Free A Ring for Cinderella by Judy Christenberry Page B

girls, Kate and Maggie tried to share what they had with Susan. She wouldn’t take anything from them.”
    “Since then,” Josh continued, “we’ve all tried to help out Susan, but she’s too stubborn and proud. We thought we would be able to pay for Megan’s room and board and had plans to tackle Susan about it this week. Now we can’t even do that.”
    “We’ve even offered her a place to live. She won’t
     accept.” Will shook his head. “All three of Mike O’Connor’s girls are hardheaded.”
    “Why did they just get together eighteen months ago? Susan’s tight-lipped about her past.”
    “Her mother left Mike after about six months. She was one mixed-up lady,” Josh explained. “Never told him about Susan.”
    “Then—men Mike isn’t Megan and Paul’s father?”
    “Nope. And we don’t know who their fathers were.”
    “Fathers?”
    “Megan and Paul don’t have the same father. Susan knows that for sure, but that’s about all she knows. I only found out because I was doing the investigation. Susan doesn’t volunteer much about her life. But I gather it’s been a tough one.”
    Zach frowned. He kept finding much to admire about Susan.
    “If you can find a way to get her out of that hellhole she calls home, we’ll be glad to finance it,” Will added, watching Zach.
    He squared his shoulders. “I don’t need financial help to take care of Susan. But, like you, I’ve not been offered much of a chance.”
    The other two men nodded solemnly, in complete undersrending, which soothed Zach. It was nice to know he had some fellow sufferers.
     
    Susan was surprised at how quickly the three men seemed to have established a friendship. The six
     adults dined in perfect harmony. The children were fed upstairs by the full-time nanny that Kate and Will employed.
    “Your ring is beautiful, by the way,” Kate offered during a lull in the conversation.
    Susan blushed, automatically hiding her hand in her lap. “Thank you.”
    “Don’t you like it?” Maggie asked.
    “Of course I do. It’s just that...that since the marriage isn’t real—”
    “The ceremony was fake?” Will asked, his brows rising.
    “No!” Zach returned emphatically. “The ceremony was legal, performed by our minister.” Then he shrugged. “What’s more, Susan signed a prenuptial agreement that defined the terms of the marriage.”
    Will chuckled, and Susan and Zach stared at him.
    “Sorry. It’s just that Kate and I had an agreement, too. And look what happened to us.”
    “Yeah, I know what you mean,” Josh agreed. Susan was embarrassed at the warm look he shot his wife.
    “What lawyer did you use, Susan?” Kate asked.
    “Lawyer? I didn’t use a lawyer,” she assured her sister. She didn’t understand why Kate even asked that question.
    “Oh, my, you should’ve had representation. Didn’t you know that, Zach?” Kate asked.
    He shrugged his shoulders, but Susan noticed the frown on his forehead. “There wasn’t time.”
    “Then the agreement probably is worthless,” Will assured him. “At least that’s what my lawyer said.”
    Zach stared at Susan. Then he turned back to Will. “I don’t think Susan will break our agreement.”
    “Ah. Well, it’s good that you trust each other,” Will said with a smile. Kate opened her mouth, as if to argue, but Will shook his head at her and introduced a new topic.
    After dinner, Susan and Zach went upstairs and told Paul goodbye, then rushed off to the hospital. They had special visitation privileges, but Gramp would tire if they were too late.
    “Zach,” Susan said after several minutes of silence, “I want you to know that I’ll honor the agreement. If you want me to sign another one, to make it legal, I will, of course.”
    Zach shot a quick glance at her before turning back to the road in front of him. “I doubt that will be necessary. I know you won’t do anything to hurt Crump.”
    “No, of course not. How was he doing today?”
    “Much