Free The Family Plan by Gina Wilkins

okay.”
    Caitlin reached down to brush a stray lock of hair from Isabelle’s face. “Maybe we should brush your hair first? Do you have a barrette or a ponytail holder we can use to hold it back?”
    “I’ll be right back.” Isabelle turned and ran toward her bedroom.
    “She seems to have two speeds,” Nathan commented. “Very fast and very slow. She’s been in slow speed all morning, which is why her hair isn’t done.”
    Caitlin eyed him quizzically. “You were going to do her hair?”
    “I’ve got to learn how,” he said with a shrug. “I figure it can’t be too hard to learn how to do a basic ponytail or braid or something.”
    She paused a moment, then asked, “Have you called your mother yet to tell her you want to talk to her?”
    “Not yet. I thought I’d call as soon as you leave. She’ll be home. She’s always home on Saturday mornings. That’s when she does her housework.”
    “You can’t be looking forward to this.”
    Major understatement. He decided to let it pass.
    Isabelle returned clutching a hairbrush and a barrette with a red fabric bow attached. Her stuffed white owl was tucked beneath her arm. “Will this bow work? And can Hedwig come with us?”
    Caitlin replied, “The bow is just right. And is Hedwig your owl’s name?”
    Isabelle nodded. “From Harry Potter. Aunt Barb read the books to me. And I’ve seen the movie a bunch of times. It’s got a scary part, but I like the owls.”
    “You like books, Isabelle?” Caitlin asked as she carefully brushed the child’s silky hair back at the top. Nathan watched closely, hoping he could replicate the style.
    Isabelle nodded enthusiastically, making her hair tumble out of Caitlin’s hands before she could secure it with the barrette. “Oh, sorry. I like books. I can read a little.”
    “Really?” Caitlin looked at Nathan for confirmation as she patiently gathered Isabelle’s hair again.
    He nodded proudly. “She read two books to me on the airplane. They’re for beginning readers, and she knew almost every word in them.”
    “Isabelle, that’s wonderful. You’re a very bright little girl.”
    Isabelle smiled with an attempt at modesty. “My aunt Barb taught me. She likes books, too. When she visits me here, I’ll read new stories to her.”

    Nathan managed not to wince. Isabelle had readily accepted that she would be living with her brother from now on, but she continued to assume her great-aunt would soon recover from her illness and join them. Nathan hadn’t had the heart to tell her differently.
    Isabelle knew what death was, of course, having lost her parents. But he saw no need to burden her with the truth about her great-aunt’s condition for now.
    He hoped waiting was the right choice. He suspected there would be many such dilemmas as she grew older. Someday, for example, she would have to learn the details of her parents’ scandalous courtship. And he wanted to be the one to tell her, before some malicious kid taunted her with it.
    Caitlin handed him the hairbrush, apparently reading his expression. “Isabelle and I have some shopping to do. And you have something you had better do soon. ”
    In some ways, she had subconsciously echoed his line of thought. Timing was often critical—and it was definitely time to talk to his mother, before someone beat him to it. “You’re right. I’ll—”
    His doorbell rang before he could finish the sentence.
    “You got company, Nate,” Isabelle announced needlessly.
    “Must be a delivery or something. I’m not expecting anyone.” Motioning for them to hold tight a minute, he moved to the door.
    The last person he had expected to find on his front step was his mother.

Chapter Five
    F rom where she stood, Caitlin couldn’t immediately see Nathan’s caller. But she could tell from the sudden tension in his body that it wasn’t a pleasant surprise.
    A moment later she understood the problem when she heard him say, “Mom. What are you doing here?”
    The voice