Sweet Fortune

held a large box of tissues. He did not like the look of it. “No, thanks. I haven't got much time, Glenna.”
    “Yes, of course. You're such a busy man. Just like Vincent.” She gave him a knowing, superior sort of smile and sat down behind her desk. She folded her hands primly in front of her on the surface of the polished wood. “This is going to be a little difficult to start, Hatch. Please bear with me.”
    Hatch made a bid for patience. He could see the woman was not having an easy time with this. “Suppose you start with Jessie.”
    “Yes. Jessie.” Glenna paused, looking past him toward a subtle pastel print that hung on the wall. “I am extremely fond of her, Hatch. I have known her since she was born.”
    “I'm aware of that.”
    “She has always had a difficult niche to fill in our rather unusual extended family. That has come about primarily because, although she has frequently quarreled with her father, she is the only one who can really deal with him on a consistent basis. He is an extremely difficult man. Do you understand what I'm saying?”
    “Sure. She's willing to tackle him when no one else has got the guts to do it. The others have come to depend on her to intercede on their behalf when they want something from Benedict. She does it because she's very loyal to the rest of you and to Vincent. Real simple.”
    Glenna sighed. “That's putting it a bit crudely, but essentially you're correct. That's how it works. Vincent Benedict likes to maintain a strong sense of control. He does it in this family by holding all the purse strings.”
    “The interesting part,” Hatch said meaningfully, “is that Jessie never asks Vincent for anything for herself, does she?”
    “That's where you're wrong. She got into her present role in the first place precisely because she was seeking something from Vincent. As a young girl she wanted her father's attention and love. God knows, Vincent has never given much of himself emotionally to others. He was a distant, rather remote figure all during Jessie's childhood. So she adopted a role that gave her a way to force him to pay attention to her. In all fairness, it was about the only role available to her.”
    “So Jessie sets herself up as everyone else's champion in order to get his attention?” Hatch eyed Glenna curiously.
    “Yes. She's been doing it so long, it's grown into a pattern of behavior for her. One she does not know how to break.”
    “The end result is that she's held the whole bunch of you together in some sort of family. What's the point of this little chat, Glenna?”
    “I'm trying to explain how and why Jessie got herself trapped in this difficult, anxiety-producing relationship with her father.” Glenna hesitated. “And the reason I'm spelling it out is that, as convenient as it would be for everyone concerned, the last thing she needs is another, similar relationship with a husband.”
    Hatch finally understood. He fought down a surge of raw anger. “You're talking about me, I assume?”
    “Yes, I'm afraid so. In all good conscience, I must tell you it would be very unfair to push her into marriage with you. And she's so accustomed to going to bat for the rest of the family that she's liable to let us do just that. In the end she might very well ruin her own life to try to please the family.”
    “Tell me something, Glenna, just what kind of husband do you think Jessie needs?”
    “What she needs and wants is someone who is the exact opposite of her father. A gentle, supportive, nurturing man who is capable of love and friendship. A man who will be family-oriented, not one who will be focused entirely on his work. I am sorry to have to say this, Hatch, but the truth is, you would be very wrong for her. With you she would be repeating the destructive pattern she has established with her father. I'm asking you to think about that before you push Jessie into a permanent relationship. If you care for her at all, you will let her go.”
    “Let go of Jessie? Don't hold your breath.” The cold rage was simmering in his gut now. It was all Hatch could do not to pick up the nearest object and hurl it against the wall. He managed to maintain his outward calm, however, as he started for the door. “I've got news for you, Dr. Ringstead. You may have a Ph.D. but you don't know what the hell you're talking about. I'll make Jessie a damned good husband.”
    He got out of the office without slamming any doors, but it was a close