his parents, lost his grandfather and now fears he’s in danger of losing me.’
Knowing all about loss, Mia contemplated Violet’s words.
‘To anyone who doesn’t know my grandson well, Connor would’ve appeared to take the news of my heart problem in his stride.’ She poked her index finger against her own breastbone as she emphasised, ‘I saw the pallor beneath his tan when the doctor told us the news. I felt the tension in him as he drove me home and I know he’s worried sick about my health.’
‘Then have the operation. Your demand has only made him more stressed.’
‘Don’t you see, Mia? I’m not immortal and the time will come when I will die. He’ll lose me and you’ll lose me.’ Violet’s heartfelt concern wrapped itself around Mia. ‘I don’t want either of you to be alone in the world. And when I join Archibald in heaven, I want to be able to tell him Connor is married to a wonderful woman and I’ve been able to bounce our great grandchildren on my knee.’
Mia’s anxiety ramped up. Marriage and children?
Good Lord.
About to take Violet to task, Mia stopped when she saw the unshed tears in the older woman’s eyes.
‘Oh, Violet.’ She put down her tea and rested her hand on Violet’s shoulder. ‘I’ve been under Connor’s nose all this time and he’s never noticed me.’ Realising her words might’ve held an ounce of disappointment Mia added quickly, ‘And he’s not exactly the type of guy I’d date.’
Violet had just picked up her cup again, but now it clinked back onto the saucer. Her still-moist eyes were steel blue as she challenged, ‘Tell me about the type of man you want to date, my dear, because as far as I’m aware, you’ve never dated.’
‘I haven’t.’ She shifted a little on the chair as she made the admission. ‘But, if I did, I wouldn’t date a guy with Connor’s track record.’
‘I know he’s had his share of relationships but—’
‘Violet! Ever since his divorce, none of his liaisons have lasted long enough to be classified as serious relationships, and if he was a woman he’d be called a very unsavoury name.’ She lifted her hand to forestall the defence of the doting grandmother. ‘You know it’s true because you’ve lamented about it often enough to me.’
‘How could he form a relationship with any of those women? They’re all shallow gold-diggers. I think he’s deliberately gone out with them because he immediately sees them for what they are and they can’t hurt him like that b—’ Violet stopped abruptly and amended her choice of words, ‘—woman he was married to.’
She looked closely at Violet. With Connor’s reference to the ‘ticking bomb’ at the forefront of her mind, Mia needed to push back against her friend’s wishes without lighting the fuse.
‘Connor thinks I’m a shallow gold-digger.’
‘Ha! If he only knew how wrong he is!’ Violet laughed. ‘He needs a suitable woman. You, Mia. You’re the woman.’
‘You’re pinning your hopes on an unrealistic dream.’ Connor might have once been Mia’s unrealistic dream, but today she’d had a reality check. ‘Call this off. Connor already senses I’m hiding something. I don’t want him having me investigated.’
‘I’m only sorry he’s had to be kept in the dark about you all these years.’ She sent Mia a searching look.
‘No, Violet. Don’t even think about it. We were all sworn to secrecy.’
She sighed and gave a brief nod of agreement. ‘Five dates, Mia. That’s all I ask of you both.’
Mia had to grit her teeth together to stop herself from screaming out her objection. ‘If anyone had suggested that you’d ever try to use emotional blackmail against me, I would’ve been appalled and jumped straight to your defence.’
‘I may not have much time left on this earth—’
‘See? Emotional blackmail!’
‘—but in the time I have I want the two young people I love the most to get to know each other. If nothing else, you might at least be a comfort to each other when I’m gone.’
‘Oh, please.’ Mia replaced her cup on the serving trolley and raised her hands to each temple. Rubbing the areas with her fingertips, she tried to ease the build-up of tension there. Connor had been right. Violet was holding steadfast to her plan and milking her heart condition for all it was worth.
If only Stanley was in London, Mia would be calling him to come and talk some sense into Violet. He would certainly see the folly of Violet’s plan and make her see how