The Family Plan (The McClouds of Mississippi 1)

He teased about the amount of purchases they had made, laughed when Isabelle said something funny, asked questions and made appropriate comments, but Caitlin sensed that a part of him had simply shut down. His smile was as bright and charming as ever, but a light had gone out in his eyes. She had heard that phrase before, but she’d never quite understood what it meant until now. Nathan’s usually gleaming blue eyes were dark, and their expression was heartbreakingly empty.

Darn it, she hadn’t wanted to get this deeply involved in her partner’s personal problems. But looking at Nathan now, she knew she couldn’t pull back without trying to encourage him.

The best way to help now seemed to be with manual labor and upbeat conversation. Within a couple of hours, Nathan’s bland guest room had been transformed into a lovely setting for a little girl. The bed was covered with a lavender-and-white gingham comforter over lavender sheets and a white eyelet dust ruffle that just brushed the floor. Throw pillows in gingham, solid lavender and white eyelet rested invitingly against the headboard. White eyelet panels hung at the windows, and the beige ginger jar lamp had been exchanged for a white china lamp hand-painted with clusters of violets.

The built-in bookshelves now held books, toys and Isabelle’s collection of Disney figurines. Colorful framed posters depicting several of those same characters replaced the dull landscapes on the walls.

On the mirrored dresser sat a pretty little white-painted jewelry box and a purple glass music box—items Isabelle had seen on display at the store and had fallen in love with. Caitlin had bought them for her, charging those purchases to her own card, rather than Nathan’s. Her lecture about not spoiling the child had hovered at the back of her mind, but she hadn’t been able to resist when she’d seen how longingly Isabelle gazed at the music box that played “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

A purple fabric-covered butterfly chair was tucked into one corner of the room, an inviting place to curl up and read or listen to the purple-cased radio/CD player that now rested on the nearby chest of drawers. That had been one of the items on Nathan’s list of recommended purchases. A music lover, himself, he probably wanted to share the pleasure with Isabelle. The rest of her belongings were neatly stowed in the room’s good-size closet.

“It’s beautiful,” Isabelle breathed when they declared the room finished. Clutching her stuffed owl, she stood in the center of the room, turning in circles to admire every inch of her living quarters. “It’s perfect.”

“It does look nice,” Nathan agreed. He smiled at Caitlin. “You did a great job.”

She replied self-deprecatingly. “Most of this was displayed together as a grouping.

Isabelle and I just pointed, charged and had it bagged.”

“I picked out the posters,” Isabelle said, motioning to each as she named the subject. “Belle, Ariel, Jasmine and Mulan. There were a lot more at the poster store—I almost got Pocahontas and Esmerelda—but I liked these four the best.”

“These are perfect,” Nathan assured her. “I really like Jasmine,” he added, indicating a fiery-haired mermaid.

Isabelle rolled her eyes. “That’s not Jasmine, that’s Ariel.”

“Oh.” He grinned at Caitlin. “Nice clam shells.”

Caitlin cleared her throat loudly. “Isabelle, are you thirsty? Would you like some fruit juice?”

“No, thank you.” The child was still obviously entranced with her room. She wandered over to the bookshelf to make a minute adjustment of a figurine—one of the stars of The Lion King, Caitlin believed, though she was hardly an expert on modern-era Disney characters.

“Tell you what.” Nathan tugged lightly at Isabelle’s hair. “Miss Caitlin and I are going to have some coffee in the kitchen while you finish admiring your room. If you’re tired, you and Hedwig can climb up on the bed and see if those pillows are as comfortable as they look.”

“I’m not tired,” Isabelle assured him, quickly stifling the yawn that had escaped while he’d spoken. “But Hedwig might be.”

“Then I’m sure he would appreciate a little rest. Owls like to nap during the daytime, you know.”

Isabelle had already kicked off her shoes and was climbing onto the bed when Caitlin followed Nathan out of the room.

Nathan urged Caitlin to sit at the kitchen table while he made the coffee. He didn’t meet her eyes as he measured coffee into the basket, added water, then pulled out mugs, creamer and sugar while the coffee brewed. He talked the whole time, but he kept the conversation focused on Isabelle.

“She seemed to really enjoy the outing,” he added, using a paper towel to wipe a countertop that was already spotless. “And the lunch—did some woman really say she looked like Shirley Temple?”

“Yes. Nathan—”

He opened a cabinet door and rummaged inside. “Do you want some cookies or something? We have chocolate chip and animal crackers.”

“I remember. But, no, I don’t need any cookies, thank you. Isabelle and I had ice cream for dessert. What—”

“Coffee’s ready. Just cream in yours, right?”

“Right. Are you ready to talk yet?”

His hands went still for a moment, his back very stiff and straight. And then he finished pouring coffee into the mugs. “Almost.”

She waited, sitting quietly as he placed one steaming mug in front of her and then took the seat opposite her, his own mug clasped loosely between his hands. He seemed to have no interest in actually drinking the beverage.

Caitlin sipped her own only to give her something to do while he decided what he wanted—or needed—to tell her. She was sure the coffee tasted fine, but Nathan’s stark expression kept her from enjoying it.