The Family Plan. Cathy McDavid

      When she was younger, she and her brother were forced to sit through every recital even after Jolyn stopped taking lessons. Today, she was looking forward to watching the twenty or so young students prance across the stage in pink tutus and purple leotards. It would be a handy distraction and keep her from fixating on her upcoming meeting with Chase.

      Dottie fished her car keys from her purse. “Look, about my issue with Chase and Mandy…”

      Of all the times for her mother to quit ignoring the elephant, why did she have to do it now? Jolyn pressed a hand to her churning stomach. “You know I don’t agree with you.”

      “Yes, well, neither does your father.”

      “Then why not leave Chase and Mandy alone? They deserve to be happy after the hell SherryAnne put them through.”

      “Because that little girl could be my granddaughter,” her mother said with such wrenching emotion, Jolyn was taken aback. “Your niece.”

      “I don’t mean to sound callous, Mom, but it’s not like you’re going to be grandchildless your whole life.”

      “Neither you nor Steven have any immediate plans of getting married. And with you pouring all your time and energy into the construction company,” she said, gesturing distractedly, “I don’t see you settling down and raising a family.”

      At least her mother didn’t list the accident and resulting limp as a reason for Jolyn’s current single status. “I’m twenty-nine years old,” she said. “There’s no hurry.”

      “Steven was starting kindergarten when I was your age and you were in preschool.”

      “Things are different now. Couples wait until they’re more established before having kids.”

      “Leaving grandparents too old to enjoy their grandchildren!”

      “You’re not that old, Mom.” Jolyn barely refrained from chuckling at her mother’s exaggeration. “Besides, Steven might come through for you soon. He and Bethany have been living together for a while now.”

      Her mother rolled her eyes. “I don’t see that relationship going anywhere.”

      “What’s wrong with Bethany?” Jolyn had recently met her brother’s girlfriend and thought she was nice.

      “She’s so much younger than your brother and still in college. I doubt she’ll be interested in getting married for a while yet.”

      Jolyn couldn’t argue that point so she tried a different approach. “Steven doesn’t believe Mandy is his daughter and, let’s be honest, doesn’t want her. He’s made that crystal clear from the beginning.”

      “He’s avoiding the situation. He always has.”

      “He’s being realistic and reasonable.” Which was more than Jolyn could say about her mother. “Chase is Mandy’s father. He loves her. If you keep pressuring him, you could wind up destroying three lives and hurting God knows how many more people, including yourself.”

      “I don’t want to take Mandy away from Chase. I simply want to acknowledge her as my granddaughter and have visitation rights. She’s a lovely little girl.” Genuine fondness shone in her mother’s eyes. “Very sweet and so bright. She reminds me of you when you were her age.”

      “Mom.” Jolyn didn’t understand what had prompted her mother’s renewed obsession with Mandy. Maybe she was jealous of her friends and the grandchildren they were bouncing on their knees. “Chase says you’ve seen an attorney.”

      “Last month. He wasn’t very helpful.”

      “What did he say?”

      “As long as Chase refuses to have the DNA testing done and SherryAnne says he’s the father, there’s nothing I can do.”

      What a relief. “Sounds to me like you should take his advice and drop the matter.” Jolyn headed toward the door, intending to retrieve her notepad from the truck so she could start on the measurements and sketches.

      Her mother trailed after her. “I’m not sure I can.”

      Jolyn stopped and spun around. Behind her, cars pulled in and out of the market’s parking lot, forcing her to raise her voice. “What’s gotten into you lately?”

      “Why do you keep asking me the same question over and over?”

      “Because I can’t help thinking that something’s wrong.” Jolyn softened her voice. “Please, Mom. I want to help.”

      Their eyes met, and for a fraction of a second Jolyn thought her mother might finally reveal what was upsetting her. Instead, she dismissed Jolyn with a flippant, “I’m fine. Perfect, in fact.”

      Jolyn knew better but until her mother chose to confide in her, there wasn’t much she could do.

      Heaving a sigh, she said, “I really wish you’d quit making trouble for Chase. He doesn’t deserve it.”

      “You’re siding with him because you’ve always liked him.”

      “I’m siding with Mandy. And of course I like Chase. We’re friends.”

      “There was a time back in high school you wanted to be more than his friend.”

      “That’s ridiculous. There was never anything between me and Chase.”

      Even as she protested her mother’s assertion, Jolyn remembered the kiss she and Chase had shared that night on her parents’ front porch. It had meant nothing to him, but for a few days Jolyn had foolishly hoped he’d leave SherryAnne for her.

      “All I’m asking is that you not let your feelings for Chase cloud your judgment when it comes to the possibility of Mandy being my granddaughter.”

      Between her upcoming meeting with Chase and the conversation with her mother, Jolyn’s nerves were stretched to their limit. “Let me ask you this, Mom,” she snapped. “Are you willing to confront that little girl and tell her the man who raised her, the man she adores and calls Daddy, isn’t her father?”

      “That’s not a fair question.”

      “Yes, it is. And until you’re ready to live with the guilt of breaking two innocent people’s hearts, you have no right to demand Chase have the DNA testing done.”

      Her mother gave her a look that was both woeful and unyielding. “If it comes to that, and I truly hope it doesn’t, I’ll be ready.”

      JOLYN PUSHED OPEN the door to the community center and entered a packed house. At least a hundred family members and friends had shown up to watch the semiannual dance recital.

      Since there were no vacant seats in the front rows, she sat near the back. Catching sight of several familiar faces, she smiled and nodded in response to waves of greeting. She noted more than one whispered conversation taking place behind the shield of a raised hand. Was it her recent return that had tongues wagging? Her accident? Her brother’s affair with the local vet’s ex-wife? Or was her imagination working overtime?

      Probably a little of each.

      Thankfully, the lights dimmed and a parade of costumed girls entered the small stage from behind a curtain. Video cameras by the dozen were turned on and aimed at the stage.

      The recital lasted almost an hour, ending with a thunderous round of applause. As people milled about, Jolyn remained seated, watching her mother from a distance.

      Dottie was in her element. Surrounded by parents and students, she radiated pride while graciously accepting congratulations. Without missing a beat, she complimented each child, praising their talent and hard work. Heads were patted, pigtails tugged and chins pinched.

      Jolyn found herself smiling. People did like her mother, and she probably would make a decent, if not darn good, secretary.

      “They’re