Page 55 of Flynn

“Three months.”

Her mother simply stared at her, one hand fluttering as if she had no idea what to do with it. Ryleigh waited out the silence and held her breath as she stared at the woman across from her.

“I see.”

“Mother-”

“It is clear to me that I am not an important part of your life.” She continued stiffly, her slender shoulders straight. “My only child and you have gone ahead in your own inimitable ‘Ryleigh’ way and decided to have a strange man’s seed implanted inside you.

And consequently, you are now in a relationship with this man. Not to mention that you are three months into the pregnancy. Have I left anything out?”

“No.” She shook her head. “That’s it in a nutshell,” she said solemnly.

“The disaster with that Senator has not taught you anything.”

Ryleigh stiffened at the implication that she had no idea what she was about. “You are the last one to lecture me on the success or failure of relationships. Need I remind you that you have been married three times? And the last relationship ended with him asking you for money?”

Her mother’s expression turned remote and polite. “I see that my presence is not needed here. I did not come here so you could throw my mistakes in my face.”

“I apologize,” Ryleigh let out a breath. She felt tired and queasy. She had prepared some tea and plain toast, but her stomach was empty, and the nausea tablets were gnawing a path through her belly. “I am not feeling too hot.”

Immediately, her mother’s expression went from cold to concerned. “Darling, have you eaten?”

“Toast and tea.”

“Were you sick this morning?”

Ryleigh nodded, hiding a smile at how quickly the maternal instinct had taken over.

“That will not do.” Rising from her position on the padded sofa, she left the room.

“Where are you going?”

“To prepare something more filling for you to eat. Carrying a baby is not easy, and you need to keep your strength up.”

Ryleigh leaned back and gave a relieved sigh that harmony had been restored.

*****

He kept glancing over at her.

“What?”

“I expected more suitcases.” He had not said anything to her when he came to collect her and stowed the middle-sized suitcase in the trunk, and they had gone several miles before he spoke.

“We are taking it slow, remember?”

His thick eyebrows lifted. “I don’t recall agreeing to any such thing.”

“Well, too bad.” Stretching her legs out, she tugged at the hem of her sweater. Her mother had prepared some tea and a salad, filling the space, and sat with her for a few more minutes. “I am taking it slow.”

“I would ask why, but I think I already know the answer.” he glanced at her briefly. “I am not going to change my mind.”

“I might.” She squirmed a little under his piercing gaze before looking away. “I am being cautious.”

“Is that what it is?” His mild tone did not fool her and set her hackles rising.

“I have agreed to the arrangement, haven’t I?”