Free A Perfect Forever (Leap of Love Series, Book 1) by Paige Powers Page A

way that we may be of assistance in your situation."
    "I am not against that, Mrs. Sharp. I am staying at the Beacon Hotel. Alfred, I am sure that you will be able to find me once you figure out what you would like to do next."
    Alfred stood up, pulling the chair out for his mother.
    "I will be in touch, Mr. Smith."
    Jonathan nodded. "I look forward to it."
     
    *
     
    Jonathan watched as Mrs. Sharp and Alfred walked out of the tea room. He sat at the table drumming his fingers on the table.
    "So what exactly are you doing?"
    Jonathan turned around toward the voice.
    "Ben. To what do I owe this visit? Do you frequent the tea room often?"
    "Not at all. I was passing by, and I happened to see you in here talking with Mrs. Sharp and Alfred Sharp. What was that all about?"
    "I think you have done your job. I hired you to locate my sister and you have done that."
    "True. But you have not done what we agreed. We agreed that you would not go and introduce yourself to her without my backing. And I know that we did not discuss any meetings with the Sharps, but at some point that should have seemed a bit out of line."
    "Look Ben. I came all of the way across the country, and I did not want to lose momentum. Waiting on you to accompany me? I am my own man."
    When Ben took a seat, Jonathan was not sure exactly why. Jonathan was ready to go.
    "Mr. Smith. I am just trying to do my job. As a Pinkerton, working with me, you have the benefit of having the law behind you. We just don't need you to get yourself wrapped up in anything unnecessary when we could work together as a team to get what you need. That's all I'm saying."
    The words he spoke seemed to fall on deaf ears. Jonathan stood up from his chair.
    "I appreciate all of the work you have done for me, Mr. Abbott, really I do. I think I have to finish this on my own."
    The expression on Ben's face showed confusion and disagreement. Jonathan knew that Ben would have more to say.
    Ben just shook his head.
    "At least let me buy you a drink, Mr. Abbott."
    "So be it, Mr. Smith. I don't agree with your tactics, but I can say that I will have no problem having a drink with you."

 

Chapter 8
     
    Amelia could not figure out if it was anger or frustration or just plain exasperation she felt. The audacity of a man to waltz into her life, making claims and demanding things.
    She ran the scenario over and over in her mind. Her father had been in love with another woman and left that woman while she was pregnant, unbeknownst to him. The woman then, in all of her martyrdom, runs away, births a child, and comes back to Boston to raise the child with the help of her parents. And she decides not to let her father, who was supposedly the love of her life, know that she was pregnant and living only a few miles away.
    It just did not make sense. If she had been in love with William Smith – the wealthy, esteemed William Smith – she would have told him that she was with child and expected him to take care of the child at all costs. Amelia did not know a woman who would be willing to suffer and live in dire straits at the expense of her pride.
    It was not smart. It was not the type of thing that would make her the better woman. It was the type of decision that would leave her with nothing. And besides that, Amelia could not figure out what the purpose was of telling her son at this point in his life that the story he had been told of his parentage was not true. What was she going to gain? Why would she not share this with him when the man that she claimed was his father was alive?
    Maybe she knew that William Smith would laugh her right out of his front parlor. Maybe she had never been courted by William Smith and had made the entire story up. Lesser women had done worse.
    Or maybe she was dying and could not go to the grave with the secret. It was possible that the secret she held her entire life had been eating her alive. Whatever the case may be, Amelia could not figure out why Jonathan Montgomery