Page 115 of The Cinderella Arrangement

“My baby!” she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Hi, Mom,” he said without the same enthusiasm. Will hugged her, his face going pink.

His mother tossed back her dyed blonde hair and looked over his shoulder at me, a question forming on her lips. Will glanced at me. “Mom, this is Natalie.”

I slid out of the car and took her proffered hand, “Nice to meet you.”

Her dark eyes scanned mine as if she could detect any misgivings stirring inside them and I was reminded of William. His eyes had the same shape and color, and he inherited her unnerving stare. Her lips lifted into a slight smile to soften the message that was: Hurt my son in any way and I will destroy you.

“It’s lovely to meet you. You two must be starving. Come in, I’ll fix something.”

I cast a terrified glance at William, who smiled encouragingly and wrapped his arm around my waist as his mother led the way. “Relax, my mom is nice.”

The door opened to a magnificent foyer laid with cream-colored marble. Two sweeping wooden staircases with black railings led upstairs on either side of the circular room. The archways had beautiful, intricate crown molding. Ahead was the living room and to the left was a modern kitchen with granite counters. Inwardly, I laughed at the idea of his mother visiting my apartment.

“This is where you grew up?”

“Yeap. It’s been remodeled several times over the years.”

“Wow.”

I could imagine him and his brothers running around as children, knocking over expensive vases and banging on the white grand piano I saw in the sitting room. Even as an adult, Will had so much energy. It must have driven his parents crazy.

“You’re looking pale, William. Have you eaten anything today?”

Mrs. Pardini fussed over her son as he sat down at the kitchen table, smoothing his lapels and brushing his hair. His face bloomed, and I sniggered at him behind his mother’s back.

“Mom, stop it.”

“When was the last time you got a haircut?”

“I have no idea.”

She bustled toward the kitchen counter and picked up her phone. “I’ll make a hair appointment for you.”

I bit my knuckles hard to keep from crying out with laughter. William was mortified. “Mom, sit down,” he snapped.

She closed her phone and her eyes narrowed. “There’s no need to take that tone with me.”

“Yes, there is,” he said, suddenly looking serious. “What’s this I hear about Dad selling Luke’s shares?”

My face burned as his mother scowled at him, casting me an irritated glance. “Will, you know we don’t talk about this in front of—”

“I don’t care. You can say it in front of Natalie. She already knows everything anyway.”

I grimaced at Will’s mother, who was staring at me like I had suddenly grown two heads.

“You must talk to your father about it,” she said in a final tone. “No, William. Your dad doesn’t want me talking about it to anyone. Not even you.”

“Oh, come on!” He pounded his fist on the table.

“Tell me how you met your new girlfriend.” She smiled.

Will looked pissed at her deflection. “We’re dating, Mom. And we met at a party.”

Under the kitchen table, my fingernails ground into my palms. It was so awkward. I did not want to be there. I could see her sizing me up, appraising my wardrobe and making searing judgments in her head. She pressed her lips into a firm line.

“I guess I’ll never get grandchildren from my youngest.”

---