A Mother's Wish by Marta Perry

Author:Marta Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

How had she let herself be talked into this? Sarah got out of the van, looking nervously up at the pillared veranda as she took Amy out of the car seat. She couldn’t feel at home in a place like this. Her kids didn’t belong here. What if they broke something?

“We’re ready.” Matt shooed the kids toward the veranda. “Let’s go find Wanda and Jenny.”

At least the children didn’t seem to sense her nervousness. Andi skipped along at Matt’s side, perfectly confident, while the boys peppered him with questions.

Sarah tried not to let her gaze slip sideways to the swing where they’d sat Wednesday night. Where they’d kissed.

Matt held the door open, and the kids scurried inside. He gestured for her to enter.

She should have stuck with her initial no. Working with Matt every day was bad enough. Having her children in his house was worse.

There was only one solution—she’d have to find some reasonable excuse to get out of this. Clutching Amy, she crossed the threshold into the Caldwell mansion.

She stood in the wide center hallway, getting her bearings, noticing things she’d been too preoccupied to see on Wednesday night. To her right was the formal dining room, with its crystal chandelier and mahogany table and chairs carved in the rice design that was typical of the sea islands. To the left, a ceiling fan circled lazily above elegant Queen Anne furniture placed on what seemed an acre of Oriental carpet.

Ahead of her a circular staircase soared upward, looking as if Scarlett O’Hara would descend at any moment. But that wasn’t Scarlett coming toward her down the steps. It was Matt’s father.

Jefferson Caldwell approached with cool assurance, holding out his hand. “Ms. Reed. Welcome to Twin Oaks.”

“Thank you.” She shook hands, trying to assess her impressions as Caldwell turned to his son with a question. Distinguished—that was probably the word. That leonine mane of white hair, those piercing eyes—Jefferson Caldwell looked like a man who was used to getting what he wanted.

She glanced from him to Matt, wondering. Coolness tainted the air between them. She couldn’t help but see it.

Was this because of Matt’s partnership in the newspaper? If his father disapproved of that, she could hardly imagine that he’d want her children cluttering up his house.

Jefferson turned to her, looking as if his mind had already moved past her to something more important. “Miz Becky is waiting for you in the kitchen, and I expect the others are there, too. Y’all go on back. Make yourselves at home.”

“Thank you.” She relaxed marginally. At least Caldwell Sr. didn’t seem actively opposed to their presence. But if he had been, that would have given her the perfect excuse to call this whole thing off.

“This way.” Matt shepherded them through a swinging door at the end of the hallway, his step quickening.

Suddenly they were in a different world—one with linoleum underfoot, geraniums blossoming on the windowsills and a ginger cat weaving around the legs of the woman who turned to greet them.

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