Page 44 of On the Shelf

“Helen.” Surprise made his greeting more abrupt than he’d intended. “This is unexpected.”

Mrs. Yao was as immaculately put together as always, her silver-streaked bob hugging her skull, her wool suit crisp despite the wintry haze. She surveyed the store with the same critical eye she’d always turned on Niall’s choices.

“Niall.” Her smile was polite but cool. “I was in town and thought I’d stop by. Is Winnie here?”

“School doesn’t let out for another hour,” Niall reminded her. “She’ll be going to after-school up at Paper Bag after that.”

“Ah, yes. The Shakespeare money beg.” Helen’s tone suggested she found the whole enterprise ridiculous and humiliating. “Well, perhaps it’s better this way. I wanted to speak with you privately.”

Niall’s guard immediately went up. His mother-in-law never “just stopped by,” and she had never in her life sought him out for private conversations unless she had an agenda. “What about?”

“Your… association with Charles Mitchum.” Helen’s gaze flickered with disdain to the half-built treehouse. “I understand he’s become quite a fixture here. And in your home.”

The implication was clear, and Niall stiffened. “Chuck is helping with some repairs. As it happens, yes, we’re seeing each other. I didn’t realize I needed your approval for my personal life.”

“You don’t,” she said. “But when it affects my granddaughter, I have concerns.”

“Winnie adores him,” Niall countered, and heard how badly he wanted it to be true. What if Chuck’s “meeting” today was the beginning of another disappearing act? What would that do to Winnie?

“I’m sure she does. Children are easily seduced by attention and promises.” Helen’s voice softened slightly. “Niall, I don’t doubt Mr. Mitchum has made quite an impression. I would suggest his history speaks for itself. He’s unreliable. Impulsive. Prone to violence and dramatic exits when things don’t go his way.”

“People change.” His doubts made it sound hollow.

“Perhaps. Still, are you willing to bet Winnie’s safety and emotional well-being on that hope?” For whatever reason, she moved closer… as if she’d seen a mother character do it in a soap opera and wanted to duplicate the effect. The feigned sincerity was unnerving to see up close. “She’s already lost one parent. How do you think she’ll feel when Mr. Mitchum drifts away to his next project, his next town, his next… dalliance?”

The question played on Niall’s own worst fears. No accident. Helen knew him well enough. Her daughter had wrecked his life in much the same way. He’d asked himself this very thing countless times over the past few days when he weighed the joy Chuck brought against the potential pain of his departure.

“I appreciate your concern,” he said at last, striving for a diplomatic tone. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m an adult. Winnie and I are doing fine. I’m capable of making decisions about who to let into our lives.”

“Of course you are.” Helen smiled, but didn’t blink. “I just want you to have the information. Did you know Mr. Mitchum has been offered a position back in Seattle? A lucrative one, from what I’m told.”

Niall put a hand on the register to touch something solid. “How do you know that?”

“Candle Bay is a small town, and I have connections up and down the West Coast.” Helen waved a hand dismissively.

Niall’s mind was racing. Chuck had met with Helen today—that must have been the “meeting” he mentioned. Why hadn’t he been honest about it? And what the hell had they discussed?

“Did you get him the job?” The Yaos’ money came from property development, in Vancouver and the Bay area, but some Seattle too. She could have called in a favor with minimal effort. His head hurt. “Helen?”

“Why would I do something so generous for a man so manifestly unfit?”

“To usher him out, to force us to move. To accomplish any number of creepy and invasive ends because it’s your modus operandi. After all, Elise didn’t just leave us, did she? She didn’t learn to abuse and manipulate people from nowhere.” He straightened. “I’m asking…. Did you set up the job?”

Her icy stare lasted a second too long. Elise’s mother loved control, but she loathed confrontation. “No. No, I did not. The point is, he was eager to see me. He’s already eyeing his next move. Already planning his exit.”

“Did he tell you that?” Niall demanded, anger mixing with sad panic. “Did he say he was taking the job?”

“We… discussed his options. Not a sensible man at all.” Helen wrinkled her nose in distaste.

“Meaning he turned down whatever you dangled.” This could all be a horrible misunderstanding. Chuck wasn’t like this.

“I simply wanted to make you aware of the situation, Niall. What’s at stake for everyone.”

“I appreciate the information.” His brow tightened. “But I think Chuck and I should talk about this one-on-one and without any interference from your family.”

“Of course.” Helen reached out to pat his arm, a gesture more condescending than comforting. “I only want what’s best for you and Winnie. You know that.”

Did he? Helen had never approved of him as Elise’s choice, had made it clear from the beginning that she thought her daughter could do better. Elise had dumped them too. After Elise ran off, Helen had been surprisingly supportive, but always with the undercurrent of “I told you so” and the constant suggestion Niall should move to Sacramento, where the Yaos could have more direct influence over Winnie’s upbringing.