Who's The Daddy?

SHE DIDN’T GET TO ASK her father any questions that night. Long before he’d returned from the office, she’d gone to bed, exhausted. Her mother had gotten home around four, but her vagueness made Caroline wonder if she even remembered that her daughter had come home from the hospital that day.

Even so, Caroline tried to question her at the dinner table that evening.

“Uh, Mother?”

“Yes, dear?” Amelia replied distractedly, examining the salad she was eating.

“Do you know why I argued with my father?”

“Did you? I have no idea, dear. You argue with him frequently, even though I tell you you shouldn’t.” She took a bite of salad and chewed it consideringly. “I don’t think Mrs. Lamb is using a dietetic dressing, even though I asked her to.”

“Please think, Mother. It’s important.”

“I know it is. I gained two pounds last month, and I’m sure it’s the salad dressing.”

“No, I mean arguing with—with my father.” She had no idea what she normally called him.

Amelia looked at her blankly. “About what? Was he difficult when he picked you up?”

“No, not today,” Caroline said, hoping her patience could withstand more conversation with her mother. “Mrs. Lamb said that I had a fight with him a little over two months ago, and then I left.”

“Did you? Where did you go?”

Caroline sighed. “I don’t know. Didn’t you notice I was gone?”

“Hmm. Two months ago? I think that’s when I went to that spa in Arizona.” She laid down her fork and rang the dinner bell that rested on the table by her plate.

Mrs. Lamb opened the door that led to the kitchen. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Mrs. Lamb, didn’t I go to that spa at the end of June?” Amelia asked.

“Was that when I left, while Mother was at the spa?” Caroline added, hoping to clarify matters.

“That’s right. Your mother left the day before you did.”

“Where did Caroline go, Mrs. Lamb? She wants to know.”

The housekeeper looked at Caroline and then her mother. “I don’t know, ma’am. She didn’t say.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lamb,” Caroline said, dismissing the woman before her mother remembered the salad dressing.

A call to her sister didn’t produce any better results.

“I have no time to keep up with your social schedule, Caroline. You disappeared just after I announced my pregnancy. I assumed you had left in a fit of jealousy. But I had no idea you’d go so far as to get pregnant yourself. Couldn’t you let me be first in something?”

Having determined that her sister knew nothing about those lost two weeks, Caroline quickly smoothed her feathers and hung up the phone. Mrs. Lamb confirmed that her father had called and would be working late, which seemed to be a common occurrence.

No wonder no one knew anything. They barely saw each other. All of them together in her hospital room must have been their version of a family reunion. And not a very happy one.

Caroline crawled into bed and rested on the pillow, hoping its softness would soothe her head.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow she would confront her father. Tomorrow she would ask more questions, find out about those elusive two weeks.

Tomorrow, she would see Max again.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE FIRST DRESS had to be replaced when she discovered it was too tight.

Fortunately, she made another discovery—an emerald green silk dress, with a V neckline that dipped dangerously low. The flowing skirt ended right at the knees and fluttered every time she moved. If he was a leg man, she’d definitely get his attention.

Max Daniels may have thought she’d tortured him before, but he hadn’t seen anything yet.

After perfecting her makeup, she ran downstairs and poked her head through the kitchen door. “Everything okay?”

Mrs. Lamb, working at the huge sink, smiled distractedly. “Oh, yes.”

“Thanks. I’ll get the doorbell when it rings.”

She didn’t have long to wait.

Speeding to the front door, she threw it open, a welcoming smile on her face. It faltered when she discovered not one handsome man, but three, on the doorstep.

And none of them looked happy.

“Uh, come in,” she muttered, stepping back.

Max glowered at her as he crossed the threshold, and the other two looked uneasy.

“Are you here to see my father?” she asked Adrian and Prescott.

Before either of them could answer, she heard footsteps behind her, and her father’s voice answered.

“They’re here as our guests for dinner, of course, just as Mr. Daniels is.”

She turned to face him. “Max and I are dining on the patio.”

Her father hadn’t bothered with her since he brought her home from the hospital, but he smiled now as if they were perfectly in tune. “I know that was your plan, Caro, but I told Mrs. Lamb you’d changed your mind. I thought we’d all dine together.”

Several responses ran through Caroline’s head, the foremost of which was to kick her father in the shins and grab Max’s hand and run. Definitely too immature. And if she challenged his decision and insisted on being served on the patio, it would cause Mrs. Lamb a great deal of trouble. And her father would probably just move his guests to the patio, also.

Leaving her no choice but to grin and bear it.

“I see. My apologies, Max. I’m afraid my plans have gone awry.” At least she wanted Max to know she hadn’t included her other—whatever they were—in the invitation.

“No problem,” he murmured, but he was glaring at Adrian and Prescott, not even looking at her.