The Apartment by Debbie Macomber

first time at a symphony. I feel as out of place here as a chicken in a nest of eagles.”
    She laughed softly. It wasn’t until she turned to him that Sean realized she wasn’t nearly as young as he first thought. He’d assumed she was in her late twenties, but upon closer examination he realized she was closer to forty.
    â€œI have a friend playing with the symphony,” Sean explained, proud of Hilary’s talent. He didn’t normally speak to strangers, but he felt a bit awkward and strangely talkative. “She’s the third-chair flutist.”
    â€œAh,” the woman said softly. “Is she a good friend?”
    â€œVery good.” Sean relaxed and crossed his long legs as his gaze scanned the audience. “Her mother’s here someplace.”
    â€œAre you hoping to meet her?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Sean said, resisting the urge to laugh. “She’d take one look at me, and it would be the end of my relationship with Hil.”
    â€œWhat makes you say that?”
    â€œHilary’s family has got money, lots of money.”
    â€œAnd that troubles you?”
    â€œNot exactly, but I don’t think her mother would approve of someone like me. Not that I blame her—if Hilary were my daughter I’d want the very best for her, too.”
    â€œAnd you’re not?”
    This conversation was beginning to get a little more personal than he’d intended. “Yes, in some ways I am. But I doubt that her family would see it like that.”
    â€œThen you love her, and would whether she had money or not?”
    Sean looked away, surprised he would openly admit his feelings to a stranger and not Hilary. “I love her.”
    â€œI see. I take it you intend to marry her?”
    He thought for a good long while before answering. “No, I probably won’t. She should marry someone in her own league. Take, for example, the fellow playing violin. His name is Arnold something-or-other. He’s a nice guy from everything Hilary’s said about him. He’s asked her out a couple of times, but she always makes an excuse. I think once I move out, Hilary will agree to date him. I’ve got a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to Hilary and me. I want to give her the time and space to know her own mind before I broach the subject of marriage.”
    â€œOnce you move out?” she repeated. “Are the two of you living together?”
    â€œIn a nontraditional way,” he explained quickly, hoping to sound casual. “There was a mix-up and we both rented the same apartment. The couple who manage the place are out of town for several weeks. We didn’t have any choice but to share the place until the owner returned with the deposit and first month’s rent.” He could feel the tension ease from the woman. “Can you imagine what her mother would think if she found out about that?”
    â€œI can very well imagine, since I have a daughter of my own. She’s in her twenties.”
    Sean had trouble believing the woman was old enough to have a child that old and said so.
    â€œThank you for the compliment, but it’s true. I know exactly how this…other mother would feel.”
    â€œThen you understand why it’s better for everyone concerned that Hilary’s mother never finds out about me.
    The woman frowned. “I can’t say I agree with that. If this young woman—what did you say her name was again?”
    â€œHilary.”
    â€œRight. If Hilary’s mother were to learn about the two of you, what do you think would happen?”
    â€œFor one thing, she’d be furious with Hilary, and their relationship is already a little rocky. Hilary’s had this chip on her shoulder about proving herself to her mother. See, Hilary is headstrong and opinionated. She claims she inherited both traits from her mother.”
    â€œI see,” the woman returned, laughing softly. “You