The Heart's Game (The Kelly Brothers, Book 4)

by Crista McHugh

  Jenny trailed behind her. “You have?”

  “Yeah. It’s one thing to explain a pregnancy if you’re married, but it’s an entirely different situation when you’re single.”

  “You have a child?”

  Hailey stopped short, her should blades squeezing together. “Had. Zach passed away a couple of years ago.”

  A new wave of embarrassment washed over Jenny, but for an entirely different reason. “Now I’m definitely the one who should be apologizing.”

  “No need to, Jenny.” She gave her a smile that didn’t quite chase away the sadness lingering in her eyes. “I’ve set up this room for you. I hope you like it.”

  Jenny shrugged off her coat and looked out at the perfectly groomed gardens outside. “It’s lovely.”

  “And Dan will be across the hall,” Hailey added with a wink. “Maureen insisted you have separate rooms.”

  She giggled in spite of herself. Dan had been sleeping over at her place almost every night for the last three months. She doubted she’d be alone for long.

  But the sounds of the conversation continuing downstairs chased away her mirth. The baby moved inside her, and her hand reflexively fell to her stomach, even though she knew it was too early to feel the kicks from the outside. “Maybe I should stay up here the rest of the evening. It sounds like Dan hadn’t told anyone about me.”

  “None of us were expecting it, and I have a feeling Maureen just got the shock of her life. But she’s not the type to overreact. I’m guessing by the time we go back down, everything will be fine again.” Just as the words left Hailey’s mouth, the conversation below quieted.

  “Maybe, but perhaps I should give them a few more minutes before returning.” She decided to change the subject. “Ben mentioned you’d gotten a gold medal.”

  Hailey stood a little taller, her smile beaming with pride. “Would you like to see it?”

  “I’d love to.”

  ***

  Dan’s pulse pumped through his body as the full wrath of his mother’s icy glare fell on him.

  Thankfully, she waited until Hailey had absconded with Jenny before ripping him a new one.

  “Daniel Oliver Kelly, you have some explaining to do.”

  Shit! He hadn’t been called by his full name since he was seven. Usually, it was Frank who was getting the third degree from their mom. He’d always been “the smart one,” the one who never got into trouble. He was just waiting for his mom to grab him by the ear and drag him to the corner, the way she had when he was little.

  But despite the anger simmering in her voice, she didn’t raise it above the level of normal conversation.

  He retreated until he was backed against the kitchen counter and rubbed the back of his head. “Um, what about, Mom?”

  “You know damn good and well what I’m talking about.” She closed the space between them, every inch the prosecuting attorney she’d been before she married his dad. “How far along is she?”

  He’d been dreading this conversation since the moment he’d found out about the baby, but now that his mom knew, there was no getting around it. He counted back in his mind, wishing he had one of those pregnancy wheels that had gotten him through his OB rotation in med school. “Her due date is April eighth, so that would make twenty weeks and a few days, I believe.”

  “Twenty weeks? She’s already halfway through her pregnancy, and you didn’t tell me?”

  He looked to Ben for help, but his older brother just grinned and gave a subtle shake of his head, obviously enjoying the show.

  Great. I’m in this alone. “If it’s any consolation, I just found out a few weeks ago myself.”

  “What do you mean, you just found out? How long have you been dating her?”

  “Define dating.”

  Even though his mother kept her demeanor quiet and contained, the anger exploding inside manifested in the twitch of her eye and the thinning of her lips. And his response had just tripped her over into the danger zone.

  Thankfully, that was when Gideon decided to come in through the back door. His younger brother looked at their mom and let out a low whistle. “Uh-oh, someone’s in deep shit.”

  “Watch your language,” their mother snapped, diverting some of her ire toward Gideon, much to Dan’s relief.

  “Dan decided to bring his pregnant girlfriend to Thanksgiving dinner,” Ben said, still wearing that amused grin.

  Time to wipe that smirk off his face. “Well, it’s not like I’m the first one of us to knock up a girl during what was supposed to be a one-night stand.” Dan jerked his head toward Ben.

  Ben’s grin fell, and an aching look of regret filled his eyes. His son, Zach, had died before he had a chance to know him, and he knew his brother still mourned him.

  Dan cussed under his breath. “Sorry, Ben, I shouldn’t have gone there.”

  “But you’re right,” he replied in a quiet voice. Then he turned to their mother. “Mom, you should at least give Dan some credit for staying with her.”

  “Exactly, Mom. Trust me when I say that no one was more shocked than me to learn about the baby, but it’s my kid, and I want to try and make this work with Jenny. So please, don’t do anything to scare her away. She’s already nervous about meeting the family, and she doesn’t deserve the third degree for my mistake.”

  His mother blinked several times and backed away, her lips parted in surprise.

  “And look on the bright side,” Gideon added. “You’re finally going to become a grandmother.”

  The last traces of anger melted from their mother’s rigid posture, and she clasped her hands together like an excited child about to receive a present. “That’s right.”

  Dan shot a look of thanks to Gideon.

  “So, are you going to marry her?” his mom asked.

  His throat tightened, and he coughed to clear it. “Haven’t there been enough weddings this year?”

  “Daniel.” Her voice rose in warning.

  “What?” He squirmed under the pressure of her glare. “Just because we’re having a kid together doesn’t mean we have to get married. This is the twenty-first century, after all.”

  “I raised you better than that.”

  “Mom, please, I’d rather not rush into things.”

  “It’s a little late for that.”

  “Yeah, and lots of couples get married after the baby’s born.” But his argument seemed to be getting nowhere with his mom, so he took a deep breath and decided to lay it all on the line. “Listen, I know this is a bit out of order, but I really do like Jenny. I think I’m even falling in love with her, so yeah, there’s a good chance I’ll ask her to marry me. Hell, why do you think I decided to subject her to a holiday with the family? I wanted her to feel comfortable around you and to know she’s welcome in the Kelly clan, so please, just give her a chance, get to know her, and please don’t do anything to screw things up between us.”

  His mom stayed silent, patting Jasper on the head while she appeared to mull over his confession. Then she nodded. “I think that’s the first smart thing that’s come out of your mouth all day.”

  Jasper woofed and took off for the stairs. Jenny’s laugh echoed from the next room over, and a moment later, she reappeared with Hailey. Her dark eyes glowed with excitement. “I got to hold two Olympic medals.”

  Then she spotted Gideon and paled. Her voice shook as she asked, “What’s he doing here?”

  Jenny may not have recognized Ben, but there was no way she couldn’t have known his young brother. Gideon’s face was everywhere.

  Dan crossed the room and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Jenny, this is my brother, Gideon.”

  “Your brother is Gideon Kelly?” Her breath came in shallow pants, and her hand trembled until she took his and squeezed it.

  “Smooth, bro.” Gideon flashed his famous smile at her. “I thought you’d be dropping my name everywhere to pick up chicks.”

  “No, that would be Frank’s MO,” Dan shot back. He hu
gged Jenny, noting the way her shoulder curled up and her heels remained planted, despite his efforts to bring her closer to his brother. “There’s no need to panic,” he murmured.

  “But he’s a movie star,” she whispered back.

  “He’s also my baby brother. I remember him waddling around the house in diapers.”

  “We all do.” Ben ruffled Gideon’s dark hair. “Or how he had to wear braces from the time he was eight.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Gideon ducked out of Ben’s reach. “Bring up every embarrassing thing you can.”

  “And with seven boys, group baths were a must. I even have pictures I can show you.” Their mom turned to leave the room and retrieve the incriminating evidence.

  “Don’t,” all three boys said in unison, freezing her in her tracks.

  Giggles bubbled up from Jenny’s chest, and she covered her mouth to contain them. The tension fled her muscles as she leaned into him. “Sorry if I seemed a little starstruck, Gideon, but I was expecting Thanksgiving dinner with a normal family, not one filled with celebrities.”

  “But we are a normal family.” Dan’s hand grazed the side of her stomach, reminding him why this trip was so important. “Just give us a chance.”

  She looked up at him and nodded. “I can do that.”

  “Good.” His mother came over and led Jenny away from him. “Hailey and I could use a little help getting dinner on the table. How are you in the kitchen?”

  “Awful,” she replied with a laugh. “I burn toast.”

  “Don’t worry, Jenny, I’m sure we can find something for you to do.” His mom glanced over her shoulder and gave him a wink. “Why don’t you boys take Jasper outside and let him run around so he won’t try to steal the turkey.”

  “Yeah, we don’t want a repeat of the 2010 Thanksgiving disaster,” Gideon said dryly as he opened the door and ushered the dog out.

  Dan followed his brothers, looking once more into the kitchen to make sure Jenny was all right before he left her alone. She was smiling and chatting with his mother and Hailey, already at ease with them, and the worry in his gut eased. If everything went well today, then maybe he wouldn’t be too far off from popping the question.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jenny sniffed the garlic mashed potatoes before scooping up a heap and dropping it onto her plate. Her stomach rumbled. The food smelled heavenly. Such a change from a few weeks ago, when every little scent made her queasy. She passed the bowl to Ben and took the gravy from Dan, pouring a generous amount on her turkey and stuffing.

  “Hungry?” Dan teased.

  “Ravenous.” Her mouth had been watering since she’d been recruited to help in the kitchen. Thankfully, that meant very little actual cooking. Maureen and Hailey had done most of the work before they’d arrived. She helped with the last-minute prep work and set the table, relieved that the dinner was playing out normally.

  Normal.

  She’d forgotten what that word had meant over the past few months.

  Once everyone started eating, though, Dan’s mom focused her attention on her. “What’s your due date, Jenny?”

  A paralyzing sense of dread seized her. She lowered her eyes. “April eighth.”

  “And do you know what you’re having yet?”

  The juicy turkey that had tasted so delicious moments ago now felt like sawdust on her tongue. If Maureen kept asking questions about the baby, then she’d eventually have to reveal the whole convoluted story about how she had agreed to be a surrogate for her brother.

  “The ultrasound is scheduled for next week,” Dan answered. “We’ll find out then.”

  “You’ll have to call me as soon as you know.”

  “Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll let you know what we’re having. No doubt, you’re going to spoil your grandchild rotten.”

  Shit, shit, shit! The word kept playing over and over again in her mind. She’d told him it wasn’t his, and he’d said he hadn’t cared, but how awake was he when she tried to tell him? Had he even understood what she’d said? Obviously not since he sounded like he thought he’d be raising it like it was.

  She had to set things straight. She had to tell him the truth—that the baby would be going to her brother and his husband as soon as it was born—but if she did, would he still want her? Would she be sitting here at the Thanksgiving table with his family if she’d told him about this surrogacy from the beginning?

  Guilt squashed what was left of her appetite. She needed to come clean soon, but this wasn’t the appropriate time and place. But tomorrow, when they got home, she’d explain everything and hope for the best.

  “Just don’t spend too much on Dan’s baby,” Ben said, casting a meaningful glance to Hailey. When she nodded, he continued, “Hailey’s due in July.”

  “Two grandchildren?” Maureen got up from her chair and hugged Hailey. “This is such wonderful news! I’m so happy for the both of you.”

  “We’ve been planning on telling you the news over dinner for weeks.” Hailey beamed with pure joy, the way Jenny had always imagined an expectant mother would. “And the timing is perfect since the baby will come during the off season.”

  “Why did you wait to tell us?” Maureen scolded.

  “Because so many pregnancies end in miscarriages, and we didn’t want to get your hopes up until we knew Hailey was past the first trimester.” Ben’s eyes softened as he looked at his wife.

  Jenny slid her gaze over to Dan to see how he was taking the news. The creased line between his brows vanished as though he’d finally solved a puzzle, and he leaned into her to whisper. “Is that why you didn’t tell me at first?”

  It was better to lie than to cause a scene, so she nodded.

  “Ah, I see now.” He covered her hand with his and squeezed it. “Congratulations, Ben and Hailey. It’s so great that our kids will be so close in age.”

  “And only a few hours from each other, too.” Maureen circled the table and gave Dan a hug.

  Jenny forced a happy smile on her face when Dan’s mom did the same to her.

  “So, Gideon, do you have any good news to share with us?” Dan teased.

  “Yeah,” he replied with a deadpan delivery. “I’m going to be wearing two condoms every time I have sex for the foreseeable future.”

  The table erupted in laughter, and Maureen came back around the table to give him a playful smack on the back of his head.

  Jenny slouched down in her chair and picked at her food through the rest of the meal. As much as she liked Dan’s family, she wondered if they’d still want anything to do with her when they learned the baby wasn’t his.

  ***

  Dan stood at the bottom of the stairs, indecision warring with the sense of unease that had formed at the base of his spine during dinner. Everything had seemed to be going well, but as soon as the meal was over, Jenny excused herself, saying she needed a nap. He hadn’t missed the way she seemed to pull away from the conversation after Ben and Hailey’s announcement, or that she’d barely touched the food on her plate.

  He took a step up, only to have his mom come up behind him and pull him down. “Let her sleep. It’s hard work being pregnant.”

  “I just want to make sure she’s okay. She seemed a little off during dinner.”

  “She’s probably exhausted from the travel and meeting everyone all at once. The turkey probably didn’t help, either. Besides, Frank’s game is on TV.”

  He cast one more glance up the stairs before conceding to his mother. After all, she’d had seven kids. She probably knew what she was talking about.

  “Boom!” Ben shouted as he came into the living room.

  “What did I miss?” his mom asked, running past him and picking up her glass of chardonnay from the end table.

  “Frank just plowed the quarterback into the turf,” Ben answered.

  His brothers were on the long sectional sofa, beers in hand as they stared at the seventy-two inch TV while Hailey sat on the end with Jasper’s head in her la
p and flipped through a magazine. His mom took the spot on the other side of the dog, and Ben and Gideon parted to give him enough space to sit.

  “That’s my boy,” his mom said with pride as the camera zoomed in on Frank’s cheeky grin.

  Dan took the beer Ben offered him and leaned back. The game distracted him from his worries, and he reveled in the time he spent with his family. He’d lived in Chicago his whole life, but he never realized how much he missed them until he moved to Seattle.

  When the game turned to a commercial, he nudged Gideon. “Where’s Sarah?”

  “Red decided to stay in LA,” he said, the clipped words telling Dan he didn’t want to talk about it now. Probably for a good reason, since Gideon rarely went anywhere without his assistant. He’d been up in Vancouver for the last couple of weeks, crashing in the small carriage house on Ben’s property while he worked on a movie.

  The game came back on, and at halftime, his mom pulled out her iPad to FaceTime Adam and Lia. Thankfully, Adam revealed nothing when their mom told him about Jenny’s pregnancy.

  Loud conversations in Italian filled the background, and Adam rolled his eyes at one point. “When Lia said she was inviting her family over for Thanksgiving, I thought she just meant her mom. Instead, she brought over her cousins from Italy, and her Zia Carolina tried to take over the kitchen.”

  Dan chuckled. Lia was one of the finest chefs in Chicago, and he could only imagine the sparks that would fly if someone tried to usurp her domain. “How much longer are they in town?”

  Adam grimaced. “Through Sunday. At least Nick and Giovanni are cool. ”

  The sound of female voices rose even higher, and Adam glanced over his shoulder. “I’d better go before they start throwing knives. Congrats to everyone. I’ll pass on the good news to Lia.”

  Adam hung up just as the third quarter was getting underway.

  Jenny reappeared near the end of the game. Gideon stood and gave her his spot on the sofa, which she silently took.

  Dan reached over and stroked her silky black hair, earning a weak smile from her. She curled her legs up under her and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Who’s winning?” she asked.