Mctavish And Twins by Trisha David

Author:Trisha David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

MIKE and the twins cleaned the bathroom in conspiratorial silence.

Afterwards, Mike changed his shirt, settled the twins with Snakes and Ladders and returned to his party—but his heart wasn’t in it.

The afternoon was drawing to a close. Caroline was graciously bidding her guests farewell and Mike moved to do the same, automatically responding to their social niceties.

‘Happy birthday,’ they told him.

Happy birthday...

This was his thirtieth birthday and he had to pinch himself to believe it. Erin O’Connell had accused him of sounding about eighty—and that was how he felt.

He’d decided he wanted a life like this, Mike told himself firmly as he stood beside Caroline and smiled until his face ached. In Mike’s childhood his mother had put on social afternoons just like this. The farm in his mother’s day had been gracious and welcoming—a hub of social activity. Margaret McTavish had been a charming hostess and a good mother—and the twins had the right to the same sort of lifestyle their father had enjoyed.

That was Caroline’s role.

Provider of a stable childhood. Wife and mother...

‘Did you like your party?’ Caroline asked as the last guests disappeared into their BMW and waved a bright farewell.

‘Of course.’ Caroline was standing right beside him and Mike put his arm around her waist—but only because it seemed the right thing to do. The gesture was expected, but his heart wasn’t into hugging Caroline.

It had to be. This was his life from now on, he reminded himself sharply. Expected. Planned. Controlled.

The sort of life where kids could grow up knowing what was expected of them.

Until last week this had seemed the only solution to the twins’ upbringing. Why, now, was it starting to look so bleak?

‘I’m sorry about your birthday cake, Michael, darling,’ Caroline said sadly. ‘I was so angry. One of the caterers must have left the door open—even though they all deny it.’

‘It can’t be helped.’

‘If I could just prove it was down to their carelessness we could deduct something from their pay.’

‘I doubt we’ll ever prove who it was,’ Mike murmured, thinking of the pristine bathroom upstairs and the bundle of wet clothes and towels in the laundry basket waiting for Mrs Brown in the morning.

Mrs Brown could keep a secret.

Caroline flicked a look at her watch. ‘The twins have been good.’ She smiled approvingly. ‘Almost five and not a peep out of them.’

‘I went up before to check,’ Mike told her. ‘They were reading and a bit bored. I popped them into the bath and put them in their pyjamas.’

‘You didn’t...’ Caroline frowned. ‘While our guests were here...’

‘They were feeling a bit left out, Caroline,’ Mike said heavily. ‘I don’t think they enjoyed my party very much. Maybe...’ He sighed. ‘Maybe it wouldn’t have hurt to let them come down for the birthday cake.’

‘If there had been a birthday cake,’ Caroline said bitterly. ‘Blasted dogs...’

The two dogs behind Mike slunk back a few paces, eyeing Caroline warily. They sensed Caroline’s dislike—but they were a bit too full of cream puff to do much about it.

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