drawn-out wonderful kiss, she slipped inside so they’d not be tempted to have sex on the front lawn.

Once she was inside, she leaned back against the door and smiled. It was perfect this night. And she couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see if it was just a fluke or did they really love each other. Resolved to not bring it up first, she was nearly to the stairs when her dad said her name from the living room.

“You didn’t have to wait up for me, Dad? I had my key.” He said that he’d had to take a call and decided that he couldn’t go to sleep right away. “Something wrong? I know that usually the service only puts through important calls when you guys go to bed.”

“Your grandma Booth is coming to town. She should be here in a few days.” All she could think about was if she had enough time to move out and into her own place. “I’m hoping that with you here, she’ll keep herself out of my business and into yours. You have no trouble telling her to mind her own business.”

“I don’t. And I’d be glad to. Why is she coming here? I’m assuming that she wants to stay here when she arrives.” He said that she was going to stay with them. She’d made that perfectly clear. “I can’t believe that you’re related to her dad. The two of you are so different. You must take after Grandpa Booth more than her.”

“I did, as a matter of fact. My dad used to tell me that it was easier to give in to her demands rather than fight with her. But he wished that he’d been less of a beaten man as he got older and realized what sort of person she was. Your mom seems to think that she nagged your grandpa to death, and that was why he died young. That’s why I taught you to be as outspoken as you need to be around her.” She told him that she didn’t want her in her business either but wouldn’t allow her to take over. “Good. If you’d not mind telling the Hathaway’s that as well, I’d appreciate it. I don’t want them changing themselves just because Hanna happens to be my mother. I don’t much care for her myself.”

“What time is she supposed to arrive? I was thinking that we should have Charles over with his family. I know how much she just loves children.” They both laughed, and Dad told her that she was to arrive around five tomorrow evening. “Good. We’ll have the Hathaways over and Charles and Milly and have a grand old time. Did she say why she was coming around now?”

“No, she didn’t. But I have a feeling that it has to do with money. The very fact that my dad put her on a budget makes me think she wants to up her allowance.” She asked him if he would. “No. I will follow my dad’s instructions no matter how much she bitches about it.”

“Good for you, Dad. I won’t allow her to talk to Mom the way she used to, either. Mom won’t say anything, but as you pointed out, I don’t have that issue.” He kissed her on the cheek, and he stared at her for a moment too long for her comfort. “What? Do I have food on my face?”

“No, nothing like that, but you do smell of Axel. He wears that old cologne that I think my dad used. Old Spice, I think. Can I assume that the date went well? Will you be seeing more of him?” She nodded and couldn’t help the smile that she could feel all over her face. “Good for the two of you. I’m so happy for you both. You both need each other. And I think that he’d make a good man for you to depend on as well.”

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tell you how I feel about him. I was afraid that you’d make fun of me or something. But I’ve fallen in love with him. I think. I’ve never felt this way before.” He told her that love and being in love looked good on her. “Thanks, Dad. But the real test will be tomorrow when he meets Grandmother. I just noticed that I have called her that all my life. Grandpa was Grandpa. But she was nothing more than Grandmother my whole life. That’s very telling if you were to ask me.”

She called Axel on her way up to her room. Warning him first that she was coming to town but also what sort of grandmother she was as well as asking him if he thought his entire family would come over for dinner tomorrow evening.

“I’ll ask. I don’t see any reason that my parents won’t come, but I’ll have to see if my brothers are busy. They haven’t found anyone to love like I have.” She giggled and felt embarrassed by it. “You’re so lovely. I can’t wait to see you again tomorrow. But if I’m going to make court at seven in the morning, I need to get my sleep. I love you, Mac. Very much.”

“And I love you.” When she put her phone on the charger, she laughed when she saw what came up. It was a cartoon bear blowing kisses at her. Getting into bed after changing, she figured that she was about as ready as she’d ever be for her grandmother, the old bitch.

~*~

It wasn’t like he was meeting the family for the first time. The only person that Axel didn’t know was Charles, but they immediately bonded when he was handed his little boy. Little Chuck, as he was called, didn’t scream and yell at him like most kids did that he’d been around. He thought that it was because he was so big. But so was Charles. Plus, he could see some of Mac in his face, too. When he touched his hand to his cheek, he laughed like he’d found something funny about him.

“Have you met Dragon Lady?” He laughed, asking him if he meant his grandmother. “I do. She’s forever picking fights with everyone so that she can be the poor victim. Milly can’t stand her, and since we first met, she has kept her mouth shut when it comes to her. I tell her all the time to tell her off, but she is afraid that Mom and Dad will hold something against her. I think most of the time, they love her more than me.”

“My grandma was wonderful. She passed away right after Stamos was born, and he didn’t get to see her as we all did. But she would come by the house and pick out a couple of us to have an adventure with her. We never were jealous of the others that got to go. She made those kind of dates with us all the time. I learned how to order from her and also how to be a romantic. Believe it or not, she had me reading romance books when I was in second grade, and Mary, I don’t remember her last name, punched me in the face when I laughed at her. I can’t even remember—she caught a softball bare-handed. That’s what it was. She was crying because it hurt so much.”

“My grandma on my mom’s side was wonderful, too. She lived on a farm that had all sorts of animals that city children never get to be around. I know how to milk a cow and feed the hogs, as she said it. Plus, I can drive a tractor.” He laughed and said that it’s not at all like driving a mower like people think. “She’s been gone for a while now. And I find I’m sad that my children won’t get to be around her and the farm.”

“That’s something that I’ve never thought about.” He glanced over at Mac before looking at her brother. “I’m in love with your sister. I want you to know that.”

“It’s as apparent as the nose on your face. So if you’re thinking of keeping it a secret, the cat is out of the bag.” Again, they both laughed, and that was when the front doorbell rang. Ms. Booth wasn’t going to arrive for another hour or so, but Mac told him not to be too surprised if she showed up earlier.

“She might well be holed up in a hotel close by so that she can gather the most dirt—or what she thinks of as dirt on us to be prepared to do battle.” After seeing it was his brothers, all of them coming at the same time, he told Charles what Mac had told him.

“Battle? Yeah, I can see that. My wife will be close to me when she gets here and won’t leave my side unless she has to. Mom will go to the kitchen to get away from her first thing. Dad will greet her but he’ll not extend her any wishes. Not even if it’s Christmas, a holiday that she hates, by the way. Let me see…the staff will wander in but won’t serve her if she spouts off to them. After bringing it up to my parents a few times, she leaves them alone because Mom and Dad won’t do anything to their staff for having the same opinion of her that they do. I think Mom would feel better if she were to just let all her hatred go about her, but she’s a good person no matter what Grandmother does to her.” He asked if he knew why she was coming. “Dad thinks money. So does Mom. Mac thinks it’s because she’s looking for us to invite her to stay with us. Last I heard, Grandmother was on an allowance, and it doesn’t go all that far for the life that she leads. A very out-of-touch life with the way her money is gone in no time.”

“That’s very sad on her part, don’t you think?” Charles said it wasn’t to him as he was finished with her. “I’m glad to hear that. My parents have been warned not to take any shit from her either.”

The doorbell rang again and that was when he noticed that there was a butler. Usually, when he’d come by, the Booths, one or both of them, would answer it. Today, he noticed that things were a little more formal, and he decided that he wasn’t going to hold back if the woman gave him any shit.

Almost as if he’d orchestrated it, Milly came to stand between him and Charles. And Dani went to the kitchen. Or he supposed someplace in the back of the house. Something else occurred to him, too. They were having a cookout. Steaks, chicken, burgers and hot dogs. The table was set with festive paper plates with large bowls of potato salad and other sides. He was happy to see that there were steak knives as well. He thought this was part of the plan as well.

“What are all these people doing here, Charles? You know how I hate to come and visit you, and you have strangers all around.” He told his mother that they weren’t strangers to him, and she glared at him. “You know what I’m talking about. Tell them that we have important matters to attend to, and I won’t have things said in front of them.”

“Grandmother. Not that I care, really, but who let you out from under your rock? And no, we’re not uninviting our friends over. Get over it.” Mac, true to her word about her grandmother, looked at him with a wink. “Also, I want you to meet the man that I plan on marrying someday. He’s an attorney. I know how much you detest that occupation.”

“I’ve never known one of them to be honest. And you can bet that by the time I’m ready to leave, I’ll have all the dirt on him, too. Even his family.” Mac told her that they were all there if she wanted to tangle with them. “I don’t like how you’re speaking to me. Are you showing off to that supposed man of yours? It would be just like you to be a smart aleck when there are new people around.”

“Really? You two are going to get married?” His brothers all wanted to give Mac a welcoming kiss. “This is awesome. I can’t wait. Are you going to have kids right away? I want to be the best uncle if you do.”

“There will be no children of that union, or I’ll have something to say about that.” Mac told her that she didn’t care what she had to say. It was her body and her life. “We’ll see about that. You there, you’re his parents, I’m assuming? Why would you allow this to happen? She’s already been jilted once at the altar. Do you have one bit of sense when it comes to what that will entail if they do ever marry? Damn it all, I’ll have no trouble knocking some sense into you two as well.”

“Did you have anything to do with that? I don’t know why I think that but it only just occurred to me.” She told him that, sadly, she’d not, but he’d done it all by himself. “But I’ve no doubt that you would have.” He stood up, making sure that he towered over the elderly woman. “My name is Axel Hathaway. Yes, those are my parents and I would suggest that you take care when addressing them. Anyone of us will take you to task if you don’t respect them when speaking to them.”

“Who do you think you are talking to me that way?” He reminded her that he’d only just told her his name, then asked if she was having memory issues. “I do not. I remember everything. You’d do well to remember that in the future, young man. If there is one for you here. How did you meet her anyway? Why wasn’t I informed about this supposed wedding?”

“Because you’re not going to be invited for one thing. Secondly, I’m sure you understand that since no one here likes you that we don’t care all that much for your opinion. Even if it was going to be nice.” Axel eyed her shrewdly. “You talk to my parents like that again, and there will be no hole deep enough for you to hide in. You’ll pay them the respect that they deserve, or you’ll not speak to them at all. Do I make myself clear?”

His brothers all stood up and circled the old bitty. When she screamed that they were hurting her, he noticed that not one person stood up to defend her. If there had been a reason. She was a bully, and he didn’t tolerate them any more than he would her. She wasn’t worth it.

Dinner was called, and he was happy when Mac came to stand in line with him. They’d been asked their preference for dinner meat, and was happy that his steak was perfectly cooked. Mac had a chicken breast that was covered in sauce, and he decided that he would get himself a couple of bites to see if it tasted as good as it looked.

Hanna Booth didn’t join them but sat in the living room by herself. From the living room, Charlie asked if she wanted her plate brought to her. He had a hot dog with her name on it, and she didn’t bother answering her. When Dani looked at him, Axel could tell that she’d been crying.

“I’m sorry, Dani. I am.” She said she wasn’t upset but still laughing about what he’d said to her about his parents. “You need to say a few things like that as well. It might make you feel better about her coming to visit. As in, she won’t come here to visit if she knows that she doesn’t bother you anymore.”

“You’ve given me such strength that I do believe that I can do that.” She looked in the living room and then back at him. “You will have children with my daughter, won’t you? I’d so love to have a little one or two running around.”

“That will be up to Mac. Like she said, it’s her body and her rules. I’m so glad that everyone isn’t thinking that we’ve not known one another long enough to be talking about that but I do love her with all my heart.” He handed her a small box that he’d picked up today before coming here. “What do you think? Do you think she’ll like it? If not, I can get her something else, but it reminded me of her in some way.”

“Oh, she’ll love it. Are you going to do it today?” Axel told her that as soon as everyone was seated to eat, he was going to pop the question to her. “Good for you. That’ll make the old goat pissed off more than anything. Oh, did you see that Chuck is avoiding her. I don’t know what happened between the two of them but when she was here last, him being just a little baby, he would scream every time she came near him. I think she pinched him or something.”

“She’ll never do that again. Not so long as I’m around.” When everyone was seated, he looked at Dani and kissed her on the cheek. Then, standing up, he turned to Mac. She looked a little confused until he got down on one knee. “Mackenize Booth, will you be my wife. Be my life. I love you so much now that it’s hard to imagine my life without you being at my side. Or even in our bed in the morning.”

“Yes. But I didn’t think we were that far yet.” He kissed her, and she laughed. “Well, I guess we are. Yes, I’ll marry you, Axel Hathaway.”

“What’s going on in here? Get up off the floor, you moron. What do you think you’re doing?” Axel told the old woman that he’d just proposed to Mac. “What a ridiculous name for a woman. And you’ll take that back right now, you hear me? I told you, you’ll not be getting married unless it’s over my dead body. I told you to get up, and I’m not kidding around right now.”

He stood up and looked at Ms. Booth. “I’m not taking anything back, and I plan on marrying Mac as soon as it can be arranged. If she wants, we’ll have fifty kids, too. I have a nice big house that we can fill up over and over again.” She put her hand over her heart and Axel couldn’t hold back on his next question. “Is this the part where it’s over your dead body now?”

“Why the nerve of you. I came here to talk business with my son and you idiots are making it difficult. So there will be no lingering after that stupid meal. Once you’re finished, I expect each of you to leave here to let me get to my business.” When Dani stood up, she looked about as nervous as he’d been when proposing to Mac. “What do you think you’re going to say to me. The only thing that I will allow you to open your mouth for will be to tell me that you’ve finally come to your senses and are leaving—”

“Get out.” Hanna asked her what she’d said. “I said to get out. Get out of my house right now before I call the police. You’ve had your say about everything that didn’t concern you. Now you’re to get out of here before I toss you out on that fat ass of yours.” She seemed to be gaining strength when Charlie put his hand over hers and laced his fingers with them. “You’ve been nothing but a royal pain in the backside since I married Charlie. Well, I’ve had enough. You’ll no longer be welcome here for as long as this is my home with Charlie, nor will we seek out your opinions when it’s none of your business. Get out now.”

“I want to talk to my son, you harpy.” Dani laughed and then told her that she wasn’t getting any more money from them. Ms. Booth looked at her son. “What do you think your father would say if he were to hear the way everyone is speaking to me?”

“What would Dad say? He’d probably laugh at you and then tell me it’s about time that I’ve gotten some balls.” The hand to the heart again. “Yes, that’s what I said, gotten some balls. And I do believe that my wife, my wonderful wife, told you to get out.” Without looking at him, Charlie spoke to him. “Axel, if you’d not mind calling the police, I’d appreciate it.”

“I’ll take care of this, Charlie. I’m a cop. I’ll gladly walk her out of your home.” Penrod stood up and drew his gun out from under his shirt. “We can do this the easy way or the hard one—I’m hoping for the hard way—so you’d best be getting out of here before I take you in for simply being a fucking bitch.” She left on her own two feet, telling them all that she’d be back.

When she was out the door on her own, everyone in the house, including the staff, laughed. It was a good laugh, too. However, he had a feeling this wasn’t the last time they’d tangle with Hanna Booth. She was stupid, and stupid people didn’t give up so easily.