by Gina Wilkins
They looked like a family.
The thought occurred to Nathan abruptly as he and Caitlin strolled down the aisle side by side, pushing Isabelle in front of them. And then, for the first time, he wondered what he would say if someone they knew saw them looking so cozy. He had known when he brought Isabelle home with him that explanations would be inevitable, but it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Maybe I should have talked to my mother before coming out in public like this,” he murmured to Caitlin, suddenly feeling as if eyes were focused on them from every direction.
“Maybe you should have thought of that sooner,” she replied, setting two jars of applesauce in the cart.
“Maybe we’ll get out of here without seeing anyone we know.”
The look she gave him was skeptical—and rightly so. Honesty wasn’t that big, and he had lived here all his life. He rarely stepped out of his house without running into at least one person he knew.
He drew a deep breath and concentrated on the shopping, hoping he wouldn’t be spotted by anyone likely to call his mother before he had the chance to talk to her.
Other than his concern about potentially awkward encounters, he might have enjoyed the shopping trip. Isabelle was delightfully serious about helping with the selection process. Caitlin was obviously, if reluctantly, charmed by the little girl—who wouldn’t be?—and she revealed a softer side of herself, one that she usually kept hidden at the office.
“Do you like cereal, Isabelle?” she asked, studying a dizzying array of colorful boxes.
“Yes. Cereal’s good for breakfast.”
Nathan reached for a chocolate-flavored puff cereal, figuring every kid must like that flavor. After all, it was the one he usually bought for himself.
“Not that one, Nate,” Isabelle admonished him. “Too much sugar.”
Caitlin laughed. Nathan placed his hands on his hips and cocked his head at his sister. “What brand would you recommend?”
Isabelle placed a fingertip against her rosy lips, studying the offerings. “That one,” she finally decided, pointing to a box of bite-size wheat squares. “I like those.”
Moving down the aisle, they added boxes of flavored instant oatmeal and bags of dried fruit to the cart, both heartily approved by Isabelle. The next aisle held cookies. “I suppose we need to pass these?” Nathan suggested. “Too sugary, right?”
Isabelle frowned. “We need some sweets,” she said earnestly. “A little doesn’t hurt.”
He grinned. “Just point to what you like.”
Isabelle happily selected a bag of chocolate chip cookies and some pink-frosted animal crackers. He’d have bought out the store at that point, if she’d asked, just because she was so darned cute.
He’d better be careful about that, he thought, or she just might get the idea that he was a soft touch.
Moving on to the canned goods, Nathan stood back and watched while Caitlin and Isabelle debated the relative merits of chicken noodle soup or chicken and stars. He couldn’t seem to stop smiling; they made a lovely picture as they focused so intently on the display of red and white cans.
His smile faded when he heard his name spoken from behind him. “Nathan? Is that you?”
His eyes closed in a spasm of emotion. Of all the rotten luck….
He turned. “Hello, Aunt Betty.”
She wasn’t actually his aunt, not by blood, anyway. She had been married to his father’s uncle, which made her his great-aunt by marriage. But she had never let such distinctions deter her. Betty McCloud enjoyed nothing more than bossing around the younger members of her late husband’s extended family.
A very large woman—nearly six feet tall and well over two hundred pounds—the seventy-five-year-old former loan officer had a voice like a bullhorn. Several nearby shoppers glanced their way when she asked loudly, “So, what’s up? Doing some grocery shopping?”
Resisting the impulse to make a smart-aleck remark to that very obvious question, Nathan merely nodded.
Betty’s attention had already turned to his companions. “The law partner, right? Kate?”
“Caitlin,” Nathan corrected her.
Caitlin’s smile was only slightly strained. “Hello, Mrs. McCloud. It’s nice to see you again.”
Her hawk-like eyes zeroing in on Isabelle, the older woman asked, “This your little girl? Didn’t know you had one. She’s a cutie.”
Uncertain how to respond, Caitlin looked at Nathan. “I, uh…”
It might not have been the noblest choice Nathan could have made, but he decided to take the easy way out. Escape.
“You know, it was great to see you, Aunt Betty, but we really have to hurry. I’ll call you soon and explain everything, okay?”
“Explain what?” she asked, frowning at him.
He merely smiled and pushed the cart so quickly away that Isabelle’s fine hair ruffled in the resulting breeze. Her eyes big, she gazed up at him. “Who was that?” she asked in a stage whisper.
“That was my great-aunt Betty. Yours, too, I guess.”
“She’s loud.”
Nathan nodded. “I know.”
“She thinks I’m Miss Caitlin’s little girl.”
Nathan avoided Caitlin’s eyes. “I know. I’ll explain to her later.”
“But why…?”
“What kind of fruit juice do you like, Isabelle?” Caitlin asked quickly.
Isabelle seemed to debate for a moment whether to continue her line of questioning or allow herself to be distracted. But then she conceded and requested apple juice.
Staying well ahead of Betty, Nathan practically jogged down the rest of the aisles, tossing food items into the cart until it nearly overflowed. He kept his eyes focused on the shelves, operating on the theory that if he didn’t see anyone else he knew, they wouldn’t see him, either.
Caitlin helped him pile his purchases on the conveyor belt at the cashier’s station. He paid the sizable bill with a bank debit card, then pushed the cart full of now-bagged groceries toward the parking lot. A golfing buddy hailed him just outside the door; Nathan waved and kept moving, successfully avoiding conversation.
“You have to talk to your mother,” Caitlin said as they reached their cars. “There’s no way you can keep this quiet for long.”
“I know.” He glanced into the back of his car, which was filled with his bags and Isabelle’s. “Think we can put some of these bags in your car? I’m not sure everything’s going to fit in mine.”
Caitlin hesitated a moment before opening the trunk of her Saturn. He wondered if she had considered parting from him here rather than accompanying him home. “If you have other plans for the evening, I’m sure Isabelle and I can manage by ourselves…..”
She sighed and reached for a bag of groceries. “No, I don’t have other plans. I’m happy to give you a hand this evening. We are partners, after all.”
Partners. Maybe she was trying to downplay the cozily intimate nature of their shopping expedition by reminding him of their business relationship. He couldn’t think of any other reason for her to bring it up. But he merely nodded, thanked her and helped her transfer the groceries to her car. He should probably feel at least a little guilty about shamelessly using her this way, but he needed her help too badly.
Chapter Four
It took several trips to transfer all the groceries and belongings into Nathan’s house. They unpacked briskly and with little conversation, Isabelle gamely carrying as much as her little arms could hold. Dumping suitcases in the den, they concentrated first on putting away the groceries.
Caitlin lifted an eyebrow at the empty state of Nathan’s pantry and refrigerator. “You weren’t kidding when you said you were out of groceries, were you?”
He made a face as he stashed milk, eggs and cheese in the nearly empty fridge. “You’re not the only one who survives on take-out food.”
Isabelle tugged at his shirt. “I’m hungry now, Nate. Can we have hot dogs and macaroni and cheese?”
&n
bsp; She had informed them at the supermarket that it was her favorite meal. Nathan had been pleased to hear it; that was a menu even he could prepare. He’d made a vow to himself to learn to cook healthy, balanced meals, but tonight seemed like a good time for something quick and easy.
By the time he had the food ready, all the groceries had been neatly organized and put away. He persuaded Caitlin to join them for dinner, and the three of them ate around the kitchen table. Nathan didn’t own a booster seat, of course, so Isabelle sat on a stack of law books to raise her to table height.
By the time she’d finished eating, Isabelle’s eyelids were growing heavy again. It had been a long, eventful day for a little girl—for an adult as well, Nathan admitted. He wouldn’t mind curling up in a quiet corner for a few hours himself. And not necessarily alone, he added with a thoughtful look at Caitlin, who sat across the table from him, smiling sweetly at Isabelle.
Unfortunately, he had a lot more to do before he could rest that evening. And he doubted Caitlin would be interested in curling up with him, anyway. Especially not tonight.
Bringing Isabelle into his life had changed everything as far as his social life was concerned. When he had considered asking Caitlin out before, he’d been happily unattached. She might have had some hesitation about dating her business partner, but now he was also a single father—and he had no idea how she felt about that.
Caitlin volunteered to clear the kitchen as he carried Isabelle to his bedroom to nap while he prepared the guest room for her use. “I’ll leave the door open,” he told Isabelle, tucking her into his bed. “Miss Caitlin and I will be in the other room. Just call out if you need anything.”
“’Kay,” she murmured sleepily, snuggling into his pillows. “G’night, Nate.”
“Good night, poppet.” He brushed a kiss across her soft cheek, smoothed the covers over her shoulders and straightened. She was still wearing the knit outfit she had traveled in earlier, having removed only her shoes before climbing into bed. Nathan hadn’t unpacked her pj’s yet, nor her toothbrush or toys or anything else.
He drew a deep breath at the thought of all that lay ahead of him, and then turned toward the doorway to rejoin Caitlin.
Waiting in the den for Nathan, Caitlin looked at the clutter of suitcases and boxes on the floor and wondered exactly how she had ended up here this evening. All she remembered saying was that if there was anything she could do for Nathan and Isabelle…
The next thing she knew, she’d been picking out groceries and eating hot dogs at his kitchen table.
She’d only been in Nathan’s house a couple of times. She looked at it now through new eyes, studying the leather and wood furnishings, the wildlife prints and golf-and-wildlife-themed knick-knacks. One wall of the room was dominated by an entertainment centre that included a large-screen TV, VCR and DVD players, a sound system and a video game system. Typical young bachelor’s place, she thought of the cozy three-bedroom, ranch-styled house in a neighborhood filled with singles and young marrieds.
“Your life is certainly about to change,” she commented when Nathan strolled into the room.
He scooped up a white stuffed owl Isabelle had been carrying around earlier, and studied it with a quizzical expression. “Tell me about it.”
“Are you nervous?”
The look he gave her was almost comically expressive. “Terrified.”
“I would be, too.” She considered talking to him again about the wisdom of the decision he had made, but he looked so tired that she didn’t have the heart. Maybe after he’d had some rest, he would see things differently.
She glanced at the bags on the floor. “Need help with these things?”
“Yes, you could help me set up the guest room for Isabelle, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure. Which things are hers?”
“The black suitcase and carry-on are mine. We’ll just leave them in here for now. The two red suitcases and the purple footlocker hold Isabelle’s things. Barbara Houston’s daughter helped me pack Isabelle’s favorites. I told her to dispose of the rest however she saw fit.”
Caitlin took hold of the handle of a wheeled red suitcase. “Point me toward the guest room.”
He had already hefted the small footlocker off the floor. “This way,” he said over his shoulder.
The house was set up with a split floor plan—master bedroom and bath on one end, kitchen, dining room, den and living room centrally located and two smaller bedrooms and a bath at the far end. The doors were all open.
Caitlin noted that Nathan had arranged one of the spare bedrooms as an office with a desk, filing cabinets, bookshelves, computer system and other basic office equipment. It looked very much like the office she had set up in her two-bedroom apartment.
He had done very little decorating in the guest room. The furnishings consisted of a bed, a nightstand, a dresser and a chest of drawers in a warm-toned wood that might have been maple. A blue-and-green plaid spread covered the bed and a beige ginger-jar lamp with a matching shade sat on the nightstand. White blinds covered the single window; there was no curtain to soften the effect. A couple of generic, framed landscape prints hung on the white-painted walls. It was obviously a room that was rarely, if ever, used.
Still holding the footlocker, Nathan paused just inside the doorway. “Doesn’t look much like a little girl’s room, does it?”
“No,” she admitted, “but it has potential. It’s a good size, and the furniture is nice.”
“Thanks. It’s the furniture I had in my room when I was a teenager. Mom donated it to me when I set up housekeeping on my own. She wanted to redecorate her place, anyway.”
She released the suitcase and turned slowly in the center of the room. “All you need is a new bedspread, throw pillows, curtains and some colorful framed posters for the walls. The built-in bookshelves are perfect for holding books and toys.”
“It sounds like you know just how to fix it up for her.”
She frowned warily. “Now, wait a minute. I was only making a few suggestions, not volunteering to decorate.”
“But, Caitlin, there’s no one else to help me,” he said, giving her one of his well-practiced, hopeful-puppy smiles. “I can hardly ask my mother or sister, and what do I know about decorating for a little girl?”
“You should have thought of that before you brought one home with you.”
When he only kept smiling at her, she sighed and called herself a sucker. “Okay, fine. Maybe I could give you a hand—not that I’m guaranteeing results. I’m no decorator.”
“Maybe you could take her shopping in the morning, let her pick out a few things she likes?”
“Oh, I—”
“I have to go talk to my mother,” he cut in quickly. “I really need to break the news to her before someone else calls her. I can’t take Isabelle with me, obviously, and this isn’t something I can tell Mom over the phone.”
“In other words, you’re asking me to baby-sit while you talk to your mother.”
He shrugged, and his expression was sheepish. “I don’t have anyone else to ask.”
She wished he would quit saying that. She was his business partner, nothing more. It wasn’t her responsibility to help him set up a household after making a rash decision that was guaranteed to estrange him from his family.
Because she was feeling stressed and a little defensive—not to mention exhausted from one of the toughest work weeks she’d ever dealt with—she launched into that lecture she had been trying to avoid. “You understand that this is the way your life is going to be if you go through with this? Baby-sitters and family problems and changing your whole life—even your home? Even your career will be affected. You won’t have the freedom to work any hours you like, the way you have until now. And we’re talking about the next fifteen years. You can’t just go back to the way things were when the novelty wears off, especially if you go so far as to adopt her. This little girl is going to have to be your number-one priority until s
he’s completely grown and self-sufficient.”
“You think I haven’t considered all of that already?” He planted his fists on his hips and stared at her. “This wasn’t an impulse, Caitlin. I spent several days in California trying to talk myself out of bringing her here, doing my best to convince myself I wasn’t the right person to raise this child. When I said I was terrified, it was more for her sake than my own. Sure, I’ll have to change my schedules, give up some freedom, spend less time partying and playing. I can live with that. But as for Isabelle—her whole life is at stake here. Her future.”
He was pacing now, his hands flying as he vented. It was probably the first chance he’d had to really talk with anyone since he’d had to make this life-altering decision. “I made a list of all the reasons I shouldn’t take this on. It started with the facts that I’m single and have no experience with kids. I reminded myself of the hostility she could face in this town, from my own family, for example. The list of reasons not to bring her home with me was several pages long.”
“And the list of reasons why you should bring her?”
He squeezed the back of his neck with one hand, his voice quiet. “Pretty short. Only two reasons, actually. She’s my sister, and my dad would have wanted me to raise her.”
After all the pain he had been through, all the heartache, embarrassment and disappointment, Nathan was still trying to please his father, even after the man’s death. Caitlin understood that. She still faithfully visited her mother, even though her mother hadn’t looked at Caitlin with a glimmer of recognition in more than a year.
Caitlin could no more turn her back on her mother than she could fly. She couldn’t imagine how she might feel if she suddenly found herself responsible for a young sibling. She had a sneaky suspicion she might have reacted much like Nathan had—recklessly taking on more responsibility than was good for her, even at great cost to herself.
She was just glad she wasn’t the one who’d been placed in that difficult position. Nathan might be willing to change everything in his life, but hers was right on track.