Free Ask Mariah by Barbara Freethy

relative or something."
    "She could be a cousin," Tony suggested.
    "Enough," Vincent said abruptly. "No more of this talk. It upsets your mother."
    "I've been researching the family history," Linda began, "maybe --"
    Vincent stood up so abruptly, his chair fell over backward. "No more."
    "Linda, be quiet," Frank admonished, "This is none of your business." He helped his father with his chair while his wife sat back in her seat.
    "I apologize," Linda said.
    "I'll get dessert," Sophia said, rising to her feet. "Linda, why don't you help me?"
    As the women left, Vincent and Frank began to talk about the restaurant and the tension in the room eased.
    Tony looked at Michael. "What the hell was that about?"
    "I don't know," he said, wondering again why the mention of Joanna had caused such a strong reaction. 
    "I guess it bothers my parents o know there's a woman walking around who looks like Angie, when she's no longer here," Tony muttered.
    "That's probably it," he said.
    "What else could it be?"
    That was a question he definitely couldn't answer. 
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    Just past seven the next morning, Michael entered his daughters' bedroom. The sun peeked through the lace curtains, lighting the porcelain faces of the dolls on the dresser and the colorful rainbow mural painted on the wall.

This was his favorite time of day, when he could simply stand and stare at his two little angels in their matching nightgowns under their matching pink bedspreads. They were both still asleep. Lily, as usual, had kicked her way free of the covers. Rose still huddled like a baby in a womb, her hands tucked under her chin, her knees drawn up to her waist, covers still tightly in place.
    The love he felt for his children overwhelmed him sometimes. He felt almost guilty to admit that it was far greater than what he had felt for their mother. He just wished he could make them feel what he felt, give them what was in his heart and make them take it.
    Lily stirred and blinked. Rose also began to awaken. Michael didn't say anything to speed the process. There was plenty of time for Cheerios and teeth brushing and the mad dash to get ready for work and school. This moment was his and theirs --  together.
    Rose's eyes focused on him, and she smiled as she sat up. Rose always woke up in a good mood. She'd been that way since she was a baby. It was Lily he hated to wake up in mid-dream. When she used to talk to him, he'd get an earful of angry whining at being awakened. Now she seemed content to just glare at him. Maybe there was some benefit to silence, he thought as she directed a scowl in his direction.
    "Time to get up and have some breakfast." He pulled the curtains open. "Looks like a great day out there."
    Rose got out of bed and stood next to him at the window. He put his arm around her shoulders as they looked out at the quiet street. After a moment she slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him, her face barreling into his stomach.
    He felt his muscles tense, and his mouth actually trembled. But he didn't say anything. To comment on the behavior usually provoked a withdrawal, and right now he needed this hug a hell of a lot more than she did.
    "I'm hungry," Lily announced, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "What do you think we should have today, Rose? Waffles or cereal?"
    "I'd like a waffle," Rose said, replying to Lily as she pulled away from Michael.
    "One waffle coming up," Michael said.
    "I think I'd rather have cereal, Rose," Lily said.
    "And one bowl of cereal," Michael added, playing the game they played every morning where they talked to each other and not to him. "Slippers and robes, please. It's cold this morning." He paused, his attention drawn to the wizard on the night table. Mariah really was a beautiful creature, sculpted so carefully that she almost appeared to be real. Her smile looked knowing. In fact, she seemed to be laughing at him. "I wonder if Mariah could tell me how to get you both to talk to me,"