A Mother's Wish: Wanted: Perfect Partner / Father's Day

Lindsey helped her assemble everything they needed and carried it into the dining room. Meg poured them each a cup, once the tea had steeped, and they sat across from each other at the polished mahogany table.

Meg waited, and when Lindsey wasn’t immediately forthcoming she decided to get the conversation started. “You wanted to talk to me about Steve, right?”

Lindsey clasped the delicate china cup with one hand and lowered her gaze. “Do you really, really like him?” she asked anxiously.

Meg answered before she took time to censor the question. “Yes.”

“But why? I mean, he’s nothing like what I thought he’d be.” She hesitated. “I suppose this is what Brenda and I get for pretending we were you,” she mumbled. “Maybe if you’d read his stuff, you would’ve been able to tell what kind of guy he really is.”

“Steve is actually a fine person.” And he was. Or at least the Steve Meg knew.

Lindsey risked a glance at her. “You’ve said hundreds of times that you don’t want me to judge others by outward appearances, but sometimes that’s all there is.”

“You’re worried about me and Steve, aren’t you?” Meg said gently.

Lindsey rubbed her finger along the edge of the teacup. “I realize now that what Brenda and I did was really stupid. We linked you up with a guy who has a prison record. We sure were easy to fool,” Lindsey said with a scowl. “We’re only fifteen years old!”

“But I like Steve,” Meg felt obliged to tell her.

Lindsey looked as if she didn’t know how to account for that. “I’m afraid he’s going to hurt you.”

“Steve wouldn’t do that,” Meg assured her, “but I understand your concern, honey, and I promise you I won’t let the situation get out of hand.”

Lindsey frowned, stiffened her shoulders and blurted out, “I don’t want you to see him again.”

“But … “

“I mean it, Mom. This guy is trouble.”

Talk about role reversal!

“I want you to promise me you won’t see Steve Conlan again.”

“Lindsey … “

“This is important. You may not understand it now, but I promise you will in the future. There are plenty of other men, law-abiding citizens, who’d give their right arms to meet a woman like you.”