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He made a half-hearted effort at checking out his boat and motor, thinking Cathy would wonder why if he didn’t. Then he got in his car and drove around aimlessly for hours, finally grabbing a hamburger in a bar before going home.
There was a message from his mother on his machine, only saying, “Call me. We’re at the condo in Florida.”
It was probably only her routine check-in. He didn’t feel like talking to anyone, so he didn’t return her call.
Grabbing a cold beer, he sat down to stare at the television. The phone rang, and his mother demanded to know where he’d been, why he hadn’t returned her call.
“I just walked in, Mom,” he lied. Lying was becoming a habit. See what you’re doing to me, Cathy?
“Did Cathy get moved here okay?”
“How did you hear about that?”
“Susie told me you’d gone to the lake. And I called Sara when I couldn’t reach you. She always knows what’s going on.”
“That figures.”
“She told me you had her stock up on extra food and baby stuff, so I knew Cathy must be moving here. There’s no other baby in our lives right now, is there?”
“No, there isn’t, Mom.” He sighed and flipped the channel to a rodeo.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” he hedged, knowing full well she wanted all the details about her grandson.
“Tell me about Cory. Is he walking yet? Has he grown a lot?”
“He’s a wonderful, happy, chubby boy, Mom. Looks just like Don and I did at that age. Yes, he’s walking and talking some, too
. And he’s starting to get into everything. He keeps Cathy hopping.”
“That’s wonderful. How’s Cathy doing? Does she mind being a single mom?”
“No, Mom. She’s really protective of him.” So protective I may not even get to see much of my own flesh and blood. He sighed and said into the phone, “She loves him and is a good mother.”
“I’m glad. I’ve been so worried. I would have been glad to have taken him. But Jenny had made her decision, and there was nothing we could do.”
“I’m sure Jenny did what she thought was best at the time.”
He couldn’t tell her the worst part. Cory wasn’t legally a Langer anymore. By having Cathy adopt Cory, Jenny had removed him from their control. He shut his eyes and prayed she’d done the right thing. Though it certainly didn’t feel right for him.
His throat too tight to talk, he let his mother ramble on about their recent cruise and their friends and activities. He was glad she and his father were enjoying their retirement.
“We’ll be up for a visit soon,” she concluded. “Take care, son.”
“You too, Mom. Say hi to Dad. I love you both.”
“We love you, too, son. ’Bye.”
A half hour and two beers later, his sister Jody called. “Mom just called from Florida. I hear my nephew is living in the cabin,” she said accusingly. “And you didn’t tell me!”
“Sorry, Sis. I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy for a phone call to your family? For shame, brother dear.”
Her sarcastic tone calling him “brother dear” told him she wouldn’t forgive him soon. He groaned and tried to shut out her scolding. She was only two years older, but could always make him feel like a naughty little boy when she got her dander up. This really wasn’t his day.
Then he realized he’d missed something Jody had said. “How about Saturday night?” she was asking.
“Saturday night for what?”
“For you to bring Cathy and Cory over here for dinner,” she said. “Aren’t you listening to me?”
“For dinner? Why?” he asked, at a loss as to what to say.
How could he tell her he didn’t want to see Cathy right now? Cathy had dropped a bombshell on him, and he needed time to think about it and make his peace with it. Jody had no idea that Cory was his son, or that he’d mind in the least that Cathy had adopted him. He couldn’t tell her. He’d never told anyone until Ken and Susie. And Don’s lawyer, he remembered. But a stranger didn’t count. And there was client confidentiality, wasn’t there? The lawyer wouldn’t tell anyone. Neither would Ken or Susie.
“To see my nephew, of course, dummy. And to welcome Cathy to Minnesota. Since when do we need an excuse to ask family to dinner?”
“I have no idea if she’ll want to come,” he hedged. “Why don’t you call her?”
“All right. Is the house number still the same?”
“No,” he said, hesitating. It wouldn’t be, would it? He wasn’t thinking straight today.
“No, of course it isn’t, it’s been disconnected for a year or more. What’s her number?”
He realized he should have asked Cathy. Now he felt stupid. Cathy would have put the phone in her own name when she’d had it reconnected, wouldn’t she?
“I didn’t ask,” he said irritably. “Get it from the operator.”
“Honestly, Dave. What’s the matter with you? You will drive them over here, won’t you? This isn’t the easiest place for a stranger to find.”
She wasn’t going to let him get out of it. And he’d have to face Cathy again. It might as well be Saturday as any other day. It wouldn’t be too bad. After all, Cathy had no idea he was upset about anything. He could pretend not to be, couldn’t he? “Sure. But you invite her and call me back.”
He might be lucky and Cathy would think up an excuse not to agree, giving him a reprieve.
But Jody called back shortly to tell him Cathy had said yes and to bring them at six.
The intervening days dragged. He stayed away from the lake, but the longer he remained away the more he missed Cathy and Cory. He dreamed about her at night, of holding her soft body in his arms and pressing his lips on hers. In his dreams she responded without hesitation, and he woke up frustrated and drenched in sweat. When he finally went back to sleep, he dreamed he heard Cory’s giggles and his voice calling him, Dada!
It was impossible to believe they’d gotten under his skin this fast. His life was totally out of control.
In his office the next morning, Ken growled at him, “Dave, you’re so crabby lately, a person can hardly work with you. Why don’t you go make up with her and be done with it?”
“Make up with who?”
“As if you don’t know,” Ken snorted and stormed back to his own office.
Susie grinned at him through the open doorway. “He’s right, you know. You are being a bit of a bear.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
But they both knew who had upset him, though they didn’t know why. He wasn’t about to tell them or Cathy what was wrong because he had no idea what he could do about it.
* * * *
Cathy spent the days working in her studio, trying to concentrate.
Her worry about Dave’s distress kept interfering with her thought processes.
One afternoon, she remembered she hadn’t returned Jane’s dish and walked over to her house.
Jane was home and answered. Jane’s house was lovely, but decorated in a relaxed style. She had books and magazines scattered about, and her white angora cat eyed them from a stuffed chair.
In no time, Jane had Cory giggling and petting her cat on the living room floor, while she and Cathy relaxed with cups of coffee on her couch. Jane propped her feet on a footstool and chatted a mile a minute.
“You’re so easy to talk to, I feel as though I’ve known you forever,” Cathy said an hour later. “I definitely needed this break from work.”
“Thanks. I like you very much, too. I haven’t seen Dave’s car this week.” Jane sipped her coffee and waited expectantly.
Cathy sighed. “Dave hasn’t called, and I’ve had no reason to phone him.”
“Is anything wrong? I had the impression you were both interested in each other.”
Cathy shrugged. “I think Dave is angry with me about something.”
“Angry? About what?”
“I have no idea.”
“Did he say he was?”
“No. But he had the strangest look on his face when he left the last time he was here. He just suddenly walked out, and I haven’t heard from him since.”
“That doesn’t sound like Dave. He’s usually out-spoken. What were you talking about before he left?”
Cathy sipped her coffee, trying to remember exactly what had happened, but she kept seeing Dave’s stricken face before he’d left that day last week. He’d been very upset, she was sure. But why?
Thinking back, she tried to remember what she’d said. “He asked for Cory’s social security number for an account he started at the bank,” she said slowly. “I gave him the paper with Cory’s name and social security number on it, and Dave asked why his name was no longer Langer.”
“Maybe he didn’t like the fact you’d changed Cory’s last name?”
“Why should that bother him? Surely his family already knew of the adoption.”
Jane shrugged. “Men can be funny about things like passing down their names to the next generation.”
Cathy sighed. “I have no idea if that is what’s wrong or what to do about it.”
“The Langers didn’t try to adopt him themselves? Or fight you for custody?”
Cathy shook her head. “No. Don’s lawyer said Dave wasn’t at all happy about my adopting Cory, but wouldn’t say why.”
“I see.”
Cathy sighed and put down her cup. “I hate being at odds with anyone. It leaves nervous lumps in my stomach. How can you make up with someone when they won’t talk to you?”
Jane reached over and patted her hand. “Well, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure he’ll be back.”
Cathy nodded and rose to leave. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“Come over anytime. I love to see you both.”
She walked home, wishing she could be as sure of Dave as Jane seemed to be.
* * * *
By Saturday, she was painting again. Her work was progressing slowly, but at least it was moving forward.
She needed the next installment check for this work, and the sooner she finished this batch of paintings and sent them to her editor, the sooner she’d be paid.
Finally, when Cory woke from his nap and demanded attention, she gave up trying to paint and went to tend him and play with him.
Would the dinner this evening at Jody’s house be a disaster? She should have made an excuse not to go.
But Jody’s call inviting her to dinner had taken her by surprise. She barely remembered meeting Don’s sister, Jody, at Don and Jenny’s wedding, and hadn’t expected to be invited to her home. So, now she was more than a little nervous about going there.
Should she dress up? Or would it be just her and Dave? Jody had specifically asked that she bring Cory, saying she wanted to see how her nephew had grown. Jody had sounded excited and anxious to see him, so she couldn’t be planning a fancy party, Cathy decided. She’d dress for a simple dinner at home.
She put Cory in his playpen and spent another couple hours at work, then bathed and changed them both. She decided to wear a yellow cotton sundress that was dressy, yet comfortable. She brushed her long hair until it shone. Letting it fall down her back, she fastened it in place with a wide gold clip.
Jody had said Dave would pick her up at six. When the doorbell rang promptly at that hour, she found Dave dressed in a dressy pair of blue slacks and pale blue shirt. And wearing a smile. Thank goodness he’s gotten over whatever he was upset about. She relaxed for the first time in days.
“Hi! I see I guessed correctly on casual wear,” she said. “I forgot to ask Jody. I hope this is all right.”
“Of course. You look lovely, as usual. As far as I know, you and I and Cory will be the only guests. She’s anxious to see her nephew.”
“Oh. I’ll get the diaper bag.”
Cathy handed Cory to him, got her things, and followed Dave out to his car. She watched him strap Cory into his car seat, then settled in herself and buckled up. The scent of Dave’s shaving lotion mingled with the scent of leather.
“Thanks for driving us,” she said as they started out. “I’m terrible about following directions. If it hadn’t been for Harry I’d probably never have made it across country.”
“Really? I’ll have to remember that,” he said with an exaggerated leer. “So, I won’t have to run out of gas on a lonely road to get you alone.”
She glanced at him to see if he was kidding, then gave a nervous laugh. Did that silly joke mean he wanted to make love on a lonely road? The idea sent a warm fuzzy surge of desire skittering along her veins. You’ve been alone with a baby too long. It’s time you got out more, so the first handsome man’s sweet talk won’t turn your head.
“Silly,” she said now to Dave, deciding to join in the banter. “Whoever heard of parking in a lover’s lane with a baby on board?”
“True. Of, course, he does nap, sometimes,” Dave said with a grin.
She blushed and turned to look at the scenery so he wouldn’t notice. There was little to look at but cornfields and farms along the road. The sun was low in the west, sending a rosy glow over the lush, green fields. But a bank of clouds off to the west foretold showers to come on the morrow. She bit her lip and glanced at Dave, wondering what he was thinking. His face was unreadable now as he concentrated on driving.
He turned off the blacktop onto a gravel road that wound up a hill. She could see a house set way back in the woods. As they neared the house, she saw that brightly colored flowerbeds surrounded it.
“Here we are.”
“Lovely,” she commented, feeling nervous again. This family obviously had money. Why did they want to get involved with her? For Cory’s sake, of course. But Cory was her son now, whether they liked it or not. Or were they hoping to change that?
A tall, slim girl in a pale yellow blouse and brown slacks waved a welcome to them from her doorway. She had long, straight brown hair, pulled back loosely in a knot and tied with a red barrette.
Dave came around and opened the car door for Cathy, then unbuckled Cory from his car seat in the back and carried him into the house.
“Cathy, you remember my sister, Jody Langer,” Dave said as he stepped inside.
“Hello, Jody.”
“Hi, Cathy, I’m so happy you could come. And this is Cory. Oh, my, you’re such a big boy already,” Jody gushed.
She gave both Cathy and Dave a smile and hug. Then she continued talking to Cory, trying to coax a smile out of him.
Cory stared at her warily, his brown eyes wide, not at all sure what to make of her enthusiasm for him.
“This is your aunt Jody,” Cathy told him reassuringly. She turned to Jody and asked, “It is all right to call you that, isn’t it?”
“Of course. I am his auntie,” Jody said. “You’re my first nephew, Cory.”
“Mama!” Cory held out his arms to Cathy.
Sending Dave an apologetic smile, Cathy took Cory from him.
Cory tucked his face in her neck and peeked back at Jody.
This little game of peek-a-boo pleased Jody, and she laughed. “Come on in and sit down. Dinner’s almost ready,” she assured them, leading the way into a large living room.
Cathy stepped inside, then stopped to look around in awe. One whole wall of the room was lined with books. A variety of soft chairs and tables were scattered about the interior of the room. There was a large fireplace along one side wall and, on the other, a stairway leading to a loft and rooms beyond. The opposite wall from where she stood was floor to ceiling glass, with doors leading out to a large patio overlooking a gorgeous view of the green valley below.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” Cathy said, walking across the soft carpet to look at the view. “You can see for miles, and the fields look like pieces in a patchwork quilt. Each one is a slightly different pattern and size.”
“Isn’t it wonderful? I love it. And the view changes constantly with the seasons, as the farmers plow, plant, and harvest the fields in the valley. Dave designed this house for me a few years ago,” Jody said.
Dave flushed when Cathy turned to look at him with open admiration. “I told you I was an architect.”
“I didn’t know you did wonderful houses like this. Did you plan the one at the lake, too?”
He shook his head. “My parents bought that long before I grew up and started designing. But it was one of the homes that inspired me.”
Jody laughed at his embarrassment and Cathy’s pleasure. “Dave does very nice work,” she said. “Don’t let him tell you any different. He and Ken have done both homes and businesses for some rich and important people.”
“Jody,” Dave said with a warning tone in his voice.
She grinned and winked at Cathy. “He doesn’t like me to brag about him. I’ll go put dinner on the table. Make yourselves at home.”
“May I help?” Cathy asked, wondering if that was allowed in this family.
“If you’d like.”
With relief that she wouldn’t be left alone with Dave, Cathy handed Cory to him and followed Jody to the kitchen.
That room also looked like it could have been featured in a magazine. The cupboards were done in natural oak, and every appliance looked new and expensive.
Jody chattered a mile a minute as she took hot rolls out of the oven and soon put Cathy at ease.
“I hope you like roast beef,” Jody said. “It’s Dave’s favorite, and he didn’t seem in the best of moods when I talked to him the other day, so I thought I’d butter him up with a good meal.” She winked at Cathy. “Mom always said she could cheer her men up with food faster than anything else.”
Cathy laughed. “Sounds familiar. I think my mother had a saying like that too.” She wanted to add that her mother had always added, ‘except sex,’ but didn’t quite dare.
“Dave seems to have made a connection with Cory already,” Jody said as she tore lettuce for a tossed salad.
Cathy nodded. “I suppose he misses Don, so seeing his son is a way of saying that life goes on.”
Jody glanced at Cathy and said, “Don and Dave always were very close.”
“I’ve heard identical twins usually are.”
“They always defended each other if either was in trouble and looked out for each other’s interests. So don’t be surprised if Dave wants to continue doing that, with Cory as Don’s substitute.”
“I suppose,” Cathy said, thinking of Dave’s bossiness about their house.
“You won’t mind?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Not as long as it doesn’t get out of hand.”
“My mother’s absolutely thrilled with the idea of grandchildren,” Jody confided. “She’s been bugging me for years to settle down, marry, and have some babies for her to spoil. I can’t say I’m ready to give her any, so I’m glad she has Cory to satisfy that urge for now.”
Cathy laughed. “She sounds just like my mother. I hear the same old refrain every time I talk to her. ‘When are you going to marry and give me some more grandchildren?’”
Jody laughed and nodded. “Well, their generation thinks marriage is the most important goal for a woman. I guess it’s hard for them to realize we have different ideas.”
Dinner went well. Jody served a perfect roast and crisp vegetables. Dave ate one hot roll after another until Cathy thought he’d burst.
As Cathy helped Jody load the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen, Jody said, “You and Dave have gotten pretty well acquainted already, haven’t you?”
“What makes you say that?”
Jody glanced at her and grinned. “I know my brother. He hardly took his eyes off of you all through dinner. And when he did, it was to watch Cory. I’d say that means he’s very interested in you both.”
“Oh.” Cathy blushed and couldn’t think of anything to reply to that. Was he interested in her as a woman? Or only as the mother of his nephew? She wished she knew.
They went back to the living room, where Dave was watching Cory practice walking across the room.
Jody cheered with Dave at his success, then laughed when Cory lost his balance and plopped down on his chubby rear on the carpet. Cory grinned, clapped his hands as though he was playing a game, and got up to try again.
He walked over to Jody and allowed her to hold him and play peek-a-boo with him. She was delighted with his antics.
Then, showing off his walking skills again, he headed straight for the bright colors of the books on the opposite wall. Cathy hurried over to turn him back toward Dave and Jody.
Jody laughed. “I guess I’ll have to change my decor a bit if I ever do have any kids of my own.”
Dave raised an eyebrow. “Are you thinking of giving me nieces and nephews? Who’s the lucky fellow?”
“No one. I’m happily single and plan to stay that way,” Jody retorted. “You’ll have to provide the grandkids mom wants.”
“Not me,” Dave said, his voice sounding strangled.
Cathy stared at him. He didn’t want kids? But he seemed to enjoy playing with Cory so much.
Why should she care what he wanted in the future? She was not getting involved with anyone. She was happily single and had Cory to raise. She didn’t need the complications of a relationship with any man, however attractive. Which Dave was, of course. Attractive. Yummy, in fact. But she wasn’t in the least bit interested. No, she wasn’t.
She put a smile on her face and forced her attention back to what Jody and Dave were saying. She’d better keep an eye on what her son was doing. He was pulling the blossoms off a rose in the vase on the coffee table. And eating them.
“Cory, no!” She hurried across the room and pressed a finger and thumb on each chubby cheek, forcing his mouth open so he’d spit out the petals. “I’m sorry, Jody.”
Jody laughed and handed her a tissue to clean him up. “No harm done,” she said. “I have lots of flowers. Besides, that’s how babies learn, by touching and tasting things. It was my fault. I should have put the vase up out of his reach.”
Cory wailed loudly, mostly in frustration at having the colorful flowers taken from him. Dave came forward to take him and comfort him.
Jody went to a closet and brought back a brightly colored tub. “Here, Cory, look what I bought for you today. Pretty blocks!” She put the blocks on the floor.
“There’s never a dull moment with you around, eh, Cory?” Dave said. “Come on, let’s try building something with these blocks.”
Cathy watched as he sat on the floor with Cory, talking softly to him. Cory stopped crying and turned his attention to Dave and the blocks.
Cathy took her camera from her purse and got some pictures of Dave and Cory on the floor together. Then she took some more of Jody and Cory together. Jody insisted on taking some of Cathy and Cory as well, then took some with her own camera.
All too soon, the pleasant evening ended, and they took their leave.
“Be sure to come visit me again, soon,” Jody said, kissing Cory. He gave her a hug and wet kiss in return.
“I will,” Cathy promised. “And you come see me. You know where I live.”
“I’d like that.”
* * * *
Dave said little on the way home, and Cathy wondered what he was thinking. He’d watched her, yes, as Jody had said, but he seemed to have something on his mind.
Cory had fallen asleep on the way, and Dave carried him inside and helped Cathy put him to bed.
They tiptoed back out to the living room.
Dave caught her arm and turned her into his embrace. His lips covered hers in a searing kiss.
“Dave,” she protested weakly. Then she gave in and kissed him back, her arms creeping up around his neck.
“I’ve been wanting to do this all evening,” he groaned. “Do you know how hard it is to have to keep my distance because my sister is watching?”
His hands slid down her spine and returned to cup her breast. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck, then back to her earlobe and claimed her lips again.
Cathy shuddered at the desire racing through her. But she barely knew him. And he didn’t want a family. She did, if she ever decided to have a relationship again. It was much too soon to think about this now. She broke the kiss and stepped back. “We mustn’t do this, Dave.”
“Why not?”
“You’re practically family,” she protested.
“I’m only your sister’s brother-in-law. We have no blood relationship at all.”
“But you’re Cory’s uncle.” And you don’t want kids. I’m not getting involved with anyone who doesn’t want a family. I’m Cory’s mom now, and he’s the most important thing in my life.
“So?”
“Besides, I hardly know you.” She was running out of excuses and didn’t want to blurt out the real reason.
“So, you’ll have to remedy that. May I stop in to see you and Cory again soon?”
“Of course,” she said politely, relief that he was backing off coloring her voice. “You’re Cory’s uncle. You have a right to see him. Thanks for driving us to Jody’s house tonight. It was a very nice evening.”
“You’re welcome. I enjoyed the evening, too, especially this last part.” He grinned mischievously. “Goodnight, Cathy.”
“Goodnight, Dave.”
She closed the door behind him and leaned back against it. He’d sounded surprised that he’d enjoyed the evening. Hadn’t he expected to enjoy going to his sister’s house? Or was it only her company he hadn’t expected to like?
Who could figure men out, anyway?
