Hero In Disguise

All of a sudden Melissa wondered what she’d let herself in for by agreeing to accompany David to this political affair. She’d be on display as his companion. What in the world had she been thinking of? Maybe she should back out now before she embarrassed them both.

“It’s really not a date,” she corrected the housekeeper.

“Of course not,” Inga agreed much too readily to be sincere. “David explained that you were just helping him out. He’s always getting pressured to take someone—many times a woman he doesn’t know—to these affairs. It’s nice that you’re willing to go along with him.”

Melissa sighed. “I don’t know if he’ll think so when I get all tongue-tied with some of his fancy friends, or say the wrong thing. Reading the society page is as close as I’ve ever gotten to this kind of shindig.”

“David wouldn’t be taking you if he had any doubts about you. Just keep your head high and show them that pretty smile of yours, ya?”

“Ya,” Melissa agreed with a chuckle.

Hans came back with the dog, who was all bathed and clipped. Scruffy still looked like a skinny, long-haired mutt, but the boys thought he was absolutely handsome. Now that Scruffy had had a bath, his coat was more caramel-colored than dirty brown. He couldn’t have been more than two years old, and looked as if he might grow another head taller. His mixed heritage gave him long legs, a stubby body and long ears, but his friendliness made up for his ungainly appearance.

As the boys tumbled in the grass with him, Melissa prayed that a family could be found for the boys that would also include an affectionate young dog. Every time she started to worry about what was going to happen to Richie and Eric if a relative couldn’t be found to take them, she reminded herself, Let go and let God.

Melissa made a quick trip back to her apartment while the boys were down for their naps. She needed other things that she hadn’t brought with her the first time. Certainly, attending a fancy function hadn’t been in her thoughts when she packed her clothes for a few days’ stay at the Ardell home.

With some misgivings, she drew her new summer dress from the closet. Somehow, it didn’t look as chic as Melissa had remembered. At least she had two pieces of her grandmother’s jewelry to wear with the lilac, floor-length dress. The amethyst necklace and earrings were as lovely as any offered in the modern stores. She touched them lovingly and murmured, “Granny, I’m going out on the town.”

Go get ’em, girl.

Melissa could almost hear her beloved grandmother’s voice as clearly as her own breath. Even after her death, the loving woman who had raised her never seemed far away, and her strength of faith and her courage were still guiding forces in Melissa’s life. She knew that her grandmother would approve of the steps she’d taken to find a home for Eric and Richie. And even though her grandmother might not totally approve of David Ardell and his worldly lifestyle, Melissa knew that she would have applauded his willingness to suffer the presence of two playful children and an energetic dog in his home.

“What’s this I hear about you making reservations for two at the fund-raiser?” Stella asked, breezing into David’s office with a smile on her face. “Don’t tell me you broke down and invited some lucky lady to go with you?”

“I don’t know whether lucky is the right word,” David countered, amused at Stella’s open curiosity. “But yes, I’ve invited someone to attend the affair with me,” he admitted, and then purposefully let his eyes drop back to the paper he held in his hand, as if the subject was closed.

“Well, who is she?” Stella demanded, not the least bit put-off by his dismissive manner. “Did you finally ask Senator Wainwright’s daughter? It’s plain to anyone with eyes in his head that Pamela’s been giving you the green light every time you’re in the same room together. She’s the perfect one for—”

“It’s not Pamela Wainwright.” David cut off her monologue of the attractive young woman’s virtues. He was well aware that everyone, including the governor, had decided that Pamela Wainwright would be good for his political future. Her father had been in state politics for years, and Pamela was at ease in the fast-paced climate of elections and candidates. But David had found her company rather tiring and shallow. He’d avoided spending any more time with her than was necessary, and had resisted pressure to make them a twosome.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Who, then? Do I sense some reluctance in your choice?”

“Not at all.” David met her eyes directly. “I’m very pleased that she has consented to go with me.”

“Well, do I know her?” Impatiently, Stella settled her hands on her hips. “Really, David, I don’t understand what’s going on here. Are you planning on making a grand entrance with some famous supporter on your arm? Is some movie star coming that I don’t know about?” Her eyes sparkled. “That would be just like you—waltzing in with Hollywood’s latest diva.”

David silently groaned. He should have been open about taking Melissa and avoided all this unnecessary speculation. Now he would have to bring Stella up-to-date on the arrangement he’d made to keep two little boys and their temporary nanny.

“Have a seat, Stella,” he said reluctantly. “I have some personal business that I suppose you ought to know about.”

She listened without interruption as he explained how he had become responsible for finding a home for Jolene McCombre’s two children. “The boys are staying at my house in the care of a young woman, Melissa Chanley, while an investigator searches for a relative to take them in. I talked with him this morning. Unfortunately, so far he’s come up empty searching for relatives on the mother’s side, but he is hopeful that something positive will break on the father’s side.”

“And what if it doesn’t?” Stella asked bluntly. “Really, David, I think you’ve let yourself be drawn into a situation that’s exploiting your good intentions. This Melissa Chanley sounds manipulative to me.”

“Really? Well, I guess you’ll have a chance to decide for yourself. She’s the one I’m bringing to the fund-raiser.”

Stella lost her voice for a moment and then sputtered, “You…you have to be kidding. How did this woman manage to get you to agree to such a thing?”

“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” David said, laughing.

“Don’t you know how important it is for you to be seen with the right people, David? What is everyone going to think when you walk in with this woman?”

“They’ll probably think that she’s the most poised and beautiful woman in the room. Trust me, Stella, I won’t have to make any apologies for Melissa Chanley, but I’m not sure how the rest of the company will measure up in her eyes.” He frowned. “I don’t think all the superficial folderol will impress her in the least.”

Stella rose. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t make the kind of fool of herself that hits the papers.”

Even though Melissa had covered some of Denver’s social events when she was just out of college with her journalist degree and working briefly for one of the local newspapers, she’d never been a guest at any of the governor’s affairs. Not in her most fanciful dreams had she pictured herself walking into a sparkling banquet hall with an escort as polished and suave as David Ardell.

As Melissa dressed for the important evening, she was filled with misgivings, and her hands trembled as she applied light makeup. What if she made some terrible faux pas? She couldn’t bear to think that she might embarrass David in some way. When she was ready, she was almost afraid to go downstairs.

The boys were in the Erickson’s apartment, playing a game with Hans while Inga was preparing dinner. Inga had promised to get them to bed early, and Melissa hoped they wouldn’t give her a bad time before settling down.

As she walked down the stairs and across the foyer to the front parlor where he was surely waiting, she hoped he wouldn’t be able to tell how rapidly her heart was beating. This was worse than going on a first date, she thought, but she put a smile on her lips and went on.

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