Читаем Megan's mate полностью

I was. Something about the rain.

It's lovely always sets my mind wandering.

Suzanna thought she knew just where

Megan's mind had wandered.

Though I doubt the tourists or the children think so.

Kevin thought the fog was great until I told him he couldn't climb on the cliffs in it.

And Alec and Jenny's plans for an assault on Fort O'Riley have been postponed.

The kids are in Kevin's room, defending the planet against aliens. It's wonderful watching them together.

I know. They've blended together so well.

Like a mud bait,

Suzanna said with a laugh, and eased a jean-clad hip on the e.g.

of Megan's desk.

How's the work coming?

It's moving along. Amanda kept everything in order, so it's just a matter of shifting it into my own system and computerizing.

It's a tremendous relief for her, having you take it over. Some days she'd be doing the books with a phone at her ear and Delia at her breast.

The image made Megan grin.

I can see it. She's amazingly organized.

An expert juggler. Nothing she hates more than to bobble a ball. You'd understand that.

Yeah, I do.

Megan picked up a pencil and ran it between her fingers.

I worried

about coming here, Suzanna, bringing Kevin. I was afraid I'd not only bobble a ball, but drop all of them, because I'd be so anxious not to say anything, even think anything, that would make you uncomfortable.

Aren't we past that, Megan?

You were.

Sighing, Megan set the pencil down again.

Maybe it's a little harder,

being the other woman.

Were you?

Suzanna said gently.

Or was I?

Megan could only shake her head.

I can't say I wish I could go back and change things, because if I did I wouldn't have Kevin.

She took a long breath, met

Suzanna's eyes levelly.

I know you consider Kevin a brother to your children, and that you love him.

Yes, I do.

I want you to know that I think of your children as my family and I love them.

Suzanna reached over to lay a hand over Megan's.

I know you do. One of the

reasons I dropped in was to ask if you'd mind if Kevin came along with us. I'm going to do some greenhouse work today. Alex and Jenny always enjoy it especially since it includes pizza for lunch.

I can't think of anything he'd rather do. And it would make up for having to wear a tie the other night.

Suzanna's eyes lit with humor.

I nearly had to strangle Alex to get him into his. I hope Aunt Coco doesn't plan any more formal dinner parties for some time to come.

She tilted her head.

Speaking of Aunt Coco, have you seen her today?

Only for a minute, right after breakfast. Why?

Was she singing?

As a matter of fact, she was.

Megan touched her tongue to her top Up.

She's

been singing in the morning for several days now.

She was singing just now, too. And wearing her best perfume.

Uneasy, Suzanna

nibbled her Up.

I was wondering if Trent's father... Of course, he's gone back to Boston now, so I thought there was nothing to worry about. He's a lovely man, and we're all very fond of him, but, well, he's been married four times, and he doesn't

seem able to keep his eye from roving.

I noticed.

After a quick debate on privacy versus disclosure, Megan cleared her throat.

Actually, I don't think Coco's looking in that direction.

No?

Dutch,

Megan said, and watched Suzanna's eyes go blank.

Excuse me?

I think she and Dutch are... infatuated.

Dutch? Our Dutch? But she's always complaining about him, and he's snarling at her every chance he gets. They're always fighting, and...

She trailed off, pressed her

hands to her lips.

Oh...

she said, While her eyes danced over them.

Oh, oh, oh...

They stared at each other, struggled dutifully for perhaps three seconds before bursting into laughter. Megan fell easily into the sisterly pleasure of discussing a family member. After she told Suzanna about walking in on Coco and Dutch in the kitchen, she followed it up with the scene on the terrace.

There were sparks flying, Suzanna. At first I thought they were going to come to blows, then I realized it was more of a well, a mating ritual.

A mating ritual,

Suzanna repeated in a shaky voice.

Do you really think they ?

Well.

Megan wriggled her eyebrows.

She's been doing a lot of singing lately.

She certainly has.

Suzanna let the i.e. stew for a moment, found it simmered nicely.

I think I'll drop by the kitchen before I go. Check out the atmosphere.

I hope I can count on a full report.

Absolutely.

Still chuckling, Suzanna rose to go to the door.

I guess that was

some moon the other night.

It was,

Megan murmured.

Some moon.

Suzanna paused with her hand on the knob.

And Nathaniel's some man.

I thought we were talking about Dutch.

We were talking about romance,

Suzanna corrected.

I'll see you later.

Megan frowned at the closed door. Good Lord, she thought, was she that obvious?

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