If you missed Part One, you can read it here. If you missed Part Two, you can read it here.
After Carson went to work the next morning, Valerie realized she still didn’t know what he did for a living. She laughed, remembering their long talk the night before. They had discussed nearly everything else it seemed. Work just hadn’t come up. She shrugged inwardly. Work didn’t matter anymore for her. Dad had made it clear that if he bought back her properties from her, there was no changing her mind. He did not want more properties to manage now, but a friend of his would buy them all as a favor.
Valerie’s mind wandered to Ned. He had only wanted to marry her because of her properties. Carson didn’t even know she had one house of her own, but he wanted to marry her. There was no way she was going to hang on to the houses. Real love in a small cottage was all she needed. All she wanted. She smiled at the rose on the table. Then, the quiet of her cottage was shattered by a knock on the door. Maybe Carson was back already. She opened the door, and her jaw dropped. “Dad? What are you doing here?”
~~~~~
Carson stepped into the office, his jaw tight.
“Good morning, son. Did you get my email?” Sam looked up from his desk with a serious look on his face. He wasn’t wasting time with small talk.
“Yes, I did.” Carson hesitated only slightly. “I understand that you are getting ready to acquire ten more properties. I know that could significantly impact my monthly percentage if I buy in. But I don’t want a marriage based on the money I make. I found a girl who is perfectly happy to marry me with nothing but a rented cottage. She doesn’t even know what I do for a living. Real love in a small cottage is all I need. All I want.”
Sam glanced down at his desk, then met his son’s eyes. “I see.” He looked out the window, but not before Carson saw moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes. “I met your mom before I even had one cottage. We were so happy in the little basement apartment. You remember it?” His eyes swung back to Carson’s.
“Yeah.” Carson’s voice was soft. “I loved the little garden in the back. Mom taught me how to plant roses and care for them. She told me about Jesus in that little garden.”
Sam’s head sank into his hands. “Man, I miss her.”
Now moisture gathered in Carson’s eyes. His mother had passed away from cancer two years before. He had wandered around their large home for about a month before the memories overwhelmed him, making him decide to move into his dad’s cottage to escape.
“She’d be proud of you, son. Money never meant anything to her. Oh, she was grateful for all I provided for her. But she’d always say, ‘All I need is Jesus. And He has given me you and Carson. That is all I need.’”
“So, you’re not upset at me?”
“No, son. I have always wanted you to follow your own path. What God wants for your life. I know you’ve been spending your days volunteering at the museum gardens. It’s your passion. If you decide to go into a gardening business for yourself, you know I have more than enough work for you at my hotels.”
Carson grabbed his dad in a hug. “Thank you for understanding, Dad. Would you…like to meet Valerie sometime?”
“Valerie, huh? Of course I’d like to meet her. But first, can you do me one more favor before I take you off our business agreement and write the check for your portion?”
“Sure, Dad. I’m happy to help one more day.”
“Great. I have a friend coming by to sign papers on the ten properties I’m buying from him. You know I have come to rely on your input. If you can just stay for that meeting, I’d appreciate it. You don’t have to tell him you’re not staying with me.”
“That’s fine. What time?” Carson couldn’t wait to get home to tell Valerie the rest of the story. He now knew he could trust her love enough to tell her everything.
“Well, he should be here in about ten minutes. Grab you a cup of coffee and meet me back here in five.”
~~~~~
Valerie was a little nervous despite the peace she felt about her decision. She hadn’t expected her dad to agree without an argument. He looked a bit sad, but he said he was happy she had found someone who loved her regardless of her money. By the time they got into her dad’s car to drive to Sam Lowell’s office, she just couldn’t wait to get it over with and go home to talk to Carson. Now she knew she could trust his love enough to tell him everything.
Her dad’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “You sure you want to do this? Is this guy really worth it?”
Valerie looked over at her dad in the driver’s seat. She could see the twinkle in his eye.
“Yes, Dad. I can’t wait for you to meet him. He’s…wonderful.”
“I know, Val. I had that once.” He looked into her eyes with understanding before turning back to the road ahead. Valerie didn’t remember her mother who had been killed in a car accident when she was just a baby. Somehow Valerie hadn’t even suffered a scratch in the accident.
For her whole life as she remembered it, it had been just her and her dad. She didn’t know a day without her dad’s office. Valerie had played on his office floor with toys until she went to school. Then, she would spend evenings helping her dad look at houses, attend meetings, and meet with bankers or potential renters. He had never apologized for bringing a kid with him. And no one had dared question the man who was easily one of the best customers.
“I wish you could have known her. You look so much like her. Of course, you act more like me. But I guess that comes from being my constant companion for the last two decades.”
They laughed.
As they pulled into the parking lot, Tom added, “Now your mom would rather spend time with her roses than visit houses and banks. We lived in an upstairs apartment when we first got married. I rented out the basement to my friend, Sam. His wife liked roses, too, so Sam and I put roses out back for them to tend together. When your mom died, I decided I needed a change. I took you and moved to our first house. When Sam decided to buy out my half of the house, he had his first house. Sadly, his wife died from cancer two years ago.”
“Wow, I didn’t know you knew Sam Lowell that long. I thought you and Sam had only done business together recently.”
Her dad opened her door and nodded. “That’s right. We didn’t really need each other that much. He soon went on to invest in hotels, and I still like to invest in houses. But he does have a few small cottages in the country, so he’s the first one I asked when you wanted to rent something outside of the properties we own. I guess it wasn’t as isolated as he told me.”
Valerie smiled. “Oh, it’s isolated all right. Except for one neighbor.” Suddenly, her hand went to her mouth. “Dad! I don’t even know Carson’s last name. I don’t even know what my last name is going to be!”
She somehow expected her dad to look at least as shocked as she was with the realization. But they were at Sam’s office door, so she had no more time to ponder that fact.
Thank you for reading Part Three. Part Four, the final installment, will be published next week.
Can’t wait to read more!