Behind the Pine Curtain Read Online Free Page A

father was a very powerful man in the county, so yes, gossip and speculation have been spreading like wildfire.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Come on. Let’s get dinner on the table. John will discuss business with you afterward.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    “Sit, please,” Mr. Lawrence instructed, pointing to the leather couch in his study. He moved away, taking two glasses from the bar. “Scotch or brandy?”
    “Brandy, please.”
    He handed her a glass, then joined her on the sofa. Jacqueline sipped her drink quietly as her eyes moved around the room. Legal books lined one entire wall, but the rest was filled with family pictures. She recognized his son and daughter in several along with who she assumed were his grandchildren.

    “I mean this as a compliment, but you’ve changed an awful lot in the last fifteen years, Jacqueline. The tomboy I remember has grown into a beautiful woman.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Do you mind me asking how you managed back then? Of course, if it’s none of my business, just say so.”
    She shrugged. “It was hard at first. Very hard. When I made it to Los Angeles, I worked as a waitress for a year, saving every penny I could.
    Then I started college, taking classes during the day and working nights.” She shrugged again. “I made out okay.”
    “I think your father always hoped you’d contact him, behind your mother’s back. He was beside himself, the first few years when they couldn’t locate you. He blamed her totally. If not for his position in the community, I’m sure he would have divorced her. Over the years, their marriage deteriorated.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. You probably don’t care to hear that.”
    “I don’t really care one way or the other, Mr. Lawrence.”
    “Please, call me John.”
    “Of course.”
    “This may not mean anything to you, but your father was very proud of you.”
    “Proud? I disgraced the family. In fact, he wouldn’t even speak to me the last two weeks I was here. Wouldn’t even look at me.”
    “It was a . . . a shock to him, Jacqueline.”
    “I’m sure it was, especially since he and Mr. Thornton had my marriage all arranged.”

    John laughed before sipping from his drink. “Talk about ironic. Daniel went off to one of those Ivy League schools, pre-law. Next thing his parents knew, he’d moved to New York City and became an actor.”
    “Really? Danny?”
    “Yes.”
    “How’d he do?”
    “Had a couple of shows on Broadway, they tell me. But,” Lawrence shrugged. “He died of AIDS probably ten, twelve years ago now.”
    “AIDS?”
    “Yes. He was gay.”
    Jacqueline stared at him. “Talk about ironic. If not for his death, this would be funny.”
    “The situation, yes. I think, in your mother’s mind, her world was crashing down around her. She sent you away because you were gay and refused to marry Daniel Thornton. And then, a few years later, it’s made known that their chosen son-in-law is gay, too. Trust me, the news that the high school quarterback turned out to be gay was much bigger news than you.”
    She smiled, thinking back to the innocent dates she’d had with Danny.
    She should have known. She’d thought it was just her, but apparently Danny had been just as content to keep their relationship platonic as she was.
    John stood and crossed to his desk, picking up a large folder, which he turned nervously in his hands. “I have something for you. And we have some things to discuss.”

    Jacqueline watched him, eyebrows raised as he opened the folder and took out a small white envelope. Her name was printed neatly on the front.
    “Your father wrote this to you, years ago. As I said, he was proud of the success you’d achieved. And all without his help.”
    He handed the envelope to Jacqueline and she took it, staring at her name for a few seconds before laying the envelope in her lap. She couldn’t possibly imagine what her father had to say to her. An apology, perhaps. Well, she would read it