Married By Mistake

with some pride—she’d done a great job at short notice.
    When she carried all three plates into the dining room—a skill she’d acquired waiting tables to help pay her father’s medical bills—the atmosphere was like thunder. Adam was glowering at his stepmother, who looked decidedly sheepish.
    “What’s going on?” Casey asked.
    “Eloise has confessed that she annoyed Mrs. Lowe so much tonight, the poor woman quit,” Adam said.
    Something seized in Casey’s chest. She set the plates down carefully. “Eloise, that is the nicest thing you could have done.” She blinked and clamped her lips together to stop the prickle behind her eyes from turning into an overflow of emotion. When she was sure she could continue, she said, “Adam, it was my fault.” Briefly, she recounted the true sequence of events.
    “I figured I can do the cooking and look after the house for the next...while,” she finished.
    Adam had the same black look he’d worn the night Casey had canceled the country fried steak. Only this situation wouldn’t be so easily resolved.
    “Darling, don’t be silly.” He smiled, but he spoke through gritted teeth. His doting husband act required him to stifle his annoyance in front of Eloise. “This house is so big, no self-respecting wife would take it on. I’ll call the agency and find a replacement.”
    “Perhaps Casey should interview the candidates,” Eloise suggested, “to make sure she finds someone she likes.”
    Adam agreed. Even if his acquiescence was just for Eloise’s benefit, Casey decided she would contact the agency in the morning. It was the least she could do.
    Over dinner, Eloise demanded details of their romance—where they’d met and how long they’d known each other.
    “Here in Memphis and long enough.” Adam’s evasive reply covered both questions.
    He stopped just short of being rude to Eloise. He might claim any ill-feeling toward his stepmother was in the past, but obviously he still held a grudge.
    “You must be a very special woman, Casey,” she said. “I think Adam always believed he couldn’t have both the business and a woman he loved, and he was far more comfortable with the business.”
    Adam scowled. “Eloise knows nothing about it,” he said.
    His stepmother ignored that. “I’m sure he’s figured out by now that a marriage built on true love will strengthen him, rather than weaken him.”
    Adam clutched his head in his hands. “Spare me two amateur psychologists in the family.”
    Later, when Eloise rose to leave, she hugged Casey warmly. “I can’t wait to get to know you better, my dear.” To Adam, she said, “I know you’ll be relieved not to have me foisting young women on you every time I see you.”
    “You bet,” he answered, with more enthusiasm than he’d displayed toward her all night.
    * * *
    T OO EASY .
    By Friday, Casey had recruited a new housekeeper, Adam having failed in his attempt to persuade Mrs. Lowe to return. Sue Mason was good-natured, young enough to be happy about using first names, and keen to start work on Monday. Those were all the qualifications she needed as far as Casey was concerned. She’d asked Adam his opinion, and he’d told her to go ahead and do what she thought best. He probably planned to find a carbon copy of Mrs. Lowe as soon as the annulment came through.
    But for now, Casey thought, as she put the phone down after confirming Sue’s employment, everything was going just fine. She and Adam had been married for a week, and she’d already made good progress on her book. Karen was still calling several times a day for advice about Rosie, but Casey’s ignorance on the subject of babies meant she couldn’t be of more than limited help. By the time their one-month marriage was over, Casey and Adam should both have achieved their goals.
    Who needs to be adored?
    * * *
    T HE SECOND WEEK of their marriage flew by. Everything was running smoothly in the house, thanks to the new housekeeper. Adam was busy at work, and Casey’s days involved plenty more writing, punctuated by visits from Eloise, who seemed determined to get to know her daughter-in-law. When Casey mentioned to Adam she felt guilty about deceiving Eloise, he gave her a lecture about focus and selfishness.
    The next Sunday, they had lunch at the Peabody Hotel with Eloise and two of her friends, Celeste and Beth. Adam told Casey that whenever his stepmother was home, he took the ladies to Sunday lunch. “It lets me off the hook