Sweet Fortune

sometimes even that's not enough.”
    “It's worked for the most part, though, hasn't it, Jessie? You have the real power in this family. He's made you his sole heir. We all go through you when we want something from Vincent. To keep and consolidate that power, all you have to do is marry the consort Vincent has handpicked for you. I should have realized all along that you were maneuvering toward your own goal.” Glenna started for the door.
    “Aunt Glenna, wait. I don't understand what this is all about. Why are you so upset about my marrying Hatch? This way the company stays in the family and has a chance to go big, just as you and the moms have always wanted.”
    “Don't be ridiculous. I am not upset.”
    “Yes, you are. I can feel it.” Jessie jumped to her feet behind the desk.
    “I simply want you to analyze your own motives in this.”
    “I am marrying Hatch because I love him.”
    “Nonsense. Don't be so bloody trite, Jessie. No one marries for love. That's just a label we slap on other, more fundamental drives: power, money, control, security, sex, family pressure. Those are the real reasons people marry. Do yourself a favor and decide which of them are the reasons you're engaged to Sam Hatchard.”
    “ I love him .”
    “Really?” Glenna was amused in a distant sort of way. “And does he love you?”
    Jessie went still. “I think so. Yes. Of course he does.”
    “Has he told you he loves you?”
    Jessie lifted her chin. “That's a very personal question, Aunt Glenna. I don't have to answer it.”
    “No, you don't. Not to me, at any rate. A word of advice, Jessie. Be very cautious if Sam Hatchard ever does tell you he loves you because a man like that will do whatever he has to do, say whatever he has to say, crush whomever he has to crush, in order to get what he wants. And he wants Benedict Fasteners. Even if he has to use you to get it.”
    “Dammit, that's not true.”
    “Unfortunately for all of us, Vincent has made it true. No one can stop you from marrying Sam Hatchard, Jessie. But I wonder how long you can spin out your fantasies. How long will you be able to convince yourself that Hatchard would have married you if Benedict Fasteners hadn't been your dowry?”
    “Aunt Glenna, that's unfair.”
    “I'm sorry, Jessie. I'm a doctor, not a fortune-teller who looks into a crystal ball and tells people what they want to hear the way your Mrs. Valentine does. I'm trained to understand and assess people's motives, even if they choose to lie to themselves or others about them.”
    Glenna went out the door and closed it very gently behind her.
    “Hold it right there, Aunt Glenna.” Jessie darted around the end of the desk and threw open the door. She flew to the staircase railing and leaned over to call after her aunt. “What's your motive in all this? Why are you so damned angry at the way things are turning out?”
    “I never wanted things to turn out this way.” Glenna did not look up as she descended the stairs.
    “Why not? You wanted Benedict Fasteners to stay in the family. You've said so.”
    Glenna stopped on the bottom stair and swung around. For the first time her face lost its controlled, aloof expression. Anger blazed for an instant in her eyes and her mouth was pinched with rage. “Yes, I want Benedict Fasteners to stay in the family. Of course I do. The future potential of the firm is enormous. But it should have gone to the rightful heir, not to you .”
    “The rightful heir?” Jessie instinctively stepped back from the rail, appalled by the fury in her normally self-contained aunt. “Whom are you talking about?”
    “I'm talking about David, damn you. David should have inherited Benedict Fasteners. Vincent owed me that much .”
    Glenna whirled and strode quickly out the downstairs door. The glass in it trembled as she slammed it shut behind her.

    Jessie finally tracked her mother down in a stylish water-front condominium where Lilian was supervising a bevy of craftspeople.
    “No, no, I do not want the track lighting extended into the sitting area. The small room is supposed to be a library.” Lilian frowned intently over a set of blueprints while the electrician waited patiently. “Did you bring the fixtures for the kitchen?”
    “They're downstairs in the truck,” the man said. “I'll bring them up after I get this damned fancy Erector set installed in the ceiling.”
    “Fine. Remember, I want to approve the kitchen fixtures before they go