Page 65 of Hearts of Wealth

“John was just taking a little breather,” I said.

Marcy cocked her head to the side. “Are you feeling okay, John?”

“I’m fine. Just a little under the weather.”

“John had some heart problems recently,” I said as tactfully as I could. “Dancing isn’t really on the menu for him tonight.”

“Oh my,” Marcy said with concern. “Should you be eating cake?”

“It’s about the only thing besides cardboard that I’ve been allowed to eat,” John replied.

Marcy chuckled. “Oh no, you’re on the low sodium diet?”

“Yes,” John sighed. “I love salt, you know—sprinkled generously over chips, seasoning a juicy steak. Now all I get is tasteless mash and boiled vegetables.”

Marcy gave a sympathetic nod. “You poor thing. My late husband had to go on that diet too after his bypass surgery. He hated it.”

John chuckled lowly, taking another bite of his cake. I couldn’t help but find the whole exchange amusing.

“I know a few tricks to get around that low salt thing,” Marcy said. “You sit tight, hon.”

She got up and disappeared into the house. I looked at John and grinned. “Sounds like someone likes you.”

“Shoot,” John said. “When you get to be my age, you get excited to find someone that can still form sentences and hopefully walk.”

“I have a feeling it’s more than that,” I told him.

Marcy returned with a plate of appetizers. I almost told him not to touch them, but Marcy started talking about how healthy they were.

The two of them got into a conversation about music and how the music at my party was too new for them. I quietly excused myself and left the two of them to talk. John was enjoying himself.

I hoped her caring presence would help lift John’s spirits. I found Catherine talking with Amber. “Did you do that?” I asked her.

“Do what?”

“Your dad and Marcy,” I said. “They seem to be hitting it off.”

Her face lit up. “Good! I just told her that was my dad. I didn’t put her up to anything.”

“She’s doting on him,” I said.

“Maybe it’s just what he needs,” Catherine suggested. “No doctor or nurse, just someone who knows what he’s going through and isn’t treating him like a patient.” She looked over at her father, and there was tender concern etched in her eyes. “I think he’s tired of feeling like he’s different. He doesn’t want me to be the one taking care of him. But maybe if it attracts a lady, he’ll be okay with someone fussing over him.”

“You’re a good daughter, Catherine. He’s lucky to have you.”

“I hope he knows that,” she laughed. “I like Marcy.”

“She’s a good lady. She practically claimed Paisley the moment she met her. Marcy never cared for Regina and vice versa. Marcy’s money came from her late husband, who had busted his butt to earn it. She grew up poor in West Virginia. She’s not like a lot of the other wealthy people around here. She’s very down to earth.”

“Yes, I noticed that,” Catherine said, watching her father talking animatedly with Marcy. “She’s refreshingly genuine. That is something my dad is going to be drawn to.”

“Doesn’t hurt she’s easy on the eyes,” I added.

We both stood there in silence for a little while, watching the party progress before us. Couples were swaying on the portable dance floor. Eventually, Catherine was pulled away once again. Paisley found me a bit later. “Hey,” she said with excitement in her eyes. “Everything is ready.”

“Good job,” I said and put up my hand for a high-five.

“Are you ready?” she asked. “Are you going to chicken out?”