Page 51 of Just One Silver Fox

“Oh, Nathan. You looked so handsome in your new suit yesterday. I thought maybe you had expectations—or even if you didn’t, opportunity might have knocked.”

“No luck,” Nate said lightly, wondering whether he’d be struck by lightning on the spot for lying to his mom. There was no way he was going to tell her that he’d had a hook-up.

“Diane is coming today,” his mom said, something in her voice catching his attention. “And you’ll never guess what.”

“She’ll take home all the leftovers from dinner like she always does?”

“Of course, she will. That girl doesn’t eat nearly enough during the week. I’m roasting a little chicken today and will give her all the gravy with the leftovers.”

Nate was a bit surprised. His mom roasted a chicken when she was celebrating—or entertaining.

“But that isn’t the surprise,” she continued. “Guess!”

“Diane’s pregnant?” Nate said, just to shock his mom. His sister wasn’t just single: he didn’t think she even dated. Even his super-achiever sister couldn’t get pregnant alone.

If she ever decided she wanted kids, he wouldn’t put it past Diane to visit a sperm-bank.

“Not yet!” his mom said, to his surprise. “She and Andrew only just started to see each other, after all.”

“Andrew? Who’s Andrew?”

“Herboyfriend.” His mom was triumphant. “They met at work.”

“Of course. She’s there every waking hour. But I thought it was pretty much all women there.”

“He came into her company to consult on something I don’t understand, something with computers, but he has a good job. Diane is certainly smitten.” Nate smiled at her choice of word. He couldn’t imagine his practical sistersmitten. “I can’t wait to meet him. I’ve made pie, too.”

“What kind?”

“Apple today, with a streusel topping.”

“Mail me a piece?”

“I’ll make another the next time you come. I’ll give whatever’s left to Diane for Andrew if he likes it.”

“If he doesn’t, that’s a very bad sign. You make the best pie, Mom.”

“Thank you, dear!”

“So, you might be a grandmother soon,” Nate teased. “There’s hope after all.”

“I know!” his mom agreed in a delighted tone. “Maybe you’ll meet the right girl at Diane’s wedding.”

“Has she talked about getting married?”

“Of course not, but she’s bringing him here and it’s only reasonable to recognize that as important. Diane never does anything on impulse.”

There was that. Nate shook his head. Then he tried to adjust her expectations, knowing it wouldn’t work. “There might not be a right girl for me, Mom. I might be single for good.”

“Nonsense. You let that Trish hurt you too badly. I never said anything when you were dating, but I didn’t think she was good enough for you.”

Nate rolled his eyes. He knew his mom’s predictions about relationships were always positive, until things went wrong. Then hindsight was 20-20. “Mom, you never think anyone is good enough for either of us.”

“It’s not a bad thing to have a high opinion of your own children,” she said. “Trish had a way of assessing situations that I didn’t like. She was always looking for her advantage, that girl, and I’m not surprised that as soon as you were injured, she found greener pastures.”

Nate was surprised by this confession. “I thought you liked her.”

“Of course, you thought that. You were going tomarryher, Nathan. I couldn’t let you start a future together with me in opposition to your bride.” She heaved a sigh. “But I don’t mind telling you that I was relieved that she vanished, even though it broke your heart. You need a partner who is going to stand beside you through thick and thin, and if there’s any silver lining to your injury, it’s that her truth was revealed as a result of it.”

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