A Lady's Choice by Sandra Robbins

to help me. I know I can’t live on the money my father left me for the rest of my life. I will have to have a job to support myself. She’s making that possible.”
    Anger lined his red face, and he clenched his fists at his side. “And she’s keeping a room for you in her house? Do all the teachers live there?”
    â€œN–no, but she knows we sold our house. I’m sure she’s trying to help me.”
    â€œAnd what about this Roger? It sounds like he’s more than a possible boss. He wants to bring nurses here, and you have a special place in his heart? He must really be in love with you.”
    She didn’t know whether to be angry or to laugh. She chose the laughter. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. He’s fifteen years older than me. He always treated me like a daughter.”
    Alex pointed to the letter. “The feelings she describes in that letter are far from fatherly. But what about you, Sarah? Is there a part of you that’s in love with this obviously wealthy man who has special feelings for you?”
    Now the anger won out. “No!” As soon as she shouted the word, she regretted her outburst. She didn’t want to upset her mother. “No,” she whispered. “I’m not in love with him. I’ve never had feelings for any man until…”
    He stepped closer and put his hands on her shoulders. “Until when?” She swallowed hard and tried to pull away, but he gripped her shoulders tighter. “Until when?” he repeated.
    â€œUntil I met you.” She closed her eyes.
    He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. His lips brushed her hair on the top of her head. “And I’ve never had feelings for another woman until you. I’m sorry I overreacted to your letter. I didn’t mean to upset you. Hearing how another man feels about you drove me crazy for a moment.” His husky voice sent a warm rush through her veins.
    â€œYou’re so wrong about that. But none of it matters anyway. The only way I will ever go to Memphis is if Mama passes away, and I can’t stand to think about that. I love her so much, Alex. “
    â€œI know you do. Please forgive me.” He nuzzled her ear with his lips. “I have to leave for Memphis in a few weeks, but I want you to know I’ll take the train to Mt. Pleasant every Friday afternoon so I can be here on the weekends with you. We’ll face this together.”
    She cuddled closer to him. “Thank you.”
    They were silent for a moment. “Although there is one more thing about that letter that upsets me.”
    She sighed. “What is it?”
    â€œThe part about the suffrage movement.”
    She stiffened. “What about the suffrage movement?”
    â€œYou’ll have to give up your involvement with them.”
    She pulled back and stared up at him. “And why would I do that?”
    He loosened his grip, and she stepped out of his arms. “Don’t get upset, Sarah. I know you have strong feelings about it, but sometimes it’s more expedient to keep your thoughts to yourself.”
    She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
    He sighed and directed a look toward her that made her feel like a child being reprimanded by her father. “We’ve only known each other for a few months, but in that time we’ve grown close. It’s plain to see we care deeply for each other. But I’m about to start my career, and I have to be careful that I have the right kind of friends if I want to make partner in the law firm.”
    â€œBy ‘right kind of friends,’ are you saying you can’t associate yourself with the radicals who support suffrage?”
    He winced. “Well, I wouldn’t call them radicals, but that’s the kind of people I’m talking about.”
    â€œThe ‘kind of people’? What