Home to Me (The Andrades, Book 2) by Ruth Cardello Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t answer your phone I thought you might still be sleeping. I told Maddy we should wait, but you know how she is.”
    Maddy placed the tray and bag on the living room coffee table, then plopped down into one of the chairs. “You’ll understand when you have children. This morning was a scheduled break. I’m am not losing my hour of adult time for anyone.”
    Rena settled into a chair across from her. “I’m surprised you don’t have a nanny.”
    Maddy took out a muffin and laid it on a napkin, then handed a coffee container to Rena. “Black with sugar. That’s how you like it, isn’t it?”
    “Yes,” Rena said with surprise. She and Maddy had spent a significant amount of time on the phone over the last several months, yet their friendship was still in the early stages. “Thank you for remembering.”
    Nicole hovered, then sat and took her own coffee. “She does have a nanny, but she refuses to let her do much.”
    Maddy shrugged. “I whine now and then, but there isn’t a single part of my life that I would change. Richard is doing well with his restaurants. I love being home with the boys. Okay, most of the time. I don’t think there is a mother alive who doesn’t sometimes crave a few moments to herself. I could hand them off to the nanny more, but when they look back at their childhood I want them to remember me more than someone we paid to be with them. That’s how my parents raised me, and that’s how I’m raising my children. I won’t apologize for that.”
    Rena sipped her coffee, then said, “You shouldn’t. Your children are lucky to have you.” She turned to Nicole, who was eating her bagel as daintily as if she were visiting the Queen. “How is married life, Nicole? Enjoying it?”
    Nicole put her bagel down and folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes misted over as she said, “It’s still unbelievable to me—how much my life has changed in just a couple of years.” She reached out and took Maddy’s hand in hers. “Even Maddy. She is crazy, but I can’t imagine not having her in my life.”
    Maddy squeezed her hand and shot her a huge smile. “We feel the same way about you, Nicole. Well, we don’t call you crazy, but you fit into our family perfectly. And Stephan is finally happy. Love can do that.”
    Rena took another sip of her coffee.
    “Which brings us to why we’re here, Rena,” Maddy continued. “Can you help us find the perfect woman for Nick?”
    Rena gasped, choked on her coffee, and started coughing wildly. Nicole leaned over and gave her a pat on the back. “I’m sorry,” she said when she caught her breath. “I swallowed the wrong way.”
    “I hate when that happens,” Maddy said sympathetically, oblivious to Rena’s state of surprise.
    After a brief pause, Rena asked, “What makes you think Nick needs help finding a woman? He certainly seems to surround himself with enough of them.”
    “He’s not happy.” Maddy shook her head sadly. “And look at how hard he’s taking his mother’s illness. You’d expect he’d be concerned, but he’s just miserable with worry. He needs someone in his life he can lean on when times are tough. Everyone does.” She rolled her eyes. “And I’m not talking about the bimbos he’s always photographed with. I’m talking about someone of quality. You know him well. What does he look for in a woman?”
    “A low IQ and huge cleavage.” Even as the words came out of Rena’s mouth she regretted them. After what happened last night, I’m in no position to judge anyone. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me. Trust me, though. Nick isn’t looking for anything serious with anyone.”
    “That’s a shame,” Maddy said and took a bite of her muffin.
    “Why?”
    Maddy leaned forward and tapped Nicole’s leg. “We should tell her.”
    “How are we going to win if we keep telling everyone everything?” Nicole asked with a laugh.
    “Tell me what?”
    Nicole shrugged and nodded at Maddy.
    Maddy wiped her hands on a