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My stepfather looked at me and sighed. “I’m sorry, Hayden.”
“It’s not your fault,” I assured him.
“Just so you know, there’s no rush.” Arnold shot me a commiserating smile. “I’m happy to oversee things until you’re ready.”
I liked the direction of this conversation even less than the one discussing marriage and babies. I dabbed my mouth with my cloth napkin and gently set it next to my plate before rising.
“Where are you going?” Mom asked.
“I have an early morning,” I said.
“You’re leaving? Before dessert? I had Paula make pear tarts with homemade vanilla bean ice cream.”
“You know I don’t eat dessert. And I really do have an early morning.”
I walked around to the other side of the table and kissed the top of my mother’s head. “I love you. I’ll call you later. Bye, Arnold.”
“Bye, Hayden.” Arnold looked at my mom. “I told you, Marilyn.”
She sighed. “Yes, you did.”
I headed out of the dining room, the sound of their conversation drifting away as I walked down the immaculate hallway to the foyer.
Stanton waited at the door with my purse. I arched a brow. “How did you know?”
“I know all.” He cracked a smile. “I can’t remember the last time you stayed through an entire dinner.”
“My mother is in rare form…”
“She is,” he said.
I kissed his cheek. “It was good to see you, Stanton.”
“You too, Miss Hayden.”
I was halfway home when my phone rang. I pressed a button on the steering wheel, answering the call.
“How did I know you escaped Sunday dinner early?” Charlie asked.
“Because I am nothing if not predictable,” I joked.
“What did she do?”
“We talked about my geriatric eggs. She’s concerned I’ll never get married or have children. So she told a senator’s son about me. He’ll be at the charity gala.”
“Yikes. Good thing I’ll be your wingwoman. You don’t even sound mad about it though.”
“I’m not. She’s persistent, but harmless. I take it for what it is.”
“Want me to have sex with the senator’s son in a coat closet? Can’t go after you if he’s busy getting laid, right?”
I laughed. “I’m not telling you not to do it…”
“Green light. What’s his name?”
“Walker Anderson the Third. He’s Senator Anderson’s son.”
“Okay, let me look him up. He may not be attractive at all. And if he’s not attractive, I rescind my offer in full.”
