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  “We had some man food for a change instead of healthy cereal and fruit.”

  “I’m afraid to ask what you ate instead. Do you want Bobbi?”

  “No, I have a favor to ask of you.”

  Colleen waited for more but there was silence on the other end of the line. “What kind of favor?” She observed her family as she waited for Rob to answer. Her mother stared out the window, engrossed in the antics of the birds at the bird feeder. Bobbi, still in the rocker, sang softly to Ryan. Wendy moved to the breakfast nook and sat with her chin propped on her hand, watching birds with Maggie.

  “I was hoping you would agree to go out to dinner with a colleague.”

  “Why me?” She squinted at the phone in her hand, puzzled at her brother-in-law’s request.

  “With your years in the legal field, I thought you might have a lot in common.”

  “What does he do?” Colleen couldn’t imagine someone at Rob’s law firm having a similar background.

  Rob cleared his throat. “Well, his experiences are varied, kind of like you, and he knows quite a bit about wills and estates.”

  Colleen tapped the counter with her fingers as her thoughts raced. “How old is he?”

  “He’s your age, maybe a year or two older.”

  Colleen let out her breath in a rush. Matt’s face popped into her mind. She wasn’t about to make that mistake ever again, even if everything else about the man had been perfect. She needed to move on. “Okay, I suppose it might be fun.”

  “How’s Friday night at five-thirty?”

  Five-thirty…for a dinner date? She wrinkled her brow. “Friday, as in the day before Christmas Eve?”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think this guy is doing much for Christmas so it might be nice.”

  Colleen stared at a cardinal at the birdfeeder. What the heck, dinner out was dinner out, and he might be a pleasant surprise. “Five-thirty it is.”

  “Thanks, Colleen.”

  She snapped shut the phone. Maybe by Friday she would feel differently, but right now, the thought of going out with a stranger stirred up nothing but dread. She looked around at her silent family. “Hey, Rob set me up on a blind date.”

  “Um-hm, that’s nice, dear.” Maggie didn’t turn as she answered but continued to stare out the window.

  With a loving look at her son, Bobbi fussed with the baby’s blanket.

  Wendy returned to the counter and sat opposite Colleen, a small smile on her face. “I have only one question.”

  Colleen regarded her sister. “What?”

  “What are you wearing?”

  ****

  Promptly at five-thirty on Friday, Colleen paused at the top of the stairs. With a shaky hand, she fingered the strand of pearls around her neck. Any minute now the doorbell would ring. She couldn’t believe she had agreed to a blind date…with a friend of Rob’s no less. But maybe this guy would offer an interesting evening with the possibility of a New Year’s Eve date.

  The doorbell chimed a holiday melody.

  She held onto the railing as she descended the stairs. When she opened the door, her brief euphoria at the thought of an evening out disappeared. She was right! Dread was the more appropriate feeling!

  Rob had said his friend was in his forties, but the tall, thin man in front of her seemed well past forty. Long, stringy gray hair hung around the man’s face. In his left hand, he held a wooden cane. The contrast between this man and Matthew Berk struck her like a physical blow.

  “How do you do, miss, I’m Mitchell Collins.” He propped his cane in front of him and rested both hands on the handle. “I assume you’re to be my date this evening.”

  Colleen took in the well-worn black suit, the narrow black tie, and starched white shirt. “You’re Mitchell Collins, the attorney?”

  “I am Mitchell Collins.” He grimaced. “Wills, estates, and probate. At your service.” He dipped his chin.

  Colleen’s hand gripped the door as she stood frozen to the spot. “You work with Rob Roberts, then?”

  “I’m acquainted with the gentleman. We work in separate offices however. Shall we continue this conversation in my car?” He turned with halting steps and pointed with the cane to a long, black Cadillac.

  Colleen’s thoughts whirled as she searched for a sudden excuse why she couldn’t go out with the man. Blank—she was drawing a blank. Maybe her cell phone would ring. She channeled her thoughts. Wendy, call me, Wendy, call me. The phone in her purse on the hall table remained silent.

  The man waved his cane in the air. “Well, come along, young lady, the early bird special doesn’t last all night.”

  Stiff with shock, Colleen grabbed her purse and pulled the door shut behind her. She went two steps when she realized the man wasn’t next to her and turned.

  The attorney shuffled along behind, tapping the sidewalk with his cane. “I have a touch of arthritis in my knees. You don’t mind helping an old man, do you? Just let me hang on to you ‘til we get to the car then I’ll be fine.” They hobbled down the sidewalk. The Cadillac turned out to be an early vintage model, at least twenty years old. “Inherited it from my uncle,” the attorney said with a smug grin.

  Colleen stood at the unopened passenger door and watched while the old man made his way around to the driver’s side. Despite her protests, Matt had held the door for her when they took the sports car into town.

  Collins looked over the hood at her. “You don’t need help with the door, do you? I assume you’re a liberated woman who can open her own door.”

  “Of course, sir, I’m fine.” Colleen reached for the door which screeched like a tortured cat as she pulled it open.

  “Just bang it real hard when you close it or the door won’t shut completely.” Her date eased into the driver’s seat and set his cane next to Colleen’s legs.

  She tugged the door closed and waited. From the corner of her eye, she saw the house and wished she were inside, curled up on the couch with a box of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate…like Matt’s eyes, inches from hers, moments before a kiss. Stop! Realizing the car hadn’t yet moved, Colleen glanced at her date.

  The man sorted through his bulky key ring, inspecting each one before going on to the next. After several minutes of inspection, he chose a key and inserted it into the ignition.

  As they inched away from the curb, Colleen suppressed a sigh. Rob said the man was an attorney. She studied him as he leaned toward the steering wheel and pushed his large, square plastic-framed glasses back up on his nose, muttering. Somehow she couldn’t see him in a courtroom. Maybe that’s why the justice system is so backed up.

  When he pulled into a steak house, Collins smacked his lips. “It’s All You Can Eat night. One price includes refills on your drink. But we have to be seated before six.” After parking the Cadillac in a handicapped spot, he pushed open his door with a grunt.

  Colleen sat motionless until he leaned on the hood of the car and beckoned. She suppressed a sigh and pushed open the door to another chorus of screaming metal. As she came around the car, the attorney grabbed her arm.

  “I like paved parking lots.” He shuffled along in tiny steps, his cane tapping at the macadam. “One time I went to the buffet place near the school with the gravel parking lot and had a dickens of a time. How’s a man supposed to keep his balance on gravel?” He flung open the door and marched into the restaurant ahead of her. “Table for two…” he barked at the hostess, “…close to the buffet.”

  The waitress seated them at a table beside the dessert bar. Colleen flinched as a little boy stamped his foot at his mother and demanded ice cream. Just get to know the man. Everyone she had ever met had had some redeeming quality, some kernel of humanity. “What kind of law do you practice?”

  The man glared. “No time for chit-chat now. You have to get to the meat buffet before all the prime rib is gone.” He paused and the corners of his mouth inched upward. “You don’t mind getting an old man his dinner, do you? I can’t carry a plate with this can
e, you know.” He waved the cane in the air, almost tripping the waitress as she rushed by.

  Colleen shrugged. Some date. “Certainly…prime rib it is. What else can I get for you?” Her thoughts wandered back to the roast beef dinner, her first meal with the Berks, when Matt had set the table while teasing his mother. Independent, competent… He didn’t need any help. My, how times have changed.

  “How about some of those little red potatoes in butter?” Her date stared at the buffet, his gaze scanning the selections. “And don’t forget my salad—ranch dressing, no onions.” He winked.

  Colleen suppressed a shiver at the implications of the no onions comment. Heading toward the buffet, she shook her head. What have I gotten myself into this time? This is going to be one long date.

  ****

  Matt peeked through the plastic foliage blocking his view of Colleen and Mitch and suppressed an almost hysterical giggle as he did so. “There they are.” His gaze followed Colleen as she went to the buffet. “She looks gorgeous.” Colleen’s red sweater dress hugged her curves in all the right places. Her auburn hair swung around her shoulders.

  Pulse beating a bit faster, he plopped down in his seat and looked across the table at Rob. “I should be over there instead of Mitch. Of course, we wouldn’t be here if I was with her.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “By the way, thanks for doing this.”

  “No problemo, although I have to admit, I didn’t feel right about skirting the truth. I didn’t lie, but I didn’t exactly tell her the truth either.” Rob reached for his soda.

  “Who are you kidding? You guys do that all the time.” When Rob’s mouth opened, ready to protest, Matt waved a hand in the air. “I know, I know, it’s family. I appreciate all you’ve done, really.”

  “No problemo. Don’t tell the girls, but I needed a break. Women and babies everywhere. I tried to watch a game the other night and Bobbi figured since I was just sitting there I could hold the baby.” Rob looked up from his salad and rolled his eyes. “Did you ever watch a game with a newborn? Not a good idea.”

  At the image his words created, Matt chuckled. “What about your father-in-law? Doesn’t he watch the games with you?”

  Rob looked up and stabbed the air with his fork. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? But no…he and Maggie had to go check out Wendy’s Irish pub!”

  Matt chuckled again. He straightened and peered over the ledge. “I never would have recognized Mitch. He looks awful.” The absurdity of the situation struck him again. You’re crazy, man. This is more like a bad sit-com.

  Rob stabbed a tomato with his salad fork. “The lengths some men will go to…” He peeked over the ledge and back at Matt. “Are you sure this is a good idea? She doesn’t look too happy.”

  “That’s the idea.” Hope surged somewhere deep inside. “She’s only forty-three chronologically. Once she realizes she has nothing in common with a man her own age, she’ll rethink my offer.”

  “That guy looks a lot older than she does.”

  Matt nodded. “Yeah, I think Mitch overdid his disguise a little.” Doubt sparked into his thoughts but he quickly snuffed it out. His plan had to work.

  “If you say so.” Rob looked down at his salad. “Did you pay for salad bar or the works?”

  “I just got us both salad bars. I thought you said you would eat later.”

  “I did.” He circled his fork over his plate. “But knowing those women, probably the only thing in the house is rabbit food.” His eyes blazed as he gripped the table. “I need some man food. I’m hitting the prime rib.”

  “It’s your money,” Matt responded with a chuckle.

  Rob stood. “Since this is your stakeout, it’s incumbent upon you, the staker, to buy me, the staker apprentice, the dinner of my choice.” He spun on his heel and left, nearly tripping over a small boy balancing a large dish of ice cream.

  The boy stopped next to Matt’s table and stared wide-eyed as he shoveled fudge and ice cream into his mouth.

  Matt frowned at the boy. “I should have known better than to get mixed up with a lawyer.”

  The little boy ran off.

  Anxious to know more about Colleen’s date, he peered through the foliage. Wearing high-heeled black boots, Colleen balanced three plates in her arms. With careful moves, she set them down in front of Mitch who waved an arm and pointed to the coffee pot. Colleen straightened her shoulders and headed toward the drink counter.

  “Did I miss anything?” Rob returned with a plate of prime rib and French fries. With a contented sigh, he sat and dug into the food.

  “Only that Mitch has her bringing him food. Boy, I hope this doesn’t backfire on me.” He craned his neck. “You’re right, she doesn’t look happy.” Matt stole a roll from Rob’s plate and tore off a chunk.

  “Hey, get your own, fella.” Rob stretched a protective arm around his food.

  “Can’t.” Matt leaned to the left to peek through the foliage as he chewed on the bread. “I don’t want to miss anything.”

  Twenty minutes later, Rob returned to the table with strawberry cheesecake and coffee. He set down the plates and slid into the booth. “Now what’s happening?”

  “I can’t believe it. She cut up his meat for him! If she starts feeding him, I’m going over there.” Mitch was going too far. Matt paused. “That’s odd.” He stretched his neck for a better view. “Looks like she’s handing him money.”

  “He’s making her pay?” Rob shook his head as he speared a large chunk of cheesecake. “Man, that’s low.” He followed the cheesecake bite with a sip of coffee. “What if this doesn’t work, Matt?”

  “Then I’ll go to Plan B.” Matt leaned back against the red vinyl of the booth and drummed fingers on the table.

  “What’s Plan B?” Rob furrowed his brow.

  Matt searched his brain for a logical answer, for the one thing that would show Colleen the difference in their ages didn’t matter. He slumped in his chair. “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

  ****

  Colleen let herself in the front door and watched as Mr. Collins pulled away from the curb. With a sigh, she plopped down on the landing and pulled off her boots. The man had actually expected a goodnight kiss! When she offered her hand instead she could swear she saw a twinkle in his eye. “Never again.” She hauled herself up by the banister and padded into the kitchen.

  Rob was just coming in from the garage.

  “Where were you?” Surprised to see him, Colleen eased onto the stool.

  “Out.” Rob opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He waved the bottle at Colleen and she shook her head. “How was your date? How’d you like old Mr. Collins? Isn’t he a hoot?”

  A hoot? “You’re kidding, right?’

  “No, why?”

  “He asked me if your newborn had a will yet.”

  Rob guffawed. “When the topic comes to wills, old Collins gets real serious real fast. Is that all you talked about?”

  “No.” Colleen’s hands clenched. “Then he wanted to know if I had a will and when I said yes, he said it probably wasn’t comprehensive enough and would most likely fall apart in court if anyone in my family were to challenge it.”

  “Whew. He was really on a roll.”

  From his tone, Colleen would swear Rob was amused. But why? “Is this funny to you, Robert?”

  Eyes wide, Rob pulled the bottle from his mouth. “No, gosh sake’s no, Colleen. You know I only want the best for you. I thought you might have something in common with this guy, you both knowing the law…and being the same age…”

  Colleen propped her chin in a hand, tiredness washing over her. “I know. Thanks, anyway. I appreciate the thought.”

  “No problemo.”

  “It’s just… I’m more into right and wrong and he’s more into…” She stared off into space. “Death and dying.”

  ****

  The next morning, Colleen followed the smell of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls down the steps and into the kitchen.

>   Clad in footed pajamas, Becky skipped across the room. “Merry Christmas, Aunt Colleen!”

  What a cutie her little red-haired niece had become. Delighted, Colleen leaned down and picked up her niece. “Santa’s coming tonight, Becky!”

  “You look like a Christmas present, Aunt Colleen.” Becky patted the green towel wrapped around her hair.

  Colleen glanced down at her red terrycloth robe. “I do, don’t I?” She rubbed noses with the little girl, who giggled and squirmed to get down.

  The little girl ran across the kitchen and climbed into Mick’s lap, who sat at the breakfast nook with Maggie.

  “Coffee?” Wendy held out a steaming cup, a small smile on her face.

  “Thanks.” Colleen settled onto a stool at the counter.

  Her parents shared a cinnamon roll with Becky, who raced from her grandfather’s lap over to her mother, in the rocker with Ryan.

  “No, Ryan can’t eat cinnamon rolls yet, Becky.” Bobbi patted her daughter’s head with her free hand. “But it’s sweet of you to think of him.”

  Rob plopped down across from Colleen. “Come tell Daddy about the new dress Grandma bought you for church tonight, Becky.” He lowered his arms and the little girl threw herself into his lap. “Oomph.” He peered over her head at Bobbi. “Maybe we should lay off the sugar with this one.”

  The front doorbell played its holiday melody.

  “I’ll get it,” Wendy sang and bounced out of the room.

  “She certainly is cheerful today,” Colleen murmured to no one in particular as she sipped at the fragrant coffee.

  “Look who’s here.” Wendy strolled into the kitchen, followed by Matt, his arms full of packages. “Cup of coffee, Professor?”

  Matt’s gaze skittered across Colleen’s before he nodded hello to the others. “Sure.”

  Colleen stared down into her coffee cup, embarrassed. Heat inched up her neck onto her cheeks. They hadn’t spoken since the afternoon in the hospital parking lot. She had sent her sister on their date with no explanation and here he was, a week later, with Christmas gifts for her family.

  Matt unloaded his arms on the counter in front of Colleen. “Just a few things from the Berk’s Ranch,” he announced with a broad smile.