Page 52 of Fairy Tale Marriage

Shayne twisted her hands together. “I understand you probably have relatives clamoring for you to live with them back in Mexico. But I also know how it is to lose the one person you love most in the world. It would make Sarita happy if you stayed.” She couldn’t tell how the Doña was taking the offer. “Or if you must go, we can keep this room for whenever you visit.”

Sarita poked her head out of the walk-in closet. Seeing them, she beamed. “Abuelita! Icame through the tunnel.”

Doña Isabella stared at a point just above the wrought-iron headboard of the bed. “What is this tunnel?”

“Oh, that.” Shayne looped a strand of hand behind her ear. “You see, the closets were back-to-back, so I had a passageway knocked through so they’d connect.

Tears filled Doña Isabella’s eyes. “You did this for me?” she whispered. “You truly wish me to stay?”

Shayne didn’t hesitate. “Yes, please. Ithink family’s important and you’re all Sarita has left of her mother.”

The old woman fought for composure. “McIntyre will not approve.”

“Oh, well. We’ll just tell him it’s temporary until he gets used to the idea.”

“That may take quite a while.”

“He’ll come around. He pretends he’s heartless, but his heart’s in there somewhere.” It had to be. “We’ll root around until we find it. What do you say? Want to help?”

A single tear followed the network of lines down Doña Isabella’s face, though a fierce, innate pride kept her from breaking down completely. “It may be interesting to remain, if only for its amusement factor.”

Uh-oh. That didn’t sound good. “Perhaps you won’t mind if I break the news to him?”

A hint of laughter replaced Isabella’s tears. “I would like to be a fly in the wall for that conversation.”

Shayne grinned. “Somehow I suspect I’m the one who’ll be in the wall.”

Gnarled fingers reached out to touch Shayne’s cheek and the Doña murmured softly in Spanish, “Are you very certain you want to do this, child?”

“Quite certain,” she replied in the same language, wondering how the Doña knew she was fluent. Perhaps Rafe wasn't the only one capable of hiring a private investigator. Considering how protective the Doña was of Sarita's well-being, Shayne could see her taking every possible precaution. “I'm in charge of creating a home. Iwouldn't be doing a proper job, if that home didn't include you. Please stay with us. Chaz doesn't realize it, yet, but we need you.”

“Walk me to the front door, if you will.” Doña Isabella tucked her hand into the crook of Shayne’s arm and signaled to Sarita who obediently followed, whispering secrets to her new doll. “You may tell Señor McIntyre I have agreed to let him have custody of his daughter. Perhaps that will ease his anger a trifle when he learns the rest. Tell him also that until I’m satisfied that my great-granddaughter is properly settled, Iwill stay for a visit.”

“An indefinite visit.”

“Yes.” Isabella broke down and smiled, asmile of unexpected beauty. “Most definitely indefinite.”

They found Jumbo in the hallway, carefully filling one of the holes in the floor with the first of the mosaic squares she’d had shipped from Costa Rica. It was from a set of twelve, each a depiction of one of the months of the year. Beside her, Isabella drew an astonished breath. “Where did you get this piece?” she asked, still speaking in Spanish.

“I made it.”

Isabella stilled. “You are an artisan?”

“In my spare time.”

“And your name before you married?”

“Shayne Beaumont.”

“I have seen your work, Shayne Beaumont. There was a mosaic piece I viewed quite recently.” Her brow drew together in thought and she rapped her cane sharply against the floor. “But of course. On loan to the museum in San Francisco. It was quite striking. Aman, half in darkness, half in light.”

“It took me quite a while to create that one. To be honest, Ididn’t think I’d ever finish it. But, Ihave to admit, it’s my very favorite.”

“Does your husband know?”

Shayne shook her head. “And I’d rather it stayed that way, if you don’t mind.”

Isabella shrugged without offering any promises. “I remember thinking at the time that the man reminded me of someone. Now I realize who. The resemblance to McIntyre is quite striking.”

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