An hour later, Roman slipped out of the house for a walk to town, grateful his mother’s breakfast discussion had included only town gossip and no more baby talk. He knew what he had to do and neither needed nor wanted a reminder.
The job ahead wouldn’t be a simple one. The women of this town were raised to be wives and mothers—working or stay-at-home, it didn’t matter. It was the wife part that made Roman nervous, and had him wondering how the hell he’d find someone willing to accept his untraditional needs. He needed an untraditional woman who’d accept his absences and wondered if that person could be found in Yorkshire Falls.
There was always the possibility of choosing a more cosmopolitan woman, one who understood Roman’s needs better. He’d have to check his PalmPilot when he got home, but a few women he’d met in his travels and knew more intimately in the past came to mind. There was Cynthia Hartwick, an English heiress, but Roman immediately shook his head. She’d hire nannies to care for her children, and Roman wanted any kid of his to know a loving motherly upbringing.
He’d always liked Yvette Gauthier, a pretty redhead with a bubbly personality and the ability to make a man feel like a god. Then, just as he recalled how that same personality trait had nearly smothered him, he also remembered she’d become a flight attendant, which meant she wouldn’t be around if his kid fell and got hurt or needed help with homework. Raina had always been home for her boys. Though Roman didn’t mind if his wife worked, a long-distance job for both parents was out of the question.
His mother wouldn’t approve of either woman. It made him laugh thinking of Raina’s reaction to the cool Englishwoman or the sultry French tigress. His mother was the crux of this situation—she wanted grandchildren, so the woman would have to live or be willing to settle in Yorkshire Falls.
So much for the women he’d met along the way, Roman thought wryly. He felt somewhat relieved. He couldn’t imagine marrying any of them anyway.
The glare of the sun beat down on his aching head. He definitely wasn’t in the mood for people yet. Not until he’d had some caffeine, but as he approached town, his solitude was interrupted. A high-pitched voice called to him and he turned to see Pearl Robinson, an older woman he’d known forever, rushing toward him dressed in her housecoat and her hair in the same gray bun she’d always favored.
“Roman Chandler! Shame on your mother for not telling me you were in town. Then again, she’s got more on her mind than gossip. How is she feeling? I baked a tray of brownies to bring over this afternoon. Is she up for company?”
Roman laughed at Pearl’s rambling. She was such a sweet woman, harmless if you didn’t mind chatter and nosiness, and after being away for so long, Roman was surprised to find he didn’t mind either.
“Mom’s okay, Pearl, thanks for asking. And I’m sure she’d love to have a visit today.” He gave the older woman a quick hug. “How’ve you been, and how’s Eldin? Still painting?”
For an older couple, Pearl Robinson and Eldin Wingate had had an unconventional living arrangement for years. Unmarried, they shared an old house owned by Crystal Sutton, another friend of Raina’s, who’d had to move to a nursing home a year or so ago.
“Eldin’s still painting, though Picasso he isn’t. But he’s fine, thanks for asking, and healthy, knock on wood.” She banged on her head with her fist. “Though his back still acts up on occasion and he still can’t carry me over the threshold. That’s why we’re still living in sin,” she said, citing her favorite description of their relationship.
Pearl loved announcing their status to anyone who’d listen, as many times as they’d allow in the course of one conversation. Obviously that idiosyncrasy hadn’t changed. But Roman’s reaction to it had. Instead of being annoyed by her single-minded, self-oriented focus, he realized he’d missed his small town and all the different people who occupied it.
Even the peaceful quiet of his morning walk had been a refreshing change from his hectic daily life. How long, though, before the boredom and confinement he’d felt in his youth resurfaced and took over? How long would his enjoyment last once he got hitched? He shuddered to think of his imminent doom.
“Are you sick?” Pearl put a hand to his forehead. “You can’t possibly be chilled on such a nice day. Maybe your mother should be taking care of you instead of the other way around?”
He blinked and realized he’d gotten lost in thought. “I’m fine, really.”
“Well, I’ll let you get going. I’m just going to the bank and then on home. I’ll be by to see your mother later.”
“Say hi to Eldin for me.”
Pearl headed for the bank on First and Roman picked up his pace too. So much in town had stayed the same, but it was the new and different things that interested him now and he headed straight for Charlotte’s store. Now, she was a woman who always drew him, no matter how many times she fought the idea.
Though they were mismatched opposites, she tempted him. Unfortunately, she didn’t meet the one criterion that mattered most, her willingness to accept his travels. His desire to storm the shop and her defenses was strong, but reality asserted itself. Any contact between them could only cause them both pain.
Resigned, he turned to find Rick standing where he’d been last night, watching him with a speculative gleam in his eye. “On patrol again?” Roman asked.
“Just looking out for suspicious characters like yourself.” Rick grinned.
Roman let out a groan and rubbed his burning eyes. “Don’t start.”
Rick eyed him warily. “Someone’s testy this morning.”
Roman hadn’t been until Rick started bugging him. “Later, brother. I need coffee.”
“Ah, yes. To help you wake up so the wife hunt can begin.”
At Rick’s words, Roman’s head began to pound harder.
“Good luck.” Rick walked past him and started for the panty-filled store.
“What gives?”
Rick turned, not a hint of amusement in his gaze. “Business.”
“The panty thief.”
He nodded but said nothing more. He didn’t have to. He’d already given Roman more information than he should have, all off the record. Someone was breaking into the store customers’ homes and stealing one particular brand of panties. Rick figured Charlotte could provide pertinent facts the police needed for their investigation.