Vanessa's Match (5 page)

He was startled to realize how perfectly Vanessa fit in the room.

Mrs. Abby, having heard the doorbell, followed them into the room and set down a tray of hors d’oeuvres. Her gaze flew immediately to the slim blonde sitting demurely on the sofa. “Oh, Miss Lindy, how you’ve grown!”

Lindy stood up. “I’m so glad to see you, Mrs. Abby,” she said as she rushed into the woman’s outstretched arms.

Mrs. Abby patted her hair and kissed her flushed cheek. “My, my, your daddy would be so proud of you now!”

Lindy’s eyes filled with tears. “Would he?”

“Didn’t Rick tell you that? Your daddy thought you were the most beautiful child. But you’re even prettier now.”

As if she were making a terrible confession, Lindy whispered, “Rick says I look like my mom.”

“He’s just fooled by the blond hair, that’s all. Right, Rick?” Mrs. Abby challenged.

Rick recognized his cue. “Of course, as usual you’re right, Mrs. Abby. May I introduce Vanessa Shaw?”

Mrs. Abby nodded. “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Shaw. You must be taking good care of our baby for her to look so pretty.”

“I can’t take much credit for it, Mrs. Abby. Our housekeeper is trying to feed her all the time.”

“Good for her. But it takes more than healthy food to make a girl happy. I bet you’re responsible for that. Now, I’ll go finish up dinner.” After checking her watch and frowning at Rick she left the room.

He ignored her behavior. He knew she didn’t care for Sharon, but he wasn’t going to determine his dates based on Mrs. Abby’s tastes.

He picked up a gift-wrapped package off the coffee table and handed it to Lindy. “Mrs. Abby got this for you.”

Lindy eagerly unwrapped a framed picture of her father. “Oh, I
do
remember him! I wasn’t sure.”

“I’m glad you do. He loved you very much.”

“He used to let me sit in his lap while he worked in the evenings. Then, when I got sleepy, he’d carry me up to bed and help me say my prayers. I can still smell his pipe smoke.” Lindy’s voice was dreamy, as if she’d traveled back in time.

“That’s probably what killed him,” Rick said.

Lindy let out a moan and Vanessa gasped. She wrapped an arm around Lindy. “How dare you say that to her!”

“What? What did I say?”

“Telling Lindy that she killed her father because he carried her up to bed! She couldn’t have weighed much at all!”

“I didn’t say that,” he protested.

“Yes, you did!” Vanessa snapped back.

“I meant his
smoking.
He switched to a pipe, but he’d already smoked cigarettes far too long. That’s what I meant.”

Lindy relaxed against Vanessa’s shoulder. “Oh, I thought you meant—” She sat up straight and forced out a smile. “He liked taking me up to bed, didn’t he?”

“Of course he did,” Rick replied. “If anything, that made him younger.”

His words soothed Lindy. He wasn’t sure Vanessa had forgiven him, though.

“Maybe we should go on in to dinner. My other guest seems to be late.” He wanted to stop Vanessa from thinking about his gaffe.

They were crossing the hall to the dining room when the doorbell rang.

“Good. That will be Sharon.” He opened the door.

Before he could greet Sharon, she slid her arm around his neck and pulled his head down for a long kiss. Then, when he pulled away, she said in a throaty voice, “Hello, sexy.”

He pulled her arm down and turned her toward the other two guests. He hoped Vanessa wouldn’t realize
how embarrassed he was. “Sharon didn’t know she had an audience. Sharon Cresswell, this is my baby sister, Lindy, and her companion, Vanessa Shaw.”

The tall, curvy redhead came over and took Lindy’s hand. “Well, aren’t you the cutest little thing!”

Then she looked at Vanessa. “Hello, Vanessa. Long time no see.”

“Hello, Sharon.”

Rick frowned. “You two know each other?”

“We pledged the same sorority house,” Sharon explained, “but Vanessa dropped out after one year.”

“Dropped out of school?” Rick asked, surprised.

“No,” Vanessa said coolly. “I just dropped out of the sorority.”

“Uh, well, shall we go in to eat?” He reached out and took Lindy’s hand as Sharon moved forward, expecting Rick to escort her into the dining room.

Rick led Lindy to the hostess’s seat. “This is where you should sit, Lindy. After all, this is your home, too.”

“I thought she was living with Vanessa,” Sharon challenged.

“She is, but this is still her home,” Rick said firmly.

Sharon pouted as she took one of the seats at the side of the table. Vanessa waited until Sharon had made her choice, then she moved to the other chair.

Almost at once, Mrs. Abby brought out the first course. After they were all served, Sharon leaned toward Rick and murmured to him that she’d seen a mutual friend that morning. While he acknowledged
what she’d said, he was well aware that she was trying to exclude the other two guests. It struck him that Sharon was using tricks as his stepmother had done. He hadn’t realized that before.

Watching Vanessa, he saw her lean toward Lindy and say something. He couldn’t hear the words, but Lindy laughed, looking so happy.

He interrupted Sharon, saying loud enough for the others to hear, “Sharon, Lindy was excited because she earned money baby-sitting this week.”

“Really? Well, Lindy, you should learn now that that’s not the way to get rich. What you do is find a rich man and marry him. That’s what I’m doing—right, Rick?”

Rick froze. His other two guests looked embarrassed for him. “I wouldn’t know, Sharon.”

“Baby, don’t be so shy. We can tell your sister,” she assured him with a smile.

He frowned. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sharon’s face turned red. “So I’m fine to sleep with, but not good enough to marry? I’ll sue you for all you’re worth, Rick Austin!” She threw her napkin on the table and stood. “Don’t think you can sweet talk me now, either. I refuse to listen.”

Rick noticed that she was lingering, as if she thought he would try to convince her to stay. He stood. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Sharon. I’ll walk you to the door.”

L
INDY LEANED OVER
to Vanessa, as they heard Sharon pleading with Rick, to ask, “Do you think he’ll marry her?”

“I don’t know, Lindy. It’s obvious he didn’t want to talk about it tonight.”

“I hope he doesn’t. If she only wants his money, why would he marry her?”

“Some men make inappropriate marriages because the woman is beautiful.”

“You mean like my dad and mom?” Lindy asked in a small voice.

“I think your dad believed he’d be happy married to your mom. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have married her.”

“Yes, but I stayed at home with Daddy. She didn’t.”

“The marriages in my family aren’t like that. The couples do most things together.”

“I think I’d like a marriage like Will and Vivian’s,” Lindy said slowly. “They seem to like each other a lot.”

Vanessa smiled. “I think that’s important.”

Rick suddenly came back into the room to rejoin them, looking flushed. “I apologize for Sharon.”

“That’s all right,” Vanessa said. “People have arguments all the time.”

“She said she was jealous of you,” Rick announced, staring at Vanessa.

“I beg your pardon? Why would she be jealous of me? I wasn’t flirting with you.”

“Probably because you’re prettier than her,” Lindy pointed out.

Vanessa turned a frown on Lindy. “Sharon is a very attractive woman.”

“But—” Lindy began.

Vanessa simply said, “Lindy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I don’t think you have the right to stifle my sister in her own house, Vanessa,” Rick said.

“If she’s in my care, then I’m responsible for her behavior.” To defuse the volatile exchange, Vanessa changed the subject. “Lindy, did you tell your brother we have to go to the school and choose what you intend to study this year?”

“When do you do that, Lindy?”

“Next week. We have to call tomorrow to make our appointment.”

“Should I go with you, too? To help you decide what you want to study?” Rick asked his half sister.

Lindy brightened. “Would you do that?”

Vanessa went on alert. There was really no need for him to get involved; she had it under control. “I don’t think—”

But Lindy spoke up, cutting her off. “I’d really like that, Rick.”

“What are your choices?” he asked, ignoring Vanessa as if she hadn’t voiced an objection. Or tried to.

“I have a book with them listed,” Lindy said. “I
can’t remember all of them. Maybe you could come to dinner on Sunday and we could look at them together. Would that be all right, Vanessa?”

Now
they noticed her, she thought, just when they could put her on the spot. She couldn’t very well say no now. “Of course, Lindy,” she said reluctantly.

Rick smiled broadly at Lindy, then Vanessa. “What time should I come?”

“We usually dine at one, after everyone gets out of church,” she said. Then, giving it one more try, she said, “But if that’s not convenient—”

Rick put up his hand. “I’ll make sure it is. After all, it’s what our dad would have wanted.”

Vanessa glared at his pompous face. He knew he’d won this round. There was no way she could possibly decline him now, not when he’d used her own words against her.

No, she was stuck with him another day.

“Are you mad at me?” Lindy asked anxiously after they started the drive home.

“No, of course not. I just have a lot to think about,” Vanessa said.

“Rick said he’d help me pick my classes. I didn’t think he’d ever want to see me again. Isn’t that cool?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t mind, do you? I mean, I know you were going to help me, but Rick said he would and—”

“Yes, Lindy, I heard. That’s fine.”

“Okay,” Lindy said, staring straight ahead.

Vanessa pulled the car into the driveway and turned off the motor, but she didn’t open her door. “I’m very pleased that your brother is showing an interest in you. But I want you to remember that the choice is yours. He’s an important man and is responsible for a large corporation. That tends to make him
autocratic. I just want you to choose what is right for you, not what is right for him.”

“I will, Vanessa, I promise. Besides, you’ll be with me, too, won’t you?”

“Yes, I will,” Vanessa said. She didn’t intend to let Lindy’s brother run her over, as her own father had tried to do to her. She got out of the car, hoping she’d made her point. The change in Rick Austin tonight had been dramatic. Lindy was clutching the picture of her father and feeling restored to the family. All that was good. But how long Rick’s attention would remain on Lindy, Vanessa wasn’t sure. And his reason for changing bothered her, too.

She hoped she was wrong in thinking he’d changed to get back at her.

She was sure he’d invited the redhead just to irritate her. That was obvious when he shuffled Sharon out the door after she didn’t behave as he wanted. Vanessa shook her head. If he married Sharon, he’d receive the same treatment his father had in his marriage. It would be a disaster.

Especially for Lindy.

The child would disintegrate in a battle with Sharon, a woman who wouldn’t hesitate to play dirty. Vanessa had known Sharon well years ago when they were sisters in the sorority.

She followed Lindy upstairs. The child seemed to have forgotten about Sharon and the demonstration of intimacy between her and Rick. Maybe he’d
broken it off with the woman tonight, but Vanessa didn’t think Sharon would disappear that easily.

“Lindy, if Sharon contacts you for any reason, don’t agree to anything until you check with me. Promise?”

“Why?”

“Because she’ll try anything to get what she wants. No matter who it hurts.”

“But Rick told her to leave.”

“I know he did, but that doesn’t mean she’s out of his life. Just remember not to agree to anything, okay?”

“Sure, Vanessa.”

After Lindy had gone to sleep, Vanessa made another trip down to the kitchen. There she gave Betty and Peter the same warning about Sharon.

“Sharon?” Betty asked. “The only Sharon I know is that awful girl in your sorority.”

Vanessa nodded. “That’s her.”

“Why would she want to talk to Lindy?”

“She’s been dating Rick, apparently. He sent her home tonight, but she won’t chance losing someone rich like Rick that easily.”

“Oh, you’re right. She used to say years ago how she was looking for a rich man. And Rick is rich, isn’t he?”

“Yes. He could end up unhappily married just like his father. That would be sad.”

“Can you save him?”

“He’s not my business. I’m just trying to protect Lindy.” The truth was, however, she wanted to save
him. It had appalled her when she’d discovered he was dating Sharon. She’d been having kinder thoughts about Rick lately, and Sharon had knocked all those out of her head. She couldn’t believe the man could be so stupid!

After leaving the kitchen, she headed to the library, where she knew she’d find her parents. But only Will was there.

“Where’s Mom?”

“She was tired, so I told her to go on to bed. I’m about ready to join her.”

“Oh. I thought—Never mind.” She and Will walked up the stairs together. “You don’t think Mom is coming down with something, do you?”

“No, but if she’s not better in the morning, I’ll take off work and get her to a doctor.”

“Good. I have an early meeting in the morning with Dr. Cavanaugh, but I’ll check on her when I get back home.”

They exchanged good-nights and she went to bed, but she couldn’t keep her mind off Rick Austin…and Sharon. And it bothered her that everyone kept asking her what she was going to do about it. Rick wasn’t her responsibility. The last thing she wanted to think about all night was Rick Austin.

When her alarm went off in the morning, she had to drag herself out of bed. She couldn’t miss the meeting. It would determine her schedule for the upcoming school year. She was hoping to schedule
all her classes while Lindy was in school. Then she could pick Lindy up when her classes let out.

Of course, Peter could get her,
Vanessa thought. But she’d always liked it when her mother picked her up. She hoped to do the same for Lindy.

Betty stepped out of the kitchen when she heard Vanessa’s steps on the stairs. “You can’t go out without breakfast. I’ll whip up something real quick.”

“I can’t, Betty. But I’ll take a diet cola.”

Betty fetched her a cola and a blueberry muffin. “Eat this on the way. That way you’ll have something in your stomach.”

Vanessa smiled. “Thanks. And remember, no Sharon.”

“I’ll remember.”

The meeting took over an hour and a half. Vanessa was sure that by the time she got home Lindy would be up and in the kitchen with Betty and Peter, and maybe her mother. She hoped her mother wasn’t coming down with something. But with Danny going to play-dates, he was probably being exposed to all sorts of germs, which meant her mother was, too.

She pulled into the drive and parked her car. When she came in the back door, she noticed Peter going to the front door. He opened it to the one person she didn’t want see coming to call.

Sharon.

“I’ll take this, Peter. Thank you,” said Vanessa.

With a relieved expression, Peter went back into the kitchen.

Vanessa took his place in the doorway, one hand holding the door, the other braced against the jamb. “Hello, Sharon. What can I do for you?”

“I thought I’d visit with Lindy.”

“I’m afraid she’s busy.”

“How do you know if you just came in?”

“Trust me, I know.”

“Well, I’d like to take her shopping. When would be a good time?”

“I’m sorry, but I take her shopping often. She doesn’t need any other trips.”

“What’s with you, Vanessa? Don’t trust me with the little sister?”

“No, I don’t.”

“You’re being silly. I just want to become friends with Lindy. After all, when I marry Rick, I’ll be her sister-in-law.”

“Perhaps you will, but that doesn’t mean you can take her out now.”

Sharon put her manicured hands on her hips. “You bitch! You’re just hoping to keep Rick for yourself. But I’ve already got him, and you don’t have a chance!”

Maintaining her composure, Vanessa replied calmly, “That’s between you and Rick. But Lindy is my business and I’m keeping her here.”

“We’ll see about that. I’m telling Rick. He’ll take Lindy away from you!”

Vanessa just stood there staring at her. Finally, Sharon stomped down the sidewalk. Vanessa watched her until she pulled her vehicle away from the curb.

She went into the kitchen where her mother and Lindy sat at the big round table with Peter and Betty. Peter jumped up and held out a chair for her. Betty immediately began cooking pancakes for Vanessa.

“Betty, I shouldn’t—Okay, just one stack. I love your pancakes.”

Peter poured her some coffee and brought it to her.

“You two are wonderful at spoiling me,” Vanessa said with a satisfied sigh. She looked at her mother. “Are you feeling all right this morning?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Lindy and I had a contest to see who could eat the most pancakes.”

Lindy grinned. “I won!”

“Good for you, I think.”

“How did your meeting go, dear?” Vivian asked.

“Fine. I’m teaching nine hours, all of them on Monday, Wednesday and Friday ending at noon. It’s a wonderful schedule.”

“Three classes in a row? Won’t that be tiring?” Vivian asked.

“Not really. Two of them are intro classes and the one at eleven is a class for kids who think they want to major in psychology.”

“That sounds interesting,” Lindy said. “Will they have psychology classes for me to take in high school?”

“I’m not sure, but we can look in the book you
have listing the classes. We’ll do that after I eat my breakfast.”

“Okay. Oh, look, here’s Danny,” Lindy said as the sleepy little boy wandered into the kitchen.

“Oh, my, Danny,” Vivian said, holding out her arms. “I intended to come up to wake you, but I got busy talking and didn’t realize how late it is. Would you like Betty to make you some pancakes?”

Betty was already at the stove, fixing silver dollars for the boy while Peter poured some milk for him.

Danny leaned back against his mother’s shoulder. “I’m very hungry, Mommy.”

“I bet you are. You didn’t eat much dinner last night.”

“Did he not feel well, either?”

“He was feeling perfectly well. As was I. You know how Will worries if anything is different. I was just a little tired.”

“Are you sure you don’t want any coffee?” Betty asked. “It might help you wake up.”

Vanessa turned to stare at her mother. “You didn’t drink any coffee?”

“No, I wanted milk to go with the pancakes.”

Vanessa realized the only time she’d seen her mother turn down coffee was when she was pregnant with Danny. “Mom, you aren’t!”

Her mother looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Lindy, will you keep an eye on Danny and help him put syrup on his pancakes?” Vanessa asked.
Lindy agreed. Vanessa got up. “Betty, you need to come with Mom and me.”

Betty was frowning deeply as she followed Vanessa and Vivian into the library. “Now, Vanessa, what’s the matter?”

“Betty, when was the last time Mom gave up coffee?”

Betty appeared to be studying the question, and then the answer dawned on her. “No! Are you? Miss Vivian, are you pregnant again?”

At first Vivian kept her head down. Finally, she raised it and said, “I think so.”

“But I thought Will said no more babies,” Vanessa said.

“I know. But I forgot to buy more birth control pills. I only missed two days, and I thought—”

“Oh, Mom,” Vanessa said. “You’ve got to get to the doctor at once, to be sure that everything is all right. Why don’t I take you now? Then you can tell Will tonight.”

“I’m almost afraid to,” Vivian said.

“Mom, you know Will. He loves you and Danny.”

“But I don’t think I can tell him.”

“Let’s get you to the doctor first. Then we’ll worry about telling Will.”

“Vanessa, you’re such a good girl.”

“That she is, Miss Vivian,” Betty said. “I don’t see how Mr. Will could resist another little one. You have nothing to worry about.”

Vanessa shared a smile with Betty. “I think she’s right about that. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, but we should call first.”

“I’ll do that. Go get your purse,” Vanessa said. She picked up the phone and dialed her mother’s doctor, who was also hers, and asked for an appointment. When she explained the reason for the appointment, the nurse checked with the doctor, then came back to the phone and told Vanessa to bring her mother and they would work her in.

Once they reached the doctor’s office, it didn’t take long for them to call Vivian. She was clutching her daughter’s hand, so Vanessa went in with her.

After a brief examination, the doctor looked at the two of them. “You are correct, Vivian. You’re about six weeks pregnant.”

“Is everything okay?” Vivian asked, her voice shaky.

“So far, so good. You remember all the rules?”

“Yes. Eat well, but not too much, no caffeine, and rest a lot.”

“Good. At your age, you know you’re a high-risk pregnancy. So I want to see you every two weeks. When you get to around seven months, I’ll see you every week. Probably there won’t be a problem since this is your second pregnancy, but we want to stay on top of things.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I assume Will is excited,” the doctor said as he turned away to write on his chart.

Vanessa put her arms around her mother as Vivian’s eyes filled with tears.

He glanced over his shoulder and spun around. “Vivian? What’s wrong?”

“He doesn’t know, Doctor,” Vanessa said. “Mom is a little worried because he told her no more babies. He was afraid she might have difficulties.”

“You are going to tell him now, though.” It was a statement.

“Yes, of course,” Vivian exclaimed with tears in her voice.

“If he has any questions, tell him to call me.”

Vivian nodded as Vanessa helped her down from the examination table.

Once they were outside the doctor’s office, Vanessa said, “Do you want to go tell Will now?”

“No. I’m rather tired. I think I should take a nap. Maybe—maybe I can tell him tonight.”

Vanessa didn’t think her mother sounded too sure of that, but she didn’t say anything.

Once they got home, she helped her mother get to bed. Then she asked Betty to take some lunch up before Vivian went to sleep.

She found Lindy and Danny in the morning room. The little boy was playing with his trains while Lindy was doing her summer reading for school.

Lindy looked up as she entered the room. “How’s Vivian?”

“She’s fine. Just a little run down.” After reassur
ing her, Vanessa asked, “Have you heard from your brother today?”

“No. Should I have?”

“No. Everything’s fine,” she lied. How could she tell the girl she expected Rick to blast her for throwing his girlfriend off her front step this morning? “Well, I’ve got an errand to run. I should be back before Danny gets up from his nap. I appreciate you taking care of him this morning.”

“He’s such a good little boy—aren’t you, Danny.”

“I’m a
big
boy.” He stood on his tiptoes, stretching as high as he could.

“Of course you are, little brother.” Vanessa hugged him to her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, ’Nessa. And Lindy, too.”