Read Online The Man She Married by Ann DeFee - Free Book Online Page A

inventory. Give a yell if you need me.”
    Thanks a ton, friend. “I’ll do that.” Maizie braced herself for a serious discussion with her mother.
    “What is my son-in-law doing camped out in my garage apartment? I love him dearly, but he needs to be at home in his own bed.” She gave Maizie her best “Mother’s not pleased” combo of folded arms and steely-eyed glare. Mama had a frown that could scare a Navy SEAL into submission.
    “I don’t know,” Maizie answered. She wasn’t about to discuss her marital problems—or her lack of a sex life—with her mother.
    Her resolve lasted until Eleanor Westerfield intensified her glower. Lordy, the woman could give the CIA lessons. Then when Eleanor picked up Maizie’s hand and started drawing little circles on her palm, she broke.
    “We had a fight and it went from bad to worse. The reason he’s at your house is that I told him I didn’t want to live with him anymore. And—” God, she hated to say this “—this morning I tossed his stuff out on the curb.”
    Mama rubbed her forehead. That was never a good sign. “Mary Stuart, how could you do that? Clay loves you like crazy and let me tell you, he’s miserable.”
    “Mama, he didn’t tell me his company is in financial trouble. He kept something that important from me.” She sniffed, trying to unsuccessfully hold back a deluge of tears. “We’re supposed to share everything. He left me out!” she wailed.
    Although Eleanor was a good five inches shorterthan her daughter, she managed to pull Maizie into her arms.
    “Honey, men do that. He didn’t want to worry you. It’s a throwback to the old-fashioned idea that women need to be protected, and he’s a Southerner. That’s what Southern men do.”
    Maizie’s head was telling her that Mama was right. Her heart was saying something entirely different.
    “So what are we going to do about this?” Mama asked.
    It wasn’t good when Mama used “we,” especially when she was discussing a plan.
    “Don’t look at me like that, Missy. He can’t live over my garage forever.” Eleanor threw up her hands. “I love cooking for him, but he’s eating us out of house and home.”
    “You’re feeding him?”
    “Breakfast and dinner.”
    “No wonder he hasn’t come back. You’re the best cook in town.”
    In Eleanor Westerfield’s world that was the ultimate compliment. Unfortunately, it didn’t deter her from her goal.
    “So what are we going to do?” she repeated.
    “Liza thinks I should court him. Wine, dine and date.”
    Mama cocked her head, obviously considering the situation. “That’s brilliant! It’s certainly not something he going to expect. So when do you get started?”
    “I don’t know.” Maizie didn’t bother to tell her they had come up with that idea over two bottles of wine and enough chocolate to give a monk the giggles.
    “The sooner the better, I say. But first you have to forgive him. And that has to come from the heart, where it matters.”
    “I think I need forgiveness as much as he does. I’m still mad at him for keeping secrets, but I have to admit I’m at least partially responsible for this fiasco.” Maizie gave a sheepish shrug. “He accused me of acting like a spoiled brat, and as embarrassing as it is, I have to say he’s right.”
    “There is that,” Mama agreed.
    “I’ll call Liza and Kenni to set up at time to meet.” She looked as if she wanted to clap her hands in glee. “We’ll come up with a plan.”
    Her mother was getting into the spirit of things, and as dearly as Maizie loved her mom, she could be a steamroller.
    “A gift would be a nice way to start.” Without batting an eyelash, Eleanor went into her party-planner mode. “I think you should go for something masculine, with a message. That would be perfect.”
    So where was Maizie supposed to find this masculine gift with a magic message?
    Where was that “never fail to please” personal shopper when she needed her?

Chapter