utterly complete. But he wasn’t going to let it get the best of him. It was well past time to go on the offensive.
“Yeah, I admit I managed to get disrobed by a coat hook. But that’s beside the point. I’m here to let you know that I’ve paid Melissa’s taxes. So you won’t be getting your hands on that building.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news, Jeff. I’m so pleased. I’ve been worried about Melissa. I know it’s hard to let go of that bookstore, but once she realizes she can make money leasing out the space, I know she’ll come around.”
Wait a sec. What the hell was Pam saying? That she didn’t want the building? That she cared about Melissa’s future? “Wait. I’m confused. You don’t want her building?”
“Well, if she wants to sell it, I’m ready to buy it. But I’d rather see her join the rest of the property owners and participate in our downtown restoration project.”
He stood there for a moment trying to figure out which Pam Lyndon was the real one, the woman who had threatened Melissa on Saturday or this sweet Southern lady.
“Sit down, Jeff. Lidia will bring us some tea, and we’ll talk. I can see you’re upset. But, truly, if you’ve paid her taxes, then that’s good news.” Her drawl was suddenly thick as a brick.
“I don’t want any tea or talk, Aunt Pam. What I want is for you to call Melissa Portman and tell her you’re sorry for the way you threatened her. I want you to make it clear that there is no truth to the rumors flying around town that you used me to soften her up so she’d sell out.”
“What? Why are people saying that?”
“I don’t really understand, except that when I introduced myself to her, I dropped the Lyndon from my last name. But 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