CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
It was the best deal Sam was going to get, at least for now.
Riley had agreed to spend her summer with him in New York City while he finished his latest picture. At the end of July, she’d make a decision as to whether to give up her job and marry him. With Riley living with him, he could take care of her and the baby. If he’d pushed for more, she would have certainly rebelled and he couldn’t watch over her. Now all he had to do was make living with him so wonderful she wouldn’t want to return to her old life.
Not a small task.
If his ex-wife was to be believed he was difficult to live with and a real pain in the ass, and he’d assumed that he hadn’t become any better in the ensuing years since his divorce. If anything, he was probably a hell of a lot worse. Spoiled, set in his ways, and stubborn as hell, he was used to living alone and getting what he wanted pretty much all of the time. If he wanted Thai food for dinner, he called up his favorite restaurant. If he wanted the thermostat set at seventy-two, then by God that’s where it would be. If he wanted to stay up all night and watch bad horror movies while eating pizza then he did that, too. Those days were officially over. He had someone else to think about now and that – as Riley had painfully reminded him – was something that didn’t come naturally.
He’d handled the situation like he handled most things, by issuing orders and plans to her like she was part of his staff. If things worked out, she was going to be his wife and that required an immediate attitude adjustment. From what he’d seen from his friends’ marriages, they needed to become partners and work together.
“How are you feeling, Mom?”
Paula was stretched out, her feet propped on an ottoman while she read one of the books Sam had bought for her. He’d managed to keep her home today but tomorrow was a whole new battle. She was insistent that she was fully recovered.
“Fine, and if you ask me again I won’t be responsible for my actions. You’d think I had major surgery the way you’re acting. I forgot to drink some water. No big deal.”
“It could have been a big deal. You could have died.”
Snapping her book shut with a sigh, Paula placed it on the table next to the chair. “Aren’t you a bundle of sunshine? Is the movie you’re making sad and depressing by any chance?”
“It’s a comedy,” he deadpanned, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. “Seriously though, dehydration is nothing to mess with, Mom.”
“I know, and I will take it seriously from now on.” She nodded to the glass of water on the table. “I’m drinking one of those every hour. I could float around the room like a balloon. Stop worrying.”
“You’re my mother, I’ll never stop worrying about you.”
“I have so much to look forward to in my old age. Did you come here to tell me you’re leaving? I’ll be fine, son. Riley and Tara will check on me and report back to you, I’m sure.”
About Riley…
He sat down on the couch and rubbed at his chin, trying to figure out a good way to break the news. He should have planned this better.
“Actually, Riley won’t be in New Hope this summer. She’s going to spend it in New York with me.”
Paula’s face lit up with the biggest smile he’d seen in a long time. “Darling, that’s wonderful. Just what I’d hoped for you two. She’s perfect for you. I think you’ll be very happy together.”
“Slow down.” He held up his hand before she could go too far. “It’s for the summer. She wants to see how things go before she makes any more of a commitment so let’s take this one step at a time.”
Paula clasped her hands together in delight. “It’s a step forward and that’s the important thing. How did you convince her?”
“My charm, of course. What else?”
He hated lying to his mother but both he and Riley thought it wise not to spread the news too widely until she was further along. It had actually been her idea, but he’d quickly agreed. There were too many things that could go wrong and it was better to wait.
“I’m so happy about this. Is she leaving with you or following later?”
“With me, but I hope you’re still planning to come visit soon. I know that Riley would love the company while I’m working.”
He could also trust that she’d be looked after when she was with his mother.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude–”
He waved away her protests. “Nonsense, Riley is going to have a great deal of time to herself and she’d love it if you were there. She and I have already discussed it. In fact, why don’t you come with us in the morning? I can get another ticket.”
They were only worried about Paula guessing Riley’s condition, but if she did they would deal with it then.
His mother’s cheeks had turned bright pink and for once she didn’t seem to have an immediate reply. “Well…I would…but I have plans this weekend. I have…a date.”
This was the second time in less than twelve hours he felt like someone had slapped him on the side of the head with a two by four.
A date? Since when did his mother date?
“That’s…nice. How did you meet him?” A terrible thought occurred to Sam. “You didn’t meet him online, did you? That’s not safe.”
Laughing, Paula shook her head. “His name is Tom and he moved to New Hope about six months ago. He’s a retired aerospace engineer who used to work for NASA. Now he’s training for a triathlon and volunteering at the school to help kids with their math. I think you’d like him.”
Sam already didn’t like this guy. Six months? He sounded like a fast mover. “How do you know he’s telling you the truth, Mom? Men will say anything to get a date with a female. You should give me his whole name so I can have him checked out. Find out all the things he hasn’t told you yet. He could be a criminal or a con artist.”
Awful images of his mother heartbroken, crying and bilked out of her life savings ran through Sam’s head. Maybe he should meet this guy before he let his mother go out with him.
“You will do no such thing, Samuel Christopher.” Paula had sat up and was now shaking a finger under his nose, her expression tight. Shit. “He can’t be a criminal because they do a background check and fingerprint you before you can volunteer in the school system. As for whether he’s lying about working for NASA, why would he lie about that? If I were going to lie about what I did for a living, I’d tell people I was a race car driver or a famous surgeon.”
Sam still didn’t trust him. “Maybe I should–”
“Mind your own business,” his mother finished for him. “I am still your mother, and you will not start acting like the parent in this relationship. Do I make myself clear, young man?”
“Very clear,” he said through gritted teeth. He might not get to do a thorough background check on Tom but he was definitely going to ask Riley about him. “I’m just trying to help.”
“I appreciate that but I’m a grown woman and I’ve been out on a date before. Now tell me what your plans are for Riley when you get to New York City.”
That was easy. Make everything so wonderful for her she’d never want to leave.