"Is that the same Mickey?" she asked, and he nodded.
He looked down at Charity and curled her into the protection of his arm. It struck him, quite suddenly, that he was about to introduce her to his family in a way his parents' party hadn't come close to doing. The funny thing was, his heart was beating very quickly, like he was getting ready to meet a challenge of some kind.
Why would that be? He couldn't remember ever feeling exactly like this about a woman before. What was it about his relationship with Charity that was beginning to grow roots down into the deep, secret core of his emotions? Was this sort of like…love?
His breath caught in his throat. He swallowed hard.
"Come on in and meet her," he said, fighting to keep his voice from showing what he was feeling. "I think you'll like her."
The café was full of delicious smells and happy voices. There was a long lunch counter on one side, looking onto the cooking surfaces, and red faux-leather booths on the other. Over the course of the next half hour, Charity met not only Mickey, but a host of Carringtons and their wives and husbands, so many her head was spinning. And Ross was right, they were a variable group of people. In fact, none of them came across as the sort of snooty people his parents were and all of them were warm and kind to her.
But she and Ross spent most of their time talking to Mickey. She knew everyone-and seemingly everything that was going on with the family.
"It may not look like it now," she told them. "But I'm so short handed I'm about to call your sister, Marlena, and see if she can find someone more to help out around here."
Ross nodded. "Give her a call. She'll be glad to help you."
"For the last week or so, my cousin Carrie has been coming in when she can, but I know that won't last."
"Carrie is married to my cousin Grant Carrington," Ross explained to Charity.
"The race car driver?"
"The very one."
Someone called to Mickey and she had to go, but just before she turned away, she stopped and spoke softly very near Ross's ear.
"Carrie's told me what you're doing for Grant," she said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "And I just want to tell you I think you're the best." She dropped a kiss on his cheek, gave Charity a grin, and hurried off.
Charity's eyebrows rose. "What was that all about?"
He tried to wave it away, but she was relentless, and finally he gave her a short hand version. "Grant's been having some problems lately," he told her softly. "He's trying to adjust to a life where driving a Formula One car isn't making his living for him. And since driving is all he's ever done, it can be hard."