Feeling trapped, Amanda walked back to the window and stared out at the playground. She was committed to Summer and didn’t want to abandon her now. She felt a responsibility to the little girl. But what about herself? Was she strong enough to resist the emotional threat Michael represented?
She sensed him come up behind her, her body suddenly alert at his nearness.
“Amanda?” He touched her shoulder and turned her to face him.
He was so close, she could smell the woodsy scent of his cologne, see the sprinkling of gray at his temples.
“Why are you doing this to us?” His eyes held hers. “Is it because of the things you’ve heard about me? About my family?”
Amanda flushed. “Of course not.”
“Then why won’t you even give us a chance?”
“Amanda?” A quick, one-two tap followed at the door. “Do you still have the fi—” Sister Mary Grace stopped and stared from the doorway. She looked from Amanda to Michael and back again. “Excuse me,” she said, and started to retreat from the room.
“Gra—Sister, wait.” Quickly, Amanda pulled away and moved past Michael. Embarrassed, she could have cringed at the sight they must have made. What must Gracie be thinking after practically catching her in Michael’s arms? “Did you want to see me about something?” she asked, trying to muster as much dignity as she could under the circumstances.
“Nothing that can’t wait until later. I didn’t realize you had someone with you.” Turning toward Michael, she said, “Forgive me for interrupting. You two go ahead and finish your, um, discussion. I can speak to Amanda later.”
“No!” Amanda cried out as Sister Mary Grace started to leave. She swallowed and then continued more calmly, “Mr. Grayson and I are finished. He was just leaving.”
Sister Mary Grace arched one brow; the look she gave Amanda left her with little doubt that the nun didn’t believe her.
“It’s okay, Sister.” Michael moved toward the door. “Amanda’s right. We are finished—for now.”
Amanda caught the warning in his voice, but refused to meet his gaze.
“Sister.” He inclined his head toward the nun, then turned to Amanda. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Amanda repeated, and could have kicked herself at the anxious sound of her voice.
“After Summer’s appointment,” he informed her. “She is still scheduled for Wednesday, isn’t she?”
“Yes. Yes, of course.”
“See you then.”
Once Michael had closed the door, Amanda breathed a sigh of relief. Returning to her desk, she sat down and directed her attention back to her friend. “Now, what was it you needed?” she asked, forcing a lightness she didn’t feel.
“What was that all about?” Sister Mary Grace asked as she claimed the chair in front of Amanda’s desk.
Ignorning the bright gleam in her friend’s eyes, Amanda returned evenly, “Michael came by to tell me he’s decided to allow Summer to remain in the therapy program.”
“Why, that’s excellent news. I mean, I know he was having some doubts about the program’s effectiveness. I’m glad to see you were able to bring him around.”
Sister Mary Grace adjusted the wire-rimmed spectacles on her nose, then met Amanda’s eyes. “But something tells me his niece isn’t the only reason Michael Grayson came to see you.”
Amanda shot her friend a stony look.
The tiny nun grinned. “Come on, Mandy. The man hasn’t exactly made his interest in you a secret. And I kind of got the impression that you liked him, too.”
“Gracie.” Amanda made no attempt to hide her displeasure.
“I know, I know. I shouldn’t interfere, but you’re my friend. I’m only trying to help.”
“How? By encouraging him? Telling him personal things about me? How could you do that?”
Sister Mary Grace’s smile faded. Her rosy cheeks paled slightly. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
At the nun’s stricken expression, Amanda immediately regretted her flare of temper. “I know you didn’t, and I’m sorry for biting your head off. But don’t you see? Encouraging him was the worst thing you could do.”
“Why? What’s wrong with a nice, young man showing an interest in you?”
“Everything—if that man’s Michael Grayson. You of all people should know I could never become involved with a man like him.”
Sister Mary Grace frowned. “What do you mean, ‘a man like him’? From everything I’ve seen, and from what you’ve told me yourself, he’s a fine, honorable man.”
“He is. But for someone else. Not me.”
“Any why not you?” Sister Grace asked in that impervious tone that Amanda had always found so frustrating.
“Because he has a child.”
Sister Mary Grace narrowed her eyes. She folded her arms across her chest. “As far as I know, Michael Grayson doesn’t have any children,” she said in that no-nonsense voice of hers. “In fact, according to the information he gave the school when he registered Summer, he’s never even been married.”
“Quit fencing, Gracie. You know perfectly well what I mean. He has Summer.”
“So? She’s his niece.”
“Yes, but for all intents and purposes, she’s his child. He’s the one raising her.”
“And doing a fine job of it, too. So, what’s the problem?”
Frustrated, Amanda glared at her friend. “You know what the problem is. He has a seven-year-old child who needs a mother. You saw what happened in Mrs. Green’s class last week when they started talking about the Mother’s Day project. The poor thing was completely distraught.”
“Yes, I saw. And I also saw how much you care about that little girl. That was a wonderful thing you did, agreeing to go to the Mother Daughter Luncheon with her next month.”
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have.” It had been a foolish thing to do, given her own history. But then, it had broken her heart to see Summer so despondent.
Sister Mary Grace patted her hand. “Of course, you should have.”
“I’ve been down this road before, Gracie. I know where it leads and all the traps it can hold. I don’t want to be used again. And I’m not going to put myself in a position where I can be used again—by Michael Grayson or anyone else.”
Sister Mary Grace rose. She came around the desk and put her arms around Amanda’s shoulders. “Mandy, Mandy,” she soothed. “When are you going to stop punishing yourself for someone else’s mistakes?”
“I’m not. I’m protecting myself.”
“That’s a lot of malarkey and you know it. You don’t give yourself or anyone else a chance. You set up obstacles the minute any man shows an interest in you.”
“That’s not true.”
Sister Mary Grace pulled back and looked at Amanda. “Isn’t it?”
Was Gracie right? Was she setting up obstacles? True, Summer did chatter endlessly about getting a new mother someday; but the little girl spoke almost just as often about finding some imaginary grandmother, as well.
On the other hand, Michael had been decidedly quiet on both subjects—even when she had expressed her concern about Summer’s preoccupation with them. In fact, Michael