“Of course,” I said with a sigh. “But I have an event tonight.”
“A date?” Alfie asked as we headed toward the estate house.
“No, a charity function.”
“Maybe you’ll meet a date there.”
“I don’t think there are going to be any women under the age of sixty in attendance,” I said dryly as I steered the car down the drive.
“Can you bring me some food?”
“Sure!” I tousled his hair as he got out of the car. “If there’s anything good. I’m not sure who’s catering.”
“Maybe it’s Gray Dove Bakery. We should go there for brunch.”
“Brunch sounds lovely!”
I started as a tall, slim, dark-haired woman emerged from the shadows of the cavernous front porch.
“Tatiana.” I kept my face a neutral mask.
“My new stepsons!” she trilled.
“I have plans tonight and cannot talk with you right now,” I said, dragging Alfie along behind me.
“But I wanted to ask Alfie how he wanted his room decorated,” she said in a fake baby voice.
“His what?” I asked, jaw tense.
“When your dad and I get married,” she said with an overly large smile on her face, “Alfie, you’re going to move in with us! Isn’t that great? You’re going to have a mom!”
“Is Sebastian going to move in too?” my younger brother asked uncertainly.
“Only if he wants to! Though we’d love to have him over for a sleepover.” Her eyes flicked up then down my body.
“He’s not moving in with you all,” I said brusquely, trying not to let the panic show on my face. “I have guardianship of him. Papers have been signed. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I have an event to get ready for tonight.”
I unlocked the door, shoved Alfie inside, then slammed it in Tatiana’s face.
“You don’t want to go live with Dad?” Alfie asked, patting me on the arm.
“We are not living with Dad,” I said, more harshly than I intended. I softened my tone. “I’ll make you a snack, then I have to get ready.”
“I’ll help you!”
After I handed him his snack, Alfie alternated polishing my shoes, picking out cuff links, and handing me my bow tie while he took bites of his grilled cheese sandwich.
“You could skip the event,” he suggested. “We could invite Amy over and talk about plants.”
I want to do more than talk with her.
“Unfortunately, it’s more trouble than it’s worth,” I told him. “Now, make sure you have everything you need for staying at the Svenssons. I’ll only be at the function long enough to take pictures and shake a few hands, then I’ll leave to come pick you up.”
* * *
An hour is really stretchingit, I decided when I walked into the lobby of the Corentin Hotel, where the charity party was being held.
I was the youngest person there by several generations.
