Free A Fairytale Bride by Hope Ramsay

now everyone in town thinks I lied because of some nefarious plan you set in motion. Honestly, you need to do some fence mending with some of the Liberty Avenue merchants.”
    Pam continued to look at him as if he’d blown in from Mars. “Why on earth did you drop the Lyndon from your last name?”
    “Because I don’t want anything to do with any of you, my father most of all. And just so we’re clear, I’ve asked my attorney to begin the process of legally changing my name to Jefferson Talbert.”
    “Well, that’s just ridiculous,” she said. “Even if you change your name, you’ll still be family. Don’t let Tom manipulate you, darlin’. We all know your father is a dick.”
    “What?” Her words left him breathless.
    “You heard me. He’s an idiot and a…Well, I’ve already used language I shouldn’t have used, but in Thomas’s case, it fits the bill. Thomas obviously hasn’t said it recently, or maybe ever, but, Jeff, we’re all so very proud of you.”
    Before he could collect himself, Pam stood up. “Wait right there, darlin’. Don’t run away again, please. There’s something you need to hear.”
    She left the room, and he started pacing. Had she even heard what he had to say? He didn’t think so. Damn. He came to rest in front of a big window with old glass that gave a slightly wobbly view of the outside.
    “Jeff?” an oddly familiar masculine voice said from behind him. Was his father here?
    He turned. No. Not Dad. Uncle Mark.
    The senator stood beside one of the comfortable easy chairs, wearing a pair of jeans and a golf shirt. The Senate was obviously not in session today.
    “I’m so glad you came to find us,” he said, resting his hand on the chair back. “Pam says you’ve been staying up at the fishing cabin. That’s probably the last place any of us would have looked for you.” He chuckled, his brown eyes dancing with some kind of merriment that eluded Jeff.
    “What is it you want, Uncle Mark? I’ve already told Aunt—”
    “I want to talk to you. First of all, I want you to know that the entire family was shocked by Tom’s public statements about your story.”
    Jeff said nothing. His life had suddenly become theater of the absurd.
    “I see I’ve surprised you,” Uncle Mark said.
    Jeff shrugged. “I don’t give a flying fart what the family thinks about anything, really. I’m only here because Aunt Pam has gotten the Liberty Avenue merchants in an uproar. And they all think I’m part of some weird plan that she has to take over the real estate downtown. And, really, the only problem here is that I decided to drop the Lyndon from my name. And, you know, I’m not ever going to use that name again.”
    The senator’s shoulders sagged a little. “I understand. And as for your aunt, she can sometimes be like a steamroller. I’ll see what I can do to smooth things over with the merchants. It won’t be the first time.”
    “Thanks. That’s all I want. I’ll be going now.” Jeff turned and headed toward the door, but the senator blocked his way.
    “Son,” Uncle Mark said, “you have every right to be furious with your father. We’re all furious with him. Family comes before politics, and Tom forgot that. So I just want you to think this through. If you want to strike back at your father, then you need to help me kill this nomination.”
    It took a moment for Uncle Mark’s words to make it past Jeff’s anger. “Wait a sec. Are you saying you believe the story I wrote about Joanna Durand?”
    “Of course I do. Durand’s family has a reputation for bending the rules when it comes to oil and gas. And her husband has more lobbying clients than a dog has fleas. I’m sure her husband and brother have been up to no good, and I could use your help in putting the kibosh on this nomination.
    “By the way, I’m saying this, not as your uncle but as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her confirmation hearing is set for this coming Thursday, and I have