“Stella,” he responded with a nod, guiltily removing his arm.
“Grandma, Grandma,” David cried, breaking from the pack. “Uncle Larry took us for a ride in his airplane.”
All three adults froze on “uncle.”
“It was awesome,” said David.
“Hi, Mom,” Crystal quickly put in, moving forward.
“I see you have the kids,” said Stella.
“They’re staying over,” Crystal explained.
Larry gestured behind him to the door. “I guess, maybe I’d better-”
“Nonsense,” said Stella, eyes glittering. “Since you seem to be part of the family.”
Larry looked to Crystal, and she sent him a clear “it’s now or never” look back.
“I’ll put the kids to bed,” Crystal said, ushering the children toward the spare bedroom and closing the door behind them.
In mere seconds, Larry was alone with Stella, and the silence boomed hollowly around them.
She folded her arms over her chest. “I didn’t realize you were dating my daughter.”
Well, that certainly cured the silence problem.
“We started off as friends,” Larry said honestly.
“Uncle Larry.”
“I don’t think David knew what to call me.” He thought about offering Stella coffee or tea, but realized she was more the hostess than he. Pretending otherwise might offend her.
“I know your brother,” said Stella.
Larry nodded his acknowledgement.
“And I know your nephew.” She paused. “And I know you’re a lot older than my daughter.”
Larry moved toward the living room, uncomfortably hovering in the entryway. “I realize that, too,” he said.
“And what are your intentions?”
“I have no intentions.” Right now his only intention was to spend as much time as humanly possible with Crystal. He hadn’t allowed himself to look beyond that.
“She wants children,” said Stella.
“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves.”
“So, you’re only interested in a fling. Is that it?”
“No.” He realized the word had been sharp and forced himself to tone his voice down. “No. I’m not only interested in a fling. I like your daughter very much.”
Stella harrumphed her skepticism.
Larry glanced toward the bedroom door, willing Crystal to join them again.
“Stella.”
“You like my daughter?”
“Yes, I do.”
“You want to do right by her?”
“Of course.”
“Then don’t encourage her in this.”
Larry took offense. This relationship was hardly one-sided, and Crystal was perfectly capable of making up her own mind. “I don’t think you understand.”
“I understand perfectly,” said Stella. “You are not good for my daughter. Oh, she might be bowled over by your family and-”
“Wait just a minute.” Larry had hardly used his famous family to entice Crystal into his life. Crystal, quite frankly, wasn’t the slightest bit in awe of his family.
“No, you wait a minute,” said Stella, gesturing at the center of his chest with her index finger. “Crystal is my daughter. She’s already had her heart broken when Simon died. She doesn’t need that to happen again. Her life is just starting. You are nearly ready to retire.”
Larry drew back at that. “I am nowhere near ready to retire.”
The bedroom door opened. “Wash your face and brush your teeth,” Crystal called as the kids trotted down the hall.
Smiling, she looked at Larry, then to her mother, then back to Larry. Her smile disappeared. “What?”
He glanced to the open bathroom door and gave his head a slight shake.
The three stood in silence for a moment, then David raced down the hall, arms out, making airplane engine noises. “Come on, Rufus,” he called to the dog. “We’re going in for a landing.” He flung himself onto the bed.
“Come on, boy,” Crystal called to Rufus as a flannel-clad Jennifer made her way more slowly down the hall and into the bedroom.
Kids settled, Crystal reappeared, clicking the door shut behind her. “Something wrong?”
“I was saying-” Larry began, but was cut off.
“You’re too smart to be getting yourself into something like this,” snapped Stella.
“Mom, we’re not-”
“Where can it possibly lead?”
Crystal moved into the living room. “You’re embarrassing me, Mom.”
“What’s embarrassing is you taking up with a man twice your age.”
“He’s not twice my age.”
But Larry had already done the math. It wasn’t that far off. He and Crystal were ready to accept the difference, but if Stella and Steve’s reactions were anything to go by, how well was the rest of the world likely to react?
Larry didn’t care for himself, but Crystal shouldn’t have to put up with it. And there was the question of children. Even if he did want to start over, which he didn’t, he’d had a vasectomy. After Steve was born, the doctors told Libby that her high blood pressure might make it dangerous for her to have more children. Larry had made sure there was no risk to Elizabeth’s health on that front.
“Mother,” said Crystal. “Larry and I have had exactly three dates.”
He made it four, but wasn’t about to quibble.
“So now you’re saying it’s just a fling.”
“I’m saying it’s a date.”
“Four dates,” said Larry, earning a glare from Crystal.
“It’s too soon for you or anybody else to press the panic button,” she said.
“What about children?”
Crystal held up her hands. “Stop. I know you want more grandchildren.”
“This isn’t about me.”
Crystal started to laugh. “Then who is it about?”
Stella looked affronted. “You, of course.”
“Good. Then we can stop talking. Because I’m perfectly fine with dating Larry.”
Stella opened her mouth, but she seemed to have temporarily run out of arguments.
“Was there a reason you’re here, Mom?”
Stella blinked. “Kenny Carmichael.”
Larry knew Kenny was the major player in the Softco purchase.
Crystal sighed. “He wants to let me go.”
Stella gave her head a little shake. “There you go. Jumping to conclusions. Just like you always do.” She looked to Larry. “You see why I worry about this girl?”
Under no circumstances was he taking a piece of that.
“Kenny wants you to work more hours.” She glanced around. “And you can stay in the apartment, of course.”
“I can?” Crystal asked in a small voice.
“It’s in the sales agreement.”
“That’s very generous.”
Stella nodded. “We’re your parents. We want what’s best for you.” She gave Larry a pointed look.
He wanted what was best for Crystal, too. But he didn’t know how to convince Stella that was true.
“Good night, Mom.” Crystal moved forward to give her mother a kiss on the cheek.
Stella didn’t look happy, but most of her anger seemed to have abated. With a warning glance in Larry’s direction, she headed for the door.
When it shut behind her, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sorry about that,” said Crystal.
“Nothing for you to be sorry about.”
“She’s always been, well, a straight shooter.” Crystal flopped down on the couch. “She’s never put much stock in emotion. You know, I think she’d have gone with arranged marriages if she’d had her way. The man’s job, his family connections, family history of diseases and longevity.”
Larry eased down next to her on the soft sofa. “You know, my son reacted in much the same way the other day.”
Crystal twisted her head. “Steve doesn’t want you to date me?”
“He thinks I’m having a midlife crisis.”
She was silent for a few heartbeats. “Are you?”
He reached up, smoothed back her hair and smiled. “You mean am I going to come to my senses one day soon and realize you’re not good enough for me?”