Hope Over Fear (Over #1) Read Online Free Page A

completely different—”
    “Oh, it’s always different! Don’t even act like that was your first mishap. You are a woman of many talents, but marrying off your children is not one of them!” Alex teases.
    I can’t help but wonder if Sue Ellen would find me to be a suitable match for her son if she knew I grew up in a house about a tenth of the size of this one. My mother and I are rich in many ways, but money was always tight in my house growing up. My dad was a police officer who died in the line of duty when I was three years old, and my mother tried to save every penny of his pension for me to go to college. Instead of silver spoons and china, it was paper plates and Tupperware. I’m extremely proud of the way I was raised and the work ethic my mother instilled in me. I’m just not sure Sue Ellen would feel the same way.
    “Momma, I’d like to take Sara on a tour of the grounds, if you don’t mind …”
    “Of course, honey, of course. The golf cart is in the garage with the keys inside,” Sue Ellen offers helpfully. “Why don’t you and Sara be ready for dinner about six o’clock? Daddy would like to take us for dinner at the club. How does that sound?”
    “That sounds great, thank you,” Alex answers after glancing at me for approval.
     

     
    Alex and I hop into the golf cart and take off onto the course. “Since I’ve lived in Oakborne Country Club my entire life, I don’t think you’ll find anyone, aside from my father, to give you a more thorough tour.”
    Now, I know jack shit about golf courses, but it must be said that this place looks top notch. The course itself is immaculately groomed, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and tennis courts near the clubhouse. There are other homes on the golf course, all beautiful and imposing, but none as magnificent as Alex’s family home. The valets in front of the clubhouse stand at attention, ready to serve the wealthy clientele of Oakborne.
    When Alex finishes the “official” tour, she drives our cart to the 18 th hole and parks. Right past the putting green is a pond with a beautiful water oak situated right beside it. The tree has sprawling branches dripping with Spanish moss that reach down and touch the ground in several places like nature made benches for us to sit on. I can almost picture a young Alex sitting on the branches—dangling her legs and daydreaming.
    “Take a seat with me?” Alex offers, smiling.
    “Sure thing. What a beautiful spot. I’d love the solitude.”
    “I know what you mean. I’ve come here and spent the day more times than I can count. This was my favorite drawing spot as a child. Some of the most memorable times of my life happened under this oak tree. But I can imagine you’d rather me explain a few things than just enjoy the silence, am I right?”
    “Well, now that you mention it …” After taking it all in this afternoon, I’m bursting with curiosity.
    “My family has owned Oakborne Country Club for three generations. It would be accurate to say that I had a … privileged … upbringing. But with privilege comes responsibility; something that my father reminded me of often. My parents had my life planned out for me from the time I was a little girl. I’m going to lay out the condensed version for you, okay?” Alex inhales a deep breath. “Okay, here goes. I was to attend Riverside Preparatory School, where I would, of course, excel. When I wasn’t studying, I was supposed to spend my free time learning “suitable” hobbies, such as piano, painting, and tennis. After graduating at the top of my class from Riverside Prep, I was to be introduced to society as a Cedar Ridge debutante. I would attend Tulane University—go Green Waves—to earn my degree. It doesn’t really matter what type of degree; what did matter was that I find a “suitable” husband. We would be married at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, a 300-400 guest affair, followed by a month-long honeymoon traveling through