Fairy Tale Weddings by Debbie Macomber Page A

now it was his turn.
    He spoke again, remembering that he’d asked Cindy to meet his family. “Mother, listen, I’m glad you phoned. There’s someone I’d like to bring to the house. Would it be possible to have her to dinner soon?”
    â€œHer?”
    â€œYes, if it’s not inconvenient, perhaps we could set it up for Christmas week.”
    â€œDo you have exciting news for us, darling?”
    Thorne weighed his words. “I suppose you could say that.” He’d met the woman he planned to share his life with. It didn’t get much more exciting than that, but hewasn’t about to announce it to his family. After all, he’d just met Cindy. His parents would scoff at him, and even Thorne had to admit that, on the surface, anyway, he was behaving like a romantic fool.
    â€œI believe your father and I have already guessed your news.” His mother’s voice rose with excitement.
    â€œIt’s not what you think, Mother.” Thorne paused and chuckled. “Or who you think. I met someone wonderful…someone very special. I suppose it’s a bit presumptuous of me, but I invited her over to meet you and Dad.” The invitation alone must have astounded his mother, since he rarely introduced his girlfriends to his family.
    A short silence followed. “This someone you met…she isn’t by chance…Sheila?” his mother asked, her voice tinged with unlikely hope.
    â€œHer name is Cindy, and we met at the Christmas Ball.” His mother would assume he’d lost his mind if he were to tell her that the minute he’d held Cindy, he’d known she was going to be the most important person in his life.
    â€œCindy.” His mother repeated it slowly. “What’s her last name?”
    Thorne knew she was really inquiring about Cindy’s family. He hated to admit it, but his mother was a terrible snob.
    â€œSurely this girl has a surname?” She was obviously displeased with this unexpected turn of events.
    Thorne hesitated, realizing he didn’t know Cindy’s surname any more than he did her phone number. “I…don’t believe she told me.”
    â€œYou don’t know her last name?”
    â€œI just told you that, Mother. But it’s no problem. I’ll see her again Monday morning.” Even as he said it, two daysfelt like an eternity, and Thorne wasn’t convinced he could wait that long. “She’s an employee of Oakes-Jenning.”
    Another lengthy pause followed. “You haven’t said anything to Sheila?”
    â€œOf course not, I only met Cindy last night. Listen, Mother, I’m probably making a mistake even mentioning her to you, but—”
    â€œIt’s just a shock, that’s all,” his mother responded calmly, having regained her composure. “Do me a favor, Thorne, and don’t say anything to Sheila yet.”
    â€œBut, Mother—”
    â€œI wouldn’t want you to mislead the poor girl, but you might save yourself considerable heartache until you and…What was her name again?”
    â€œCindy.”
    â€œAh, yes, Cindy. It would be better if you sorted out your feelings for Cindy before you said something to Sheila that you might regret later.”
    â€œCindy knows all about Sheila.”
    â€œYes, but Sheila doesn’t know about Cindy, and my guess is you should let this new…relationship simmer until you’re sure of your feelings.”
    Thorne’s jaw tightened. He’d been foolish to say anything to his mother. It was too soon. Later, when they saw how much he’d changed, they’d want to know the reason; he could tell them all about Cindy then.
    â€œThorne?” His mother prompted. “Do you agree?”
    For a moment he had to stop and figure out what she wanted him to agree to. “I won’t tell Sheila,” he promised.
    â€œGood.” She sighed loudly, her relief