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“We’re going to have drinks in a little while,” Elizabeth said, linking her arm through Caroline’s to lead her away from the foyer. “I’ll give you a tour of the house while Simon fetches your suitcases. Perhaps you can tell me a little about yourself.” She paused and sent her gaze chasing after her son. “And explain why he kept you such a secret.”
Caroline was prepared for Elizabeth’s first salvo. Simon had concocted a pretty rational explanation that she had no trouble presenting to his mother. “I think he was a little afraid of jinxing things.”
“That doesn’t sound much like Simon. He’s not exactly the cautious type.” Elizabeth guided Caroline through a series of formal rooms, each more beautifully decorated than the last. A great deal of gold had been used to accent the architectural features of the home. And a home it was. For all its grandeur, Caroline had noticed a pottery bowl, used as a car key holder, on a table by the front door that could have only been done by a six-year-old. Family photos competed with expensive artwork on the walls. “But then, you know that about him.”
The implied question being: how well do you know my son?
Time to start earning her keep. “He took me white-water rafting on our first date.” Here she hesitated, stumbling a little over her first lie. “I was terrified.” Despite Elizabeth’s warm welcome, Caroline hadn’t missed the fact that Simon’s mother was assessing every nuance in her mannerisms and voice. Caroline reasoned it didn’t make much sense to avoid the obvious. “I’m not much like the sort of woman he usually sees.”
“No.” Elizabeth drew out the word. “You’re not what he dated when he was in high school. He tended to prefer the girls who were a little wild. Since then, I don’t know. He doesn’t introduce us to the women he sees. You’re not what I pictured him dating, however. In truth, I’m a little relieved.”
Caroline found Elizabeth’s bluntness refreshing and responded with a little candor of her own. “He thinks I’m too serious. I don’t know if he told you I’m going to law school.”
“He hasn’t told us anything at all about you. And since he lives so far away, it’s hard to keep track of what he’s up to.” Elizabeth’s mouth tightened. An undercurrent of frustration ran beneath her tone. She was a strong matriarch who didn’t appreciate being kept in the dark about her family’s activities. “I’m sure you know we have a few lawyers in the family.”
“Yes, and he’s very proud of them.”
Elizabeth brushed a wave of blond hair off her forehead and for the first time looked a little distracted. “He never wanted to be a lawyer. It’s not as if he couldn’t, although that’s the excuse he uses. He says he’s not as smart as Dane or Hannah. That’s not true. He was always too active to sit down and apply himself to books.”
“I think he would have made a great lawyer. He sure has talked circles around my objections.” Hearing how that sounded, Caroline rolled her lips inward and bit down hard, but Elizabeth chuckled.
“I’m sure he has.” To Caroline’s relief she didn’t ask the obvious question: what sort of objections. “I think his career path had more to do with not following in Dane’s footsteps. Until he turned thirteen, Simon hero-worshiped his older brother and always tried to be just like him. Then there was the incident with the girl Dane liked, but Simon asked out. Since then, their relationship has been one long competition.”
“I met Francine. Simon told me about dating her.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “That was a disaster.
It caused a huge rift between them. I put my foot down about how he and Dane behaved toward each other in this house, but I don’t think they spoke to each other outside it for three years.
“I didn’t realize…”
Simon hadn’t made it sound like he was that hurt when Dane started seeing Francine. Was that his way of coping, being stalwart in the face of betrayal? Or did the pain run so deep he was in denial?
“Through here is the kitchen.” Elizabeth led the way into an enormous gourmet kitchen and out onto the terrace that overlooked a pool. “Although it’s a little chilly to swim at this time of year, it’s a pleasant place to barbecue on sunny afternoons.”
Despite the cool temperature, Caroline lingered to admire the view. The brick around her captured the afternoon sunshine and seemed to radiate warmth. A slight breeze ruffled the surface of the turquoise pool and sunlight sparkled on the ripples, winking invitingly.
Elizabeth finished the tour of the first floor and headed back toward the front of the house. “Let’s go upstairs and help you unpack.”
“Your home is lovely,” Caroline murmured for probably the hundredth time, awed by the notion that people actually lived in such luxury. Despite her circumstances for being here and her misgivings about what she and Simon were doing, her life in Atlanta seemed very far away.
“Thank you.”
In the foyer both Simon and his father stood where Caroline and Elizabeth had left them. Simon’s mother huffed. “Charles, did you tell Simon where to put the bags?”
“He’s been telling me all about your decorating projects,” Simon said with a wicked grin.
“He means I’ve been complaining about how fast you’re spending my hard-earned money,” Charles inserted, drawing his wife close and placing a fond kiss on her cheek.
“Your father refuses to retire,” Elizabeth retorted, looking from one to the other. “What else am I to do with my time when he’s not around?”
“As if your clubs, charity work and golf league don’t keep you busy,” Simon teased. “When he retires, when are you two going to find time to be together?”
Elizabeth slipped out of her husband’s grasp. “I have a free hour every other Wednesday at two.”
Caroline couldn’t help but smile. She began to see where Simon came by his dry sense of humor. He’d been right to warn her about his clever mother. Caroline would have to stay on her toes.
“Simon, please bring the bags upstairs. You’ll be staying in Dane’s old room.”
