“Lauren.” Edmund’s voice was sharp with disapproval. “That’s quite enough.”
“Kim is content with our relationship the way it is,” Adam said stiffly, refusing to look Lauren in the eye.
Coward, Seth thought. He can’t even be honest with himself.
“That may be what she says.” Lauren shot him a steely look. “I guarantee she wants more from you—”
“Forget about Adam’s social life. Concentrate on your own future.” Edmund’s lips rose in a smug smile. “I have it on good authority that King’s College, a small but well-respected private college in Virginia, will be offering you a position once you have your doctorate.”
“Why, that’s...wonderful,” Lauren stammered.
“A friend is the chancellor there.” Edmund waved a dismissive hand. “I’m certain I don’t need to tell you this is an excellent opportunity.”
“I realize that,” Lauren said. “I appreciate your efforts to get me that offer.”
“Of course you’ll accept.”
“I’ll certainly consider it.”
“Consider?” Her father’s brows pulled together like two dark thunderclouds. “What is there to consider?”
Seth couldn’t believe her father didn’t know. He wasn’t even related to Lauren and he knew how much her crisis work and private counseling meant to her.
“It’s a wonderful offer. I’d have to be crazy to turn it down,” Lauren said, then immediately changed the subject to a recent accolade her father had received.
Seth focused on his food while the three talked. Seeing the distance between Lauren and her father made him realize he’d been lucky. He’d always been free to chart his own course in life. Even when he’d dropped out of school, his dad had been disappointed but understood that was Seth’s decision to make.
“I understand from Adam that you’re a rancher,” Edmund said, finally acknowledging Seth.
“That’s right.”
“Seth graduated at the top of our high school class,” Adam said. “Beat me out for valedictorian.”
Lauren shifted sideways in her seat to face Seth. “You never told me that.”
“Ancient history.” Seth couldn’t believe Adam had even brought up the topic. “Definitely not a big deal.”
“You could have gone far.” For some reason Adam refused to let the subject drop. “Of course you’d have had to leave Sweet River to realize that potential.”
“You didn’t pursue higher education?” From the horror in Edmund’s voice, Seth surmised there could be no greater crime.
“Seth has a degree in biology,” Lauren said before he could answer. “And three years postgrad in a veterinary program.”
Edmund frowned. “Those programs are usually a four-year course of study.”
“They are.” Seth kept his tone matter-of-fact. “I didn’t complete the program.”
“Why not?” Edmund demanded.
“The decision was based on personal issues,” Seth said.
“Seth has a daughter,” Adam volunteered. “She’s seven or eight.”
“Ivy’s seven.” Lauren smiled the way she always did when Ivy’s name came up.
“Ah, you have a child.” Edmund shook his head. “The death knell of most careers.”
“I wouldn’t trade my daughter for any degree.” Seth spoke slowly and deliberately so there could be no mistaking his meaning. “I’m sure you understand.”
“I was older than you are now when Lauren was born.” Edmund sounded affronted that Seth would even compare their situations. “Both Margaret and I were well established in our careers. Even so, Lauren’s birth had an impact.”
Seth opened his mouth to ask Edmund if it was worth it, but shut it without speaking. After listening to Lauren’s father all evening, he wasn’t sure the response he’d get would be a positive one.
“What my father is trying to say is it’s not a choice he’d have made.” Lauren placed her fork on her plate.
“Don’t put words in my mouth, Lauren.”
“I’m only speaking the truth. You’ve told me since I was a little girl that you never wanted me. You said as much tonight.”
“I admit that when your mother found out she was pregnant, I had reservations.” Edmund spoke as if he was discussing a mathematical equation rather than his daughter. “A prudent person considers all options. But we’re proud of you and the direction your life is taking.”
Seth found it interesting that Edmund felt it worth considering all options when faced with an unwanted pregnancy, but not when it came to his daughter’s career preferences.
“Thank goodness she didn’t go the hausfrau route, eh, Edmund?” Adam joked.
“A daughter of mine would never settle for such a pedestrian lifestyle.” Edmund lifted one hand in a dismissive wave. “If she did, she wouldn’t be my daughter.”
Lauren spent the next three days trying to put the dinner with her father out of her mind. Only once during the disastrous evening had Edmund shown any real interest in her, and that was when he’d been extolling the virtues of the position he’d handpicked for her. Otherwise he’d mostly ignored her.
Thank goodness Seth had offered to join them. With the handsome cowboy by her side, her father’s behavior hadn’t hurt as it usually did. Lauren’s only regret was that she hadn’t told Seth how much his support had meant. She’d thought to do it over breakfast, but he’d left early the next morning to attend a cattleman’s convention.
The rancher who was originally supposed to speak had come down with laryngitis and Seth had been asked to fill in. Before he agreed, Seth had asked Lauren if she felt comfortable handling Ivy on her own. She assured him she’d be fine. The little girl had made a quicker-than-expected recovery and was now walking easily on her rocker-boot. It wouldn’t be long until she was independent again. That knowledge made Lauren determined to savor every minute of their remaining time together.
This love of children was something new Lauren had discovered about herself. She’d never thought much about kids. Before her stint as Ivy’s nanny, she’d have said she wasn’t sure she wanted children. Or marriage. But her time with the Anderssen family had profoundly changed her.
Right now, her favorite seven-year-old was in the family room reading while Lauren and Kim Sizemore sat at the kitchen table lingering over cups of tea. Kim’s phone message this morning requesting a counseling session had been as unexpected as Seth’s
