Prodigal Daughter
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 25
Marshall mowed down harvested corn stalks with his Kubota tractor, and it felt good. Every crush and crunch and snap made him feel just a little bit better. Every row he plowed, reminded him of who he was and who he would never be and why he was just fine with that.
The school assessment had gone well. Justin had scored well enough to be placed in the third grade where he should be. The counselor had suggested therapy, though, to smooth the transition, and given that the pediatrician had recommended it as well, Marshall had gone ahead and made an appointment with a family psychologist. They would probably both need to attend.
Logan Tucker walked to Marshall and waved at him.
“What’s wrong? Is Justin okay?”
“He’s fine. Your grandmother and I are taking him into town to get his school supplies. You see that list? It’s got about a hundred things on it. What happened to just pencil and paper and get on with it?”
Marshall reached for his wallet. “Let me give you some money.”
“Nah, we got it.” His grandfather held up his hand. “You know, your grandmother and I are really happy to have Justin in our lives. He’s a joy.”
Feeling that familiar feeling of pride, Marshall shifted. “Yeah, he is.”
“And your grandmother asked the boy to spend the night at our house tonight —like a sleepover.”
Marshall frowned. “What did Justin say?”
“He said he wanted to. Your grandmother is winning the boy’s affection with pie and ice cream. If she keeps feeding him like this, the boy is going to need new clothes.”
Marshall had to laugh at that.
“Hope that’s all right. You know how your grandmother gets when she doesn’t get her way.”
“I’m a little surprised Justin agreed, but sure, that’s fine.”
“So, while we’re all over at the farmhouse, maybe it would be a good time to mend fences with the nanny.”
Marshall stilled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you need to patch things up with her if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life feeling sorry for yourself. I just saw her walking down the fields, talking to herself.”
Leaning over, Marshall swiped a milkweed and worked it between his fingers. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about you being in love with Elise and Elise being in love with you, but both of you walking around with long faces pretending the other doesn’t exist.”
Since Elise had walked away from him, they had been avoiding each other pretty industriously. Marshall was embarrassed. And angry. And disappointed.
“Don’t go there, Gramps. Seriously.”
“Maybe it’s not my business, but when I see my grandson as unhappy as you are, I’m going to make it my business. Have you told Elise how you feel about her? Your grandmother and I think Elise would make a darn good wife for you.”
“I told Elise I loved her and I wanted to marry her and she walked away from me. The thing is, she doesn’t want me. She said I’m a saint and she’s a spoiled bitch. She said I deserve better. She said she can’t marry me because she needs to grow up still.”
Marshall’s grandfather looked thoughtful.
“The girl is smarter than I even gave her credit for. She does have some things she needs to work out, but Paul, her father, is a good man. His wife Mary is an extraordinary woman. They are good role models. She is going to be fine. There’s no reason Elise can’t do some growing right here, with you. Nobody is ever really done growing.”
For a split-second, Marshall felt hope but then growled in frustration. “If she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t want to. What am I supposed to do?”
“I’ll tell you what you don’t have to do— give up on her. Convince her. The girl loves you, Marshall. She’s just got herself mixed up trying to do the right thing.”
His grandfather adjusted the bill on his ball cap.
“You know, you chose the wrong woman with your first wife. You were too young and inexperienced. She wasn’t good for you and your grandmother was very vocal about it. But Elise Olson ... I think you’ll be stupid to let her get away.”
“Excuse me? What am I supposed to do to keep Elise with me? Tie her to the bed?”
A snort flew out of his grandfather’s mouth. “That might work.”
Marshall had to laugh at that.
“Seriously, Gramps, what do you think I should do about Elise?”
“We’ll have Justin tonight. Tell her again that you love her and want her to stay here with you again. And if she tries to walk away again, well ... I can lend you some ropes.”
Maybe his grandfather was right, and he should really go for it with Elise. Convince her that what was important was that they be together because they loved each other.
One last-ditch effort to see if there could be anything between them.
If not —which he was ninety-nine-point-nine-percent sure would be the case—at least he would have gone down fighting for her.
Elise’s relationship with her father had been restored. Her community service hours were done. She had no reason to stay in Middletown.
Marshall went home for the day, and hopped into the shower.
Elise walked into the living room, and called, “Marshall! I’m home!”
Nobody answered.
The door to his bedroom was closed. She knocked. Nothing. Then, she heard the shower.
He was taking a shower. He was naked. And wet. Not a good place for her thoughts to go. They went to an even naughtier place when the water shut off.
She could just step into the bathroom. But then, barging in on a man she had turned down for marriage wasn’t a good move.
It had never been her style in the past. She had usually let the men do the chasing. They chased, she sort of ran, eventually they caught her, then the sex was so-so.
With Marshall, the sex had been phenomenal. Both physically and emotionally satisfying.
The bathroom door opened. Marshall was wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist. Nothing else, but a few water droplets running down his chest. His wet hair was sticking up, and his finger smoothed over it as he came to a sudden stop.
“Oh, sorry. I forgot my clean clothes in the room.” Elise admired Marshall’s body as he walked to his closet.
She crossed her arms over her chest. Stupid traitorous nipples.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Did what?” Marshall’s eyes widened.
“Walking around half-naked.”
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