“Hello, Faith. Thank you for inviting me.” Eliza Smythe entered the foyer two weeks later and handed Faith her coat and handbag. “I’ve been hoping we could get to know each other better.”
“So have I,” Faith responded, leading her mother-in-law into the dining room, where she had set two places at a small round table near the fireplace. “Please, sit down.” She waited until the older woman was seated before she took her own place. “I’m so sorry Stone couldn’t be here. He had some pressing things to take care of at his office.”
“Pressing things?” Eliza laughed cynically. “I bet they became a whole lot more pressing when he found out I was coming for lunch.”
Faith felt herself flushing. She was unable to deny it.
Eliza leaned forward, her face growing serious. “I hope your invitation didn’t cause trouble between you and Stone.”
“It didn’t.” That was perfectly truthful. For there to be trouble between them, they first would have to talk. Stone’s only reaction, when she’d told him his mother would be coming to lunch was a curt, “I have meetings all day, so count me out.” Gee, what a shock.
“Good.” Faith’s mother-in-law smiled warmly at her. “So tell me how you like married life. Has the press been too intrusive?”
“Not as bad as I feared, actually,” Faith confessed. “But Stone has taught me to keep a low profile in public. That’s helped.”
“He’ll be less interesting now that he’s married,” predicted Eliza. “Unless,” she added, smiling wickedly, “you keep giving them moments like those photos from the Lincoln reception. That was hardly what I’d call low-profile.”
Faith felt the heat rise in her face. The week after the disastrous evening, there had been a series of three photos of them in the Star Tracks section of People magazine. In the first frame, Faith was with the actor she’d met, with her arm tucked warmly through his. The man’s head was tilted down so that he could hear something she was saying. It was a decidedly intimate-looking pose.
The second photo showed Stone, scowling, pulling her toward the dance floor and the other man could clearly be seen walking away in the background. But the third shot was the one that had made her cringe. It had been taken during their heated kiss behind the pillar. Stone had her locked against him, nearly bent backward beneath the force of his kiss. She clung to him on tiptoe, one hand in his hair. The sly, amusing captions had mentioned his jealous reaction—and she doubted the author would ever know how true it had been. Unfortunately, she thought, Stone hadn’t been reacting out of any personal feeling. He just didn’t want anyone coming on to his wife. She was pretty sure he viewed her as an extension of property.
She ducked her head. “Stone wasn’t very happy with that,” she admitted. “We’ll have to be more careful in the future.” Her mother-in-law was still smiling, though, and she decided that the revealing photos probably had helped Stone’s cause in his quest to convince his mother of the authenticity of his marriage.
Faith picked up a spoon then and started on the soup she’d set out for the first course. Her mother-in-law followed suit and they talked of other things during the meal. Eliza asked after Faith’s mother, and Faith found herself sharing some of her concerns about the future. To her pleasure, Eliza spoke freely about her business. If only Stone would do the same! She longed to share his life, but it seemed he was never going to give her the chance.
“So,” the older woman said as they relaxed with coffee an hour later, “we got sidetracked after I asked you how you liked married life. Has it been a big adjustment?”
“In some ways.” Faith hesitated, then decided it wouldn’t be inappropriate to share her feelings with her mother-in-law. “The boredom is driving me crazy,” she confessed, “if you want the truth. I can only spend so much time with Mama—she needs a lot of rest and quiet.”
“I thought you were a student. Don’t you have classes?”
“I took this semester off.” Faith doubted Eliza even knew about Stone taking on financial responsibility for two additional people. In any case, she couldn’t explain the details of her “semester off” without the risk of giving away the true reasons for her marriage. “My classes don’t start again until June.”
“That’s not so far away,” Eliza pointed out.
Faith raised her eyebrows. “You wouldn’t say that if you were the one sitting here twiddling your thumbs. I’ve asked Stone if I could help at the office but—” she rolled her eyes and tried to sound mildly aggravated as an indulgent wife might “—he told me to redecorate the den.” Her opinion of that was evident in her voice.
“Well, it is a project,” his mother said, playing devil’s advocate.
“One I accomplished in a few days,” Faith said. “The painters are here right now. The wallpaper, carpet and new furniture have been ordered.”
Eliza chuckled. “And you’re twiddling your thumbs again.” As Faith nodded, the older woman cleared her throat. “I might have a project for you, if you’re interested.”
A project? Faith was cautious. “Such as?”
“I have a significant amount of data from one of my plants that recently was restructured. The last man was an incompetent idiot and he left a huge mess with a number of damaged files that need to be recovered. It needs to be straightened out. It would be a short-term job, of course, but it might be perfect for your situation.”
Faith’s spirits soared immediately. She nearly clapped her hands. Then something occurred to her. “Wait a minute. How do you know I’m capable of doing this job?”
Eliza’s slim shoulders rose and fell in a wry gesture. “I confess I did look into your background a little bit. You have quite a gift with computers, it seems.”
She didn’t know whether to be flattered or annoyed. “I’m beginning to see where Stone gets his autocratic nature.”
Her mother-in-law winced. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you angry.”
“It’s all right.” She wasn’t really angry. “The job sounds like a challenge. I like challenges. But I’ll need to talk to Stone about it.”
“All right.” Eliza rose. “Thank you for lunch. Whether or not you take the job, I hope we can continue to get together from time to time.”
“That would be nice.” And it would be. “Perhaps Stone will be able to join us next time.”
Eliza made a distinctly unladylike sound. “Not if he finds out I’m going to be there.”
The words were filled with pain, as were her eyes. Faith hesitated. She knew Stone wouldn’t thank her for getting in the middle of his relationship with his mother…still, she couldn’t simply ignore this. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Maybe, in time, he’ll soften.” But she doubted it.
Eliza sighed. “You don’t believe that and neither do I. Stone thinks I abandoned him. And he’s right. I did.” Her face looked as rigid as marble. The only sign of life was the leaping, snapping flames in her eyes. “When my father died, I was a young wife with a small child. And suddenly, I was the heir to this company—which was struggling to keep its head above water, something my father had never told me. I was determined to keep Smythe for my son. Maybe I should have hired someone else to lead it, but at the time I felt like…oh, I don’t know, like it was my destiny or something.” She tried to smile. “Or maybe it just makes me feel better to tell myself I had no other choice but to take over and lead the company myself.”
“It must have been a good decision,” Faith said, realizing what a difficult choice Eliza had been forced to make. “Look at what you’ve accomplished.”
The Smythe Corp. CEO shrugged. “But look at what I sacrificed. My marriage fell apart when my husband realized I had no intention of walking away from Smythe Corp. I should have refused to cooperate when he told me to leave. I should have taken Stone with me. But he was so close to his father…I didn’t think it would be fair.” She shook her head. “Of course, I never thought my husband would try to keep me from seeing my son, either. And once I’d moved out, the courts did view me as a poor parent.” Her shoulders slumped. “I guess we all have things we wish we had done differently.”
Faith was stunned. Stone thought his mother hadn’t wanted him! All these years he’d thought she didn’t care…he couldn’t have been more wrong.
“You, ah, wanted to see him more often?”
His mother looked beaten. “Yes, but when his father got full custody he was able to severely limit the time I spent with Stone. After a while, Stone seemed to view my visits as a chore and it was easier not to go as often.” She shook her head regretfully. “I’m very sorry now that I didn’t continue to be a presence in Stone’s life no matter what.”
Then she glanced at her watch, and Faith could see her shaking off the moment of painful truth. “I have enjoyed this tremendously, Faith. Thank you again for inviting me. It’s time for me to get back to the office.”
“Thank you for joining me.” Faith rose and laid her napkin aside, then led the way to the front door.
Eliza put on her coat, then turned once more. “Let me know if you’re interested in that job. It wouldn’t just be something I’ve made up to keep you busy. I really do need to get someone on that project soon.”
“I’ll let you know by the end of the week,” Faith promised. “I appreciate the offer more than you know.”
She was just coming down the stairs to breakfast two days later when she heard Stone calling her name. His voice sounded alarmed, unusual for him, and immediately she doubled her speed.
He was in the breakfast room. So was her mother. But Naomi was lying on the floor near the table with him crouched at her side.
“Mama!” Faith rushed forward, taking in the scene. Her mother was conscious, though she lay awkwardly on her side. “What happened?”
“She says she was transferring from her scooter to the table. She had a muscle spasm and she slipped,” Stone said. As Faith dropped to her knees, Stone rose and left the room, returning a moment later with the telephone as well as a blanket, which he draped over her mother. “It’s a good thing it’s Saturday,” he said, “or I might not still have been home. She could have lain here for a while except that I was in the kitchen and I heard her.”
“Where’s Clarice? And why were you trying to do this alone?” Faith knew her voice was too shrill but she was frightened. Naomi shouldn’t have been trying to move without supervision.
Clarice had agreeably offered to work six days a week. Sunday was the only day she took off and even then, she often was gone only a few hours. She had no children and, Faith assumed, no other family.
“I sent her to the deli,” said Naomi. “They have wonderful fresh bagels. I thought I could…I thought…” Her voice trailed off and she started to cry.
“It’s okay, Mama.” Faith stroked her hair. “It’s okay. How do you feel? Do you think anything is broken?”
“Don’t try to move.” Stone’s voice brooked no opposition. “Let me call an ambulance and we’ll go to the hospital so you can be checked.”
“No emergency service,” Naomi begged.
Stone shook his head as he punched a speed dial button. “I won’t call 9-1-1. I’m calling your doctor first.”
Clarice returned just as Stone hung up from explaining the situation to Naomi’s doctor. The caregiver was as upset as Faith had ever seen her, and it was as much work to calm Clarice as it was to comfort her mother. Things moved rapidly after that. Naomi’s doctor sent a private ambulance and she was transported to the hospital where she was met by her doctor. Faith, Stone and Clarice waited impatiently until a nurse appeared to take them to the room in which they’d settled Naomi.
The doctor who oversaw her care met them in the hallway and took all three of them into a small visitors’ lounge before they saw Faith’s mother.
“Your mother is experiencing an increase in spasticity that worries me. It’s important that we begin a physical therapy program in order to keep it from worsening. Passive stretching, maybe some swimming, that kind of thing. Also, she absolutely should not attempt transfers from one place to another without physical assistance. Sometimes the spasms can be severe enough to knock a patient right out of their wheelchair.”
“Is she going to have to start using a wheelchair now?” Faith asked apprehensively.
“I’m not ready to take that step yet,” the doctor replied. “Let’s see if we can’t control the spasticity first.”
“Exactly what do you want us to do?” Stone’s voice was authoritative and Faith was happy to let him direct the conversation.
“I would recommend one of two things: either hire trained therapists who can work with Mrs. Harrell, or consider placing her in a facility where she can be cared for.”
“You mean a nursing home,” Faith said dully. She’d worried about this edict for years. Now, suddenly, here it was. And she was no closer to accepting it than she had been before.
“She won’t need a nursing home.” Stone put his arm comfortingly around her shoulder as he addressed the doctor. “But if you could give us the names of some reliable sources of personnel, we’ll get more help at home.”
Stunned, Faith stared at him and he glanced down at her and smiled.
A moment later, the doctor left.
Clarice rose. “I guess you won’t need me now,” she said in a small voice. “I don’t know how to help her exercise.”
“Oh, you’re not getting away from us,” Stone told her in a firm voice, removing his arm from around Faith and standing. He took Clarice’s hands in his. “Unless you want to, that is. Naomi depends on you, and so do Faith and I. If you agree to stay, you’ll be in charge of any personnel who come in to help. It’ll be your job to make sure they’re doing theirs, and that everything is going smoothly.”
Clarice stared at Stone for a long moment. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Faith realized the older woman was on the verge of tears. Finally she said, “Thank you. Thank you so much. I don’t have any family and I’ve gotten really fond of Naomi. I would have hated leaving all of you.”
“And we would hate to lose you,” Faith said, rising and hugging the older lady. “We’re your family now.”
Clarice went ahead of them to see Naomi as Faith turned to Stone. She swallowed with difficulty and took a deep breath. “I appreciate your support but I know you hadn’t counted on this when we made our agreement. I won’t hold you to anything you said to that doctor.”
“I know you won’t. But I still intend to hire additional help and keep your mother in our home.”
“You’ve done enough for us already,” she told him unsteadily. “I don’t think your father meant for you to support us for the rest of our natural lives.” She tried to smile at the weak joke.
Stone put his arms around her and pulled her head to his shoulder, just holding her for a long, sweet moment. “Your mother means a lot to me, too,” he told her. “She and Clarice have made the house a warmer, livelier place.”
She pulled back and searched his gaze for a long moment. He appeared to be completely serious. “Thank you.” She didn’t know how she ever would repay him, but she would swallow her pride to make sure her mother was happy and well-cared-for. Putting Naomi in a nursing home would have been devastating for her as well as for Faith.
“Don’t thank me,” he said, still holding her loosely in his arms. “I mean it. Keeping her at home is really an act of selfishness on my part.”
“Right.” Although she could have stayed in the comforting embrace forever, she forced herself to move away from him. “You’re a good man,” she said quietly, touching his cheek with a gentle hand before turning to leave the room.
They visited briefly with her mother. She hadn’t been badly hurt, just severely bruised and she’d broken a bone in her wrist. She would be staying overnight at the hospital for some additional tests and would be released tomorrow. Faith was relieved the fall hadn’t been worse.
Clarice decided to stay at the hospital for a few hours and told them she would take a cab home later. On the ride home, Stone said, “I haven’t told you how good the den looks. I really like my new chair.” He flexed his fingers on the wheel. “I believe my mother must have chosen the old furnishings. I don’t ever remember it looking any different.”
“Your mother did a lovely job,” she told him. “The things she chose lasted a long time.”
“Longer than she did.”
“I’m not sure that was her choice, entirely.” It was a risk, talking about his mother, but she felt she had to try to share with him his mother’s version of the past.
The car was uncomfortably quiet for a moment. Then he said, “It’s old news.” He shrugged, frowning as he drove. “Who cares anymore?”
You do. “She does,” Faith said. “She didn’t want to leave you behind but your father fought her for custody. And limited her visits. She’s always wanted to be a bigger part of your life than she was permitted to be.”
“And I suppose she told you this during your cozy little luncheon.” His voice was expressionless.
“Yes.” There was another awkward silence. She waited for him to ask her what she meant, what his mother had said. But he never did.
Instead he finally said, “We got off the track, I believe. We were talking about the changes in the den.”
“I’m glad you like the new look and the new furniture.” She was disappointed that he hadn’t listened to more of his mother’s story, but at least he hadn’t bitten her head off. “I really wasn’t sure about it, but since you told me to go ahead…” Then she followed up on the opening he’d given her. She’d been trying to figure out a way to approach him again for several days. “Now that the job is finished, I’m finding myself with a lot of free time. You know, I’m not sure you appreciate the extent of my computer skills. Surely there’s something at your company that I could—”
“There really isn’t,” he interrupted her. “But I did want to ask you to do something else.” Without giving her a chance to respond, he said, “I’ve received several wedding gifts at the office and I know we’ve begun to get quite a few more at the house. Would you please write thank-you notes to everyone? I’ll supply you with the addresses you need.”
“I’ve kept a list of everything. The files are on the computer in your home office,” she told him, disappointment shading her tone. “I’d thought perhaps it was something we could do together.”
But he shook his head. “I really don’t have the time. I’m sorry. At the end of the week I’ll be leaving for China for a nine-day trip.”
“China!” She couldn’t believe he hadn’t mentioned this before. How long had he intended to wait before telling her?
“Yes. We have an incredible opportunity to get our foot in the door with some steel exports.” Unaware of her thoughts, he sounded as excited as she had ever heard him. “And I want to investigate the possibilities of setting up an American division of Lachlan Industries in Beijing.”
It had been a strange conversation. He’d taken her to the heights of exasperation but now he was sharing his business plans with her…something she’d wanted for so long. Cautiously, afraid he would clam up again, she said. “Lachlan Industries in Beijing?”
“Uh-huh. The world really has become a global marketplace. If I want Lachlan to be a player on more than a national level, I have to establish a presence around the world. Our plants in Germany produce a number of products for the European market. One in Beijing could serve a sizable portion of the Far East, including Taiwan and Japan.” He was warming to his theme and his tone was enthusiastic.
“Now I understand why people say you have the Midas touch,” she said. “You never stop thinking of ways to improve.”
“I can’t,” he said simply, “if I want to stay on top. I’m always looking for the next opportunity. It’s a full-time effort.”
“When you take over your mother’s corporation, how will you manage both companies?”
Instantly the light in his eyes flattened and cooled. She saw immediately that she’d said the wrong thing. He shrugged, elaborately casual. “I’ll probably work out some kind of merger. Get everything under one umbrella so I don’t have so many balls to juggle.”
His too-casual tone, coupled with an explanation that sounded wooden and rehearsed, alerted her to the realization that this wasn’t just business for Stone. Merge the two companies?
Some of the pieces of the puzzle that was her husband clicked into place as she recalled the odd note of near-desperation in his tone on the night he’d laid out his proposal. Her heart ached for him as a flash of insight showed her the truth. He didn’t want Smythe Corp. because it was a good deal, or even because it was a family tradition. A merger was something he could control as he hadn’t been able to control the disintegration of his family when he’d been a child—and in a very tangible if symbolic sense, he would be putting his family back together again.
She wondered if he understood that some things could never be fixed. Quietly she said, “You know, merging these companies is nice, but it isn’t going to help you resolve your differences with your mother. You really ought to sit down and talk with her.”
But she could tell her impassioned words had fallen on deaf ears. His face drained of expression and when he looked at her, his eyes were as cool as the blustery spring weather outside. “Funny, but I don’t remember asking you for your opinion on what I ought to do with my mother. All I require of you is that you play a part for ten more months.”
She felt as though he’d slapped her. As a reminder of the time limit she had, it was fairly brutal. She didn’t speak again, and when they arrived home, she got out of the car before he could open her door and hurried inside, heading for her room. Fine, she thought angrily. Let him go to China. Let him count down the days until he rids himself of me. Let him refuse to give me anything meaningful to do.
With that thought, she remembered Eliza’s offer. And she reached for the phone.
“This place is awesome!” Faith’s former roommate Gretchen bounced into the kitchen of the town house as they completed a short tour of the house several days later. She turned to face Faith, her expressive pixie face alight. “I still can’t believe you’re married to him.”
“I can’t believe it, either,” Faith said wryly. “It’s a little overwhelming sometimes.”
“He’s really been great about your mom living here.” Gretchen flung herself onto one of the bar stools. “Tim would wig out if I asked him to let my mother live with us.”
“It’s a slightly different situation.” Faith felt compelled to defend Gretchen’s steady beau, one of the nicest guys she’d ever met. “I mean, it’s not as though we’re tripping over each other like we would in a small place.”
“Yeah, I guess the money makes a difference.” The redhead made a little moue of frustration. “Money. I wish it didn’t exist.”
“Amen.” Gretchen couldn’t know how much Faith meant that. Then her friend’s woebegone expression registered, and she focused on Gretchen. “What’s wrong?”
Gretchen shrugged. “Nothing, really. Tim asked me to marry him—”
“When? Why didn’t you tell me?” Faith leaped from her own seat and embraced her friend. “Congratulations!”
But Gretchen raised a hand and indicated that she should calm down. “Well, frankly, it isn’t that big a deal yet. Tim says he wants to marry me, but he wants us to save some money first. He’s thinking we should buy a house in New Jersey.”
“And you don’t want to do that?”
“Are you kidding? I’d love it!” Gretchen waved her hands about. “Big old trees, a little white picket fence and a house with shutters. We could get a dog…we’ve even talked about children.” Her big eyes sparkled with tears. “But he wants to wait until we can make a down payment on a home to get married. I love the stupid man and I want to marry him now!”
“Why should you wait?” Faith tried to think about it from Tim’s point of view. And failed. People who loved each other should marry. What did money have to do with love?
“Beats me.”
“I don’t get it, either.” Faith sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. Men are such dolts sometimes.”
“You said it, girlfriend.” Shedding her sad mood, Gretchen eyed Faith over the rim of her coffee cup. “That sounded like you had one specific man in mind.”
Faith smiled slightly. “Without question.”
“Problems with the tycoon?”
“A few.” If her friend only knew!
“Sex,” said Gretchen.
Faith nearly choked on the coffee she’d just swallowed. “What?”
“Men are amazingly easy to manipulate if you start with a little physical T.L.C.”
“They are not.”
“That’s what all the magazines say.” And that, as far as Gretchen was concerned, made it fact. “So you just have to dazzle him with incredible, unforgettable sex and then talk about whatever’s bothering you. He’ll be much more malleable then.”
“You are terrible!” Faith began to giggle as she saw the glint of humor lurking in her friend’s eyes. But her amusement faded away as she thought about her marriage. “Anyway, that’s not an option. We don’t—” Oh, my God. She stopped, appalled at her runaway tongue.
Gretchen was staring at her as if she’d sprouted a second head. “Tell me you are kidding. You have a platonic relationship with one of the most gorgeous men in North America?”
“Um, yes, that’s about right.” Faith squirmed beneath the incredulous stare.
“Don’t you love him?”
Faith nodded sadly. “I do. I never knew it was possible to care for someone the way I care for him. But that doesn’t mean it’s mutual.”
“Well, if he doesn’t love you and you’re not having wild, bed-wrecking sex every night, then why the heck did he marry you?”
Well, there was no backing out of it now. If there was a more persistent woman than her redheaded friend on the face of the planet, Faith would have to meet her to be convinced. “He married me because he feels responsible for me,” she said miserably. To an extent, that was true, and it was the only thing she could say to her friend without breaking Stone’s trust. “His father and mine were best friends. When they were killed together, Stone became my guardian.”
“Your guardian? How Victorian!” Gretchen’s eyes were wide. “And because of that he felt compelled to marry you?” Her eyes narrowed and she gave a snort of disbelief. “Uh-uh. I don’t buy it.”
“It’s true,” Faith said glumly. “That’s why we haven’t—we don’t—”
“Give me a break.” Gretchen hopped off her stool and paced around the kitchen. “Look me in the eye and tell me that if you were as homely as a mud fence he’d have married you.” When Faith’s brow wrinkled and she hesitated, Gretchen stabbed her index finger at her. “See? I knew it! No man would sacrifice himself like that. He wants you.”
“He doesn’t.” Faith stopped, remembering the passionate kisses they’d shared, and her expression reflected her lack of conviction.
“Ha! I knew it.” Gretchen was grinning at the look on her friend’s face. “He does want you. He’s just trying to be, I don’t know, noble or something. I guess he’s got some hang-up about that guardian stuff. Still…if he’s hot for you, there’s hope. You just have to seduce him.”
“Seduce him? You are insane.”
“No, no, I’m serious.” And her freckled face did look surprisingly sober. “I might have been kidding before, but I am so totally not joking about this. Faith, you were meant to be with this guy. And he was meant to love you back. He’s just too dumb to know it. You’re going to have to go after him big time.”
“No way.” She shook her head, remembering the way he’d rejected her before, and the way he’d reacted two days ago when she’d tried to encourage him to mend his fences with his mother. “He’s made it clear what his position is.”
“Oh, come on. Aren’t you the girl who came to town without a job or a place to live, and found both the very first day? If you really want him, he’s toast. You just have to go for it.”
“This is a ridiculous conversation.” Faith rose and began stacking dishes. “Come on, I’ll take you in to meet my mother and her companion before you have to get back.”
But Gretchen’s words lingered in her mind long after her old roommate had left. If he’s hot for you, there’s hope.