good as long as I
take it easy.”
“Ma—”
“I’m not finished.”
She waved a hand in front of his nose and he lowered himself back into his chair, knowing better than to attempt to get a
word in edgewise.
“I always read to the children on Monday and Friday. Jean Parker has chemotherapy treatments on those days and she looks forward
to hearing
Curious George Goes to the Hospital.
”
Bless his mother for caring, he thought. Even ill, she put others first. She’d always had more than enough room in her heart
for any kid who’d walked into their home.
As if she’d read his mind, she placed her hand over that heart and rubbed gently. “And besides, there’s nothing like
children
to make a heart feel decades younger.”
He rolled his eyes. “More rest will do the same thing, so after you read, I expect you home and in bed.” No way would he touch
the dig regarding kids. Not when he was about to embark upon a hunt to find a mother for his. “Are you finished with the monologue?”
he asked politely.
She nodded.
“I wasn’t going to argue. I just wanted to know if I could make you breakfast. I wouldn’t want you to wear yourself out before
you start your volunteer work.”
A smile worked its way onto her face. Considering she was over sixty, her skin still held a glow most women would envy and
the lines weren’t as deep as many others’ her age. Fear of losing her suddenly washed over him. He stood again and held out
his arms. “I love you, Mom. And don’t you
ever
scare me like that again.”
She rose and hugged him in return, her arms and her grip strong and sure. This was his mother, the woman who had raised him,
and though they touched base only once in a while because of his schedule, he adored her. He couldn’t imagine life without
her in it. “I want you around for a long, long time.”
She sniffed. “Me too.”
“Don’t wipe your nose on my shirt.” Female tears made him uncomfortable and he wanted her perky and strong again. “The doctor
said you’ll be fine as long as you take care of yourself, right? No stress, no overdoing it?”
She nodded.
“I suppose reading couldn’t hurt. Can I drive you into town?”
“Chase is picking me up.”
“How are you getting home?”
“Eric is dropping me off after lunch.”
“How is Dr. Fallon?” Roman asked.
“Fine. Looking out for me just like you boys.” She stepped backward, dabbed her eyes with a napkin she’d swiped off the table,
and though she didn’t meet his gaze, she was his composed mother again.
“How about a bagel and a cup of decaffeinated tea?” Roman asked.
“Don’t spoil me. I’ll be lost when you’re gone.”
He grinned. “Somehow I doubt that. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
Raina laughed. “And don’t you forget it.”
An hour later, Roman slipped out of the house for a walk to town, grateful his mother’s breakfast discussion had included
only town gossip and no more baby talk. He knew what he had to do and neither needed nor wanted a reminder.
The job ahead wouldn’t be a simple one. The women of this town were raised to be wives and mothers—working or stay-at-home,
it didn’t matter. It was the wife part that made Roman nervous, and had him wondering how the hell he’d find someone willing
to accept his untraditional needs. He needed an untraditional woman who’d accept his absences and wondered if that person
could be found in Yorkshire Falls.
There was always the possibility of choosing a more cosmopolitan woman, one who understood Roman’s needs better. He’d have
to check his PalmPilot when he got home, but a few women he’d met in his travels and knew more intimately in the past came
to mind. There was Cynthia Hartwick, an English heiress, but Roman immediately shook his head. She’d hire nannies to care
for her children, and Roman wanted any kid of his to know a loving motherly upbringing.
He’d always liked Yvette
take it easy.”
“Ma—”
“I’m not finished.”
She waved a hand in front of his nose and he lowered himself back into his chair, knowing better than to attempt to get a
word in edgewise.
“I always read to the children on Monday and Friday. Jean Parker has chemotherapy treatments on those days and she looks forward
to hearing
Curious George Goes to the Hospital.
”
Bless his mother for caring, he thought. Even ill, she put others first. She’d always had more than enough room in her heart
for any kid who’d walked into their home.
As if she’d read his mind, she placed her hand over that heart and rubbed gently. “And besides, there’s nothing like
children
to make a heart feel decades younger.”
He rolled his eyes. “More rest will do the same thing, so after you read, I expect you home and in bed.” No way would he touch
the dig regarding kids. Not when he was about to embark upon a hunt to find a mother for his. “Are you finished with the monologue?”
he asked politely.
She nodded.
“I wasn’t going to argue. I just wanted to know if I could make you breakfast. I wouldn’t want you to wear yourself out before
you start your volunteer work.”
A smile worked its way onto her face. Considering she was over sixty, her skin still held a glow most women would envy and
the lines weren’t as deep as many others’ her age. Fear of losing her suddenly washed over him. He stood again and held out
his arms. “I love you, Mom. And don’t you
ever
scare me like that again.”
She rose and hugged him in return, her arms and her grip strong and sure. This was his mother, the woman who had raised him,
and though they touched base only once in a while because of his schedule, he adored her. He couldn’t imagine life without
her in it. “I want you around for a long, long time.”
She sniffed. “Me too.”
“Don’t wipe your nose on my shirt.” Female tears made him uncomfortable and he wanted her perky and strong again. “The doctor
said you’ll be fine as long as you take care of yourself, right? No stress, no overdoing it?”
She nodded.
“I suppose reading couldn’t hurt. Can I drive you into town?”
“Chase is picking me up.”
“How are you getting home?”
“Eric is dropping me off after lunch.”
“How is Dr. Fallon?” Roman asked.
“Fine. Looking out for me just like you boys.” She stepped backward, dabbed her eyes with a napkin she’d swiped off the table,
and though she didn’t meet his gaze, she was his composed mother again.
“How about a bagel and a cup of decaffeinated tea?” Roman asked.
“Don’t spoil me. I’ll be lost when you’re gone.”
He grinned. “Somehow I doubt that. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
Raina laughed. “And don’t you forget it.”
An hour later, Roman slipped out of the house for a walk to town, grateful his mother’s breakfast discussion had included
only town gossip and no more baby talk. He knew what he had to do and neither needed nor wanted a reminder.
The job ahead wouldn’t be a simple one. The women of this town were raised to be wives and mothers—working or stay-at-home,
it didn’t matter. It was the wife part that made Roman nervous, and had him wondering how the hell he’d find someone willing
to accept his untraditional needs. He needed an untraditional woman who’d accept his absences and wondered if that person
could be found in Yorkshire Falls.
There was always the possibility of choosing a more cosmopolitan woman, one who understood Roman’s needs better. He’d have
to check his PalmPilot when he got home, but a few women he’d met in his travels and knew more intimately in the past came
to mind. There was Cynthia Hartwick, an English heiress, but Roman immediately shook his head. She’d hire nannies to care
for her children, and Roman wanted any kid of his to know a loving motherly upbringing.
He’d always liked Yvette
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