Page 70 of Megan's Mate
“She does. She’s just afraid. Megan’s had so much to handle in her life. And you—well, Nathaniel, you’re a man who’d leave any woman a bit addled.”
“You think so, huh?”
“I know so. Are you having much pain this morning, dear? You can take another pill.”
“I’ll settle for aspirin.”
“I thought you might.” Coco took a bottle out of her apron pocket. “Take these with your juice.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He obeyed, then went back to his eggs. “So, you’ve seen Megan this morning?”
“It was nearly dawn before I could convince her to leave you and get some sleep.”
That information went down even better than the food. “Yeah?”
“And the way she looked at you...” Coco patted his hand. “Well, a woman knows these things. Especially when she’s in love herself.” A becoming blush bloomed on her cheeks. “I suppose you know that Niels and I—that we’re... involved.”
He made some sound. He didn’t want the image in his brain of them together in the dark. Coco and Dutch were as close to parents as he’d ever had, and no child, even at thirty-three, wanted to think about that side of a parental relationship.
“These past few weeks have been wonderful. I had a lovely marriage, and there are memories I’ve cherished and will cherish all of my life. And over the years, I’ve had some nice, compatible relationships. But with Niels...” The dreamy look came into her eyes. “He makes me feel young and vital, and almost delicate. It’s not just the sex,” she added, and had Nathaniel wincing.
“Aw, jeez, Coco.” He took a sip of coffee, as he was rapidly losing his appetite. “I don’t want to know about that.”
She chuckled, adoring him. “I know how close you are to Niels.”
“Well, sure.” He was beginning to feel trapped in the chair, barred by the tray. “We sailed together a long time, and he’s...”
“Like a father to you,” she said gently. “I know. I just wanted you to know I love him, too. We’re going to be married.”
“What?” His fork clattered against china. “Married?You and the Dutchman?”
“Yes.” Nervous now, because she couldn’t tell whether his expression was horrified or simply shocked, Coco fiddled with the jet beads at her throat. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” His brain had gone blank. Now it began to fill again—the restless movements of her hands, the tone of her voice, the anxious look in her eyes. Nathaniel shifted the table away from his chair and rose. “Imagine a classy woman like you falling for that old tar. Are you sure he hadn’t been slipping something into your soup?”
Relieved, she smiled. “If he has, I like it. Do we have your blessing?”
He took her hands, looked down at them. “You know, for nearly as far back as I can remember, I wanted you to be my mother.”
“Oh.” Her eyes filled, overflowed. “Nathaniel.”
“Now I guess you will be.” His gaze lifted to hers again before he kissed her, one cheek, the other, then her lips. “He better be good to you, or he’ll answer to me.”
“I’m so happy.” Coco sank, weeping, into his arms. “I’m so very happy, Nate. I didn’t even see it coming in the cards.” Her breath hitched as she pressed her wet face to his throat. “Or the tea leaves, even the crystal. It just happened.”
“The best things usually do.”
“I want you to be happy.” Drawing back, she fumbled in her pocket for one of her lace-trimmed hankies. “I want you to believe in what you have with Megan, and not let it slip away. She needs you, Nate. So does Kevin.”
“That’s what I told her.” He smiled a little as he took the hankie and dried Coco’s tears himself. “I don’t guess she was ready to hear it.”
“You just keep saying it.” Her voice became firm. “Keep right on saying it until she is.” And if Megan needed an extra push, Coco thought, she’d be happy to supply it herself. “Now, then.” She smoothed down her hair, her slacks. “I have a million things to do. I want you to rest, so you’ll be up to the picnic and the fireworks.”
“I feel okay.”
“You feel as if you’ve been run over by a truck.” She marched to the bed, busying herself with smoothing sheets and fluffing pillows. “You can lie down for another hour or two, or you can sit out on the terrace in the sun. It’s a lovely day, and we can fix you up a nice chaise. When Megan wakes up, I’ll have her come give you a rubdown.”
“Now that sounds promising. I’ll take the sun.” He started toward the terrace doors, but then he heard footsteps hurrying down the hall.
