Cinderella Story Part 3

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“And you’re still determined not to fall in love.” Noah’s expression became brotherly. “From what you’ve told me about your family history, I’d say that Nina Lindstrom is a whole different breed of woman from your grandmother and your mother. She could be worth taking the risk for.”

“I’ll let you and the rest of the male population wallow in the murky mire of romance,” Alex replied. “All I want is an heir.”

“Raising a child on your own isn’t easy,” Noah cautioned.

“My grandfather raised me and did just fine. Besides, I thought single parenthood was the current trend.”

Noah’s gaze hardened. “Children aren’t fads. Parenthood is a big responsibility.”

“I’ve never thought of children as fads, and I’ve always lived up to my responsibilities,” Alex reminded him curtly. “Are you going to help me or not?”

“If you’re determined to go through with this, then I’ll see what I can find out,” Noah conceded. “But if I were you, I’d reconsider courting Nina Lindstrom.”

“Nina Lindstrom is out of the picture,” Alex said firmly.

Noah regarded him in silence for a long moment, then shrugged as if to say he realized that arguing would do no good. “I think there are a couple of agencies that specialize in finding surrogate mothers. I’ll start asking around about them today. And will give you their contact number once I find it.”

Alex nodded with satisfaction. Rising, he held out his hand to his friend. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Noah cautioned. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Alex assured him.

Leaving Noah’s office, Alex felt confident about the course of action he’d chosen. There would be no games of the heart for him. As he headed for the exit, he suddenly changed direction. As long as he was here, he would stop by and see Tommy. Nina had asked him not to hover over her and her children, but that didn’t mean he had to avoid them completely. Besides, he wanted to make certain the boy’s recovery was still coming along on schedule.

He entered the room to find the private nurse helping Tommy with his physical therapy.

“Alex.” Tommy greeted him with a grin.

Alex grinned back. The boy’s smile always brought a rush of pleasure. He would miss that. I’ll have a child of my own soon, he reminded himself. “Looks like you’re getting back into great shape fast,” he said, approaching the bed.

“Very fast,” the nurse replied. “The doctors are extremely pleased. He may be able to go home sooner than they first predicted.”

“I don’t want them sending him home before he’s entirely ready,” Alex ordered protectively.

“They won’t,” she assured him.

Tommy gave Alex a disgruntled look. “I want to go home.”

“You will,” Alex replied, hating to have caused the boy to be angry with him. “You just keep up those exercises and do what the nurses and doctors tell you.”

“Do I have a choice?” the boy grumbled under his breath.

Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. Tommy had sounded so adult. Children were a constant source of amazement, he mused.

The nurse’s mouth formed an exaggerated pout. “I thought we were having fun.”

“I guess so,” Tommy admitted.

Relieved to see the boy’s good humor restored, Alex glanced at his watch. He was running late now. “I’ll leave you two to continue,” he said.

Walking to his car, he found himself regretting that he would not be a part of Tommy’s homecoming celebration. He should never have allowed his relationship with Nina and her children to become more than business, he admonished himself. However, today he would take steps to assure their futures, then he could get back to living his own life.

* * *

It was late afternoon, and Nina was with Tommy when a knock sounded on the door of the hospital room, followed by the entrance of a tall, white-haired man, dressed in a three-piece suit. “I’m Bill Ophemhier, Alex Bennett’s lawyer,” he introduced himself as he entered. “And from the description he gave me, you must be Nina Lindstrom.”

Nina rose to accept the man’s handshake.

The lawyer smiled at Tommy. “I’m glad to hear you’re doing so well, young man.” His voice became apologetic. “I hope you won’t mind if I take your mother away from you for a short time.”

Wondering why Alex had sent a lawyer, Nina accompanied the man to the cafeteria. Once there, he guided her to a table in an unoccupied corner of the room. Setting his briefcase on the table, he opened it and took out a set of keys. “It will take a week or so for all the paperwork and inspections needed before the actual sale of the diner can be completed,” he said, putting the keys on the table in front of her. “However, the Olsens have agreed to allow you free access to the place beforehand so that you can begin your plans for the renovations.”

Nina picked up the familiar-looking key ring. “Alex Bennett is definitely a man of action.”

“Definitely,” the lawyer agreed. Extracting a manila envelope, he placed it in front of her, as well. “An account has been set up at the bank. If the funds are insufficient, you’re to let Alex know. One of his accountants will be coming from Denver to explain how to keep the necessary records for tax purposes and how to set up employee records and payroll. I’ve made reservations for him at the Squaw Creek Lodge. He’s expecting you to meet him there at noon tomorrow. If that’s inconvenient, his name and number are on the front of the envelope. You can call and change the appointment. Also, if you need the names of reliable contractors, please feel free to give me a call and I’ll do what I can to help you locate them.”

“I know some people I can trust,” Nina replied, fighting back a sudden feeling of being overwhelmed.

The lawyer rose, smiled and extended his hand. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.” She amazed herself by how confident she sounded accepting the handshake. As she watched him walk away, her hands tightened around the keys and her jaw firmed. She could and would made the diner a success.

From Tommy’s hospital room, she called Helen and told her mother-in-law she would be a little late picking up the children. Then, staying only a few more minutes with Tommy, she left and headed directly for the diner. As she unlocked the front door and entered, it was like returning home. “A home in need of some repair,” she muttered, switching on the lights for a better view.

The interior smelled dank, and she recalled the wet walls and the inch or so of water that had still been on the floor when she’d come by the day after the storm.

The lightning that had damaged some of the kitchen appliances had also split the old oak beside the diner. Half of the tree had fallen toward the diner, landing on the roof above the kitchen. It had knocked a hole in the roof and let the rain in. The water pipe beneath the kitchen sink had been leaking and Pa Olsen hadn’t gotten around to replacing it. The impact caused the already faulty fitting to break, and more water had poured in. A neighbor had seen the tree fall and called the Olsens, but by the time they got to the diner a small lake had built inside. They’d turned off the water and opened the doors to let the water run out but there was still the hole in the roof allowing the rain to continue to pour in. They couldn’t do anything about that until the storm had passed.

Going into the kitchen, Nina looked upward. The Olsens had had the roof patched, but the ceiling was still in need of repair. Clearly they’d chosen to spend as little as possible toward mending the place. “At least there was no major structural damage,” she murmured.

Looking under the sink, she saw that they’d also had the broken pipe fixed. She made a mental note to have a plumber check all of the pipes and fittings and to have an electrician come in and recheck the wiring.

She’d expected to be nervous and scared. The place looked a shambles, and making it into a paying proposition was going to take some doing. Instead, she found herself excited by the challenge.

Driving to her in-laws’ home, her enthusiasm grew. During dinner she, Helen and Ray discussed possible contractors. Since all three had lived in town their entire lives, they knew several and, of those, which were reliable and which were not. Helen suggested she contact the interior designer who had helped renovate the Old Elm Bed and Breakfast, and they all agreed a bit of professional help in that direction would be wise.

Anxious to get started as quickly as possible, she placed calls from her in-laws’ home to the contractors they’d decided she should get estimates from and left messages on their voicemail.