Mildred Mason was clad in a low-cut, backless minidress. She was an attractive woman, but the dress was more suited to someone her daughter’s age.
From afar, Jack watched Stephanie’s every move. Unlike her mother, she didn’t seem to be enjoying herself very much. She mingled with a few people, but mostly she stayed to herself. She checked her watch several times, before slipping out the patio door. Jack followed her but kept his distance.
Stephanie sat in the gazebo. She was beautiful and elegant in the soft moonlight, her hair loosely pinned with wisps of it brushing her cheeks.
She kicked off her heels and took out her cell phone to place a call. Jack eased closer to hear the conversation.
“Hi, sweetie,” Stephanie said, smiling into the cell phone. She leaned back on the bench and closed her eyes.
“Hi, Mommy.”
Stephanie could almost see the smile on her daughter’s beautiful little face. “How’s my favorite little girl?”
Jack felt a tightening in his chest. She was talking to Christina. He closed his eyes and counted to ten to steady his racing heart. He shook himself out of his trance.
“I love you, sweetie. Be a good girl for Aunt Ashley and I will see you in the morning.” As she closed the phone, Jack stepped into the gazebo. Stephanie gave a startled gasp.
“I’m sorry,” he stuttered. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Jack’s voice sounded choked even to his own ears. He was suddenly nervous.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone was more accusatory than she’d intended for it to be. But he really had taken her by surprise.
“I mean, I didn’t know you knew the Waterfords,” she said, trying to correct herself.
Jack saw how shocked Stephanie was to see him. For the first time that night, he wasn’t sure if crashing the party was the best way to endear himself to her.
“Oh yes. The Waterfords. A friend of a friend mentioned he’d be here tonight and said I should drop by if I didn’t have other plans. I didn’t have other plans,” he said, shrugging. “So here I am.”
He paused to see if she was buying any of this.
“It’s really nice to run into you here,” he added. “May I?” he asked, indicating the seat next to her.
Stephanie had not moved an inch since she turned to see Jack standing there. Her hand was still in midair holding her cell phone. But she nodded and made room for him.
“I’m sorry,” she began, dropping her cell phone back into her evening bag. “You just caught me off guard, that’s all. I was saying good night to my daughter.”
“I didn’t know you were a mom.” Jack smiled. “How old is your daughter?”
“Christina’s four. Take a look.” She handed him a picture from her wallet.
Jack’s hand trembled slightly as it brushed against Stephanie’s when he took the photo. He stared at the beautiful smiling little girl. Her long dark hair hung down her back in a mass of curls. Her bangs were cut just above her eyes. Twinkling gray eyes lit up her face and her dimpled cheeks were rosy. Her skin was a rich honey just like Stephanie’s.
“She’s beautiful,” said Jack, staring at the picture. He looked at Christina as if he were seeing Alexia again, and was overcome with emotion as he gazed lovingly at the photo. A million questions came to his mind, but he knew now was not the time to ask them. He had to play it cool. Play it safe. “Does she take after her father?” Jack asked, fishing for information. His eyes were glued to the photograph.
“Her mother actually,” Stephanie said, coming to her feet. “I’ve never had the misfortune to meet her father. Good thing too, because I would be torn between killing him and thanking him for the gift he’s given me.”
“You’ve never met her father? How is that possible? I can’t imagine you looking through an album at a sperm bank.”
Stephanie laughed at the very idea. She couldn’t picture herself going to a sperm bank either. “There’s nothing intriguing about my situation, I assure you. It’s a short story. Christina’s father was killed on some secret mission before she was born. Christina’s mother and I met and became friends shortly after she moved here. We were best friends and she asked me to be her child’s godmother. When she died in childbirth, I got custody of Christina. I adopted her right after I brought her home from the hospital.”
“You said her father is deceased. You know for sure he is dead?”
Stephanie’s surprised eyes met his.
“People disappear all the time,” Jack continued. “Some may not even know they are lost or that people are searching for them.”
“Alexia wouldn’t lie to me about something like that.”
Jack didn’t think he’d heard Stephanie right. As she went on, she didn’t notice Jack’s stony expression.
“Besides, he walked out on her when she was pregnant. Even if he were alive, I doubt he would want the responsibility of raising a child. I would never give her up. Christina is my daughter and I will fight anyone tooth and nail to keep her.”
Watching and listening to Stephanie, Jack didn’t doubt her love for Christina. But he was still processing everything in his own head. Could what he think happened really have happened? Jack needed to change the subject fast.
“Well, it’s wonderful that Christina has someone as special as you in your life.”
“Thanks.”
Jack let out a big sigh. “Are you enjoying the party? I wouldn’t have pictured this as your scene. Actually, you look a little uncomfortable.”
“Is it that obvious?” She turned to face him and they both laughed. Her eyes twinkled with merriment. “I guess it is.”
“A bit. Why are you here if you don’t want to be?”
“Do you have a mother? One who is hell-bent on marrying you off to the highest bidder, no less? She’s driving me nuts. My mother accepted the invitation on my behalf.”
“You shouldn’t let her run your life. You don’t strike me as a pushover. Does she do this kind of thing often?”
“Afraid so. With my mother, I choose my battles wisely. She’s made it her goal in life to find me a wealthy husband whether I want one or not. She’s convinced I need a husband and Christina needs a father.”
“And you’re not convinced?” Okay, I guess I’m just going to have to step up my timetable thanks to meddling Mildred.
“Let’s just say I’m in no rush to walk down the aisle of holy matrimony.” She shifted in the seat. “I’ve seen my share of bad marriages and I’ve only seen a few good ones. It would be my luck I would pick someone who couldn’t live up to my expectations and we’d end up in divorce court in a couple of years. That’s not what I want for Christina. She’s happy and content and so am I. I want stability for her.”
“That’s something we all want, Stephanie.” She saw the sincerity in his eyes. “You obviously don’t think your expectations are too high?”
“If you think honesty, love, mutual respect, and trust are too much to ask for in a mate, then yes, I guess they are a bit high. I’ve yet to find those qualities in any man.”
“It could be that you aren’t looking in the right places.” Their eyes met and held. Stephanie looked away first.
“And