The Family Plan

It might not have been the noblest choice Nathan could have made, but he decided to take the easy way out. Escape.

“You know, it was great to see you, Aunt Betty, but we really have to hurry. I’ll call you soon and explain everything, okay?”

“Explain what?” she asked, frowning at him.

He merely smiled and pushed the cart so quickly away that Isabelle’s fine hair ruffled in the resulting breeze. Her eyes big, she gazed up at him. “Who was that?” she asked in a stage whisper.

“That was my great-aunt Betty. Yours, too, I guess.”

“She’s loud.”

Nathan nodded. “I know.”

“She thinks I’m Miss Caitlin’s little girl.”

Nathan avoided Caitlin’s eyes. “I know. I’ll explain to her later.”

“But why…?”

“What kind of fruit juice do you like, Isabelle?” Caitlin asked quickly.

Isabelle seemed to debate for a moment whether to continue her line of questioning or allow herself to be distracted. But then she conceded and requested apple juice.

Staying well ahead of Betty, Nathan practically jogged down the rest of the aisles, tossing food items into the cart until it nearly overflowed. He kept his eyes focused on the shelves, operating on the theory that if he didn’t see anyone else he knew, they wouldn’t see him, either.

Caitlin helped him pile his purchases on the conveyor belt at the cashier’s station. He paid the sizable bill with a bank debit card, then pushed the cart full of now-bagged groceries toward the parking lot. A golfing buddy hailed him just outside the door; Nathan waved and kept moving, successfully avoiding conversation.

“You have to talk to your mother,” Caitlin said as they reached their cars. “There’s no way you can keep this quiet for long.”

“I know.” He glanced into the back of his car, which was filled with his bags and Isabelle’s. “Think we can put some of these bags in your car? I’m not sure everything’s going to fit in mine.”

Caitlin hesitated a moment before opening the trunk of her Saturn. He wondered if she had considered parting from him here rather than accompanying him home. “If you have other plans for the evening, I’m sure Isabelle and I can manage by ourselves…..”

She sighed and reached for a bag of groceries. “No, I don’t have other plans. I’m happy to give you a hand this evening. We are partners, after all.”

Partners. Maybe she was trying to downplay the cozily intimate nature of their shopping expedition by reminding him of their business relationship. He couldn’t think of any other reason for her to bring it up. But he merely nodded, thanked her and helped her transfer the groceries to her car. He should probably feel at least a little guilty about shamelessly using her this way, but he needed her help too badly.

Chapter Four

I t took several trips to transfer all the groceries and belongings into Nathan’s house. They unpacked briskly and with little conversation, Isabelle gamely carrying as much as her little arms could hold. Dumping suitcases in the den, they concentrated first on putting away the groceries.

Caitlin lifted an eyebrow at the empty state of Nathan’s pantry and refrigerator. “You weren’t kidding when you said you were out of groceries, were you?”

He made a face as he stashed milk, eggs and cheese in the nearly empty fridge. “You’re not the only one who survives on take-out food.”

Isabelle tugged at his shirt. “I’m hungry now, Nate. Can we have hot dogs and macaroni and cheese?”

She had informed them at the supermarket that it was her favorite meal. Nathan had been pleased to hear it; that was a menu even he could prepare. He’d made a vow to himself to learn to cook healthy, balanced meals, but tonight seemed like a good time for something quick and easy.

By the time he had the food ready, all the groceries had been neatly organized and put away. He persuaded Caitlin to join them for dinner, and the three of them ate around the kitchen table. Nathan didn’t own a booster seat, of course, so Isabelle sat on a stack of law books to raise her to table height.

By the time she’d finished eating, Isabelle’s eyelids were growing heavy again. It had been a long, eventful day for a little girl—for an adult as well, Nathan admitted. He wouldn’t mind curling up in a quiet corner for a few hours himself. And not necessarily alone, he added with a thoughtful look at Caitlin, who sat across the table from him, smiling sweetly at Isabelle.

Unfortunately, he had a lot more to do before he could rest that evening. And he doubted Caitlin would be interested in curling up with him, anyway. Especially not tonight.

Bringing Isabelle into his life had changed everything as far as his social life was concerned. When he had considered asking Caitlin out before, he’d been happily unattached. She might have had some hesitation about dating her business partner, but now he was also a single father—and he had no idea how she felt about that.

Caitlin volunteered to clear the kitchen as he carried Isabelle to his bedroom to nap while he prepared the guest room for her use. “I’ll leave the door open,” he told Isabelle, tucking her into his bed. “Miss Caitlin and I will be in the other room. Just call out if you need anything.”

“’Kay,” she murmured sleepily, snuggling into his pillows. “G’night, Nate.”

“Good night, poppet.” He brushed a kiss across her soft cheek, smoothed the covers over her shoulders and straightened. She was still wearing the knit outfit she had traveled in earlier, having removed only her shoes before climbing into bed. Nathan hadn’t unpacked her pj’s yet, nor her toothbrush or toys or anything else.

He drew a deep breath at the thought of all that lay ahead of him, and then turned toward the doorway to rejoin Caitlin.

Waiting in the den for Nathan, Caitlin looked at the clutter of suitcases and boxes on the floor and wondered exactly how she had ended up here this evening. All she remembered saying was that if there was anything she could do for Nathan and Isabelle…

The next thing she knew, she’d been picking out groceries and eating hot dogs at his kitchen table.

She’d only been in Nathan’s house a couple of times. She looked at it now through new eyes, studying the leather and wood furnishings, the wildlife prints and golf-and-wildlife-themed knick-knacks. One wall of the room was dominated by an entertainment centre that included a large-screen TV, VCR and DVD players, a sound system and a video game system. Typical young bachelor’s place, she thought of the cozy three-bedroom, ranch-styled house in a neighborhood filled with singles and young marrieds.

“Your life is certainly about to change,” she commented when Nathan strolled into the room.

He scooped up a white stuffed owl Isabelle had been carrying around earlier, and studied it with a quizzical expression. “Tell me about it.”

“Are you nervous?”

The look he gave her was almost comically expressive. “Terrified.”

“I would be, too.” She considered talking to him again about the wisdom of the decision he had made, but he looked so tired that she didn’t have the heart. Maybe after he’d had some rest, he would see things differently.

She glanced at the bags on the floor. “Need help with these things?”

“Yes, you could help me set up the guest room for Isabelle, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure. Which things are hers?”

“The black suitcase and carry-on are mine. We’ll just leave them in here for now. The two red suitcases and the purple footlocker hold Isabelle’s things. Barbara Houston’s daughter helped me pack Isabelle’s favorites. I told her to dispose of the rest however she saw fit.”

Caitlin took hold of the handle of a wheeled red suitcase. “Point me toward the guest room.”

He had already hefted the small footlocker off the floor. “This way,” he said over his shoulder.

The house was set up with a split floor plan—master bedroom and bath on one end, kitchen, dining room, den and living room centrally located and two smaller bedrooms and a bath at the far end. The doors were all open.

Caitlin noted that Nathan had arranged one of the spare bedrooms as an office with a desk, filing cabinets, bookshelves, computer system and other basic office equipment. It looked very much like the office she had set up in her two-bedroom apartment.

He had done very little decorating in the guest room. The furnishings consisted of a bed, a nightstand, a dresser and a chest of drawers in a warm-toned wood that might have been maple. A blue-and-green plaid spread covered the bed and a beige ginger-jar lamp with a matching shade sat on the nightstand. White blinds covered the single window; there was no curtain to soften the effect. A couple of generic, framed landscape prints hung on the white-painted walls. It was obviously a room that was rarely, if ever, used.