The Family Plan (The McClouds of Mississippi 1)

“Mom?” he said when she answered. “It’s Nathan.”

There was only a slight pause before she replied, “I haven’t forgotten the sound of your voice.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said lightly. “I’ve missed hearing yours.”

“I miss you, too, Nathan.”

“Then why are we acting this way? Why can’t we get past this?”

“You know why.”

“Are you really telling me you don’t want to see me again?” His voice was very quiet now, his throat tight as he waited for her to answer. “Do I mean that little to you?”

“Please don’t be cruel.” Pain throbbed in her low voice, making him realize exactly how deeply he had hurt her. “You know very well that I love you, Nathan.”

She had loved his father, too—more than he, or perhaps even Stuart, had known until the marriage ended. Nathan understood that now, but it still hurt that she was comparing his actions to her unfaithful husband’s. “I love you, too, Mom. And I would like to see you again.”

Another long pause, and then… “Perhaps you could come by the house some afternoon for a cup of tea. You can slip away from the office for an hour or so, can’t you?”

He knew, of course, why she had suggested tea rather than dinner. She was making it clear that she was inviting him to her house and not his ward.

He bit his lip, trying to decide how to respond. Maybe he should take advantage of any small gesture; maybe if he and his mother opened a dialogue, she could better understand the position he had been placed in.

Maybe someday soon she could even be around Isabelle and see a sweet little girl instead of her husband’s betrayal.

“Sure, Mom. That would be great.”

He could hear the relief in her voice when she responded, “How about tomorrow afternoon? Do you have any free time then?”

He glanced at his calendar and winced. “Um, I’m afraid I can’t make it tomorrow.”

“I understand if you have to work. I thought you might be free because you usually have a light load on Thursday afternoons.”

He cleared his throat. “Actually, I’m supposed to be at Miss Thelma’s tomorrow afternoon. Isabelle’s class is having a Halloween party and parents are encouraged to attend.”

He had the odd sensation that the telephone receiver suddenly grew cold in his hand. “I see,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want Isabelle to be the only one there without someone to perform for. I think they’re singing a song or something. And there’s a carnival after the program, with booths and games and treats. The parents are expected to help out for a little while.”

His stumbling explanation seemed to only make the situation worse. “Yes, well, perhaps another time.”

“I hate to keep harping on this, Mom, but Isabelle’s an important part of my life now. I can’t pretend otherwise. I’m going to have her for the next fifteen years or so. Couldn’t you…couldn’t you think of her as my adopted daughter, or something, and forget about her parentage? You wouldn’t shun an adopted child, would you?”

“Do you think I haven’t tried to think of her that way?” Lenore demanded, her words practically vibrating through the lines. “I can’t. At least not yet. Please, Nathan, I can’t talk about this now.”

He sighed. “I’ll call you next week, Mom.”

She murmured something inaudible and disconnected the call. Nathan hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, staring blindly out the window.

Chapter Eleven

He didn’t hear her come in. Caitlin paused just inside the open doorway of Nathan’s office, struck by his pose and his distant expression.

Just the fact that he sat so motionlessly was disconcerting enough; Nathan was never still for long. And there were so many complex emotions swirling in his eyes that she couldn’t begin to guess what he was feeling. Worried? Sad? Lonely?

Maybe he was just tired. She could identify with that, since she hadn’t been sleeping well this week.

Of course, her reason for losing sleep was sitting right here in front of her.