by Cat Schield
Blake accompanied them upstairs and headed into his room for dry clothes. Bella carried Drew into her bathroom and stripped them both out of their swimming suits. She’d found that the easiest way to keep an eye on Drew and at the same time get them both cleaned up after visiting the beach or the pool was to bring him into the shower with her. There was plenty of space for Drew to sit at one end, out of the range of the spray, and play in the water while she rinsed off sand or chlorine.
Today, however, he’d discovered walking and used the wall for balance as he navigated from one end of the shower stall to the other. By the time she turned off the water and wrapped towels around them both, Drew was babbling happily at his newly acquired skills. It was then that Bella realized keeping track of him was going to be a full-time job.
The thought made her knees weak. She dropped to the bed and replayed the conversation she’d had with Victoria. Blake would expect Bella to give up her job at St. Vincent’s and become a full-time mother. Drew squirmed on her lap, impatient at being held. She set him on the floor and quickly dressed. She braided her damp hair and chased after him into the hall. He was nowhere to be found and she raced to the open stairs, worried that he’d fallen down them.
Behind her came a wail and Bella spun around in relief. The sound had come from the nursery. And that’s when it hit her that whether she was ready to accept it or not, in her heart, she was Drew’s full-time mom and she would be miserable if she wasn’t spending every waking minute taking care of him.
Eleven
Pushing Drew’s stroller along Main Street in East Hampton was slow going. Bella had to stop frequently to avoid running over the people who were window-shopping along the thoroughfare. She was taking Drew for ice cream at a place she’d discovered the summer before. This was only her second trip into town. Drew was an active child. He preferred the beach and the pool to sitting in his stroller.
After purchasing a scoop of chocolate, Bella found a shady bench and sat down to share the treat with Drew. Where he’d been cranky the moment before, bored with his enforced immobility, the second the ice cream hit his taste buds, he was all delighted smiles and happy baby sounds.
She’d scraped the last of the chocolate from the cup and was steering the spoon toward Drew’s open mouth when a woman’s voice hailed them.
“Hello.”
Bella looked up and saw Blake’s stepsister sailing up the sidewalk toward them. Her attention was fixed on Drew, but she shot a friendly smile at Bella before joining her on the bench.
“You should have told me you were bringing Drew into town. We could have come shopping together.” Jeanne set down her purchases. Half a dozen bags of various sizes pooled around her feet.
“We just came in for ice cream,” Bella explained, noticing one of the bags had the logo of a maternity store. She recalled Blake mentioning that Jeanne was pregnant. “The stores here are out of my price range.”
“Isn’t my brother paying you enough?” Jeanne’s question sounded like lighthearted teasing, but something beneath her tone raised Bella’s defenses.
“He’s paying me very well.” She could see Jeanne’s curiosity, but refused to explain further.
“Then you should be able to buy yourself a little something. I saw a darling dress at Martini’s.”
“I really can’t.”
“Well, if not an outfit for you—” Jeanne tugged Bella to her feet “—how about a toy for Drew?”
“He has more than he could ever play with,” Bella protested, although she was less resistant to this suggestion.
“Have you been in the Pea Pod?” Jeanne gathered up her packages and sifted through the bags until she located the one she wanted. “I got this there.” She showed off a colorful toy, rich with textures and interesting shapes. “You probably think it’s crazy of me to buy toys when I’ve only just reached my second trimester, but shopping makes the time pass faster.”
“Congratulations. Peter must be thrilled.”
Jeanne made a face. “My husband is not like Blake. He’s ambivalent at best about having a family. Not that he would ever say no to our having children,” she hurried to explain. “It’s just that he’s not close with either of his brothers or his sister so he doesn’t see how family benefits him.”
Bella followed Jeanne across the street, pondering how important family was to Blake despite growing up with parents who hadn’t been there for him and how she, who’d enjoyed a close relationship with her parents and siblings, had been determined never to have any children at all.
“That’s the dress I was talking about,” Jeanne said, pointing to a shop window. “I think it would be perfect on you.”
Bella admired the party dress. It had a dark purple bodice with a gathered skirt that shaded to soft pink flowers at the hem.
“My sister would love it.”
Bella smiled, imagining Jess’s joy at receiving something so frivolously East Coast. Since Bella had moved to New York, her sister had become consumed with all things Manhattan. She’d watched every episode of Sex and the City, much to their mother’s dismay, and imagined Bella living an exciting life of roaming around the city and hanging out with her fabulous friends in the gorgeous clothes that graced the glossy fashion magazines.
Of course, Jess knew that wasn’t the reality, but she’d always been one to set her sights high. Her dream was to be a writer living in New York. She’d already had a couple stories published in small magazines. She planned to major in creative writing in college. Bella had little trouble imagining Jess succeeding in her goals.
“You should get it for her.”
“She wouldn’t have any place to wear it.”
“She would if she came to visit you in New York.”
“That won’t happen until next summer. She’s saving money for a plane ticket.”
“Is it lonely being so far from home?”
“I miss my family, but I love living in New York.”
“So you aren’t going back to…where are you from?”
It was then that Bella realized Blake hadn’t told his stepsister about his engagement. It might have upset her that he hadn’t shared the news if she’d called Deidre or her family to tell them she was engaged. Normally she shared big news like hers right away. Instead, resistance rose inside her every time she went to dial home. It made her question if she was doing the right thing.
But how could marrying Blake be wrong? She loved him. She loved their son.
“I’m from Iowa. But I’m in New York to stay.”
Bella continued down the street toward the store Jeanne had suggested they visit. The Pea Pod specialized in unique baby clothes as well as creative toys. She pushed the door open with her left hand and guided the stroller inside. As she held the door open for Blake’s sister, she noticed Jeanne’s attention snag on the four-carat diamond Blake had put on her finger yesterday.
“You’re engaged?” Jeanne’s tone held accusation as she glared at the ring. “To my brother?”
“Yes.” At that second, Bella wished herself a hundred miles away. “He asked me yesterday.”
Shock and disappointment reflected in Jeanne’s expression. She was Victoria’s best friend. Bella was certain Jeanne had been keen to have Victoria and Blake reconcile.
“Are you in love with him?”
“Of course.” Bella couldn’t believe the question. She yanked her hand free. “Why would you even ask that?”
“For someone like you, my brother must seem like a gold mine.”
“I suppose that makes me a gold digger?” Shaking with suppressed fury, Bella still managed to keep her tone civil. “Do you think your brother is that gullible?”
Was this what Blake had been avoiding by not telling Jeanne about their engagement? No, Blake didn’t dodge problems. He met them head-on. Bella was certain it was simply a timing issue between him and his stepsister.
“I think that because you were Drew’s surrogate, Blake has a blind spot where you’re
concerned.”
“Are you implying I would use Drew in some way to get to Blake?” Any joy she’d felt in the day was long gone. “That’s not who I am.”
Bella’s throat closed over further words. She glanced around the store, reassured to see their discussion hadn’t garnered any attention. Moving awkwardly in the tight space between displays, Bella navigated Drew’s stroller until it was pointing toward the exit. Outside, Bella looked around, unsure where she’d left her car.
“I never said it was.” Jeanne had followed her outside. “But aren’t you moving too fast? You’ve only been back in Drew’s life for a month.”
“I love Drew.”
“You abandoned him nine month ago.”
Bella needed to get away from Blake’s sister. She needed time to process what Jeanne was telling her. But as she headed back the way they’d come, Blake’s stepsister was at her side. Feeling like a cornered animal, Bella rounded on her. “Victoria asked me to go. She said she and Blake needed time and space with Drew to become a family. So I left and I stayed away.” At the end of the block she stopped to let several cars go before it was safe to cross.
“Does Blake know that?”
“I told him.”
“No wonder he doesn’t want to get back together with Victoria.”
“There’s more to their situation than that.”
“Tell me.”
Bella clamped her lips together and shook her head. “I’ve said enough. You need to get anything more from either Victoria or Blake.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.” Jeanne stared at Bella a moment longer before turning on her heel and marching away.
Bella’s gaze followed her. Was that what everyone in Blake’s circle would assume? That she was marrying him for his money? The anonymity she’d enjoyed as a simple kindergarten teacher in New York City would be shattered as soon as news of their engagement reached the gossip columnists. It didn’t take much imagination to picture the announcement on Page Six.
Wealthy CEO saves Iowa farm girl from a life of poverty by marrying her.
It would then be a short step to Blake Ford weds son’s surrogate.
Hopefully by then they would become old news and the press wouldn’t dig any deeper. Fertility clinics were supposed to be private, but there was no telling what an individual employee might be paid to reveal. Drew’s true parentage might come to light.
Suddenly overwhelmed by the afternoon heat, Bella headed into the closest shop in search of some cooler air. Ironically, it was the boutique where Jeanne had seen the dress she thought would suit Bella.
The bell tinkled above the door, announcing Bella’s entrance to the shop clerks. They gave her a once-over, but didn’t approach. Her shorts and top weren’t expensive enough to signal she was a serious shopper. Bella recognized the signs from when Deidre dragged her into the stores in Manhattan.
The air conditioning felt good against her overheated skin. She decided to take a closer look at the merchandise, specifically the dress displayed in the front window. Her target was on a rack near the front. Bella surreptitiously checked the price and sucked in a short, sharp breath. Four hundred dollars was a lot to spend. She stared at the garment and realized that soon she would be able to buy it without a second thought. Once she married Blake, there would no longer be a need to zealously guard every penny. The thought gave her pause.
The diamond on her finger felt heavier than ever. She glanced down at the sparkling token of Blake’s promise and reminded herself she was marrying him in spite of his vast wealth. If it all vanished tomorrow she’d still want to be his wife. But that was unlikely to happen and questions crowded her. She didn’t want to believe her motives were mercenary. She loved Blake. But money, or the lack of it, had been a burden for so long, she couldn’t deny a small part of her wanted to buy things without checking a price tag or giving a single thought to where the money was going to come from.
In the end she left the store without making a purchase and returned to her car. Jeanne’s words had bitten deeper than Bella had realized. She started the engine and headed back to the beach house.
Wasn’t it enough for her to know she loved Blake and not his money? Did she really need the world to accept that as truth?
*
Blake was enjoying a vodka and tonic on the deck when he heard the front door close. He probably should have popped the cork on a bottle of champagne, such was the successful day he’d had, but that could wait until Drew was in bed. Then he and Bella could celebrate properly.
Listening to the brisk click of heels crossing the wood floor, he swung his feet off the lounge chair and stood. The woman passing through the living room was not the one he expected.
“Blake, where are you?”
He pushed open the sliding glass door and called to his stepsister. “Hello, Jeanne, what brings you here this afternoon?”
His stepsister whirled at the sound of his voice and stormed toward him, outrage swirling around her like a cape. “You asked that girl to marry you?”
Her accusation made him realize he’d delayed too long informing her of his engagement. “If by that girl you mean Bella, then yes.”
“You don’t even know her.” Instead of stopping when she reached where he stood, Jeanne began to pace along the windows.
“I’ve known her for almost two years. She is kind, nurturing and beautiful. Most importantly, she loves Drew.”
“Don’t you think you’re moving way too fast?”
“When have you known me to do anything without thinking it through first?”
Jeanne’s eyes flashed. “When you divorced Victoria.”
“That decision was not made lightly.” Blake kept his voice even as annoyance flared. “She gave me no choice.”
“Why, because she didn’t want to be a full-time mother?”
“There’s more to it than that.”
“What does that mean?”
Victoria might have felt okay about involving Jeanne in her campaign to reconcile and then pitting his sister against him when her plan failed, but Blake was not about to cause friction between the best friends by telling Jeanne all the reasons why their marriage had fallen apart.
“That means that Victoria hasn’t told you the full story.”
Uncertainty dampened Jeanne’s irritation. “What is the full story?”
“She’s your friend. Ask her.”
“You’re my brother. I’m asking you.”
Blake crossed his arms and regarded his stepsister in determined silence until she growled his name. “I’m not going to involve you in a battle of he said, she said. Ask Victoria. If she chooses to tell you then you and I can discuss it further.”
“And in the meantime you’re planning on marrying Bella.”
“I am.” Blake led Jeanne to the couch and went to fetch a bottle of her favorite water. When he returned, she looked more troubled than angry. Handing her the bottle, he sat beside her on the sofa, his arm slung across the back, and waited for what was to come next.
Jeanne took a long sip of water and replaced the cap. “You don’t think she’s marrying you for your money?”
“Not in the least.”
“But you paid her to be Drew’s surrogate. You’re paying her to be his nanny. Aren’t you the least bit curious where all that money has gone?”
Blake’s irritation faded to weariness. “This isn’t any of your business, Jeanne.”
“I’m your sister and I love you. Of course it’s my business. What happened to all that money, Blake?”
“She sent it home,” he told her, realizing Jeanne wasn’t going to let up until she got answers. “To her parents, her brothers and sisters. Everything she can spare goes to help them out.”
“So she says.”
He shook his head. “It’s the truth. I made my own inquiries.”
“See,” Jeanne exclaimed as if Blake had made her point for her. “You didn’t trust her, either.”
“N
ot after she refused to have any contact with Drew.” Blake stared out the large windows at the far-off ocean. He liked the way the expansive view let his mind open to all sorts of possibilities. “But I’ve recently learned why that happened.”
“She told me Victoria told her to stay away.”
“Did she?” Blake shifted his attention back to Jeanne. “What else did she say?”
“That she loves you.”
“Damn.” He hadn’t expected her to feel that way about him. It was a precious burden he would carry the rest of his life.
“Do you love her?”
*
Bella froze at Jeanne’s question. When she’d pulled into the driveway, she’d seen the familiar car parked by the front door and realized Jeanne must have raced over here as soon as she’d left Bella in town to tell Blake what a mistake he was making.
“What I feel doesn’t matter,” he said, his tone impatient.
Bella’s heart constricted as it occurred to her that Blake had never spoken those three words. Deep down she’d feared being more emotionally invested in their relationship than Blake. It hurt to realize she’d been right.
“I loved Victoria,” he continued, “and look how that turned out for Drew. She abandoned him to pursue her career. Much like my mother left me to return to Paris.” A great deal of pain filled the silence that followed. No matter how perfect his life became, Blake would never fully get over his mother’s abandonment. It afflicted every aspect of his personal life. “What is important is that Drew will have a mother who will care for him and love him completely.”
Was that all Blake wanted from her? All the times they’d made love, the way he’d touched her with adoration as well as passion, was he only looking to cement her loyalty to him so she wouldn’t ever leave?
“But why Bella? She’s far from the most beautiful woman you’ve ever dated. Socially, she’ll be utterly out of her element.” Jeanne’s comments echoed Bella’s own worries. What would she talk to these people about? Her only contact with most of them was as a teacher. “There are a hundred women in Manhattan who would be a better choice for you and Drew.”
“She’s Drew’s mother,” Blake said firmly.
