Melanie Schuster - Way to Her Heart

“Let’s see what your mom is up to, shall we?”

As they walked through the crowd to the table where her mommy was laughing and talking with the other bridesmaids, Sydney got a brilliant idea. She was a smart little girl and she was always thinking, but she’d never had an idea that was this wonderful. She decided that her mommy was going to get married next—to Lucas. Then they could have a wonderful time forever. All she had to do was make a really good plan and everything would work out perfectly.

Chapter 1

Sherri Stratton yawned as she stretched lazily on the comfortable chaise lounge. “This is the best Mother’s Day I’ve had since the day Sydney was born,” she said with a happy little sigh.

She was relaxing on the deck of the new home of the VanBurens, the in-laws of her BFF, Alexis Sharp VanBuren. Alexis was next to her on another chaise and she agreed wholeheartedly. “I’m not a mom yet, but it’s not for lacking of trying. I still can’t believe that the VanBuren men thought up this weekend of pampering all by themselves, but if this is the treatment I can look forward to as a mommy, I can’t wait to have a baby of my own.”

“There’s no rush, is there? You and Jared have only been married since February and you’re already trying for a little one?” Sherri adjusted the sunny yellow tank top that matched the bright floral shorts and reached for the iced tea that was on a small table between the two chaises.

Alexis took a sip of tea before answering. “I’m not racing to the maternity ward or anything, but we both want children. And, honey, the process of baby making is so much fun that it’s a win-win situation for me,” she said with a sexy laugh.

Sherri almost choked on her sweet tea as she sat up and lifted her oversize sunglasses to stare at her friend. “Alexis! You act like we’re alone out here. Too much information, girl.”

Her new mother-in-law, Vanessa Lomax VanBuren, was also on the deck with Vanessa’s mother, Delilah Peters, and Alexis’s mother, Aretha Sharp. All the women laughed at Sherri’s embarrassment.

“Remember, I’m married to Jared’s father so I know what she’s talking about. How do you think I ended up with all those children?” Vanessa’s smile was identical to the one on Alexis’s face. Vanessa’s mother, Delilah, chimed in.

“There’s nothing wrong with appreciating the romantic aspects of marriage. It’s been a long time since Vanessa’s father passed away, but I have a lifetime of wonderful memories to recall,” she said.

Sherri’s face was still pink when Aretha had her say. “Sherri, darlin’, you’re a doctor. A pediatrician, at that. You know how babies get here, and you’re blushing like a schoolgirl. You know what I think?”

Alexis rolled her eyes as she took another sip of tea. “I’m sure you’re going to tell us, Mama. It’s not like you can keep anything to yourself.”

Aretha ignored her daughter’s little barb and kept on rolling. “I think that it’s way past time for you to get married. Or at least take a lover. You haven’t dated anyone since Sydney was born, and she’s about to turn seven. You’re beautiful, smart, accomplished and it’s a crying shame that you’re keeping all that wonderfulness to yourself. What in the world are you waiting for?”

A healthy spray of tea from her mouth was Sherri’s reaction to Aretha’s remark. She was closer to Aretha than to her own mother and she was used to the older woman speaking her mind on any and every topic, but she was surprised by her frankness in front of the other ladies. They didn’t seem to think anything was amiss. Delilah was more than happy to join in the conversation.

“You don’t have a young man? Honey, that doesn’t make any sense at all. Do you prefer women, dear? I’m not judging—I’m just curious,” she admitted.

“Mother! That’s rather personal, don’t you think?” Vanessa shook her head as she chided her outspoken mother.

Aretha and Alexis were trying hard not to laugh while Sherri blotted the tea off her face and chest. She was totally accustomed to being around older women who spoke their minds, so she wasn’t insulted, but she did feel the need to explain herself.

“Well, Ms. Delilah, it’s not that I prefer the company of women or anything like that. It’s just that being a single mother is something I take very seriously. I made a decision not to date until Sydney is out of high school. I don’t think it’s a good idea to have a bunch of random men parading in and out of her life.”

Delilah raised a delicately arched eyebrow. “Well, honey, nobody wants you to be a hoochie. There’s no need for a whole parade. If you get the right soloist, you’ll have all the music you need,” she said with a wicked grin.

Sherri had to laugh. Ms. Delilah had a point, even if it didn’t really apply to Sherri’s situation.

* * *

The sounds of laughter floated into the kitchen, where Lucas VanBuren was making more iced tea for the ladies while Sydney, his self-appointed sous chef, was seated at the work island arranging his freshly baked tea cakes in a flat wicker basket lined with a big cloth napkin. She looked completely absorbed in her task, but her mind was focused on something else. She looked just like her mother; she was tall for her age, slender and fair-skinned with a light dusting of freckles across her nose. Her hair was the same reddish-brown as her mother’s, but unlike Sherri’s, it wasn’t in a short, fashionable bob. Sydney wore her hair parted in the middle with two long braids that were currently covered with a bandanna so she could look like Lucas, her idol. Her round glasses didn’t disguise her big, bright eyes; they just made her look even cuter.

As she carefully placed the last tea cake in the basket, she dusted the light coating of sugar off her fingertips and looked intently at Lucas. He was so tall and so handsome that it was easy to overlook the things she really liked about him. He was funny and nice and kind and he was the best cook in the world, even better than his brother Jared, in Sydney’s opinion. She’d had several months to observe him, and she was more convinced than ever that he’d be the perfect husband for her mother. Now was the perfect time to launch her plan.

“Uncle Lucas, do you like my mommy?” she asked innocently.

He smiled down at her as he stirred simple syrup into the tea. “Of course I do, sweetie. I like you, too.”

Sydney smiled back, flashing her deep dimples. “I like you, too. A whole lot,” she confided. “But do you really, really like my mommy?”

Lucas finished stirring the tea and added slices of lemons and pineapple to the pitcher. He sat on the stool next to Sydney and crossed his arms as he met her intelligent gaze.

“Yes, I really, really like your mommy. She’s very pretty and smart and she has a lovely personality. Why are you so curious about this all of a sudden?”

Sydney crossed her legs and linked her hands around one knee. “Because I think you should marry her.”

A year ago, even six months ago, Lucas would have had a different reaction to her words. He was far too busy dating a wide variety of women to even think about settling down with one. Many ladies had tried and failed to slip a matrimonial noose around his neck, and he had evaded them all with ease. But that had all changed when his brother married Alexis and Lucas met Dr. Sherri Stratton. The first time he saw her smile, he was captured. Her smooth skin, those dimples, and the intelligence and humor that sparkled in her eyes all got to him in an instant. When he finally got around to observing the rest of her, he was even more impressed. Sherri was brainy and accomplished, in addition to being a real beauty.

In his younger years the brains and accomplishments wouldn’t have meant as much as the fact that she was a certified dime piece, but now they did. However, one of the things that made Sherri superlative in Lucas’s eyes was sitting next to him with her eyes locked on his. Anyone who could raise a child as sweet and engaging as Sydney had to be an amazing person.