Page 76 of Hearts Aweigh
“Why, thank you, sugar.” Daisy took the gift and pretended to drink from the flower cup. “My, my. This is the best tea I ever tasted.”
“It’s cupcake flavored.” Madeleine climbed onto Daisy’s lap, and laid her head against her grandmother’s shoulder.
Althea took the last swig of her orange soda, thunked the empty bottle on the table, and made a face at Gerry’s screen. “What’s that?”
“Research. It looks like coaxial cables only transmit pictures, but Ethernet cables allow my villain to eavesdrop on conversations.”
Althea yawned. “I miss the sixties, when you didn’t wonder if your TV was spying on you.”
Gerry and Althea continued their bickering, Daisy shared her imaginary flower tea with Madeleine, and Emily lounged in a chair, content to give the young people time to make a genuine connection.
Their client Abby was ready and willing for love, but Spencer’s unexpected capitulation surprised Emily. She had thought he’d fight the attraction harder. She hoped Daisy’s rational son could tap into his romantic side. But if he needed help, the Shippers’ playbook contained more than one foolproof method for encouraging affection.
CHAPTER 38
WORK WAS PILING UP. SPENCERscrolled through his phone. He grabbed his sports jacket from the bed and shoved his arms in the sleeves. Nine days was a long time for a cruise. Thank God this second voyage ended tomorrow. He could return to the office and catch up on his caseload.
But there was one thing he had to do before they reached home. His pulse escalated, and he slid his cell into his pocket. Spencer had invited Abby to go for a walk on the beach before the ship pulled out of port. He’d practiced his speech as if he were preparing the closing arguments for the most important trial of his life.
How would she react?
He made his way downstairs to the living room. The back of Daisy’s head was visible where she sat on the sofa, but where was Madeleine? His mother had agreed to babysit while they were gone. Jumped at the chance. It still floored him how eager she was to embrace the title of grandma.
Spencer moved in front of Daisy and saw she held a sleeping Madeleine on her lap. He paused at the incongruous sight. Silver chin-length hair perfectly groomed. Minimal makeup. Fashionable, tailored pantsuit. But there was anoticeable change. Wrinkles creased the fabric as she held her granddaughter.
His mother. The queen of New Orleans social circles. Wrinkled.
Was this boat some kind of wonderland that transformed cool, aloof society matrons into doting grandmothers?
“Fix your face. I can tell what you’re thinkin’,” Daisy drawled.
“What?” His eyes met hers.
“Your intimidating eyebrows squinch when you’re confused. Small wonder your own child is afraid of you.”
“Madeleine isn’t afraid of me.” His volume increased at the suggestion.
His daughter jerked in her sleep, and Daisy glared at him. “Shhhh.”
He crossed his arms. “Since when are you the perfect picture of motherly affection?”
“I concede your point.” Daisy rested her hand on top of her granddaughter’s head. “But Madeleine is such a sensitive thing. She gets that from you.”
“Me?”
“You were always a tenderhearted child. Bringing home stray animals and crying when you saw someone sleeping on the streets. It drove your father to distraction.”
Spencer’s eyebrows squinched further. “I don’t recall behaving that way.”
“No.” Daisy sighed. “You were very young. And Julius made sure to punish you any time you showed ‘weakness.’ Love, sympathy, kindness—those were all weaknesses to him. No child of his would be a slave to silly emotions.”
The suggestion his father tried to crush every softer sentiment was unsurprising. But Daisy’s claim that Spencer hadbeen tenderhearted flummoxed him. He feared he was too much like Julius Masterson. A rigid, ruthless automaton.
Madeleine stirred and lifted her sleepy head.
He crouched. “Madeleine, I’m leaving for a while. Your grandma is going to stay with you so you won’t be alone.”
Her lips twitched, and she yawned. “Okay, Daddy.”
