milk.
His stomach growled at the same time he settled in, sitting in the same chair he favored as a kid. Pulling out the latest
copy of the
Gazette,
he looked over the new and improved layout, and a tug of pride lodged in Roman’s throat.
Chase had managed to grow the paper along with the increased population in town.
The sound of someone running down the stairs startled him and he turned to see his mother come to a quick halt as she entered
the kitchen.
“Roman!”
“You were expecting someone else?”
She shook her head. “It’s just … I thought you’d left the house already.”
“And you decided to run a marathon while I was gone?”
“Weren’t you supposed to have breakfast with your brothers?”
He narrowed his gaze. “I couldn’t get out of bed this morning, and don’t change the subject. Was that you running down the
stairs? Because you’re supposed to be taking it easy, remember?” But hadn’t Rick said she’d sounded winded last night too?
“How could I forget something so important?” She placed a shaking hand to her chest, then walked slowly into the room, coming
up beside him. “What about you? Are you feeling okay?”
Other than disoriented from this circular conversation, he was fine. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“Because your ears are obviously still clogged from the plane ride if you’re thinking you heard something as ridiculous as
me
running,
of all things. Do you want me to make an appointment with Dr. Fallon for you?” she asked.
He shook his head hard enough to clear his ears had they been blocked and met his mother’s gaze. “I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried
about.”
“No need.” She slowly lowered herself into the chair beside him, then stared at his cereal bowl, a frown puckering her face.
“Well, I see some things haven’t changed. I can’t believe I actually keep that garbage on hand for you. It’s going to—”
“Rot my teeth, I know.” She’d told him often enough as a kid. But she loved him enough to indulge him anyway. “You do realize
I haven’t lost one yet?”
“
Yet
being the operative word. A single man needs all his teeth, Roman. No woman finds it attractive to wake up in the middle
of the night and discover you soaking your dentures on the nightstand.”
He rolled his eyes. “Good thing I’m a respectful man and don’t let women spend the night.” Let his mother chew on that, Roman
thought wryly.
“Respect has nothing to do with it,” she muttered.
As usual, his mother had a point. Women didn’t stay overnight because he wasn’t currently involved and hadn’t been in a while,
and because women who spent the night took it for granted they could spend another one. And another. The next thing a man
knew, he was in a relationship—which Roman supposed wouldn’t be a bad thing, if he could find a woman who interested him for
more than a couple of weeks. Chase and Rick felt the same way. At this point, Roman figured the Chandler brothers’ hearts
were stamped NO TRESPASSING. Any intelligent woman read the fine print before getting involved in any way.
“You’re too smart for your own good, Mom.” As he rose from his seat, he realized Raina was completely dressed for the day.
She wore navy blue slacks, a white blouse with a tie, and the pin with three baseball bats, a diamond in each, clipped into
the center—a gift from his father after Chase’s birth, and added to with each son she’d delivered. Other than her slight pallor,
she looked great. The way his mother always looked, he thought with pride. “Going somewhere?” he asked.
She nodded. “To the hospital to read to the children.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
“And before you argue with me like Chase and Rick tried to do, let me tell you something. I’ve been in bed since late Friday
when your brothers brought me home. It’s a beautiful morning. Even the doctor said fresh air would do me
His stomach growled at the same time he settled in, sitting in the same chair he favored as a kid. Pulling out the latest
copy of the
Gazette,
he looked over the new and improved layout, and a tug of pride lodged in Roman’s throat.
Chase had managed to grow the paper along with the increased population in town.
The sound of someone running down the stairs startled him and he turned to see his mother come to a quick halt as she entered
the kitchen.
“Roman!”
“You were expecting someone else?”
She shook her head. “It’s just … I thought you’d left the house already.”
“And you decided to run a marathon while I was gone?”
“Weren’t you supposed to have breakfast with your brothers?”
He narrowed his gaze. “I couldn’t get out of bed this morning, and don’t change the subject. Was that you running down the
stairs? Because you’re supposed to be taking it easy, remember?” But hadn’t Rick said she’d sounded winded last night too?
“How could I forget something so important?” She placed a shaking hand to her chest, then walked slowly into the room, coming
up beside him. “What about you? Are you feeling okay?”
Other than disoriented from this circular conversation, he was fine. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“Because your ears are obviously still clogged from the plane ride if you’re thinking you heard something as ridiculous as
me
running,
of all things. Do you want me to make an appointment with Dr. Fallon for you?” she asked.
He shook his head hard enough to clear his ears had they been blocked and met his mother’s gaze. “I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried
about.”
“No need.” She slowly lowered herself into the chair beside him, then stared at his cereal bowl, a frown puckering her face.
“Well, I see some things haven’t changed. I can’t believe I actually keep that garbage on hand for you. It’s going to—”
“Rot my teeth, I know.” She’d told him often enough as a kid. But she loved him enough to indulge him anyway. “You do realize
I haven’t lost one yet?”
“
Yet
being the operative word. A single man needs all his teeth, Roman. No woman finds it attractive to wake up in the middle
of the night and discover you soaking your dentures on the nightstand.”
He rolled his eyes. “Good thing I’m a respectful man and don’t let women spend the night.” Let his mother chew on that, Roman
thought wryly.
“Respect has nothing to do with it,” she muttered.
As usual, his mother had a point. Women didn’t stay overnight because he wasn’t currently involved and hadn’t been in a while,
and because women who spent the night took it for granted they could spend another one. And another. The next thing a man
knew, he was in a relationship—which Roman supposed wouldn’t be a bad thing, if he could find a woman who interested him for
more than a couple of weeks. Chase and Rick felt the same way. At this point, Roman figured the Chandler brothers’ hearts
were stamped NO TRESPASSING. Any intelligent woman read the fine print before getting involved in any way.
“You’re too smart for your own good, Mom.” As he rose from his seat, he realized Raina was completely dressed for the day.
She wore navy blue slacks, a white blouse with a tie, and the pin with three baseball bats, a diamond in each, clipped into
the center—a gift from his father after Chase’s birth, and added to with each son she’d delivered. Other than her slight pallor,
she looked great. The way his mother always looked, he thought with pride. “Going somewhere?” he asked.
She nodded. “To the hospital to read to the children.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
“And before you argue with me like Chase and Rick tried to do, let me tell you something. I’ve been in bed since late Friday
when your brothers brought me home. It’s a beautiful morning. Even the doctor said fresh air would do me
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