Angels Everywhere - Debbie Macomber [228]
“Just a minute,” Mercy said, and rolled up her sleeves. “We can fix that, and while we’re at it, there are ways to deal with men as stubborn as Roberto.”
“What about you and Jenny?” Goodness asked.
Some of Mercy’s brightness dimmed. “I don’t know what we can do about Jenny and Trey.”
Shirley rubbed her chin. “I have an idea. All isn’t lost yet.”
Eighteen
From inside his office Joshua heard the raised voices of the receptionist and an angry man. He stepped into the hallway and heard David Morganstern, Hannah’s father, demanding to see him.
“It’s all right, Julie,” Joshua said, coming forward, “I’ll see Mr. Morganstern.”
David shot the receptionist a look of triumph and straightened the cuffs of his coat sleeves. “I told you Mr. Shadduck would see me.”
“He doesn’t have an appointment,” Julie told Joshua, “and he refused to make one.”
“It’s all right, Julie.”
Joshua escorted David into his office. The older man paused in the doorway and looked around. He didn’t seem overly impressed. “Mighty fancy digs you have here.”
“Thank you.” Giving the impression of nonchalance, Joshua sat down at his desk and invited Hannah’s father to make himself comfortable. “What can I do for you, Mr. Morganstern?”
David sat on the cushion as if he expected it to jump up and bite him at any moment. “I’ve come to ask you a few questions, young man. I recently learned, through no fault of my daughter’s, that you’ve been sneaking around with Hannah. I want you to know I don’t like it one bit.”
Joshua folded his hands on top of the desk and waited.
“I wanted to meet the man face to face who played havoc with my daughter’s life.” It was clear David’s feelings ran strong and fervent. The older gentleman bolted out of the chair and stood directly in front of Joshua’s desk.
Joshua wondered exactly how much David knew about the two of them and feared saying more than he should.
“Your silence tells me everything I need to know,” David said, spitting out the words, revealing his distaste. “I find you to be the most despicable kind of man.”
Joshua didn’t blame Morganstern. His behavior had been less than honorable. He’d never been comfortable meeting Hannah on the sly, kissing her, urging her to continue their relationship while she was engaged to another man. He wasn’t comfortable now, offering excuses.
“How is she?” Joshua couldn’t keep himself from asking.
“How do you think?” David demanded.
“You have my apology,” Joshua said, hoping the other man understood the full extent of his regret.
“What about Carl? Are you willing to apologize to him, too? What about Hannah? My daughter gave you her heart, and it meant nothing to the mighty, powerful attorney. You people seem to think you have the right to disrupt lives. It’s time someone made you accountable for your actions.”
“You want me to apologize to Carl?” Joshua asked, willing to do whatever he could to appease Hannah’s family and make matters easier for her. Personally he thought the less Carl knew about him, the better.
David considered his offer, then shrugged. “No. Carl and our family aren’t exactly on speaking terms.”
Joshua leaned forward slightly, wondering if he’d heard him correctly. “Why aren’t you?”
David sat back down and eyed Joshua suspiciously. “You mean to say you honestly don’t know?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I did.”
“Hannah loves you.”
The confirmation of her feelings should have brought him joy; instead he was filled with a deep, painful sense of loss. “I love her, too.”
“Not in my book,” David fumed. “You leave her to face Carl alone, and when she breaks the engagement, you dump her.”
It was Joshua’s turn to bolt upright. “Hannah broke off the engagement?”
David frowned and nodded. “You mean to say you didn’t know?”
Joshua came out from behind his desk. “No.”
“She defied both her mother and me when we insisted she not see you again. Then less than a half hour after she leaves, she returns, tells us how sorry she is for having upset us, and goes to her bedroom. She hasn’t been herself since. She