"And my son is hooked. She spent the night at his place. He did not say anything to me, but when I called, he was very evasive, said he was tied up when I asked him over for supper. And he has not spoken about her. That's another concern. This might be worse than the one before." She sipped and sighed again.
"I'm tempted to do a run on her."
"Which is another right as a parent."
Gloria sighed again. "I would go ahead, but the team of investigators are loyal to him and word might get back."
"You could go independent." Martha suggested.
Gloria shook her head. "I'll just wait and see. Oh, Martha, I so want him to meet the right person. I want him to be happy."
"Which is your right as a mother." She sniffed. "It's also my right as the woman who helped to grow him."
*****
"He said not to pack. We'll be flying straight from having dinner. Using his private jet." She clasped her hands in front of her and gave her Grams a pleading look. "Please don't say anything."
"I won't." Her grandmother sighed. "Girl, I want the best for you, and I would have wished this was real, hoped that you could bring that man home and introduce him to me and your son. That this isn't going to blow up in your face."
She waved her hand as Melanie opened her mouth. "David and I will be fine. Go and have fun. You deserve that much. You've been deprived of it since that no good son knocked you up."
"I'm wearing my own clothes." There was a touch of defiance in her expression. "I never felt good 'borrowing' someone else's clothes. He might take one look at me and decide that I'm not who he wants to be with."
"You could always tell him the truth." Her grandmother pointed out. They were in her room with David downstairs playing a video game.
"No." She shook her head. "Not yet. You have to trust me on this Grams. I want to enjoy being this person for a little while longer."
Sighing, Eloise came forward and embraced her.
"All I can do is pray for you."
"Thanks. I really appreciate everything you do for me and David."
"Nonsense. You're blood and my only family."
Chapter 9
"You told me not to bring anything." She waited a little apprehensively as he met her at the door of Sylvie's apartment. "And I dressed down."
He eyed her simple sweater and dark blue dress pants. She had teamed it with a black jacket that had seen better days. Her hair was wound into two puffs on top of her head. Silver hoops dangled at her lobes.
"You're fine."
"You're wearing a sports jacket."
He took her hands in his, a frown touching his brow. "It's fine." Lifting their joined hands, he kissed her knuckles. "Why are you nervous?"
"I'm not." She started to tug her hands away, but he held on.
"Tell me what's going on."
"You're taking me to Paris. I feel as if I'm living a fairytale."
"What am I, Prince Charming or the big bad wolf?"
She laughed a little shakily. "Prince Charming of course."
He drew her to him, tilting her face up. "I missed you."
