Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [11]
“Perhaps.” She didn’t look at him again as she closed the door behind her. She leaned back against the door feeling strangely drained. There was no reason for her to have this reaction to Andrew Ramsey. His voice had been gentle, his words persuasive and not threatening. Yet she felt as if she had been in a losing struggle with a titanic personality. She believed she had taught herself to be a fair judge of character, but Andrew Ramsey was an enigma to her.
“Can I have my cheeseburger?”
Lily straightened to see Cassie grinning at her from the doorway of her room. She was dressed in her pajamas, and there was no hint of antagonism in her expression. Lily felt a rush of relief. “I don’t see why not.”
“And potato chips?”
Lily grinned back at her. “Potato chips.” She paused. “After you eat your vegetables.”
Cassie sighed. “Andrew said I was pushing it.”
Lily’s smile faded. “I’m not going to lie to you, Cassie. I haven’t made a decision about your friend Andrew.”
“I know you haven’t. Andrew said we had to give you plenty of time.” Cassie’s bunny slippers shuffled on the wooden floor as she came toward the kitchen. “He explained it all to me.”
“Andrew seems good at explanations,” Lily said drily.
“Oh, he is. Andrew makes things clear as glass. You’ll see that when you get to know him.” Cassie glanced over her shoulder. “Do I still get that extra hour at the piano?”
“I thought you said the music was gone.”
“It’s back now.” Cassie’s words trailed behind her as she entered the kitchen. “Andrew brought it back.”
How had Andrew managed to capture Cassie so completely in so short a time? Lily wondered with helpless exasperation. She started across the living room toward the kitchen even as Cassie suddenly appeared again and dashed toward her.
“Cassie, what on earth is—”
“I forgot.” Cassie threw her arms around her mother’s waist in an enthusiastic bear hug that robbed Lily of breath, her cheek pressing hard at Lily’s midriff. “I love you, Mom.”
“Do you?” Lily felt as if a magic ointment had been smoothed over the rawness of a wound. “I love you, too, Cassie.” Her arms tightened around her child’s warm, sturdy body. “So much. I only want to do what’s best for both of us.”
“I know.” Cassie looked up and smiled. “Me too.”
Lily’s lips twisted. “And do I have Mr. Ramsey to thank for this display of affection?”
Cassie shook her head. “He didn’t tell me to do anything. He just said that if you love someone you ought to tell them … because sometimes they forget.”
“Very wise advice,” Lily said slowly. She gave Cassie another hug and pushed her away. “Will you make the hamburger patties, love? I have a telephone call to make. It shouldn’t take long.”
“Sure. Professor Kozeal?”
“No.” Lily turned to the phone on the pine table beside the Early American sofa. “I have to call an old friend I knew before you were born.”
When Lily took Cassie down for her swim the next day, Andrew was sitting in exactly the same spot where she had left him the previous evening.
Cassie ran on ahead to meet him, and Lily watched them curiously. This was Cassie’s father, who had given her those bright hazel eyes. Instead of Andrew’s dark gold hair or Lily’s chestnut, Cassie’s was a sandy compromise. Together Lily and Andrew had made Cassie what she was. It was strange to realize that her own body had protected and nurtured this stranger’s seed.
Andrew’s gaze lifted to meet hers over Cassie’s head. She inhaled sharply and stopped as if struck. Overpoweringly sexual, invading, stirring. Lust.
Then his gaze quickly lowered to Cassie again, and he displayed only affection and amusement.
But Lily hadn’t imagined the emotion she had seen there.
Cassie was running out into the surf, and Andrew watched her for a moment before turning again to face Lily. “I blew it, didn’t I? Gunner always said I was transparent as hell. You don’t have to stand there as if I turned you to stone. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Lily started toward him. “I’m not afraid of you.”
He gazed at her skeptically. “You’re shaking