Martha Kennerson - Protecting the Heiress

“Oh no, you don’t.” Robert sat in the seat vacated by Constance. “What were you trying to avoid with your mother?”

Meeks sighed and moved to stand in front of his window. He stared out at the Houston city skyline for several moments before he responded. “My mother thinks I should talk to Francine about these unresolved feelings she believes we have for each other. It doesn’t seem to matter that we want different things.”

“Let me guess, you don’t think you have unresolved feelings for each other,” Robert said in a sarcastic tone.

“No, it’s perfectly clear how we feel about each other, and neither one of us thinks it’s necessary to explore them any further.”

Robert tilted his head slightly. “You do know how ridiculous you sound right now, right? How do you know what Francine wants and doesn’t want if you haven’t talked to her about it? According to our mothers, relationships are about compromise...on both sides.”

“I know that,” Meeks said, trying to keep the frustration from edging into his voice. “But when it comes to Francine’s safety, there is no compromise. She seems to want to play superhero these days,” Meeks said with a little more force than he intended.

Thoughts of Francine in the hospital, looking weary and helpless, flashed through his mind. Those images tightened his gut with worry. And now she was putting herself back on the hook, and he knew it was because she was trying to prove a point—to him. He felt himself beginning to lose control, and he needed a moment to bring his emotions back in check.

“Francine is obviously smarter than you’re giving her credit for. Do you think she’d intentionally put herself in danger?”

Meeks turned to face his friend. “Maybe not intentionally,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Remember when she got shot?”

“Do I? I thought you were going to kill everyone in the hospital when they tried to stop you from seeing her.” Robert smirked.

Meeks nodded his head slowly. He couldn’t remember how many laws he broke just driving to the hospital. “I wanted to,” he replied.

“I bet,” Robert said.

Meeks turned back to face the window. “I wasn’t with her that day. I couldn’t protect her. I really don’t know what I would have done if I...if I’d lost her.”

Robert pushed out a breath as he ran his right hand through his hair. “I get that. But no matter how careful we are, there are some things we can’t control, like our feelings.”

Meeks returned to his desk. “I just—”

Robert stood and leveled his sights on his friend. “Just talk to her, man.”

No matter how great the attraction or potential for a future there could be, having a woman...a wife...in constant danger wasn’t an option. Regardless to how hard it was going to be, Meeks knew he had to keep things between him and Francine professional.

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