The Family Plan

“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 talking Tony nominations backstage,” a low and unmistakably male voice said from behind her. A pair of strong, tanned hands gripped the back of her chair on either side of her shoulders.

Chase.

A tiny shiver of awareness swept through Jolyn.

“Mandy did a fantastic job for someone who’s only taken lessons a short time.” She swiveled in her seat to find him looking down at her, his face mere inches away, his dark brown eyes studying her intently.

Chase didn’t appear to be affected by their proximity. And neither was she. Not in the least. She was pulling at the collar of her blouse only because the material itched.

“Mandy wants to hang out with her friends for a few minutes,” he said. “I thought maybe we could sit at one of the picnic tables outside and go over your bid. Unless you’d rather meet someplace less casual.”

“The picnic tables are fine.”

Jolyn and Chase walked down their individual rows and met up in the center aisle.

“Give me a minute to let Mandy know where we’ll be.”

“Sure thing.”

Chase touched Jolyn’s arm. No more than a brush of his fingers, really. So why did it feel like so much more? She watched him slowly weave his way toward the stage.

With his six-foot-two frame, black hair and shoulders rivaling those of a professional athlete, he was easy to track even in a large crowd. If that weren’t enough, his long-sleeved blue denim work shirt stood out in a sea of T-shirts and tank tops. He must have come straight from a call to the recital.

“Hello, Jolyn.”