Scott: Triplets (Members From Money Book 13)

by Katie Dowe

  “No! Mark must be over the moon.”

  “He is just now writing a song to declare how over the moon he is,” Leesa said in amusement. “Sometimes I wished I could have more children.”

  “Your children are teenagers, Leesa. Are you crazy?”

  “You sound like my Brad,” she said wickedly. “I know, darling, but my children seem not to need me anymore.”

  “I am sure that is not true.”

  “Hold on darling. Leigh-Ann, you are certainly not wearing that out of this house.”

  Kadine held on and listened in on interaction.

  “I am sure Daddy did not see what you had on. That outfit was not finished, it needs another whole yard of skirt. I love you, too, honey.”

  She sighed as she got back to Kadine. “I just changed my mind darling. With Leigh-Ann alone, I have more than enough.”

  *****

  He brought her back her favorite: double chocolate chip cookies ice cream and a pink stuffed toy. The children could barely keep their eyes open and did not protest when the nannies and Patsy went to get them into bed. She took them from him and put them on the small table beside the sofa in their room.

  “We missed you,” he murmured as he got on his knees in front of her. “It was not the same without you.”

  Her dark brown eyes met his and she knew she could not be mad anymore. “You stayed away and did not call or pick up when I called, Scott, and it is something I cannot deal with.”

  “I know baby. I was an ass.” He took her hands in his. “Please forgive me and take me out of my misery.” He begged.

  “What were you thinking?” she asked not willing to let it go just yet.

  “I was not.” He admitted. “I sat there feeling sorry for myself and thinking that I had failed him.” He said referring to Baker. “I could not look his widow in the eyes and I wonder if secretly she blames me.”

  “I offered her a job,” she said lightly.

  “What?” he looked at her surprised.

  Kadine told him the offer she had made to Maddy Baker.

  “Can she manage?”

  “Can she manage to answer some calls and sort out correspondences? I am sure it will be a stretch, but yes she will manage eventually.”

  “I did not mean to sound condescending.”

  “I know,” she lifted a hand and touched his hair roughened cheek. “It is something to occupy her time and not have her thinking too much about her dead husband. She is starting on Monday.”

  He turned and kissed her palm lingeringly. “I love you,” he said his dark blue eyes bright.

  Chapter 14

  “We are here at the finished theme park that had been plagued by bad weather and delays. The park that had been dreamed up by wife of multibillionaire organic farmer Scott Taylor and mother of the extremely beautiful and adorable triplets: Kandace, Kandra and Sean Andrew. Mrs. Kadine Taylor is here as the theme park manager along with her friends, the famous wives of the members of the Elite Club. It is a perfect time for the opening as it is a very beautiful spring day. The weather is not too cold but just right for the occasion. We have been hoping to get a word from Mrs. Scott for the past hour but she is surrounded by excited parents and children including her own!” Melanie Parks, the news reporter said chirpily as she looked around. There were several other news team milling around and taking pictures as well but Melanie hoped she could get an exclusive. The park was huge with all the rides and a special place for parents as well to hang out while their kids enjoyed the rides and the entertainment offered.

  “Mrs. Taylor!” she called out as she saw Kadine detached herself from the crowd gathered around her. The woman looked confident and beautiful in designer jeans and a coral blouse that Melanie would kill to be wearing! Her hair drifted to her shoulders black and lustrous and her makeup was minimal. The woman looked like a movie star! As a matter of fact, they all did.

  “Yes?” she stopped thankfully and Melanie beckoned to the camera man to follow her.

  “Mrs. Taylor, this place looks amazing!” she gestured vaguely around and brought her attention back to her. “In spite of the delays, you still managed to meet the spring deadline. What was it like?”

  Kadine looked around at the turn out of children and parents including her friends who were the ‘wives of the members of the club her husband belonged to. She still could not believe it had happened! Her husband had been there with her through all the delays and frustrations and she owed it all to him!

  “I am afraid I cannot take the credit.” She looked around for him and saw him laughing at something one of his friends said. He looked over suddenly and caught her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat at the look on his handsome face. He looked tanned and fit in a faded jeans and t-shirt with matching jeans jacket. His wheat blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight and all she wanted to do was go to him. They would be celebrating their wedding anniversary next month and he was planning on them going to Italy and Paris for a week and she could not wait even if it meant leaving the three kids for that time. She smiled at him and then turned back to the reporter who had caught the tender moment. Some women had all the luck, she thought with an envious sigh. “My husband pushed through everything and made sure we were able to meet the deadline.”

  “How did you come up with the idea to build a theme park? I mean coming from your background as a travel agent, was that what gave you the idea?”

  “Partly,” Kadine said with a laugh looking over as one of her daughters raced towards one of the swings. She smiled as Felicia went over to her and Kelsey went over as well. She had nothing to worry about. “This town needed something like that and the employment was needed. There is a section where you can get your massage and relax with a cold drink and a foot scrub as well. It is something I wanted for myself and I figured most women needed that as well. There is also an area for men to play a round of pool and some tennis so they are not left out.”

  “And you have live music and people here to supervise the children.”

  “More than enough,” Kadine made as if to turn away but the woman caught her by the arm.

  “I know you are busy but I need to ask you something personal.”

  Kadine looked at the woman warily. “It depends.”

  “How do you and the other wives do it? How do you find men like the ones you are married to? You seemed so happy and so perfect that I cannot believe that these men so handsome and extremely wealthy can be such good husbands. What is the secret?”

  Kadine looked at the woman for a moment and was about to make some blithe comment but said seriously instead. “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I guess you can chalk it down to the fact that we did not settle. We waited for the right one. It is never about how much money they have but about who they are and that’s all I can say on the subject. Please excuse me.”

  Melanie watched as the woman made her way towards the group of women gathered around scooping up her son along the way and holding him onto her hip. “Get me some footage Brian,” she said a little disconsolately as she watched the women.

  *****

  “It was quite a success, wasn’t it?” her dark brown eyes glowed as she sat on her husband’s lap by the pool. It was almost nine p.m. and they had not too long to put the kids to bed. They had been wired and excited about the hectic day but had finally fallen asleep. The April night was a little chilly but they had decided to brave it to sit by the pool. Kadine loved this time of night and could not believe that she had come to love the quietness of the country area.

  “An amazing success.” He brushed back her hair from off her face, his expression unbelievably tender. “I am so proud of you. The people in town are lauding you as a heroine. You provided work for them Kay, and for that they are extremely grateful.”

  “I am not sure I would go as far as refer to myself as a heroine–” she stopped and grinned at him mischievously. “Okay, maybe I am.” She bent her forehead to his and inhaled his spicy expensive cologne.
They had taken a dip in the cold water and could not stay but a few minutes due to the coldness of it. He had wrapped her around with a fluffy towel and pulled on his t-shirt and sweatpants. “I never dreamed that I could be involved in something so wonderful Scott!” she whispered. “You came into my life and turned it upside down in a good way and I will never be the same again.”

  “Neither will I.” he bit down on her lip gently causing her to move against him restlessly. “And you gave Maddy a new lease on life. “She has become quite a professional since you took her on.”

  “I gave her a raise two weeks ago.” She said with a laugh. “She insists on working beyond her hours to make sure everything is okay.”

  “What next?”

  “Next, we are going on our trip. I want to be alone with my husband. With both of us working so hard over the past months and three very active and hyperactive kids we deserve it.”

  “I was thinking of giving Patsy and John the chance to go somewhere when she decides to tell me about them,” he told her casually.

  She lifted her head and looked down at her husband. “You knew about them?”

  “For several months now,” he told her in amusement. “I take it you did and you never told me.”

  “I told her to tell you before you found out. I never knew you found out.” She looked at him curiously. “You are not freaked out?”

  “As long as they are happy, then I have no problem.”

  She nodded. “I suspect we might be planning a wedding soon.”

  “Let them do it their way baby. You have enough on your plate.”

  “We will see,” her hands crept up underneath his shirt and touched his nipples.

  “What are you doing?” he whispered.

  “Tending to my husband. What do you think?”

  *****

  “I cannot believe I am sick,” Kadine said woefully as she looked at him. They had gone on their anniversary trip to Milan and Paris and had come back two weeks now and then she had started feeling lethargic. “Maybe you caught a bug,” Scott said to her as he passed her the medication and the water. “How about I get a doctor to come up here and take a look at you.”

  “Absolutely not,” she said her throat scratchy and her eyes heavy. “If it is a bug, it will pass out of my system in no time. I just don’t want the children catching it.”

  “I explained to them that they will have to video call their Mommy for now and they understand. Sean Andrew thinks it is quite cool actually.”

  “He would,” she said ending up with a cough that hurt her chest. “I need to let Maddy know what to do for today.” She started to reach for the phone but he moved it out of her reach.

  “Rest and lots of liquid. I called your friend Marcia and she said to tell you that. Maddy has been working for some time now to know what to do.” He pulled the cover up over her and kissed her clammy forehead. “I need my wife back. I have a few appointments but I will be back in the next two hours to check on you. Get some sleep.”

  She nodded and closed her eyes feeling the effect of the medication going through her bloodstream and making her drowsy.

  He watched her for a moment and then left closing the doors behind him. He almost bumped into Patsy as she walked along the corridor. “How is the patient?” she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “Resting,” he took her arm and steered her towards one of the sitting rooms. A maid doing some dusting looked up and saw then and hurried away. “I would like to think that we are close enough for you to be able to confide in me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Patsy you are an adult and if you are seeing someone, then it is your business, but please be upfront with me.”

  “Kadine told you,” she said in a resigned tone.

  “I found out a long time ago and was waiting for you to say something to me. Am I so unapproachable?” he asked her gently.

  She looked down at her hands. “I wanted to be sure first.” She looked up at him for a moment. “You are more than my cousin, you are my brother and I don’t want to leave you now and the kids,” she sighed.

  “Why do you have to leave?”

  “Surely, you would not allow us to live here if we get married?” she asked him.

  “It is a huge place Patsy and you have an entire suite to yourself. If you want more room, you can take one of the other suites.”

  “You would allow a man who works for you in the farm to come and live in the main house?” she asked him incredulously.

  “You make me sound like a very prejudiced person.” He told her dryly.

  “No! No!” she hastened to say. “It’s just that you are Scott Taylor and–”

  “And you are family. That comes first with me. You have spent your life taking care of me and now my wife and kids. I am very grateful to you for that and I will never stand in the way of your happiness. John is a very good man Patsy and a hardworking one.”

  “Thank you,” she said humbly.

  “You are welcome.” He hugged her briefly. “Keep an eye on my wife.”

  “I will,” she watched him go with tears in her eyes blinking them away as she went by to check on the children and then on Kadine.

  *****

  She was delirious! She dreamt that she was standing on the tip of a precipice and that someone was standing behind her attempting to push her off. She opened her mouth to scream but the scream was caught inside her throat coming out garbled. Someone was trying to touch her and hold her back but she was having none of that! She fought with all the strength she had inside her, thrashing about as arms closed over her. She heard the murmurs and felt the prick of the needle in her arm before she drifted off into oblivion!

  “Is she going to be okay?” Scott’s face was ashen as he moved his hands from her arm. She had put up quite a fight and he was afraid that maybe he had hurt her. It was almost seven p.m. and Patsy had called him to let him know that Kadine was roasting with fever. He had flown a doctor out to take a look at her, and by that time the fever had gotten worse.

  “She will be now. The fever went to her head,” Doctor Byfield told him as he put away his instruments. “She is still going to be a little restless during the night but by morning the fever will break.”

  “Thank you. Patsy would you show him out please?”

  “Of course. This way doctor.”

  Scott sat down heavily on the side of the bed. The doctor was staying the night in case anything went wrong because Scott was not taking any chances. She had scared him! His hands trembled as he touched her forehead lightly. The doctor was right. The fever was going away. He had thought he was losing her the way his father had lost his mother! He could not have functioned, he thought bending his head to touch his lips to hers. She stirred a little bit and murmured but at least it was not that crazy babbling that had almost sent him over the edge. He eased back and pulled the covers over her before going into the bathroom to take a quick shower and come back to her.

  *****

  Kadine moaned slightly, her throat parched. For a minute, she wondered where she was and then Scott reached for her, turning on the bedside lamp. “Scott?” she whispered her body weak and spent.

  “Baby?” his hands framed her face and he was relieved when he felt the coolness.

  “I am thirsty.” She whispered.

  He sprang from the bed and poured some from the decanter that one of the maids had brought in. He went back and lifted her head for her to drink. She drank thirstily and asked for more. He put away the empty glass and came back to pull her gently to him.

  “What happened?” she asked curling her hand on his chest.

  “You had a fever and it went to your head. I had to call the doctor.”

  “Am I dying?” she joked feebly.

  “I would be dying too.” He told her seriously as he bent to kiss her forehead. “You were delirious.”

  “Did I reveal any trade secrets?”

  “None I could understand.”

/>   “Good.” She nuzzled his chest. “Scott?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I love you.”

  His arms tightened around her body and he shuddered against her. “I love you more.”

  *****

  “So how does it feel to be the most famous triplets in the world?” Debra Whitfield asked the adorable six-year-old triplets sitting opposite her. “Sean Andrew you have collected numerous ribbons for your horseback riding; Kandra,” she looked uncertainly at the two identical and absurdly beautiful girl with their blonde curls streaming down their backs as she tried to tell which is which.

  “I am Kandra,” the one at the end said with an impish smile obviously enjoying the moment and the confusion on the woman’s face.

  “How do your parents tell you apart?”

  “It’s a secret,” Kandace said in a stage whisper.

  “I am sure it is.” Debra said with a smile. “Kandra, you are the artist,” she turned to the screen which showed a painting Kandra had done which had garnered first prize in an international competition. It showed the cabin on their grounds and the stream running alongside it. It looked so real that you could almost reach out and run your fingers into the bubbling water! “Kandace you play the cello, the violin and the piano. How do you deal with all the fame and attention?”

  They looked over to where their parents were in the audience and waved. “Mommy and Daddy keep us grounded and we have to make sure we do our school work too.” Kandra the designated spokesperson for the trio told her.

  “And we have chores to do as well.” Kandace piped up. “Sean Andrew has to make sure the horses are watered and fed; Kandra has to deal with the chickens and collect the eggs for Aunty Patsy; and the chef and I help out in the greenhouse.”

  “You are only six years old and have already traveled the world. Where do you see yourself six years from now?”

  “We are only six years old so we are not thinking that far ahead.” Sean Andrew spoke up. His thick black curls had not been cut and hung around his handsome face like a halo. His brown eyes were lighter than his mother’s and looked like age old whiskey. He was shy and did not talk much preferring to be with the animals. “Daddy told us that.”