Page 36 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

Chapter Twenty-Two

MATTHIAS

Home-cooked meals are always a nice change.

I get together with my parents frequently, but we usually go to a restaurant or order something in.

My family isn’t big on the whole cooking thing.

Don’t get me wrong, there was always plenty of food in my house, but most of it was ready-to-eat or pre-cooked.

Which might be why it’s either something that can go from freezer to microwave or take-out at my house.

“This is incredible, Christina.” His mom has convinced me to call her by her first name, even though it feels a little strange.

“That’s sweet of you to say.”

Frank gives me a look that I can’t interpret. I can normally read him, but as soon as we get around his family members, he becomes a different person. I don’t like that. It puts me on edge about this whole meeting.

“So, tell me more about what you do for work, Matthias. Frank said you were an accountant or something?” his dad asks.

Frank warned me his family would stage an interrogation.

Tonight’s a makeup for not spending Christmas with them.

I’m not sorry I stole Frank away to spend the holiday with my parents.

The day had been perfect, filled with lots of laughter and excitement.

I meant to send him home at the end of the night, back to his house to close out the day.

But after hearing him call me Daddy for the first time, I had other plans for the night. He didn’t protest either.

“Financial advisor,” Frank mutters under his breath.

“I’m a financial advisor. I help people invest their money wisely.” I’ve given this speech a few thousand times, explaining exactly what it is that I do.

“Isn’t that one of those schemes where people invest their money and then never see it again?”

Frank sputters and coughs next to me. I pat his back a couple times until he stops.

“Dad,” he warns. I put a hand on his thigh to reassure him.

This is nowhere close to the worst things I’ve heard.

People watch too much true crime television and automatically assume I’m using client money to buy a yacht and vacation home on a private island.

I’m doing well, better than many people, but I’ll never be private island rich.

“Unfortunately, there are some con artists out there who convince people to invest their money and then run away with it. Most companies are very reputable, including ours. We only use legitimate investment techniques, and our clients always know exactly where their money is and how to get it back if they want it.” We also only hire certified professionals who undergo extensive education and testing, including on ethical topics.

The partners at our firm have a great deal of oversight and checks.

It would be nearly impossible for someone to commit fraud without being caught .

“And why should anyone believe you?” Frank’s father leans in, eyes fixed on me.

“Well, they don’t have to take my word for it.

We have insurance coverage, and we encourage new clients to talk to some of our current clients to better understand how we work and to get personal references.

” I have a few that I always connect them to when they first start.

I think it helps build trust, even if they never reach out.

Plus, a few of those have turned into friendships.

“Hmmmm…” I can tell that my speech didn’t convince him. I don’t need them as clients, but I would really like them not to feel like their son is dating a criminal. It’s a low bar, but apparently, I’m failing to step over it.

“Well, at least it sounds like a nice office job that pays well.” Christina leans over and pats Leo’s hand a few times. The words are a clear trap. I’m just not sure how.

“I do okay for myself.”

“We’ve been trying to convince Frank to go work in an office.

” Ah, there it is. He told me that they were on him about that recently.

It’s part of the reason he’s desperate to move out and get his own place.

I’m in favor of that, although preferably, I’d love to have him move in with me.

There’s more than enough space, and it would solve so many problems. I don’t want to rush him, though.

When’s the appropriate time to ask someone to move in?

Three months? Halfway there, then. “There’s more opportunity there. Space to move up in a job like that.”

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity in his current job as well. He does good work, and he’s well-liked by his team.”

“Being liked doesn’t pay the bills,” Leo says, reaching across the table for another roll.

Frank’s all but given up eating at this stage.

Though, in his defense, only about half the things on the table are suitable for him.

It makes no sense to me why they had a casserole with beef and cheese in it, knowing he can’t have it.

Maybe they’re trying to impress me, but if that’s the case, they’ve completely misjudged my intentions.

“No, but that’s why he’s studying so hard, to help him get into another field.”

Silence. I look over at Frank. His eyes are wide, and his face is pale. Shit . In my frustration over their attack, I forgot they didn’t know about his classes. I got so used to discussing it openly with my family and friends that I didn’t think twice about bringing it up in conversation.

“Frank’s not in school. He got kicked out years ago.”

I ignore the kicked-out comment and look over at him, expecting to see him fuming.

Instead, he looks completely bewildered.

For a long minute, no one speaks. There’s no way I’m going to be the one to break the silence, not when I’ve already put myself in the doghouse.

As his Daddy, it’s my job to protect him, and instead, I threw him to the wolves.

“Um, Matthias is right. I’ve been taking classes at the community college.” He grabs his wine glass and downs the whole thing.

“But why? There’s no real reason. Ethan said he’d get you a job. That way, you don’t have to worry about school,” Christina answers. “It doesn’t make sense to waste money on such things.”

Job with his brother? That’s news to me.

Frank doesn’t mention his brother often, but when he does, it’s never positive.

Something tells me he’s not interested in working anywhere near Ethan.

Either way, I won’t stand for them making him feel bad about being back in classes.

“Frank’s doing great in school. He even got an A in his history class this past semester.

I think it’s great that he’s working to find a career that he loves.

” Frank slides his hand on top of mine and gives it a gentle squeeze.

“Landscaping is hardly a career,” Leo scoffs. Now I see why Frank didn’t want to come home in the evenings after a long day of work and school. If I knew this was why he felt so bad about himself, I’d never let him out of my house. At least not to come here.

“It’s not in landscaping, Dad. I’m getting a degree in data science.

I’m hoping eventually to put that to use in business analytics.

” I’m so proud of my Firecracker for sticking up for himself.

It’s not his natural inclination, choosing instead to focus on all the ways he’s screwed up over the years.

“Frank, that’s all very nice, but why would you go back to school?

Especially with how it ended the first time.

Instead, your brother has a perfectly nice job waiting for you.

It’s silly to do something different when this path is right in front of you.

That’s why we set the deadline.” His mom’s comment leaves me extra confused, though I’m starting to put things together.

The need to move out, the problems paying tuition, and the general sense of dread that he’s had over the last several weeks.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s silly at all. Frank works hard to chase his dream and do something he really wants. He’s good at it, too.”

“I’m not sure you know our son well enough to be making those kinds of statements,” Leo says, his face pulled into a tight scowl.

“I think I know Frank very well. Maybe better than you do. He’s a hard worker who’s gone above and beyond to work his way back from being sick.

He manages more on a daily basis than almost anyone I know.

” I can’t help but admire the way he’s clawed back, letting a past dream go in favor of finding something new, something that excites him.

“He wasn’t sick. He had an allergy.” And I’m done. They clearly don’t want to listen, and I have no interest in letting them continue to tear down Frank. He doesn’t deserve this.

“I think that’s enough.” I push back from the table and stand, holding out a hand for Frank. “We’ll be going now.”

FRANK

“I’m sorry.” It’s the first words Matthias has said to me since we made our escape from my house. Much of the drive has been in silence, not even the radio to cover up the awkward tension between us.

“Why?” I blurt out. I’d been trying to come up with a good excuse, a way to apologize for not giving him the whole story.

He, of course, knows that I’m moving out of my parents’ house.

That’s why he’s going to be paying my tuition next term, which I love and hate.

When I broke and told him about my money issues, I may have left out the part about my parents’ ultimatum.

At the time, I was so embarrassed I couldn’t say the words.

I mean, how shitty of a son do I have to be to get kicked out of the basement when I’m paying rent?

“For telling them your secret. For creating issues. For making a scene. Pick one or all of them. I’m so sorry, Frank.”