Chapter 1 - Take It Off
"Don't hug me. You smell like a farm. Get away from me."
The church went silent.
Eleanor Bennett stopped with both arms still open.
For three hours she had stood in the summer heat outside St. Matthew's Cathedral, helping florists move arrangements after a delivery truck broke down. She had changed into her best navy dress in the church restroom, but she still carried the faint smell of hay, sun, and the lavender soap she used at Rose Creek Farm.
She had never been ashamed of it.
Until Isabella Whitmore wrinkled her nose in front of two hundred wedding guests.
Eleanor slowly lowered her arms.
"I only wanted to wish you well," she said.
Isabella gave a little laugh and glanced toward her bridesmaids.
"I was joking. Don't look so hurt."
Charles Bennett stood beside the altar in a black tuxedo.
His face had gone completely still.
"Mom?"
"It's all right."
Charles looked at his fiancee.
"Apologize."
"For a joke?"
"Apologize to my mother."
"Charles, there are cameras everywhere."
"I know."
"Then stop making a scene."
He stared at her for one long second.
"Take it off."
Isabella looked down at the diamond ring.
"What?"
"The ring. Take it off."
"Charles."
"This wedding is over."
Gasps moved through the pews.
Eleanor grabbed his sleeve.
"Son, don't do this because of me."
"I'm doing it because of what she just showed me."
Isabella's father, Victor Whitmore, pushed out of the front pew.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Isabella pulled off the ring with shaking fingers.
"You are throwing away our entire future because your mother got offended by one sentence?"
Before Charles could answer, an elderly man near the aisle stood up.
It was Samuel Reed, treasurer of the Whitmore Children's Foundation.
He had been staring at Eleanor since she entered.
"Mrs. Bennett?" he asked.
Samuel's face had gone pale.
"Rose Creek Farm. That's yours, isn't it?"
Victor Whitmore stopped moving.
"Do you know who paid the final one-point-eight million dollars for the children's wing your family has been taking credit for all year?"
"My father did."
Samuel looked at Victor.
"No."
May you like
Then he pointed at the woman Isabella had just told to get away from her.
"She did."
