clenched her teeth to keep from shouting. “Yes. ‘That nice Ken Callahan.’ Where is he?”
Aunt Edna blocked the doorway between living room and dining room. She stood five feet tall in sensible sturdy brown shoes, and her snow-white hair was tightly curled in rows marching obediently across her gleaming pink skull. She had snapping blue eyes-and a body like a fire-plug. “It was just like Goldilocks,” she cried, slapping her leg. “I took Lucy to school, and when I came home there he was-sleeping in your bed.”
Chris felt her voice rise to a shriek. “In my bed?”
“He’s such a nice man, dear. And he looked so peaceful, tucked under your big down quilt.”
Her eyes widened in a mixture of outrage and disbelief. “Under my quilt?”
The stairs creaked behind Chris, and she whirled around as Ken sauntered into the room, looking sleepily sexy and perfectly at home.
“I don’t know how two tiny women can make so much noise,” he mumbled. “What’s all the racket about?”
“You! How did you get in here? And what were you doing in my bed?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned. Evidently remembering his cast, he diligently raised it above his heart. “Dog and I just about froze to death in the truck. I was going to come inside the skating rink to get warm, but I was afraid I looked too disreputable, so I fished around in your purse until I found your address and your keys, and then I drove myself over here.”
“I thought you couldn’t drive.”
“Well, I discovered I could just about wrap my fingers around the wheel.” He waved his cast at her and wiggled his fingers. “And lucky it was my left arm that you broke, because I can shift with my good hand.”
“And then you just let yourself in and went to bed?” she sputtered.
“There wasn’t anyone home. I put Dog in your backyard and went upstairs.”
“It was just like Goldilocks,” Aunt Edna insisted. “I went upstairs and there he was, sleeping just as peaceful as could be.”
“Until Edna started screaming.” He raised an eyebrow at Edna. “You’ve got some voice.”
Edna sniffed indignantly. “Well, what do you think? You think I’m some frail old lady? And if you hadn’t come up with a good explanation I’d have cracked your skull wide open with my wooden rolling pin.”
Chris smiled and looked sidewise at Ken. “Don’t doubt it for a minute,” she whispered.
“You’re obviously closely related.”
“Aunt Edna is my mother’s sister and reigning family matriarch.”
“Seventy-five years old, and I’m almost as good as new,” she said proudly. “Now you young folks go into the parlor, and I’ll get us some refreshments.”
“That won’t be necessary, Aunt Edna. I’m sure Mr. Callahan will be anxious to be on his way.”
Aunt Edna’s mouth closed with a determined snap. “I won’t hear of it. Anyone can see the man is hungry, and he don’t look like he’s in such a hurry to leave.”
Ken beamed. “I’d like to stay for refreshments.”
“You see?” Edna gloated. “I knew he didn’t want to rush off.” She smacked her lips with satisfaction and bustled off to the kitchen.
Ken smiled. “I like your aunt.”
Chris glanced up at him. “When my marriage collapsed it was Aunt Edna that put the pieces back together. Her own husband died eleven years ago. When I was in my eighth month, Aunt Edna arrived unannounced and informed me that I needed looking after. I was the only one in my Lamaze class with a sixty-seven-year-old lady for a coach.” Chris shook her head, still amazed at the memory. “She went right through delivery with me. She was wonderful.”
“And she’s lived with you ever since?”
“Off and on. She travels from family member to family member. Mostly wherever there’s a disaster. Lately I’ve tried to keep her here because of Lucy. In order for me to make enough money to support us it’s necessary for me to give after-school and evening lessons. If it weren’t for Aunt Edna, I’d have to put Lucy in day care and hire babysitters at night.”
Ken relaxed onto the couch and patted the spot next to him. “Come sit by me.” The sounds of banging cupboards and clanking dishes drifted in from the kitchen. Ken looked in the direction of the clatter. His mouth twitched and finally gave way to a full-fledged grin.
“What’s so funny?”
“I just thought of something your aunt said to me.” He threw his head back and laughed.
Chris marveled at the quality of his laughter. It was full and rich and deeply masculine and impossible to ignore. She smiled and prodded him. “Well? What did she say?”
“When she walked in and found me asleep in your bed, she let out with this ear-splitting screech-it had me sitting bolt upright before I even opened my eyes. But then she took a good look at me. I guess she sized me up and figured I was okay, because her first words were…‘Merciful heavens, there’s finally a man in my niece’s bed.’”
“I’ll kill her.”
“I get the impression that your aunt would like to see you married.”
“That’s the understatement of the century. She’s fixed me up with meter readers, shoe salesmen, a fat fifty- two-year-old butcher, and last week she scared the bejeebers out of John Farrell.”
“Who’s John Farrell?”
“My accountant.” Chris waved her hand in a dismissing gesture. “As soon as Aunt Edna found out John was single she did everything but produce my dental records and promise a dowry. I love Aunt Edna, but she’s entirely guileless, and she gets more outspoken as she gets older. She says she hasn’t got much time left, so she’s not going to spend it pussyfooting around.”
“Edna ever find John Farrell in your bed?”
“No!” Chris rolled her eyes at the thought. She couldn’t imagine pleasant, innocuous John Farrell in her bed. She took a stealthy breath and reluctantly admitted to herself that she could easily imagine Ken Callahan there.
Edna trotted in with a plate of cookies. “Are you talking about that John Farrell?” She narrowed her eyes at Ken. “What a wimp. Had him over to dinner and he picked at his roast beef. Didn’t eat his peas at all.” She shook her head in dismay. “That man had no spirit. No backbone.” She winked at Ken and smiled broadly at Chris. “Now this one here is more like it. This guy’s got something to him.”
Chris sighed and selected a cookie. Once Aunt Edna got started there was no stopping her. Might as well sit back and watch him squirm, she thought, taking a perverse delight in the possibility that Ken and Edna deserved each other. After all, it wasn’t as if she had any future plans for Ken Callahan. She wouldn’t ever see him again- might as well let Aunt Edna have some fun with him.
“Are you married?” Edna asked.
“Nope.”
Edna looked appalled. “A big, strapping man like you-not married? And you’re not getting any younger. How old are you?”
“Thirty-six.”
Edna took an Oreo. She broke it in half and nibbled the white icing off one of the wafers. “You’re not one of those men that prefers boys, are you?”
Ken choked on his Ovaltine. “No ma’am! I’m…uh…old-fashioned about that kind of stuff.”
Chris covered her mouth to keep from laughing. This promised to be even better than the demolition of John Farrell.
Edna leaned forward in eager anticipation. “You got a steady job?”
Ken turned to Chris; his eyes danced with diabolical delight. The silent message was blatant: Feed me to the wolves, will you? When he turned back to Edna his face was a solemn mask. “I was supposed to start a new job today, but as you can see…” He waved his arm pathetically in front of him. “I’ve got a broken arm. I can’t work with this cast on.”
Edna sucked in her breath. “And all because you stopped to help my niece. Isn’t that noble? Don’t that beat all?”
Chris pressed herself deeper into the sofa cushions and surreptitiously made a motion that said she might gag. “Noble,” she croaked.
Ken stole a smug look in Chris’ direction. He toyed with a vanilla wafer.
