Adair Malone

Adair Malone became the Malone family stepmother, but Martie didn't even tell his family they were dating until after they'd wed, causing much upheaval, especially for Beany. An artist, she had apparently not been married before and had no children of her own, but took quickly to the Malone brood after an embarrassing misunderstanding with Beany.

From Image Cascade Publishing:

Martie's new, artistic wife. Of a more petite and slender build than her stepdaughters. Age when introduced: 36.

Martie Malone spoke fondly of Adair in his first description of her: "'Never ask a man what a woman looks like, especially, if he's in love with her. Because, of course, she's beautiful. I thought of bringing a picture of her, but none of them looks like the real Adair. She laughs a lot. She's warm and generous. She's adaptable, she'll fit right in here. You couldn't help but love her. . . .'"

"The new and youngish stepmother of the Malones was a portrait painter."

"Their new stepmother, Adair, tried hard but, as she herself admitted, she was more deft with a paint brush than a mixing spoon."

Although Beany had a rocky introduction to Adair(mistaking her for the Tres Jolie woman with Mary Fred's cosmetics) and was somewhat fraught with resentment toward her new stepmother, she and her siblings grew to love the warm and kind Adair. ..

When Beany's father had first described their stepmother-to-be to her stepchildren-to-be, he had said, "Adair's easy to look at and easy to laugh with."

"They found her easy to be serious with as well. Her dark eyes were warm and responsive. This morning they looked large and heavy in her oval face, and Beany realized that Adair, too, had lain awake last night until her stepdaughter returned. Yet, like Beany's father, she was neither prying nor condemning."

Beany said impulsively, "You're sure swell, Stepmom."

Adair's smile was a little tremulous. "You're pretty swell yourself, Beany..."