had a second son who was managing the Tildon holdings in Asia—Corbin had talked about visiting his brother in Tokyo. But a dead son and possibly a dying wife would normally be associated with more emotion. Unless he was just afraid to let out the stopper. She did know men like that.
“Here, honey. Let me introduce you to Brother Beau.”
Dorene frowned before she caught herself. Of course the Tildons were connected enough to have the famous preacher speak at Corbin's funeral, never mind that she felt like she couldn't get away from the man at home because he was always on television. Corbin wouldn't have liked it any better than she did. He claimed religion was a personal matter and mixing it with politics was bad manners. “Praying to God is one thing. Spreading him around like butter is using him,” he’d said. It was one of his political views she respected.
“Brother?” Conrad pulled Brother Beau from a conversation with another man, but as this was Conrad's show, neither of them seemed to mind. “This young lady is Dorene Radcliff, the love of my son Corbin's life.”
That was far too strong for Dorene's preference, but Brother Beau took her hand too quickly for her to correct the statement.
“Oh, child. I'm so sorry for your loss. I was hoping maybe you could tell me a few personal things about Corbin. I mean... a father's love is a sure thing, but it is only one side of the man. Can you tell me a few things about him?”
He still had a hold of Dorene's hand and she tried to tug gently to free it, but he held fast.
“He was very smart,” she said. “And the hardest working man I knew.” Those things were true, at least.
“Which is saying something. I know who your daddy is. But... what did Corbin care about?”
Power . “Justice. And he was very involved with charitable work—he volunteered for a number of charities—did pro bono work for them.” Though the preacher’s comment about her father sat funny with her. Why would he bring that up?
“There are some good points.” He still hadn't let go of her hand. “Could you share a few more?”
“Well, several cancer charities. For me. My mother died of cancer. And half a dozen children's charities.”
“Oh, very good. And do you know what his dreams were?”
What the hell? This was his funeral. Might as well lay it on thick. “Public service. He was much more interested in justice than money, so I think he would have continued on the path he was on. Perhaps he would have been a judge one day.” Or a senator. But he definitely wasn't Daddy .
Conrad put his arm over Dorene's shoulder and Brother Beau finally let go of her hand. Conrad gave her a squeeze. “You sit with the family, sweetheart. Right up front there.”
She scanned the grounds and realized the chairs were filling in and the long driveway was completely lined with cars. He led her to a chair that was next to his own, though he left her there to go greet a few more people.
“You must be the girlfriend.”
Dorene turned to her left. Under a large hat with netting over the face and a feminine navy and lace suit was an extended, gloved hand.
“Dorene Radcliff,” she said.
“Ah, that's right. The senator's daughter. Suzanne Peletier—Corbin's aunt on his mother's side.”
“Nice to meet you. I hope your sister recovers.”
Her mouth tightened “Yes, well... I just wish I could get in to see her. I've had my shot. She's my sister, after all.”
“You can't see her?”
“Some nonsense about what I might be carrying. They have her locked up like Fort Knox.”
That seemed strange to Dorene, but there wasn't time to ask more about it, as Conrad sat down then and Brother Beau walked to the podium.
The service was pretentious and verbose, but Dorene had gotten enough of a feel for the Tilden family that she knew it was just their way. She stayed for about an hour afterward, but then made her excuses of needing to get back to Atlanta. Even with no traffic, it would
“Here, honey. Let me introduce you to Brother Beau.”
Dorene frowned before she caught herself. Of course the Tildons were connected enough to have the famous preacher speak at Corbin's funeral, never mind that she felt like she couldn't get away from the man at home because he was always on television. Corbin wouldn't have liked it any better than she did. He claimed religion was a personal matter and mixing it with politics was bad manners. “Praying to God is one thing. Spreading him around like butter is using him,” he’d said. It was one of his political views she respected.
“Brother?” Conrad pulled Brother Beau from a conversation with another man, but as this was Conrad's show, neither of them seemed to mind. “This young lady is Dorene Radcliff, the love of my son Corbin's life.”
That was far too strong for Dorene's preference, but Brother Beau took her hand too quickly for her to correct the statement.
“Oh, child. I'm so sorry for your loss. I was hoping maybe you could tell me a few personal things about Corbin. I mean... a father's love is a sure thing, but it is only one side of the man. Can you tell me a few things about him?”
He still had a hold of Dorene's hand and she tried to tug gently to free it, but he held fast.
“He was very smart,” she said. “And the hardest working man I knew.” Those things were true, at least.
“Which is saying something. I know who your daddy is. But... what did Corbin care about?”
Power . “Justice. And he was very involved with charitable work—he volunteered for a number of charities—did pro bono work for them.” Though the preacher’s comment about her father sat funny with her. Why would he bring that up?
“There are some good points.” He still hadn't let go of her hand. “Could you share a few more?”
“Well, several cancer charities. For me. My mother died of cancer. And half a dozen children's charities.”
“Oh, very good. And do you know what his dreams were?”
What the hell? This was his funeral. Might as well lay it on thick. “Public service. He was much more interested in justice than money, so I think he would have continued on the path he was on. Perhaps he would have been a judge one day.” Or a senator. But he definitely wasn't Daddy .
Conrad put his arm over Dorene's shoulder and Brother Beau finally let go of her hand. Conrad gave her a squeeze. “You sit with the family, sweetheart. Right up front there.”
She scanned the grounds and realized the chairs were filling in and the long driveway was completely lined with cars. He led her to a chair that was next to his own, though he left her there to go greet a few more people.
“You must be the girlfriend.”
Dorene turned to her left. Under a large hat with netting over the face and a feminine navy and lace suit was an extended, gloved hand.
“Dorene Radcliff,” she said.
“Ah, that's right. The senator's daughter. Suzanne Peletier—Corbin's aunt on his mother's side.”
“Nice to meet you. I hope your sister recovers.”
Her mouth tightened “Yes, well... I just wish I could get in to see her. I've had my shot. She's my sister, after all.”
“You can't see her?”
“Some nonsense about what I might be carrying. They have her locked up like Fort Knox.”
That seemed strange to Dorene, but there wasn't time to ask more about it, as Conrad sat down then and Brother Beau walked to the podium.
The service was pretentious and verbose, but Dorene had gotten enough of a feel for the Tilden family that she knew it was just their way. She stayed for about an hour afterward, but then made her excuses of needing to get back to Atlanta. Even with no traffic, it would
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