Finding Her Prince. Robyn Donald

getting hot, so the cool air that washed over her when he pushed her inside felt good. When her eyes adjusted from bright sun to the dim interior, she saw that travertine tile went on forever in the entryway. There were high ceilings with crown molding and pale wheat-colored walls.

      An older but very attractive woman walked into the entryway. She was tall and slender with a short brunette bob. Her eyes were hazel, and it was obvious that Nathan got his coloring from his mother. And his fashion sense. Her white capris were crisp and spotless. The black and white striped silk blouse was trendy and fitted. Even her sandals coordinated with the summer ensemble.

      “So here you are,” she said, her eyes narrowing on Cindy.

      Nathan’s voice came from behind the wheelchair. “Shirley, this is Cindy Elliott. Cindy, Shirley Steele, my mother.”

      They shook hands and Cindy felt at a disadvantage in the chair. Even standing she would be shorter, but at least she wouldn’t have been loomed over.

      Nathan leaned down. “I’m going to get your things out of the car and put them in the guest room.”

      Moments later he walked inside with her two suitcases then disappeared down the hall. He returned and glanced at his watch. “I have to get to the hospital. Shirley, will you get Cindy settled?”

      “Of course.”

      “I’ll be back later.” He looked down at her with a warning expression on his face. “Take it easy.”

      Nothing about this was easy to take, especially being left alone with his mother. But he walked out the door and it was just the two of them.

      Cindy didn’t know how to be anything but direct. She got up from the chair and met the other woman’s gaze. “This pregnancy was an accident.”

      “So I’ve been told.”

      “I didn’t even want to go out with him.”

      “Technically one doesn’t have to actually go out for something like this to happen,” Shirley commented, her tone guarded. “But why did you? Go out with him.”

      “He was relentless and I said yes to get him out of my life.”

      “Yet here you are in his home. So we can see how well that worked.”

      “I didn’t want to move in.” Cindy refused to look away, even though that’s what she desperately wanted to do. “But he’s so darn stubborn and he wouldn’t leave me alone. He’s exhausted and the only way he’s going to get any rest is for me to stay here. That’s the truth.”

      “All right then. Nathan is a grown man and knows what he’s doing.” Shirley glanced over her shoulder. “I take it you know your way around?”

      “Actually, I’ve never been here before.” Cindy stopped there, not wanting to explain the one-night stand at her house.

      The older woman looked just the tiniest bit surprised when she asked, “Would you like a tour?”

      “Are you going to make me use that stupid chair?” Cindy glared at the thing.

      “I think that’s about my son being overly cautious. Stay off your feet means don’t do the trampoline or go bungee jumping, not be an invalid.”

      Cindy nodded. “I think so, too.”

      “All right then. Follow me.” Shirley turned and started walking away. “This place has five bedrooms and a guest house. That’s where I stay.”

      Interesting. Nathan didn’t really need her to be a buffer between him and his mom. There was plenty of space for the two to peacefully coexist. This house was big enough for its own zip code.

      Cindy noted that the living and dining rooms were separated by the wide entryway and filled with dark cherry wood furniture and fabrics in earth tones. White plantation shutters covered the windows. The family room was right off the kitchen and had a fireplace on one wall. A huge leather corner group sat in front of a gigantic flat-screen TV.

      “My whole house would fit in this room,” Cindy said, still in awe.

      “The bedrooms are down this hall,” Shirley said.

      She pointed out the master bedroom at the back of the house, and Cindy politely glanced through the doorway, although it felt like invading Nathan’s privacy. The room was huge, with a king-size bed across from a sunken conversation area and fireplace. A little twinge that could be jealousy told her it was best not to think about all the women who’d no doubt “conversed” in here with him.

      Across the hall there were two more bedrooms connected by a bath. Her suitcases were visible in the first room.

      “This is where you’ll stay.” Shirley walked through the bathroom into the connecting bedroom. “This gets the morning sun. And there’s that charming window seat. I think this would make a wonderful nursery.”

      Cindy glanced at the L-shaped desk with the computer on top. There was an eight-foot couch and a wing chair in another corner. Clearly it was set up as an office.

      “It would certainly work. But I’m not staying here permanently,” Cindy protested.

      “But you and Nathan will share custody.”

      It wasn’t a question except in Cindy’s mind. If she had to judge by her experience, Nathan wouldn’t be around long enough to share custody or anything else. But telling his mother that didn’t seem appropriate.

      “I believe children should know both of their parents,” Cindy said diplomatically. “If at all possible.”

      “I’m glad you feel that way because I’ve jotted down some ideas for a mural in here.” Shirley picked up a sketch pad from the desk. “Would you like to see?”

      It felt a little weird, but, “Okay.” She looked at the drawings of cuddly zoo animals on the first page. “These are too cute.”

      “Those are generic,” Shirley explained. “The next page is cars, fire trucks, airplanes. Boy stuff. Then there’s the sports-themed sketches. Followed by fairy tale characters and princess pictures. Nathan can make a decision when he finds out the sex of the baby.”

      “These are really good.” Pretty amazing, really.

      She flipped through the pages, each set of sketches more impressive than the last. Knowing whether the child was a boy or girl would narrow down themes, but they were all so adorable, making a decision wouldn’t be easy.

      “You’re incredibly artistic,” she said.

      “Not really. I just had lots of time to practice.” Shirley’s pleased expression instantly disappeared.

      Cindy felt guilty because it was the first time the other woman had smiled and something she’d said had made the warmth dissolve. “You have a lot of natural talent. I don’t think practice alone would be enough to do this.”

      “It is if you have the time. My husband left me.” She shrugged. “Because I wasn’t being a wife, I had a lot of time to work on other, creative endeavors.”

      But you were a mother, Cindy wanted to say. If the marriage wasn’t working, why didn’t this woman’s time and energy get channeled into the young son who must have been hurt and confused about his deteriorating family? She’d never understood before how priceless her carefree childhood had been but kept the revelation to herself. In fact, she didn’t know what to say.

      But not saying anything made this more awkward than watching Nathan explain their complicated association to his mother.

      Shirley must have felt it, too. “I’ve kept you on your feet too long. You should rest.”

      Alone, Cindy walked back into the room where she’d be staying. The bed was queen-size, covered with a floral quilt and a striped bed skirt in green and white. A tufted bench sat at the foot with her suitcases resting on top. There was an oak dresser