by Gina Wilkins
“He produced some really wonderful charts and graphs to back up his findings,” Barbara bragged. “Colorful and eye-catching—he even used little drawings of suns and clouds and raindrops. You’ll have to show him the display you made, Andy.”
“Aww, he wouldn’t be interested in that,” the boy disclaimed, looking embarrassed.
“No, I’d love to see it,” Cody assured him. “Sounds fascinating. I’ve always liked statistics.”
“Yeah?” Andy looked encouraged. “I want to be a sportscaster when I grow up—like Frank Gifford or Ahmad Rashad. They use a lot of statistics and stuff.”
“Yeah, they do. You play any sports yourself?”
“I played baseball last summer. First base. And sometimes I go to the Boys and Girls Club and play basketball. I’m not very good at that, though. My shooting sucks.”
“Andy,” Barbara protested. “Please find a nicer way to phrase that.”
Andy sighed, but obligingly reworded the statement. “I’m a lousy shot.”
“Have you been practicing with the goal you got for your birthday?” Dana asked.
Andy nodded. “It’s not helping much. I can’t hit that one, either.”
“You have a goal?” Cody asked.
“Yeah. It’s on a pole at the back of the driveway. Regulation height.”
“How about if you and I go out and shoot some hoops after lunch? I play with my friends most Saturday mornings. Maybe I can give you some pointers.”
An eager grin spread across the boy’s face. “Cool.”
“Let Cody have his dessert first,” Barbara instructed her son, though she looked pleased by Cody’s interest in the boy. “Hilda’s made blackberry cobbler.”
“With ice cream?” Andy asked eagerly.
“Of course. Would you like to go tell her we’re ready for it?”
Andy pushed away from the table, grabbing his lunch plate and reaching for his mother’s. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dana gathered her own plate, as well as Cody’s. “I’ll help Hilda serve dessert,” she said. “No, don’t get up, Cody. I’ll be right back.”
“You like children, Cody?” Barbara asked the moment the two of them were alone at the table.
“Yeah, I like kids. I spend a lot of time with Paige and Aaron.”
“I could tell from the way you talked to Andy that you’re good with children. He’s thrilled that you’ve offered to play with him, you know. He misses having a man around. He hardly remembers his father,” she added regretfully.
Worried about what direction the conversation might take next, Cody tried gently to guide it. “Dana’s good with Andy,” he said. “The two of them seem unusually close.”
“They are,” Barbara agreed. “Very close. I know Dana worries…”
She broke off, then shook her head and changed the subject. “She’ll be a wonderful schoolteacher, won’t she? It’s what she’s wanted to do for as long as I’ve known her. I wish she hadn’t waited so long to pursue her education, but her father died just as she was prepared to enter college after high school. I know she thought we needed her here—and I suppose she was right. I don’t know what I would have done…”
Again, her voice faded, her eyes going distant. And then she looked at Cody, and her gaze was sharp again. “You will encourage her to complete her education this time, won’t you, Cody? It would break my heart to think she’ll never see her dream of teaching come true.”
“I think it would be a shame if Dana didn’t earn her degree,” Cody replied, choosing his words carefully. “She’s worked very hard at it this past year, and from everything I’ve heard, she excels in her studies. I would never do anything to stand in the way of her education.”
“It won’t bother you that your new bride will be busy pursuing her education?” Barbara persisted. “That there will be nights when she has to study for exams and won’t have time to prepare an elaborate meal or give you personal attention?”
Cody couldn’t help smiling then. Dana hadn’t exaggerated about her stepmother’s old-fashioned tendencies apparently.
“I would never expect my wife to sacrifice her own education or career to cater to me,” he answered with total honesty. “I’m perfectly capable of making my own dinner, when necessary—or dining out. And I’m an adult with my own interests. I don’t require a great deal of personal attention.”
Unlike a child, he couldn’t help thinking. He couldn’t imagine how Dana would manage her education if she had a small boy to care for alone. He was sure other women had done it, but it had to be incredibly difficult.
Like Barbara, Cody was afraid Dana would feel obligated to give up her own dreams for Andy’s sake. And, like Barbara, he was increasingly sure that would be a shame.
Maybe if she had someone to help her. Someone to give Andy attention while Dana was busy with her studies. Someone to help her financially so she wouldn’t have to juggle work and school and child care. Someone to support her, encourage her, cheer her on…
Too bad she didn’t have anyone like that.
But Dana was fully convinced she could handle everything alone. And maybe he was being sexist to think she couldn’t.
He almost shook his head when the thought occurred to him. No, he decided. It wasn’t sexist. He couldn’t imagine anyone, male or female, successfully balancing a demanding college education, a job and the upbringing of a preadolescent child. There were only so many hours in a day, only so many priorities that could be competently fulfilled.
From all he’d heard, from his sister Rachel and others, it was difficult enough for a single mother to cope with a career and child rearing. He didn’t see any way Rachel could have obtained an education for herself while struggling alone to support Paige and Aaron after Ray died.
He was willing to bet that Dana would quit school within weeks after she became responsible for Andy, even if Barbara left Andy well provided for financially. Dana was the nobly self-sacrificing type if he’d ever seen one. And though he admired her motives, he didn’t like the thought of her throwing away her dreams.
Dana and Andy rejoined them then, each carrying two bowls of cobbler and ice cream. Though the others made short work of the treat, Cody noticed that Barbara hardly tasted her own. He could see that she was drooping in her chair, the luncheon conversation having visibly tired her.
“This meal was great,” he said after swallowing the last bite of his dessert. “Now I really need to play basketball to work it off.”
“I’m ready,” Andy said, pushing his chair back.
Cody chuckled at the boy’s eagerness. “Give me time to change into jeans and sneakers first, okay?”
“You should change into play clothes, too, Andy,” Barbara instructed.
Hilda came into the dining room then to announce in a tone that brooked no argument from her employer that she was taking Barbara back to her room to rest.
“The rest of you leave the dishes on the table,” she added. “I’ll clear everything away.”
Dana offered to help, but Hilda adamantly refused. “You visit with your brother and your young man,” she ordered over her shoulder as she wheeled Barbara away. “It’s not often we get to have company around here these days.”
“How long will it take you to change?” Andy asked Cody, anticipation lighting his freckled face.
“Give me half an hour, okay, pal? I want to talk to your sister first.”
Cody was watching Dana as he spoke, so he didn’t miss the faint spasm that crossed her face. “I, er, I think I should help Hilda,” she said quickly.
He held her gaze. “Hilda seemed to prefer to do her job without your assistance. I believe you have a few minutes to talk to me.”
“I’ll go change,” Andy said, oblivious to the tension between the adults. “See you in half an hour, Cody.”
“You bet,” Cody murmured without looking away from Dana. He motioned toward the door through which Andy had already vanished. “Why don’t we talk in my room?�
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Dana twisted the diamond ring on her left hand. Cody thought absently that she seemed to have developed that habit rather quickly. “Maybe I should check on Barbara,” she said.
Cody narrowed his eyes. “Barbara needs to rest. My room, Dana. Now.”
Her chin lifted. “You aren’t my employer here, Cody.”
“No. I’m your fiancé, remember?”
She winced.
He motioned again toward the doorway. “Shall we?”
Dana released a short breath and nodded grudgingly. She turned without another word and left the dining room. Cody followed closely at her heels.
Dana swallowed when Cody made a point of closing his bedroom door behind them, guaranteeing their privacy. She shoved her hands into her pockets and turned to face him, determined not to show him that she found this new mood of his rather intimidating.
“All right, we’re alone,” she said bluntly. “What do you want to talk about?”
Cody propped his hip against one corner of the room’s heavy dresser, crossing his arms over his chest. “Obviously, you know your stepmother better than I do. What do you think she would do if we told her the truth?”
“The truth?” Dana moistened her lips. “You mean.?”
He nodded. “The truth about us. That we aren’t really engaged. That we aren’t even involved on a personal level.”
She gripped her hands tightly in front of her. The diamond on her left hand dug into her right palm. “Are you thinking of telling her?”
She couldn’t read his expression. “I only asked how you think she’d react,” he reminded her.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted.
“Take a guess.”
“I suppose she would be disappointed. She obviously likes you. And you heard how relieved she is to think I’ve found someone,” she added wryly. “I told you, she’s been worrying a lot about it. She told me she’s even woken nights imagining me all alone and unhappy. No matter how many times I’ve tried to reassure her that I’m perfectly fine on my own, I haven’t been able to convince her.”
“Does she think you’re still carrying a torch for that guy you used to date?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Is she right?”
“No!”
Dana dropped her hands and met his gaze squarely. “No,” she repeated more quietly. “It was my decision to break it off with Line. I’ve never regretted doing so.”
Cody searched her face for a moment, then nodded. “So she’s just afraid you’ll be lonely.”
“Yes. As I’ve told you repeatedly, she thinks everyone needs someone to love, marriage, children-the traditional fairy tale. A successful career to her is just a nice sideline. She’s been very supportive of my education and my desire to teach, but she doesn’t want me to wait too long to start a family.”
“You’re only twenty-four,” Cody stated. “You have plenty of time.”
“Yes,” Dana agreed quietly. “But she doesn’t.”
Cody looked pensive.
“I know you disapprove of lying to her-and you’re right, of course,” Dana murmured, torn between guilt and a need to justify her actions to him. “It is wrong. I just…well, I thought it would set her mind at ease. Coping with her disease and her worry about Andy is hard enough. I hate the thought of her fretting about me in addition to everything else.”
“So you thought announcing your engagement to me would cheer her up.”
Dana nodded. “I guess that’s what I was thinking. And you have to admit it worked. She’s been almost beaming ever since we told her. She really does seem to like you.”
Cody winced. “That only makes it harder,” he muttered.
Dana looked down at her hands. “I know. I’m sorry I got you into this. Maybe you were right. Maybe I didn’t think it through enough.”
He drew a deep breath. “Probably not. But we’ve started this thing, and I guess we have to see it through. I wouldn’t know how to tell her the truth now.”
“Neither would I.”
“I still don’t like it,” he added.
Dana thought he’d made that clear enough. She scowled. “I don’t like lying to her, either. But if it makes her happy…”
Cody pushed himself upright and moved to the suitcase lying open on the bed. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “Want to shoot some hoops with us?”
“No, thanks. I have some paperwork to take care of for Barbara…bills to pay, that sort of thing. I’ve been handling most of that for her since she became ill.”
Cody nodded and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Is there anything else I need to know to keep this charade of ours going? Any surprises waiting for me?”
Dana dragged her eyes away from the golden-tanned chest he revealed when he tugged off his navy-and-burgundystriped sport shirt. Was he going to strip right here in front of her? That was taking the charade a bit too far!
She inched toward the door. “Uh, no, I can’t think of anything else. I’ve filled you in pretty well on the family history.”
Cody’s head emerged from the opening of the blue T-shirt. He smoothed it over his flat stomach. “What about when your sister arrives tomorrow? Anything I need to know about her?”
“Stepsister,” Dana corrected him automatically.
“Right.” He reached for the snap of his slacks, his eyes glinting with sudden mischief, his uncharacteristically som ber mood apparently having passed.
Dana spun around, turning her back to him. “You could at least wait until I’m out of the room to do that,” she complained, heading toward the door.
“You’re being awfully shy for an engaged woman,” he teased. “One would think you’d never seen me naked before.”
“I haven’t! And that’s not all,” she added grimly. “I have no desire to see you naked.”
“Are you sure? I’ve been told it’s an awe-inspiring sight.”
Dana jerked open the door. If only, just this once, she could come up with a great exit line, she thought wistfully. One that would put cocky Cody Carson firmly in his place.
Unfortunately, the best she could come up with was “Yeah, right.”
She could hear him laughing when she closed the door behind her.
She never had developed a talent for great exit lines, darn it.
Chapter Six
An hour later, Dana licked and sealed the last envelope, then pushed herself out of the chair behind the antique writing desk in the small downstairs room that served as a home office. She stood, pressing both hands to the small of her back.
She’d been sitting in one position for too long, intent on the bills and paperwork that hadn’t been touched since she’d last visited. The expenses of her stepmother’s illness were staggering, despite insurance coverage, particularly since Barbara insisted on having as much care in her home as possible.
Barbara was fortunate to have such a sizable estate, Dana thought wearily. She could certainly see how catastrophic illness had bankrupted so many hardworking but underinsured Americans.
Spending so much time dealing with the realities of Barbara’s condition had left Dana depressed and angry, as it usually did. She pushed her hands through her hair, massaging her temples against the dull ache that throbbed there.
She wondered if her life could get any more complicated, and how she would possibly handle it if it did.
On an impulse, she stopped to look out a window on her way to Barbara’s room. She was curious to see if Cody and Andy were still playing outside.
She spotted them immediately. They stood in front of the basketball goal. Andy was holding a basketball, staring up at the hoop with a frown of fierce concentration on his face. Cody stood nearby, obviously giving instructions, lanky legs bent as he pantomimed a free throw. Andy bobbed a couple of times, then released the ball.
Dana held her breath as it flew upward, arched, then fell neatly through the basket.
Andy jumped and waved his arms. Though she c
ouldn’t hear him, Dana knew he was loudly cheering his accomplishment.
Cody pulled one fist downward in a gesture of satisfaction, then gave the boy a hearty high five. They looked like they were having a great time.
Dana could almost feel her lingering irritation with Cody slipping away. Darn it, why couldn’t she stay mad at the guy? Heaven knew he could be a real jerk when he chose to be.
But he could also be very sweet, she thought with a sigh. Talk about a paradox!
Still thinking about Cody, she moved on down the hallway. She peeked into Barbara’s room before entering, not wanting to disturb her if she was sleeping. Barbara was awake, sitting propped against the pillows, an open book in her lap.
She spotted Dana and smiled. “It’s all right, sweetheart, I’m awake. Come on in.”
“I thought you were going to rest,” Dana said, walking to her stepmother’s bedside.
Barbara made a face. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Studying the furrows around Barbara’s eyes, Dana frowned. “Are you in pain?”
“A little,” Barbara admitted with a dismissive wave of one frail hand. “I took one of my pills a few minutes ago. It should help soon.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Just sit and talk with me,” Barbara replied, closing the book and setting it aside. “Where’s Cody?”
“He and Andy are still playing basketball. I just looked out at them. They seem to be having fun.”
“I like him, Dana.”
“He likes you, too.”
Barbara took Dana’s left hand and contentedly eyed the diamond that glinted there. “The two of you are perfect together,” she said. “I can tell.”
Dana forced a smile. “What makes you think so?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Just something about the way he looks at you. It’s obvious that he’s crazy about you. And, of course, I’ve always known you were taken with him.”
Dana couldn’t imagine why Barbara kept saying that. Sure, she’d talked about Cody, along with the rest of her acquaintances in Percy. But she’d never implied that there was anything special about her feelings for him. Barbara must be fantasizing now that Dana had shown up with Cody’s ring on her finger.