Honest Betrayal
Page 36
Pauline looked at him stunned then wary. “Excuse me?”
“It’s a gift for Brenna. I’m not sure which one she’ll like.”
He was so focused on the objects he didn’t even sense her animosity towards him. “I’m sure it doesn’t matter,” she said ready to leave.
He nodded. “You’re right. Both are nice.” He smiled faintly. “But Brenna really likes carousels. Perhaps I should get both.”
Pauline stared at him uncertain. She couldn’t match the doting husband in front of her with the arrogant, cold man she’d met earlier. The man who’d stormed into Brenna’s office and convinced her to enter into a marriage of convenience. She remembered Brenna telling her how he’d saved her niece’s puppy’s life, but she hadn’t seen it, so she hadn’t thought much about him. She couldn’t imagine him caring about anyone but himself. She didn’t understand him, would never try to, but she knew one thing his faint smile couldn’t hide. He loved Brenna—a lot. And maybe if she’d let herself admit it, he’d saved Brenna’s life, as he had the puppy, saving her from a life of isolation and enriching it somehow.
“The carousel,” she said. “She’ll like the carousel.”
“You don’t think I should get both?”
“No.”
“Yes, I suppose two gifts show a sense of indecision. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She hesitated. “Tell Brenna I was wrong.”
He nodded then approached the counter. Pauline watched him with a heart full of joy and regret.
***
Hunter stood in the living room, wondering where he should set the gift. When Brenna came out of the bedroom he wanted her to find it in the perfect place. He’d set it on the shelf, the dining room table, and the windowsill. He was about to put it in the kitchen when Brenna came out of the bedroom. He was surprised to see her in a business suit. “Where are you going?”
“To an emergency meeting.”
“Do you want me to take you?”
“No, I’m fine.”
He held out the box. “Here. I bought this for you.”
She glanced at her watch then the box obviously torn. “Is it important?”
His heart fell. “No, I just—”
“Then I’ll open it later.” She crooked her finger, inviting him closer. He leaned toward her. She kissed him. “I’ll see you when I get back.” She glanced at her watch again then raced out the door.
Hunter sighed and set the box on top of the TV. He picked up a magazine and flipped through its pages. He was on his third magazine when the doorbell rang. He swore, tossing the magazine aside, then answered.
An older woman with a short gray Afro in a flowery dress stood there holding a peach colored note.
Hunter pulled out his wallet. “Which charity is this for?”
“I’m not a charity.”
He put his wallet away, curious. Perhaps she was a neighbor in need of sugar. In TV shows people always seemed to ask for stuff like that. “How can I help you?”
Tears sprung to her eyes. “I can’t believe it’s you.”
He took a step back. Great. He’d opened the door to a nutcase. “I’m sorry, but you must have me confused with someone else.” He began to close the door.
Her tone firmed. “Hunter Matthew Randolph, don’t you close that door on me.”
His heart stopped as he stared at her. “Shit.”
She smiled, showing off her dimples. “That’s not the kind of welcome I’d expected, but I know what you mean.”
“They told me you were dead.”
“I was dead to them. I know this is a shock.” She tugged on one of her earrings. “I was shocked when your wife found me.”
“Brenna?”
She raised a sly brow. “You have another wife?”
“Uh, no,” he said lamely. He couldn’t believe Brenna was behind this. He began to smile, then again, he wasn’t. At least now he understood her ‘emergency meeting’.
“I wasn’t sure if I should come, but your wife assured me this would be a good idea.” She rested her hands on her hips. He noticed two large gold bracelets circling her wrists. No doubt they covered her scars. “So do you want to hug, kiss or shake hands?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll make up your mind.” She hugged him and at first he stiffened then allowed himself to relax. He wrapped his arms around her, fighting against the tightening in his throat and the threat of tears. He abruptly pulled back and cleared his throat. “It’s nice to see you.”
“Can I come in?”
He took a hasty step back. “Yes, come in. Would you like anything to drink?”
“No, I’m fine.” She sat down and looked around the room with appreciation. “You have a lovely home.”
Hunter shoved his hands in his pockets and followed her gaze. Strange, but he’d never considered the apartment a home before. He’d never considered any place he’d lived a home, but suddenly it seemed true. From the window he could see the sun spreading its golden rays on the lake, the bookshelf crowded with Brenna’s books, his sketches scattered on the couch and the faint scent of lilac lotion Brenna loved to wear. Yes, he and Brenna had a home. They always would no matter what size.
He saw his mother staring at him as though she could read his thought. He grew awkward and took his hands out of his pockets. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something drink?”
“Yes.”
“How about something to eat?”
“No, thank you.”
“So you’re sure you don’t want anything?”
“I want a lot of things, but right now all I want is to talk to you. You’ve become a fine young man.”
He felt his ears burn, and then became annoyed that her praise mattered to him. “Thank you.”
“So what did they tell you about me?”
Hunter sat down rubbing his hands against his trousers. “Does it matter?”
“You’re not even curious?”
“No.”
“I’m sure it’s because they’ve said horrible things and you’re afraid they’re all true. Well, they probably are. Yes, I was Orson’s mistress. I’m not proud of that, but he gave me the attention I desperately needed and he was a very determined man. He wanted me and he got me. He was so charismatic and in charge. Your poor father didn’t have a chance. No matter how he tried he couldn’t measure up to Orson’s rigid standards.”
“Did you know—?”
“That he was gay?” she guessed. “No, not originally. Then one day Orson insulted him and hinted to the fact. We should have divorced then, but we decided to fool ourselves. We convinced ourselves that we could live with the charade. When I got pregnant, that was the beginning of the end. He knew the child wasn’t his.”
“He said he hated me the moment he saw me.”
“He also hated himself. Ultimately, it was the choice he made that destroyed him. The choices we all made. Lionel died because of my indiscretion, Curtis’ spirit slowly crumbled because of his secret and Orson’s choice to rule us caused his downfall. Even Ruby made a fateful choice. She married Curtis for the status and riches and paid the price of keeping secrets. There’s a certain freedom in living truthfully. It’s not easy, but it’s worth the risk.”
“They told me you were crazy.”
She laughed. “I was for a time. It took me a long time to crawl out of the abyss. I had to find myself again.”
“For years I’ve been trying to live up to a lie. It seemed everyone kept expecting me to fail and now I know why. There was no way to succeed.”
“You’ve forged your own path. You threatened Orson even when you were young. You had a will all your own. Only you could have broken the ties the way you did.”
They talked for hours, getting reacquainted, getting past the lies. They didn’t try to recapture the years lost but instead built a foundation for the years to come. Eventually, she had to go. They exchanged addresses and phone numbers then Hunter walked her to her car
. He hugged her again this time without reservations, and then watched her go. She was no longer either a goddess or demon, but an ordinary woman. Someone he would like to have in his life.
Brenna arrived home an hour later.
Hunter pretended to focus on an action movie on the TV. “How was your meeting?”
“It was great.”
“Good. What was it about?”
“Oh, nothing interesting.”
“You sure left in a hurry.”
“Yes,” she said vaguely. “Well, there was something that needed to be addressed.”
“Oh.”
She affected a casual tone. “So what did you do?”
“I read some magazines then watched a movie.”
“That’s it? Nothing happened?”
“No.”
“No one called or stopped by?”
He turned to her curious. “Were you expecting someone?”
“No, no I just…well I’m glad you had a quiet evening.”
She headed for the bedroom looking depressed. Hunter slapped his forehead as though he’d forgotten something. “Oh, there is one thing. My mother stopped by.”
She picked up a pillow and threw it at him. “You jerk! You knew I was waiting to hear that.”
He laughed. “I couldn’t resist. Since you wanted to be clever I thought I’d respond in kind.”
She sat beside him eager to hear the details. “How did it go?”
“Next time I want you to be here.”
She clapped her hands, thrilled. “There’s going to be a next time?”
“Probably.” He rested an arm behind her head. “How did you find her?”
“Daniel’s grandmother. She knew all about her brother’s secrets and helped me track your mother down. It wasn’t as hard as I thought.” She looked down at her hands, a sly smile toying with her lips. “Now if I remember correctly you have a gift for me.”
He clasped his hands behind his head, stretched out his legs and stared at the TV. “I’ve changed my mind.”
She unbuttoned his shirt. “You’d better change your mind back or else.”
He glanced at her a glint of amusement in his gaze. “Or else what?”
“Or else I’ll stay married to you for the next fifty years.”
He retrieved the box and handed it to her. “Make it sixty.” He sat down and rested his arm on her shoulders. “We tend to live long in my family and I’d hate for you to go before me.”
She sat there stunned, surprised by his words. “Do you love me?”
His eyes caressed her face. “I could no sooner name all the stars in the sky than tell you how much I love you.”
“I love you to.”
“Yes, I know. Even though I’m not your Prince Charming.”
“That’s true.”
His brows furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“Byron was my Prince Charming, but I needed a real man.”
He frowned. “I’m not sure I approve of that statement.”
“Too bad.”
He groaned. “I knew the moment I walked into your office you’d ruined my life. There was nobody else for me, but you.”
“You’re a perfect match.”
“Are you going to open the box?”
“It’s a carousel, isn’t it?”
His eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“Because you always give me what I need.”
In one motion, she was in his arms and his lips were on hers. Her body tingled with a bottomless feeling of joy. She felt the power and strength of his love and returned it in kind. She cupped the side of his face. “My own true love.”
***
A year later they welcomed Martin Randolph who decided to arrive two weeks early on a winter day. The year after that during a summer rain they welcomed Edward Randolph.
In the hospital room, Brenna noticed Edward’s left leg was a little bent and felt a tinge of sadness. Hunter, however, balanced Martin on his lap while he held his second son with pride silently vowing to be all that his father couldn’t be to him. With eyes full of joy and a voice full of amazement he said, “He’s perfect.”
The End
More Books by Dara
Now available in ebook format
Table for Two
Gaining Interest
The Henson Brothers (Table for Two and Gaining Interest omnibus)
The Sapphire Pendant
The Daughters of Winston Barnett
About the Author
National bestselling author Dara Girard, began her writing career at the age of six with a ball point pen and her mother's diary. Fortunately, her mother loved the story so much her daughter escaped punishment. Writing on the walls, however, got her grounded. Dara loves to travel, eat French pastries and hear from readers.
Visit www.daragirard.com to contact the author and find out more about her current and upcoming books.
Table of Contents
Prologue
PART ONE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
PART TWO
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
PART THREE
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
More Books By Dara
About the Author