It was a winsome smile, Andrea grudgingly acknowledged. Taylor was good-looking, personable, and a good catch--for someone like herself, but not for her daughter!

"Have you ever been married?"

"Now look, Mrs. Jensen, aren't we getting a little too personal? After all--"

She silenced him. "I believe I have every right to ask these questions. You may not like it, but I have my concerns and I want to see them addressed. So please."

"My wife died in an accident ten years ago."

Andrea felt bad now. The tall, self-confident man suddenly looked so vulnerable. Let's not forget why he's here, she admonished herself.

Just then, her daughter came prancing down the stairs.

"Oh hi, Mr. Taylor. How’re you doing? I thought you were Billy, my new boyfriend. He was supposed to be here at three to meet my Mom."

Andrea's jaw dropped. William Taylor was not her daughter's boyfriend? How embarrassing, her asking all those intimate questions! She tried to apologize, but couldn't get out more than a stutter.

He had a huge grin on his face.

"Don't be embarrassed," he said. "I really am too old for Clara. It's just that I never had any romantic intentions in the first place."

Andrea heaved a sigh of relief. "I apologize for getting so personal," she said. Then, after a moment's thought, she added, "Why exactly are you here, if you're not Clara's date?"

His eyes went from her to Clara and back. "Well," he began, looking a bit sheepish, "at the rehearsal, Clara and I got to talking, and she suggested, jokingly I thought, that you and I might hit it off, what with your passion for Shakespeare and my plans to establish a Shakespeare Club at the Playhouse. She got all excited about it and wanted me to ask you out. You must know how persuasive she can be! In the end I promised I'd come by some time to introduce myself. Didn't she tell you?"

The bell rang again. "Oops," exclaimed Clara and put a hand over her mouth, "saved by the bell! That'll be Billy." She made for the door.

"Please forgive me," Andrea said.

"I will," William replied, "on one condition: You must allow me to take you out to dinner tonight."

He really was a good catch.