Sweet Fortune

everything I've worked to build,” Vincent bellowed. “Do you hear me? I won't let him do it, Jessie. I can't.”
    “Dad, if you want it all—me, the family, and the bright future you see for the company—you're going to have to trust Hatch as if he really were your son.” Jessie walked down the hall toward the front door. She paused before opening it. “By the way, you're invited to our engagement party. Seven-thirty tomorrow evening. I gave Grace the name of the restaurant, just in case.”
    “Don't be expecting me, goddammit. I won't sanction this…this damn engagement.”
    “I only invited family,” Jessie said gently. “So I'm not expecting a big turnout at all.”

    Out on the street Hatch watched with interest as a light green Buick pulled in to the curb and Glenna Ringstead got out. She had her hair in its familiar tight coil and she was wearing her usual formal gray suit and black pumps. She did not immediately see Hatch lounging against the Mercedes fender. It was obvious she was concentrating on her mission to Vincent Benedict's house.
    Hatch wondered how she had known that Vincent was home at this time of day.
    “Hello, Glenna.”
    Glenna whipped around, startled amazement registering on her handsome features. “Hatchard. What are you doing here?”
    “Jessie's inside talking to her father. She'll be out soon. I don't think they've got a lot to say to each other.”
    Glenna's eyes narrowed. “It's true, then? You and Vincent have quarreled and Jessie's running off with you?”
    “Somehow when the bride is twenty-seven and the groom is staring forty in the face, ‘running off’ doesn't seem like quite the right description. That sounds more like two high-school kids eloping.”
    Glenna looked impatient. “But you are going to marry her?”
    “Yes. I'm going to marry her.”
    “And Vincent did fire you?”
    “I was told to clean out my desk and be out of the building within an hour. Didn't even get two weeks' notice, which Jessie tells me is standard. She ought to know.”
    Glenna's eyes brightened with rare satisfaction. “I knew it wouldn't work. I told Vincent all along that he was making a mistake bringing you into the company. He didn't need you to take Benedict Fasteners to the top. All he had to do was train David to follow in his footsteps. Now maybe he'll see reason.”
    Hatch shrugged. “Something tells me David is never going to want the job.”
    “He will. He just needed a little time to grow up and mature. Now that you're out of the picture, it's only logical for Vincent to give my son another chance. He owes David that much, and he knows it. I'm going to tell him so.”
    “I wouldn't count on it, Glenna. David's not cut out for the corporate world. Jessie's right. He'll be much happier in an academic environment.”
    “Jessie doesn't know what she's talking about. How could she? She's had no training in psychology, no advanced degrees of any kind. She can't even hold on to a job, for God's sake. Yet she thinks she knows what's best for everyone. It's about time she got out of the way. Without her around we're all going to be a great deal better off.”
    Hatch raised his brows. “Think so?”
    “I know so.” Glenna turned and strode up the walk.
    The door opened and Jessie emerged from the house just as her aunt started up the steps. Her eyes flickered with surprise.
    “Hi, Aunt Glenna. What are you doing here?”
    “I've come to see your father.”
    “Right. Well, I hope you can make it to the engagement party tomorrow night. Seven-thirty.”
    Glenna nodded stiffly. “I'll be there.”
    “Good.”
    Hatch straightened away from the fender as Jessie came down the steps. He opened the car door for her. “You okay?”
    “Yes.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yes, I'm sure.” She smiled wearily up at him as she slid into the front seat. “It's strange how people box themselves into little corners and won't come out, even though it's in their own best interests to do so, isn't it?”
    “People get into patterns, like you said. Patterns are hard to break.”
    “Aunt Glenna was the one who first pointed out the patterns in people's lives to me.”
    “Speaking of Glenna…” Hatch glanced back toward the house. The front door was just closing. Hatch shut the car door and went around to get behind the wheel.
    “What about Aunt Glenna?” Jessie asked as he turned the key in the ignition.
    “She seems to think she's finally gotten what she's apparently wanted all