Especially if the AABC said they thought the wedding had been a bust. Then there’d probably be some serious questions sent Tessa’s way. She’d stick to her story: The wedding wasn’t real and she’d never expected a drifter like John Brown to stick around long. His inexplicable “personal emergency” was the excuse he needed to disappear from any emotional entanglements.
And, honestly, none of that was a lie. It just wasn’t the whole truth.
“Hey, Aunt Tess.”
She stopped at the urgent but soft cry, peering into the shade of a live oak tree at the edge of Lacey’s property. “Ashley?”
She stepped into the light and gave a frantic wave for Tessa to come closer. “I need to talk to you.”
Tessa didn’t hesitate but headed right toward Ashley, whose ruddy cheeks and mascara smudges told of tears. “Boy troubles again, hon?”
Ashley shook her head, taking Tessa’s hand to pull her around to the other side of the tree. “Worse troubles. I’m late.”
“For what?”
Ashley let out a dry, uncomfortable laugh. “I’m late.” She pointed to her stomach.
Realization dawned and Tessa nearly swayed as she reached out for Ashley. “How late?”
“I don’t know, I never tracked it very well, but…” She balled up her fists in front of her mouth as if the words horrified her. “I haven’t had a period for a long time, Aunt Tess.”
Oh, good God. “How long?”
“Long.” Her voice was tight with terror as she cupped her face in dismay. “My mom’s gonna kill me.”
“Your mom…” Has been there. “Is never going to hurt you and will always love you.”
“I know, but”—she closed her eyes—“I can’t believe it happened after one time.”
What was the name of that book on her shelf? Every Drunken Cheerleader…Why Not Me? Except Ashley wasn’t a drunken cheerleader; she was the closest thing to a daughter Tessa would likely ever have, and this wasn’t funny.
This was real, and the implications were huge. “Have you taken a test?”
Ashley held up a white plastic bag from the pharmacy. “I had to drive to the mainland to get one. I couldn’t exactly pop into the Super Min or Charity would be on the phone with my mom before I got out of the parking lot.”
“But you haven’t taken the pregnancy test yet?” Then there was still hope this was a false alarm.
“I don’t think I have to. Lately I’ve been feeling so icky. Like I was sick all the time, but not sick, you know? And dizzy. Every time I stand up I feel like I smoked something, and, trust me, I didn’t.”
“That could be anything.”
“I Googled it and those are definite signs.”
“They’re also symptoms of your allergies,” she said, grabbing at desperation straws. “Pollen’s bad right now.”
“The only thing I’m allergic to is Marcus Lowell.”
Who’d quit the day after John left. “Have you told him?”
“He booked, Aunt Tess. No one’s seen or heard from him for weeks.” She rolled her eyes. “Man, can we pick ’em or what?”
Except John hadn’t booked. He’d gone to his children and back into hiding. “He might have had a good reason for leaving, Ash.”
She got a “Get real” look in response. “I don’t care about him. I have to know.”
“And so does your mother,” Tessa said.
She dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “She’s going to be so disappointed in me.”
“For a minute.” But not much more. Tessa remembered so, so well the day Lacey had returned to Gainesville after she’d gone home to deliver this same news to her parents. Lacey wouldn’t make her daughter feel like the world’s biggest disappointment, like her own mother had. “But you have to tell her. Now.”
“Will you break it to her?”
The question hit hard. Tessa knew, or had at least suspected, that Ashley was doing more than kissing her short-term boyfriend. And she hadn’t told Lacey.
“I’m the one she’s going to be disappointed in,” Tessa said on a sigh. “I should have stepped in and done something.” But she’d been too busy with her own romantic interludes.
“No, Aunt Tess, you did what I asked you. I won’t let her be mad at you for that. Anyway, if she hadn’t been so wrapped up in the baby and the resort—”
Tessa stopped her. “Don’t, Ash. Don’t blame other people for your mistakes. Own them.” She pulled the girl a little closer, the full weight of what this news could mean actually hitting her. Another baby, another life, and Ashley’s whole future suddenly turned on its head.
But before they could worry about that, they needed to tell Lacey. And get confirmation.
“Tessa!” Zoe’s voice came from the lanai, excited and high-pitched. “What’s taking you so long?”
Ashley and Tessa shared a look.
“Come on, kiddo. You better hope the wedding consultants give good news.”
Holding hands, they crossed the grass to the open screen door where Zoe waited, bouncing on her toes. “They’re on the phone in Lacey’s office right now. She’s got the door closed.” Zoe grabbed both their hands. “What are you guys doing out there?”
“Talking,” Tessa said, stepping in front of Ashley to save her from Zoe’s prying “Have you been crying?” questions. “Is Joss here?”
“She’s changing Elijah. Come, come.” Zoe led them around the pool deck to the open sliding doors leading to the family room, where Jocelyn was settling down on the rocker with the baby. “Door’s still closed,” Joss reported. “Anyone have a working boob?”
Ashley spun around and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll get a bottle for him. She has some pumped in the fridge now that he has a tooth.”
“Good girl,” Jocelyn said. “What an awesome mother you’ll make.”
Tessa didn’t dare look at Ashley. Oh, Lord. They weren’t ready for this. She covered up the awkward silence by cooing over the baby.
“Hey, little boy blue.” She stroked his cheek and was rewarded with a huge baby grin as the office door popped open. They all froze, waiting for Lacey, who took her sweet time coming down the hall. That couldn’t be good.
Even Elijah was quiet, as if he knew the importance of the moment.
Zoe leaned forward on the sofa, her hands in a classic prayer position. Ashley came in holding the bottle. Tessa reached to hold Jocelyn’s hand.
“Are you all sitting down?” Lacey called as she walked in.
“Sitting down and dying,” Zoe said.
“Well.” Lacey put her hands on her hips and made a tight face, shaking her head. “They’re not going to recommend us to the AABC.”
“What?”
“Why?”
“That’s BS!”
Lacey didn’t say a word during the outburst, but quietly took the bottle Ashley was holding and thanked her with a quick, gentle touch on the shoulder. While Zoe spewed near obscenities and Jocelyn and Tessa grumbled under their breath, Lacey scooped up her son, gave him a kiss, and settled on the sofa next to Zoe, still silent.
“You’re pretty zen about this,” Jocelyn observed.
“Because you all didn’t let me finish.”
That quieted them.
Lacey positioned the baby to take the bottle, humming softly as she got him settled in and comfortable. “Have you seen his little tooth?” she finally asked.
“Lacey!” All four of them shouted loud enough to startle Elijah.
Finally, Lacey’s smile widened. “They aren’t recommending us because it would be a conflict of interest.”
Another shower of questions rained, but she waited until they were quiet.
“It would be a conflict of interest because…” Her eyes danced as her smile widened. “They are banding their three consulting businesses together, starting one super amazing wedding-planning organization, and they are moving here to hold the weddings at Casa Blanca.”
“What?” They all screamed tha
t question, too.
“Can you believe it?” Lacey leaned forward, beaming over her baby. “They didn’t like Barefoot Bay, they loved it. They adored Casa Blanca, but they don’t think we know anything about how to put on a great wedding.”
“We don’t,” Zoe said. “We need professional planners on staff.”
“Exactly. Remember all the strange looks and weird vibes we got? They’d been planning this from the minute they got here and, seeing how many times we slipped up, they were certain it was the right move.”
“So they’re going to work for us?” Jocelyn asked.
“Not on staff, but I think we’re going to figure out a way to give them office space here. Between the three of them with existing destination-wedding clients lined up for years, they’ll have Casa Blanca booked for at least two weddings a month for the next year, maybe more. We don’t need to be recommended to the AABC!” She nearly hoisted Elijah with joy. “The word will get out all on its own. And wait until you hear the name of their new company.”
They all waited breathlessly.
“Barefoot Brides!”
“Oh, I love it!”
“Perfection!”
“All brides should be barefoot.”
Ignoring the outburst, Lacey looked around, a frown pulling. “Where did Ashley go? Did she even hear this news? Ash?”
Tessa’s gut twisted. It was time. Good news about to be followed by—no. No one could think a baby was bad news.
“I’ll get her,” she said, pushing up. “Ashley?”
She headed down the hall to take the back stairs up to Ashley’s room, but as she passed the master, Ashley’s arm reached out and grabbed her.
“Aunt Tess! C’mere!” Her eyes bright, she pulled Tessa into the dimly lit room and stuffed the plastic bag into Tessa’s hand. “Don’t need this!” She practically sang the words. “I just got my period!” She threw her arms around Tessa. “Could I be any happier?”
She couldn’t answer as an old twist of envy spiraled through her. What must it be like to be happy to get your period?
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely! That’s why I ran out of the room, but judging by the screaming we got the recommendation.”
“Actually, we didn’t, but it’s even better news. Come on, let’s—”
“What’s going on, you two?” Lacey stood in the doorway, still holding Elijah. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m great, Mom!”
“Ashley.” Tessa turned and gave her a harsh look. “You can’t do this anymore.”
“Do what?” Lacey asked.
Ashley pushed her hair off her face, looking hard at her mother. “I thought I had a problem, Mom, but I don’t so you don’t even have to—”
“Ashley!” Tessa held up the bag. “You have to tell her everything.”
For a whole lot of heartbeats, Ashley stared at her mother, then nodded slowly. “The whole truth,” Tessa said.
“And nothing but,” she promised.
Lacey frowned, moving into the room. “I’m not liking the sound of this. What’s going on, honey?”
Ashley covered her mouth. “I really screwed up, Mom, but it’s okay. Honest, it’s okay.”
“Why don’t I take the baby,” Tessa offered. “Then you two can talk alone.”
“No, Aunt Tess. Stay.”
But Lacey handed over the baby anyway, dividing her attention between Tessa and Ashley. “I need to know what’s going on.”Ashley took a slow breath, glancing at Tessa, who just shook her head. “Um, Mom, I kind of had a pregnancy scare.”
Lacey’s jaw dropped and Tessa tightened her grip on the baby, so glad she’d taken him as Lacey’s reaction shook her. “What?”
“I had, you know, some symptoms.”
“And it sounds like you had, you know, some sex.” Lacey whipped around to Tessa. “Did you know this?”
“I knew that—”
“No, Mom. She did not know anything except I was dating…someone.” At Tessa’s look, she rolled her eyes. “Okay, Marcus. I was seeing Marcus. But I didn’t tell Aunt Tess I was…I swear I didn’t tell her. And she kept the secret about us because I begged her to.”
Lacey dragged her hand through her hair. “What made you think you were pregnant?”
“Hey! Where are you guys?” Zoe’s voice traveled in from the family room.
Lacey gave Tessa a gentle nudge. “Go, we’ll talk later.”
“Do you hate me?”
She angled her head and puffed out a breath. “As if. Let me talk to Ashley.”
Tessa patted the baby’s back and headed into the hall, cuddling Elijah as she paused to lean against the wall and let a wave of warm relief roll over her.
In the bedroom, she heard Ashley’s soft voice. “…couldn’t remember my last period and I was sick all the time, but not sick. And dizzy. Like, every time I stood up I got light-headed.”
Another wave hit, this one hard and hot and so, so stunning.
She knew those symptoms. She was living those symptoms right now.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, pressing her lips against Elijah’s peach fuzz. Her head felt like it was going to pop, and her whole body suddenly felt heavy and weak and dizzy.
She’d been light-headed for weeks—blaming the heartbreak, the sun, the sleepless nights of crying. Blaming everything but…
A baby.
She held tight to the one in her arms, her fingers still clutching the plastic bag Ashley had given her. Taking one steadying breath, she marched into the family room and handed Elijah to Jocelyn.
“I have to go.”
“Where? Why? We need to celebrate.”
Not quite yet. She had to be sure.
“I have to go,” she repeated. “Tell Lacey I’ll call her later.” She turned and tried not to run, gripping the bag, and barely hearing the questions in her wake.
Chapter Thirty-two
December in Ottawa was a hell of a lot different from December in Barefoot Bay. Icy wind whipped down asphalt corridors, and barren trees rose naked from the snow-covered ground. To Ian, the world seemed colorless after the emeralds and turquoises of the Gulf Coast.
The only green was the oxidized copper roofs topping the government buildings, and the only blue was the bruise all over Ian’s heart.
For a while he’d been able to ignore that hollow feeling in his chest. He’d filled any emptiness by spending hours next to a hospital bed holding the tiny hand of a young man who was clearly born with a fighter’s spirit.
Witnessing Eddie—he didn’t even answer to Sam, so Ian gave up trying to call him that—survive his mysterious infection went a long way toward healing Ian’s own wounds. The little man not only charmed every nurse, doctor, and visitor in the process, he completely threaded his way right into the fabric of Ian’s heart. And his twin sister, far quieter and a little more terrified of life’s unexpected curveballs, had insisted on staying in the room with a menagerie of stuffed animals she kept in a small suitcase with the name Emma embroidered on it.
By the end of the hospital stay, Ian had given all the animals different talking voices and accents, learning quickly that wee Emma was far more at ease with a stuffed pig than a human being.
She barely spoke to the couple who’d had the children for the last year, which only confirmed Ian’s decision. They greatly favored Eddie, but his illness had taken its toll, and the couple—the third family the children had been placed with—had asked that Emma be sent on to yet another home.
Ian would die first, and that was why Henry had taken the extraordinary step of flying to Florida to reunite the family. The twins would never be separated, and they only had one more home to go to—Ian’s.
Assuming he made it through one last hoop this afternoon: the final Protected Persons review board stamp of approval. Three nameless faces were given the responsibility of granting Ian’s request for one more identity and supporting one more move to obscurity.
While that meet
ing dragged on in a basement office of Ottawa’s sprawling government complex, Ian leaned against a stone wall high over the city, but the expansive metropolitan view was lost on him. Every two minutes he turned to look at the door where Henry had disappeared nearly an hour ago.
With each sigh, a cloud of cold air puffed in front of his face, making him stuff his frozen hands deeper into his jacket pockets. What was taking so long?
Wasn’t this a technicality, a rubber stamp that blessed his new name, new location, and new life story? The N1L gang members that represented any real threat were behind bars, though as long as they were alive, Ian had to watch his back and keep his story a secret.
He would do that. He’d do anything to keep his children and make sure they were together. Anything—even leave the woman who made him feel whole, happy, and healed.
Another sigh escaped at the thought, interrupted by the vibration of his phone, which was wrapped in his chilled fingers. He yanked it out and stabbed the green button. “Yeah?”
“We have a problem, mate.”
Damn it. “What is it?”
“The answer’s no.”
A bright white light exploded in his heart. “No…what? Why?”
Henry sighed. “There’s a woman on the board.”
Like that explained it. “So?”
Henry paused long enough for Ian to sense that he wasn’t going to like the answer. “She’s transferred here from the Singapore operation.”
Was everything he did in Singapore going to haunt him? “Really.”
“Yeah, not a fan of yours. I tried, but the best we could do was let them agree that you could live somewhere in Canada, probably on the other side of the country, and visit.”
Visit? Fuck that. “I’m coming in.”
Before Henry could answer, Ian marched toward the door. Also, fuck the security and their trumped-up rules about review boards not having direct contact with program members. If some prejudiced, small-minded, idiot woman who read a negative report thought she could ruin his life, she was going to answer to him.
He shoved the heavy door open, instantly blasted by hot air and a scowl from a guard. Undeterred by the protective glass, metal detector, or the gun on the guy’s hip, Ian powered toward him.
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