Sitting at one end of the table, Ma had her hands clasped in front of her. “Find out what he is after.” All afternoon Patrick had thought about Burl’s visit to the spread earlier in the day. It didn’t make sense. Candace and he were married, good and well. He’d been there for the ceremony, recited his vows in front of God. So had Candace. All of which begged the question, what was Burl after? The craggy, ill-tempered man hadn’t come around for pure motives, that much was certain. If he cared that much about his daughter, he wouldn’t have married her off to a prodigal like Patrick. “You don’t think there is any possible way that Burl’s telling the truth?” Sam’s question agitated his nerves. “Absolutely not. Judge Thomas married us and gave us a certificate.” Patrick looked at his wife who sat beside him at the Simpson’s oval table. “It’s in the family Bible now, isn’t it Candace?”
