One Man’s Family – Book 73, Chapter 4 – The Sinister Shadow Of Rexford Frome. 500122

Paul has dropped the bomb on his dad Henry about his coming wedding. To deal with the news, Henry is in the garden, when Claudia approaches him. Taking a break inside by the fire, Claudia tells her own frustrations of having her husband, Nicky, being delayed even longer in London. Margret is on hand with some of her own childhood gossip about friends with chickenpox. After the interruption, Claudia goes on to tell her worry over not hearing from Nicky in a week. Is it a case to worry over?

Hazel pops in to talk with Betty, neither like the idea of the wedding, and wish it could be Nicolette instead of Mrs Abbott. Is it their place to play matchmaker? They try their best to see the other point of view, but still wish it could be different. Nicolette makes an appearance, but is she as concerned over the loss of Paul as a potential suitor? She knows about his unbending ways, big heart, and stubborn ways as well as anyone.

Paul and Christalk about the waves the wedding announcement has created. Will their plans be as simple as Paul keeps telling himself? What if the family never accept Chris? Paul assures her that he didn’t rush into this lightly. What about Rexford Frome? How will Chris brother take the news? The family’s resistance to Chris has Rexford infuriated, but Chris sees through his facace. The situation has brought his inferiority complex to the surface in a big way. Old resentments boil to the surface.

Back at the Barbers, Cliff talks with his mom, Fannie. Is she warming up to the idea of the wedding? Can she talk sense to Henry, to get him to soften up to the new member to marry into the family? Being the gentleman that he is, and confronted with reality, Henry has a way of rising to the occasion, and takes the first steps of diplomacy.