Four to One: Outvoted at My Own Wedding novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Keep the Phone

Jo's POV

My father held out his hand, palm up, the way he did when he counted votes.

I had the phone in my lap with the screen dark, and Rafe had already heard everything he needed.

I put the phone in Dad's hand.

He closed his fingers on it and looked almost surprised.

"Good girl," he said.

"I'm not a girl, Dad."

"Joanna." Mom came into the study doorway behind him, with her pearl earrings on and her napkin still in her fist. "Whatever you think you read, it was a long time ago."

"It was six years ago in August."

"You were happy."

"I was at the dock until nine with a thermos."

Mom's mouth tightened, and she looked at Dad instead of at me.

That was the first time I understood that she was a little afraid of him too.

"The vote on your savings stands," Dad said. "Five to nothing. You raised your own hand."

"I did."

"Then you'll sign in the morning."

"No," I said.

He blinked.

I had never said that word in that room, and it sounded loud in the dark study with the pipe smoke in the curtains.

"There's no vote on whether I get to say no," I said. "Keep the phone. Keep the iPad. It's your chat."

I stood up and set the iPad on the blotter, screen down.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mom said.

"Out."

"It's eight-thirty at night."

"Then I'll be home before the vote."

I walked past them down the hall.

Brett was standing in the dining room door with his napkin tucked into his collar, and a piece of Mom's pot roast on his fork.

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