Nadine blinked at that. “He is? Whose idea was that?”
“Not mine,” Maggie said. “My mother’s the one with the strange taste in dining companions.”
“Maybe I should go,” Nadine said, looking more hesitant than ever.
“That was my suggestion,” Josh said, then added grimly, “Maggie has other ideas.”
“Absolutely. I say the more the merrier. Before you got here, the odds were definitely stacked against me and Josh. You’ll even things up.”
“Are you sure?” Nadine asked.
“Positive,” Maggie assured her. “I can’t tell you the last time I looked forward to a luncheon with more enthusiasm.”
Beside her, Josh chuckled for the first time since Nadine’s unexpected appearance. “Don’t overdo it, darlin’.”
Maggie patted his cheek. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, darlin’. It’s going to be a genuine pleasure watching my mother’s social graces be put to a real test.”
14
From the moment he’d spotted Nadine in the doorway, Josh had been filled with a sense of dread. No good could come from her being here, not with George Winslow in the room, to say nothing of Maggie’s folks.
He was especially worried about Juliette. She’d obviously had an agenda for this luncheon, and Maggie was turning it on its head. He didn’t want Nadine caught in the crossfire, but he couldn’t think of a single way to keep this disaster from playing out.
When they arrived back at the table, Maggie’s father was deep in conversation with George. Still, at the arrival of the women, both men instantly stood, their manners instinctive. Then Winslow realized who was with Josh and Maggie.
“You!” he said, his voice filled with blustery disdain. He whirled on Juliette. “You invited this woman to join us? What on earth were you thinking?”
Juliette returned his indignant look with a considering expression. “I’m as surprised as you are, but I gather you’ve met?”
“More than once, unfortunately,” George confirmed.
“Well, I haven’t had the pleasure,” Juliette said smoothly. She held out her hand to Nadine. “I’m Maggie’s mother and I’m delighted you could join us,” she said graciously, though it was plain she had no idea on earth who Nadine was. It was apparently enough that Nadine’s mere presence had riled George Winslow. To Josh she appeared surprisingly eager to fan those sparks.
No one looked more startled by Juliette’s words than Maggie. Yet Nadine seemed to accept the greeting as her due. She gave Juliette one of her totally disingenuous smiles and said, “Thank you for allowing me to come at the last minute, Mrs. Forsythe. I didn’t mean to interrupt your luncheon. I had no idea my son and Maggie would be here.”
“Ah, you’re Josh’s mother,” Juliette said, as if that explained everything. She waved to get the attention of a waiter. “Johnson, we need another place setting, if you please.”
“Certainly, Mrs. Forsythe.”
“You’re allowing this woman to stay?” George demanded.
“Oh, sit down, George,” Juliette said impatiently. “It’s my luncheon. You don’t get to approve the guest list.”
“Perhaps not, but I also don’t have to stay.”
Nadine turned to him and inquired mildly, “You’re not afraid of me, are you, Mr. Winslow?”
The florid color in his cheeks deepened. “Afraid?” he scoffed. “Hardly. But I’ve allowed you to offend me in public twice already. Why should I permit it again, especially here among friends and associates of mine?”
“And here I came all this way just to see you and apologize,” Nadine said sweetly, leaning close and holding his gaze. “Won’t you stay and allow me to do it properly?”
Winslow looked understandably confused by her cheerful demeanor. Even Josh was befuddled by this turn of events. What had possessed Nadine to decide to apologize to a man she clearly held in disdain, and justifiably so, in Josh’s opinion? Not that his opinion seemed to count for much with this crowd.
“You really came here to see me and apologize?” Winslow asked skeptically.
“Indeed I did,” Nadine assured him.
“Now will you sit down, George?” Juliette demanded. “You’re drawing attention to us. If anyone’s creating a spectacle, it’s you.”
Winslow finally sat, but Josh noticed he kept a careful distance between himself and Nadine. Josh leaned down and whispered in Maggie’s ear, “What do you think she’s up to?”
“I have no idea, but it’s taken the heat off me, so I don’t really care.”
“I thought that’s why I was here,” he commented.
She grinned. “I think your work here is done. Nadine’s stolen the spotlight.”
Josh wasn’t comforted. “Why does that scare the daylights out of me?” he muttered.
“I have no idea,” Maggie said. “She’s your mother.”
“And I haven’t known what to make of her since I was a toddler.”
“Sit back and relax. Maybe you’ll learn something,” Maggie advised. “Nadine looks like she knows how to handle herself in any situation. She didn’t bat an eye at this turn of events.”
Josh didn’t doubt for an instant that there would be a lesson learned from all this. He just hoped it didn’t involve jail time.
Never in a million years would Maggie have dared to assemble this precise gathering of guests, but to her complete astonishment, it appeared to be working in some bizarre way. Nadine’s appearance had caught George completely off guard, and he was slowly succumbing to her self-deprecating brand of humor. Even Juliette seemed to be watching their exchange with amazement.
“Mother, you’ve done it again,” Maggie said with genuine appreciation when Josh excused himself to make a phone call, probably to report to Caleb the miracle that was taking place at their table—détente between George and Nadine.
Juliette regarded her with a puzzled expression. “Done what?”
“Pulled off the impossible. Your luncheon is a total success.”
“Don’t give me the credit for that. You can thank your young man and his mother for making things interesting. I’d been anticipating a dreary exchange between your father and George about how misguided you’ve been over this whole construction business. I assumed the most exciting moment would come when you got your back up and stormed out.” She regarded Maggie with a knowing look. “I assume this has turned out precisely the way you’d hoped.”
“I had nothing to do with Nadine’s arrival,” Maggie said.
“But you deliberately included Josh to distract me, did you not?”
Maggie grinned. “Perhaps.”
“Well, the tactic certainly worked. He’s quite distracting.”
Maggie thought she heard a note of real approval in her mother’s voice. It caught her by surprise. “Then you like Josh?”
“Does my opinion really matter?”
“Of course,” Maggie said.
Juliette’s lips curved slightly. “If I’m hesitant in expressing it, it’s because my approval usually sends you running in another direction.”
“I’m trying to get past that, but just so you know, Josh is not my young man. He’s a friend.”
Juliette studied her thoughtfully. “That’s something new for you, isn’t it?” she asked.
Leave it to her mother to understate the obvious. “I’ve been friends with other men,” Maggie said testily.
“Very few, darling. You have passionate flings that you know will alarm your father and me, and then you move on. Warren was the one exception to that pattern.”
“And just look how swimmingly that went,” Maggie said. “I think it’s probably best if we leave Warren out of this. He has nothing to do with anything anymore.”
“And Josh? Would you prefer to leave him out of the conversation, as well?”
“That’s probably a good idea.” Though she’d said earlier she wanted to hear her mother’s opinion, it was true that it did tend to affect her in a perverse way.
If Juliette approved of Josh, it would send Maggie fleeing. If her mother had taken an instant dislike to him, Maggie would most likely fling herself into his bed later this afternoon. Maybe for once, she ought to base where things went on her own opinion of the man.
And that seemed to be changing hourly, given how he’d scored on every test she’d thrown at him.
Nadine knew there was a lot riding on her ability to get through to George Winslow. She’d grown quite fond of Amanda and her children since she’d gotten to know them. She wanted to see them settled in a home of their own. And, of course, she wanted to prove to Josh that she was determined to turn her life around and be the kind of mother he could be proud of. After all the mistakes she’d made, she knew it would take quite a lot to convince him she’d changed.
Every time she was tempted to tell George he was a pompous ass, she bit her tongue and smiled instead. It was taking a terrible toll on her, but it seemed to be having a mellowing effect on him. In fact, she was discovering he could be quite charming when they stayed away from the topic of building Amanda’s house.
“You know, George, you should lighten up more often,” she told him bluntly when everyone else at the table had their attention focused elsewhere. “You’re a real handsome man when you’re not scowling at everyone.”
“And you’re refreshingly honest,” he admitted with evident surprise. “Of course, that’s a less attractive trait when you’re telling me off.”
She laughed. “I’m afraid that’s part of the package. I don’t hold back.”
“Sure you do,” he corrected. “You think I don’t know how hard it’s been for you not to rip into me today? I can see it in your eyes, Nadine, but you’re controlling your temper because you think it’ll help your son.”
She opted for honesty. “Okay, you caught me. This job’s real important to Josh and I like Amanda. I don’t want to see someone come along and mess things up for them. You have the power to do that.”
“So you decided to make nice with me,” he concluded.
She nodded.
“That took gumption, I’ll give you that. So did getting up in my face when we ran into each other before. Not many people would risk that, knowing the influence I have in this town.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t have a lot to lose.”
“But your son and Amanda did,” he concluded. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have backed down, am I right?”
She smiled. “Afraid so.”
He fell silent, his expression troubled. “I suppose you might as well know that I haven’t let this drop. I spoke to someone in the diocese this morning about having Caleb replaced. They’re going to look into it.”
Nadine regarded him with shock. “You did what? What is wrong with you?”
His back stiffened. “I felt I had no choice.”
“We always have a choice, George. I can’t honestly say that I know Caleb all that well, but I know he’s been a real rock for Amanda and the kids. Everyone else seems to like and respect him. That ought to count for something. You’re just acting out of spite because he wouldn’t do your bidding.”
He studied her with a genuinely perplexed expression. “You really think I’m wrong?” he asked as if the idea had never before occurred to him.
Nadine realized he’d probably never considered the possibility that he could be misguided about anything. He’d probably spent his entire adult life surrounded by yes-men who never questioned a word he uttered.
“I know you’re wrong,” Nadine replied flatly, trying to think what she could possibly say to get through to him and make him do the right thing. “Caleb surely doesn’t deserve to be fired for doing something decent for a member of his congregation. And if you’d just stop throwing your weight around and take the time to get to know Amanda, you’d see how much she deserves this break the church is giving her.”
“I’ve known that girl since she was in diapers,” he countered with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“But that’s just it,” she said, regarding him intently. “You knew Big Max’s girl. You don’t know the woman. Not many people could have faced what Amanda has and come out of it strong, instead of beaten down. That’s an admirable thing, George. I think even that stubborn daddy of hers would be proud of her if he’d give her half a chance.”
He sighed heavily. “To be honest, I don’t disagree with that. That’s exactly why I stirred things up about this house. I thought if I stopped it, Amanda would have to go back home. In my own bumbling way, I’ve been trying to push those two back together. It’s been hell seeing the toll their separation has taken on my friend, even if it was all his own stubborn, hotheaded doing.”
“But you’re going about it all wrong,” Nadine protested. “It’s up to her daddy to take the first step, not Amanda. The way I heard it—you heard it, too—she’s tried before and he’s turned her away. Not even a dog will keep coming back once it’s been kicked enough times.”
She turned to Maggie, whom she knew had been blatantly eavesdropping. “You agree with me, don’t you? If Big Max wants his daughter back, it has to be on her terms.”
“Absolutely,” Maggie said.
Nadine turned to Mrs. Forsythe, who’d also been openly eavesdropping on their exchange. “What’s your opinion?”
“I have to admit that I never understood how Big Max could turn his back on his child.” She glanced pointedly at Maggie. “There’s nothing my daughter could do that would make me disown her.”
Nadine switched her attention to Mr. Forsythe. “You’ve been awfully quiet,” she said. “Do you approve of the way Big Max handled things with Amanda?”
“All that’s water under the bridge,” he said. “Seems to me now that making amends is more important. Life’s short enough and family’s the only thing that matters.”
Nadine’s gaze caught Josh’s as he slipped back into his seat beside Maggie. “The only thing,” she agreed. “I wish I’d understood that sooner myself.”
“Well, I think we’ve all gotten far too somber,” Juliette said decisively. “I propose we ladies order dessert, something totally decadent, and let the men go smoke their cigars and talk about golf or whatever it is they talk about when we’re not around.”
Maggie chuckled. “Maybe the men would like dessert, too, Mother.”
“Perhaps so, but I’m sure they’d be happier having it someplace where they don’t have to listen to us talk about the latest fashions.”
“Absolutely,” Mr. Forsythe said at once, getting to his feet with an eagerness that was matched by George. Josh rose a little more slowly, but he dutifully followed the two older men from the room.
“I think you just threw Josh into the lions’ den,” Maggie observed when they’d gone.
“He’ll hold his own,” Nadine predicted.
Juliette nodded. “Yes, something tells me that young man can hold his own with just about anyone.” She glanced at Maggie. “Even my daughter.”
Nadine chuckled. “You know, Mrs. Forsythe, I’ve been thinking the very same thing.”
Josh insisted on dropping his mother off at the motel after lunch, then riding with Maggie back to Images.
“But how will you get home?” she protested. “We’re in my car.”
“I’ve been known to walk from time to time,” he said, regarding her with amusement. “Or I can hang around till you’ve done whatever you need to do and then you can drive me back. I’m in no rush. I have plenty of time on my hands this afternoon.”
Maggie regarded him suspiciously. “Is this about Brian? Are you just coming by to make sure he hasn’t been over there making trouble today?”
Josh returned her gaze with amusement. “Can’t you imagine that I’d just like to spend a few more minutes with you?”
“I can imagine it,” she said. “I just don’t believe that’s your motive.”
“And here I’ve been on my best behavior all afternoon.”
“Ha!”
“Did I get out
of line one single time?” He grinned. “Or is that what you’re miffed about, that I didn’t run my fingers up your thigh under that fancy tablecloth and give folks something to gossip about?”
“Actually I am very grateful that you kept your hands to yourself,” she replied, despite the very telling heat that shot through her at the wicked suggestion.
“Why? Because you know you wouldn’t have been able to resist me?”
“I could have resisted you,” she said. “No problem.”
Josh laughed. “Not buying it, sugar.”
“Well, that has more to do with the size of your ego than with any lack of conviction on my part,” she declared.
“I could prove you wrong.”
She frowned. “How?”
“I could pull this car over right here, do a little of that exploring I missed at lunch, and have you crying for mercy in sixty seconds flat.”
Maggie wanted desperately to dare him to try, but she knew with every fiber of her being that it would be a huge mistake. It was what he wanted. Hell, it was what she wanted. And it would lead straight to disaster.
“No, thank you,” she said primly.
“Chicken,” he accused.
“More than likely.”
“What are you afraid of, Maggie?”
She wished she could explain it. Maybe it was the past repeating itself. Maybe it was the present getting out of hand. Or maybe it was the inevitable heartache lying just down the road. Whatever it was, it was enough to keep her from giving in to temptation.
“I’m still trying to figure that out,” she told him candidly.
“Want any help?”
“As if you could possibly understand what goes on in my head,” she said scathingly.
“Oh, I think I could,” he retorted. “You and I are a lot alike.”
The claim astounded her. “We most certainly are not!”
He laughed. “You so sure of that, sugar?”
“Absolutely, positively.”
“Have you ever in all your life dated someone with the expectation it would lead to marriage, aside from your ill-advised decision to get yourself engaged to Warren, of course?”
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