The Family Plan (The McClouds of Mississippi 1)

“You’re delusional.”

“Actually, I’ve often been described as very perceptive and insightful,” her friend responded cheerily. “And there’s definitely something there between the two of you—as I think I’ve mentioned before.”

It was true that Lindsey often teased Caitlin about her sexy business partner. So why was Caitlin feeling more self-conscious and defensive this time? Deciding to prove that she could give as good as she got, she said, “I still say that if you’re so taken with him, you should do something about it.”

Lindsey sighed with apparent regret. “Too late now. Back when it was just him, I might have been tempted. Was tempted, actually. But now that there’s a kid involved…”

“You mean you’re no longer interested in him because he’s become responsible for Isabelle?” Surely she had misunderstood.

But Lindsey nodded. “Maybe it makes me as shallow as the aerobics instructor, but I can’t see myself getting involved with a man with a little girl. Way too much pressure involved in that situation for my comfort.”

Caitlin couldn’t imagine why she was suddenly feeling rather indignant on Nathan’s behalf. Women who had once practically thrown themselves at his feet were suddenly scratching him off their eligible-bachelor lists. After all, didn’t she have her own rule about single fathers? And hadn’t she been cautioning herself about not getting too involved with Nathan and Isabelle?

But it was different with her, she tried to reassure herself. She hadn’t pursued him before he had Isabelle, either.

Lindsey seemed to sense that it was time to change the subject. “Tell me some more funny stories about your new office manager.”

That new conversational gambit and its offshoots took them through dessert. Though Caitlin was greatly relieved that they had changed the topic, Nathan and Isabelle remained at the back of her mind. One particular remark kept echoing through her thoughts—the one Lindsey had repeated about Nathan being on the lookout for a wife who could help him raise his little sister.

It was a prophecy Caitlin couldn’t seem to shake, no matter how hard she tried to dismiss it as idle gossip.

Chapter Seven

Nathan had Isabelle with him again when he showed up at the office late Tuesday morning. Studying the uncharacteristic shadows beneath his eyes and the lines around his mouth, Caitlin pulled him into the file room to ask, “What’s wrong? I thought you were going to find somewhere to take Isabelle during working hours.”

His answer came out in a growl. “I called around. There are two excellent preschools in this town. Both of them depend on my mother for fund-raising and enlisting volunteer pools.”

“You don’t mean…”

He nodded grimly. “When the administrators found out who Isabelle was, they suddenly discovered there were no openings.”

“That’s appalling.”

“That’s unacceptable.” Irene stood in the doorway of the file room, her steely eyes glinting, her crimson hair seeming to flame with ire. “I’m sorry, Mr. McCloud, but I couldn’t help overhearing. Did I understand you to say that two preschools turned down your application because they didn’t want to risk offending your mother?”

Nathan cleared his throat, as intimidated as always by Irene, especially when faced with her temper. “That’s exactly what happened.”

She tapped one orthopedically clad foot on the carpet, her mouth set in a grim line. “Which school was your first choice?”

“I’ve heard Miss Thelma’s is the best. But—”

She turned with military precision. “I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, you need to get ready for your court appearance this morning. Your sister will be fine here until you get back. Mandy and Loretta can take turns watching her.”

“Thanks, but…”

His voice faded when he realized he was talking to an empty doorway. The look he gave Caitlin then was almost comical. “You really think—”

“I think Isabelle will be enrolled in preschool before lunchtime,” Caitlin said, amused despite the gravity of the situation.

“If anyone can do it, it will be Irene.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I just hope if Isabelle does get in, she’ll be treated the same as the other kids.”

“She will be,” Caitlin predicted. “For one thing, they won’t be able to help falling for her once they spend time with her. And you are an attorney. They’re well aware that you could file a lawsuit if there’s any hint Isabelle is mistreated. And, finally, they might be a little worried about annoying your mother now, but they’re really not going to risk making Irene mad again.”

“You have a point there,” Nathan conceded with a weak semblance of his usual smile.

“I can’t help noticing that you look tired this morning. Are you okay?”

“I was up most of the night preparing for my case today,” he admitted. “I was a week behind, of course. And by the time I’d made dinner last night and cleaned up the kitchen and washed a couple of loads of clothes and given Isabelle her bath and read her bedtime stories, it was already sort of late. Then between work and worry about getting her into a quality day care program, I managed only a couple of hours sleep.”