Ready-Made Bride

Patricia Linden smiled at her grandson, unaware of the extra guests who’d arrived. “What is it, Andrew?” she asked, fussing unnecessarily with the collar of his shirt.

Excitement wreathed Andrew’s face. “Megan and my dad are getting married!”

Megan cringed, and the muscles in Kane’s forearm twitched, the only indication of his unease. Andrew’s broadcast caused a hush to fall over the general area. The adults standing nearby stopped their conversations to stare. They didn’t seem surprised, merely curious, which confirmed Kane’s claim that Mrs. Henderson would spread the news.

Patricia straightened and finally looked beyond Andrew. Her mouth pursed into a thin line of displeasure. “So we’ve heard.”

Smiling despite the uncomfortable atmosphere, Megan moved forward, propelling a stiff and reluctant Kane with her. She figured the only way she’d beat Patricia at her own game was to overwhelm her with kindness. Since Kane wasn’t inclined to be hospitable, it would be up to her to extend the first greeting.

“Hello, Patricia” She gave the other woman Andrew’s present, a subtle gesture to let her know they planned to stay for the festivities. “What a lovely home you have.”

“Thank you,” she said stiffly, then turned and headed into the next room, calling over her shoulder, “Come along, Andrew, your guests are waiting.”

Nobody went out of their way to welcome them. She saw Harold, and although he gave her a slight smile and a nod of acknowledgment, he made no move to approach them, nor did Kane make any attempt to be friendly, either. It was as if Patricia had set the precedence for her guest’s behavior around her and Kane.

Frustrated with everyone’s attitude, Megan left Kane talking to Gus-a foreman at the sawmill and apparently the only one brave enough to risk Patricia’s wrath-and went in search of something to drink. Stubborn people, she thought, wondering what it would take to get the town to accept Kane.

A lavish catered dinner of salads, chicken and ribs covered a long picnic table in the landscaped back yard. She poured herself a cup of punch from a large cooler, took a sip and watched Andrew and his friends take turns hitting a pinata filled with treats.

“This is a first,” a throaty female voice said.

Megan turned to see Joyce, who must have just arrived. Megan counted the young woman as an ally admist all the discord, despite her penchant for spreading rumors. “What’s a first?”

“Kane coming to Andrew’s party.” Joyce dipped a carrot stick into ranch dressing and crunch into the vegetable. “You must be quite an influence.”

It had been like pulling teeth. “He wanted to be here,” she said, taking another sip of punch while making a mental note to talk to Kane about Joyce not tutoring Andrew once they were married.

“Umm.” Joyce dipped her carrot again, a sly smile lifting her lips. “I hear congratulations are in order.”

Had Mrs. Henderson posted the news of their pending nuptuals in the Daily Register? “Yes, thank you. Kane and I are getting married tomorrow.”

Corey, Andrew’s best friend, split open the pinata, and the kids squealed in delight. Candy dropped to the ground, and they scrambled after it. Megan smiled at the scene, thinking next year they’d have Andrew’s birthday party at their house, and the Lindens would attend. Willingly, she hoped.

“I don’t know how you did it, but it looks like you landed quite a catch,” Joyce said, interrupting Megan’s thoughts.

“Yes, I did,” she said, meaning it. Over Joyce’s shoulder, Megan watched Kane walk toward them, looking cool and standoffish. How did he expect to win over these people when his body language said back off? He stopped next to her, and she offered him a smile he didn’t return.

“Hello, Joyce,” he said brusquely.

“Hi, Kane,” she said, ducking her head guiltily. She waved at a young blond man across the yard and started to back away, seemingly anxious to go. “Well, good luck to the both of you.”

Kane frowned after her. “What was that all about?”

Megan finished her punch and tossed the paper cup into the trash. “Joyce just wanted to offer her congratulations.”

A tight smile creased his lips. “How… sweet.”

Tired of his unreceptive behavior, she gave him a pointed look. “You know, Kane, if you insist on keeping everyone at a distance, they’re going to have nothing to go on but their own speculation.” She leaned close and pressed a hand to his chest, deliberately giving everyone watching them the impression that they were intimate. His heartbeat quickened beneath her palm, granting her a small measure of feminine satisfaction. “I know you’re not the man they think you are, but you have to make the effort to prove it to them.”

He covered her hand with his, stroking the sensitive skin connecting each of her fingers. Instant heat spiraled through her body, contradicting the chilling intensity of his gaze. “I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”

Of course he didn’t, she thought unkindly. His bitterness about the past got in the way of his pride. With a sigh, she let the subject drop.

Patricia announced it was time to cut the cake, then open presents. Megan dragged Kane to a crowd of people gathered around Andrew. They wove their way to the table so they could stand next to the birthday boy. All eyes were on them.

Kane shifted uncomfortably as they sang Happy Birthday to Andrew, who beamed at them with a dimpled grin. As soon as the song was over, Kane slipped away, preferring to sit by himself rather than stand in line with Megan for a piece of cake.

After giving Andrew a big birthday hug, Megan picked up two slices of cake. On her way to Kane, she saw Patricia standing alone at the picnic table and approached her, forcing down the sudden knot of nervousness forming in her throat.

“Patricia?”

The older woman turned and saw Megan. Undisguised hostility flared in her pale blue eyes. “I don’t believe we have anything to say to one another.” She continued to cover salads with plastic wrap.

Megan wasn’t discouraged. “Maybe you don’t think so, but I’d like to thank you for giving Andrew such a special birthday party.”

Patricia straightened and leveled her gaze at Megan. “He’s my grandchild,” she said in a low voice. “My only grandchild, and I’d do anything to be sure he has everything he might want or need.”

Megan’s fingers clenched on the paper plates in her hands as she attempted to keep her rising ire at bay. “Kane is a good father, and Andrew certainly doesn’t lack for anything.”

Patricia slanted a cold glare in Kane’s direction. “Except maybe his rea/ mother.” She obviously placed the blame on her son-in- law’s shoulders.

Megan managed to maintain her composure by sheer force of will. Anger wouldn’t bridge the chasm between families, just inflate it. “Patricia, I’m sorry about the loss of your daughter, but I’d like to think we could be friends. Especially since I’ll be part of the family.”

“Part of the family?” She looked down her nose at Megan. “If you think you can replace Cathy-”

“I’m not trying to replace her,” she cut in, appalled that anyone would think that was her intent. And then she caught a brief glimpse of sadness and pain in Patricia’s eyes and knew Patricia wasn’t ready to give up her daughter’s memory to a stranger, felt threatened that Andrew would forget any wispy recollection he might have of his real mother as a result of Kane marrying her.

Megan’s heart went out to Patricia, and she searched for a way to offer her a little peace of mind. “I care for Andrew a great deal, and although I would like to be his mother in an emotional way, he will never forget who his real mother is.”

“I’ll be sure of that,” Patricia said coldly. Picking up the potato salad, she marched past Megan with her head held high.

Feeling mild defeat, Megan headed to Kane, grateful that a shade tree had kept him from witnessing her exchange with Patricia. No sense upsetting both parties, she thought wryly.

“I brought you a piece of cake,” she said, bribing him with a slice.

He took a plate and picked at the butter-cream frosting with his fork. “Don’t you think we’ve overstayed our welcome?”