Page 12 of Hearts Aweigh
“No. Priscilla agreed to give me sole custody, but she asked for time to say goodbye. Madeleine arrived in New Orleans three days ago.” The reminder he would never again be subjected to his ex-wife’s stifling disapproval still brought an inner peace. Even more so because he could protect his daughter from Priscilla’s exacting personality. “I expect we won’t be seeing much of her mother.”
Althea made a sympathetic face. “Does Madeleine miss her momma much?”
“Never mentions her.” Spencer rotated the pen in his hand. “Masterson offspring are used to living without their parents.” His gaze cut to Daisy.
Her eyes lowered, and she unsnapped her purse to retrieve a handkerchief.
The frizzy-haired woman frowned. “So who watches over the children, comforts them, gives them love? The governess?”
The man onstage spoke above the audience chatter. “Gerry, do you be needing any particular number? I’m not above rigging the game for you.”
Grumbles sounded from the crowd, and he held up both hands.
“Just a joke, friends. A man’s got to catch the lady’s attention somehow. G-52.”
Spencer tried to tune out the bingo numbers being called and checked the time on his phone. Would he get back to the room before Madeleine fell asleep? Althea leaned over his arm and placed a few purple circles on his paper.
“O-74.”
“Oooh, oooh, oooh!” Althea bounced. “I’m getting close.” She added another purple mark to her paper and sang, “B-I-N-G-O,B-I-N-G-O.”
He focused on his mother. This was hardly the ideal time to broach the subject of her return, but he wasn’t sure she’d give him another chance. “As you can imagine, it’s a new experience for me, raising Madeleine alone. I’m hoping you will come home to New Orleans where you can be near her.”
“Why?” Her voice remained cordial. “You didn’t want me involved in her life before.”
An awkward question, but one he understood. Being married to his father had given her a suspicious nature.
“I feel it’s important to—”
“I-22.” The Irish emcee pointed to the screen.
“You got it.” Althea squinted at Daisy’s card. “You got it, baby. You got it!” She thrust her fists in the air like a prize fighter. “Bingo!” Althea pushed him off the couch. “Let your momma out. She won.”
He stumbled but managed not to land on the floor. She scooted over, stood beside him, and helped Daisy to her feet.
Spencer watched dumbstruck as his mother, the queen of New Orleans society, made her way to the front amid the cheers and disappointed moans of rowdy cruisers. If he believed in doppelgängers, he might worry she’d been replaced with an impostor. She collected an envelope from the emcee and returned to their table.
“What did you win?” Althea asked.
“A spa day.” Daisy flourished her certificate in the air.
“Perfect prize for you.” Althea let her roommate slip back on the couch, then returned to her seat. “Don’t worry, Spencer. There’s another round. We might get ’em yet.”
The ding of his phone prevented him from answering. He withdrew the device from his pocket, opened his texts, and groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Daisy rose slightly. “Is it Madeleine?”
“No, the governess.” He dropped his cell on the table. “She’s seasick.”
CHAPTER 5
NINE HOURS IN A BALLgown was akin to wearing a satin straitjacket. How did Cinderella do it? Abby tugged at the too-tight bodice. She’d better cut out desserts or she wouldn’t be able to fit in this outfit a month from now.
Wait! She wouldn’t be wearing this dress then. In three weeks, she’d finish her last cruise duty and trade her tiara for a cardigan and her Monarch name tag for a teacher’s ID badge. The thought of reentering the school system shot fireworks to her fingertips. Life was perfect except for one important detail. Being a teacher was only half of her dream. Being a wife and mom was the other half.
Please, Lord. Let the Shippers find my special someone. Caring. Handsome. Dark hair. Not too tall. Sense of humor. Decent job.
She laughed at her own audacity.
