The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Neville Connolly looked genuinely surprised. "I'm Marvin Connolly's father. Isn't it perfectly reasonable for a father to want to see his own son? How could that possibly be inappropriate?"

Haynes O'Brien was momentarily at a loss for words, his retort dying on his lips. Watching the exchange, Stella Cameron felt a headache brewing.

She turned to Haynes and said, "Why don't you head back for now? I'll take Keen out today-it'll be fine."

Haynes shot Neville a frosty glance. "Oh? So you're planning to take my son out and let him bond with another man?"

Stella frowned. "Do you have to be so unpleasant?"

Haynes replied coolly, "The truth's never easy to hear."

Stella was about to argue when Keen O'Brien tugged on her sleeve, looking up at her with wide, pleading eyes.

"Mom, Dad cleared his whole schedule today just to find you with me... Maybe Dad could come with us too?"

The truth was, Haynes had rearranged his work just to spend the day with Stella and Keen, hoping for a rare family outing. He hadn't expected Neville and Marvin to beat him to it.

Stella hesitated. She was fine with taking Keen out by herself, but bringing Haynes along too? That was another story.

Neville seemed to sense her dilemma. "Since Mr. O'Brien is already here, why not all go together?"

Stella glanced at him, uncertain. "You want him to come too?"

faintly. "If you don't, I

a sidelong look. "How very self-aware of

you've dealt with enough shameless people,

cold laugh. "Maybe it

bit about

ready to

cut them

It's

late-let's just go."

MS

was right: if she didn't

his

ruin

s would proponet

the entire outing. Conto

they all piled

being gracious-he didn't

with Stella,

settled in up front, and Stella sat in

rolled smoothly toward the amusement

really be putting you out today, Mr. O'Brien -playing