Secret Baby (The House of Morgan, #2)

by Victoria Pinder

  Belle wrapped herself in a silk blue nightgown and stood almost as a guard of his door. As Vicki neared, Belle crossed her arms. Vicki decided it was best if she chose her words carefully. She asked, "Is Colt okay?"

  "Of course. Let's go to the kitchen and I'll explain."

  Last night Vicki had assumed Belle and Colt talked about their wedding. Colt's nightmares and his calling for her had an explanation. She tried to avoid interfering in their relationship.

  Belle sat at the kitchen table, and Vicki did the same. Whatever happened last night between the two of them did not involve her.

  Belle straightened in her seat. "Collins went through some rough patches over there, but his surviving helped save many American lives."

  "That doesn't explain anything. Colt called my name." Vicki wiped the sleep out of her eyes, and wondered why his fiancée didn't use his given name.

  Belle shrugged. Her eyes were big as coffee mugs. "He's sleeping. His nightmares are well documented, and he's seeing a veterans' psychologist. His advice is not to talk about it."

  Vicki wrinkled her nose. That made no sense. The first night was bad, but then they'd talked, and the next night Colt hadn't screamed. They had discussed about how he almost died, and Belle saved him. If there was more, Vicki would listen. She stilled as she wondered what they'd fought over earlier. In her opinion, if he talked things out about whatever was wrong, then he'd help himself more, but she wasn't an expert.

  Belle leaned closer to the table, and Vicki did the same. Belle said, "We should talk, girl to girl. One day I'll give Collins more children, and we'll move to D.C. as planned. As Clara's mother, Victoria, we should at least be friendly."

  Vicki flinched and her gut tightened. The last thing she should do was trust anything Belle said without seeing or talking to Colt. She sat up straighter. "Why do you ask? Clara is my family, and I'll do what's best for her."

  Belle crossed her arms. "You? The same woman who caused his life to turn to hell. You have no idea."

  "It wasn't on purpose," Vicki argued, then pressed her lips together. She'd not get defensive. But her hands fell to her sides as her arms balled into fists. Colt believed her, and if his life was tough in the past, in some ways hers was worse. "Clara is my daughter, and I'll do whatever I can to keep her. This conversation is over."

  "We don't have to be enemies." Belle leaned back in her chair, much like her father or brother might when proposing a deal. Vicki crossed her legs and held her breath. "I'm willing to help you gain full custody of Clara, if you'll help me and leave Collins alone."

  This wasn't how Vicki wanted this to go, and there was no way she should trust Belle. Her gut told her something must have happened with Colt, and to speak to him first. He'd been good to her since the beginning. She tilted her head and then faked a yawn. "I don't know what to say. It's late. I'm not thinking clearly. It's best if I head back to bed."

  Vicki stood from her chair, and Belle followed her to her room.

  Every step was heavy as her heart begged to check on Colt. What kept her going to her room was Belle. Now was not the time to confront her. A nightmare didn't need to start a middle-of-the-night catfight. Vicki took another step, but Belle blocked her path to opening her bedroom door. Vicki shuffled on her feet as Belle squared her shoulders. "Think fast. It's a short-term offer, and it will be withdrawn soon. Collins and I love each other, and the life we're starting together."

  "Then I'm happy for you." Vicki walked around Belle. As she opened her bedroom door, nausea rose in her throat. Colt with Belle made her heart feel smaller, but she prayed Belle had no idea. What kept the bile at bay was the thought that if Colt loved Belle unconditionally, then she wouldn't have to threaten anything. Vicki would trust that man with her life.

  Without another word, she closed her door and let her thoughts stop racing.

  As she crawled back into bed, Vicki's mind screamed that Colt needed her help. If he married Belle, it would be a huge mistake, but Vicki couldn't speak that out loud. She wasn't a home wrecker. She closed her eyes, but the thoughts pounded like a hammer to a nail in her head. Vicki's fingers became fists beside her as she told herself to stop.

  Colt had chosen to propose to Belle.

  She sighed as she rested, more relaxed, into her pillow. Belle hadn't stormed out of the house. If Colt broke up with her, she'd need to crawl under a rock and cry her eyes out. Belle was calm and collected. The coldness in Vicki's skin grew, and the blankets didn't warm her. The only thought that helped was that Colt loved his orange groves too much to ever move to Washington.

  #

  A few hours later, Vicki sorted the laundry for the family and aired out her clothes. Colt must have woken and left at sunrise. She shook the last towel and hung it on the line. Then she went inside the house. No one was in the living room, and she assumed Clara must be asleep still. Vicki headed right for the kitchen. Her daughter liked breakfast, and once they were done, they'd go on those errands. The minutes ticked as she served the cereal. Colt didn't come back.

  As she finished with the bowl, she placed it on a tray, and carried it to the normal table where they ate. Voices wafted in the air. She peeked into the formal dining room and her entire body clinched. Colt, Belle, and Clara sat, with a full spread, and were half done with their breakfast. As Vicki slipped from the door, Colt called out, "Come in. We tried to wait for you."

  Vicki's teeth jittered, but she gazed at the empty seat beside Clara.

  Clara bounded to her feet and ran toward her. Vicki knelt and hugged her daughter. Her soft skin and quiet whimpers made Vicki's heart swell.

  Colt's voice had held an extra layer of ice that it never had. Vicki's ears perked. He then said, "I reminded her you're taking her out to the dress shop, lunch, and your place. She's excited and hoped you'd help her pack, Vicki."

  "Yep. Absolutely." Vicki hugged her daughter and then parted her hair. "Now that we found each other, I'm happy we'll be together."

  "Vicki's my best friend, Dad." Clara wrapped her arms around her neck. Clara's soft tears left a trail down Vicki's clothes.

  As Vicki glanced at the table, Colt and Belle stared at each other. Vicki's skin grew goosebumps. The tension in the room was obvious. Her daughter must sense it too. Colt and Belle didn't say a word, but the body language was not two people in love. Vicki hugged Clara close as she stood, and petted her light hair. She'd skip breakfast altogether. "We'll be fine. We can go now. Let's get your phone to stay in touch with your dad. Then we'll be home tonight."

  "Call me if anything happens." Colt's gaze turned toward her. Vicki stilled as her cheeks heated. Then she turned away.

  "Okay." Clara nodded and stopped her tears with a smile. "I'll get dressed."

  Her daughter ran off fast, and Vicki's gaze followed her into the hall.

  "I should go too."

  "Wait."

  The eerie silence in the kitchen sent a chill down Vicki's spine. She stared at the adults at the table, and saw Colt's small smile of approval at her. Belle's scowl read the opposite opinion, and Vicki's gut clenched. She might pack her bag, and maybe just one overnight bag when she went home. It might be better to leave the farm if Belle was here another night.

  Vicki would talk to a lawyer today and ensure she was prepared in case Belle did something.

  Colt stood and made her a plate. Vicki walked past Belle and grabbed a bagel. The energy in the room was both frantic and cold. "Thanks for the offer. The bagel is all I need for now. I'll stop for coffee near my house."

  Belle's pursed lips said plenty, though no one said anything. With the bagel in a napkin, Vicki clutched the door and then rushed to follow Clara.

  A second later, she knocked on her daughter's door.

  Once they went out, Vicki also made a mental note that she should talk with her brother.

  Her heart lifted as she thought of Colt. Hopefully, Colt would figure out a way to end the awkwardness. Living with two women wasn't a good idea at all.

  C
HAPTER THIRTEEN

  Driving home, Vicki stayed the speed limit the entire time. Slowly the farmland transformed into suburban communities. Then the tall buildings of Miami populated the skyline. Vicki's heart felt full—she was going home entirely different than how she'd left. With Clara in the car seat, as she quietly listened to music, Vicki felt her eyes tear. Clara bopped her head. Vicki wiped her face, and then remembered to keep both hands on the wheel to stay in control. This was her responsibility for the rest of her life now. Vicki swallowed and kept her gaze on the road.

  Her GPS told her to turn left onto the highway. Vicki's mind buzzed with thoughts. Then she sighed and told her navigation system to direct her to Alice's house. The car quickly recalculated. Then she called John.

  She used the mirror to stare at her daughter, who tilted her head to the music on her headset. She turned it off. "What?"

  Vicki winked at her. "I'm on the phone with your uncle, sweetheart. We're going to stop there first."

  Clara shrugged and returned to her music.

  John chuckled as he answered. "Hello."

  Vicki tensed her shoulders, like she'd been caught copying Alice's homework as a teenager. Then she shrugged off the response. "Hey, it's me."

  "How is life at Colt's?"

  She'd ask for advice on Belle and how she should handle it in person, not on the phone, where Clara might hear. "I need to talk. Can Clara and I stop over?"

  John's answered was quick. "Sure."

  "Is Alice there?"

  "She can't go anywhere else in her condition."

  "Hey." Alice's voice echoed in the distance. "You did this to me."

  "I have to go," John said. "See you soon, sis."

  Vicki assumed Alice had something to say to John over his comment. Her best friend and her brother had that magic between them. Vicki resettled into her seat for the next hour. As they entered the outskirts of the highway that led to Coconut Grove, a posh area where her brother lived, she sniffed the air. The clean smell of oranges was missing. Her stomach cringed and she wanted to hug herself, though she kept both hands on the wheel. "If I do end up living with Colt, I'm not that far a drive from my family."

  Clara took off her headset and said, "Stay with us, forever."

  Energy coursed through Vicki. It was as if Clara knew that she was her mother. She'd never find joy in her life if she watched Colt with Belle. There had to be a solution. "It's your father's house, not mine."

  "Vicki, don't leave me with Belle." Clara gazed into the mirror and stared into Vicki's eyes. Vicki swallowed. Clara added, "Dad and Belle were fighting. She doesn't like our home, not like you."

  "Their arguing last night might not mean anything. You don't know if she likes your home or not, Clara." Vicki returned her stare toward the road, and refused to say anything about Belle right now. The most important thing was that she'd promised Colt they'd tell their daughter together, soon. "Never worry about me in your life. I'll always be here for you, and I'm not going anywhere."

  Colt too—not that she'd add that.

  "Belle has to go." Clara then put her headset on her ears and stared out the window again.

  Her daughter sounded like an adult sometimes, and she was five. Heaven help them all when she was a teenager.

  The road continued, though a little traffic began. Her mouth began to water as she saw the sign for the exit that would bring her to that wonderful coffee. Her stomach grumbled as she imagined the wonderful liquid. They were more than halfway home. She turned off the highway. Two minutes later, she was at her favorite coffee shop in the world. She'd pick up coffees for everyone and a hot chocolate for her baby girl. Clara helped her with the doors, and the order. Soon, they found places for everything in her car, and she told her car to "Call Peter."

  Clara called out as she straightened her earbuds, "Uncle Peter?"

  "Yes, my brother." Vicki gazed in the mirror. Her daughter sounded upset at the mention of a name, and then relaxed.

  Clara closed her eyes. "I want a brother or a sister."

  Vicki had no answer for that wish, so she shrugged. "Who knows? One day you might get one, but big brothers are a pain."

  Clara fixed herself in her car seat, and turned her music on. As she bobbed her head, Vicki returned to stare fully at the road. Two rings later, her brother answered with a yawn, "Hello?"

  "It's me." Vicki's voice went higher, and she smiled. From one syllable, she knew he'd had a late night. Some things never changed. "Did you find out what Dad did and who he hired?"

  Peter's scratchy voice answered, "I was at a fundraiser last night, but yeah. I collected everything from Mr. Smith, dad's personal lawyer, who cut you out of his will."

  "The dress shop you set up for me is perfect. I wanted to work in fashion, and you made my dream possible."

  "It shouldn't be enough for you. You're in the House of Morgan. I'm also investigating the people Dad left money to in his will."

  "That doesn't matter to me. I want to know about my daughter."

  Peter's voice became clear. "I had Ms. Montenagro, the attorney we hired to fight for our inheritance, dig up everything she could on Colt Collins's daughter and how he acquired her when you never told him."

  "That's Daddy," Clara piped in as she moved her headset.

  "Who's with you?" Peter's voice grew tight.

  Vicki coughed then answered, "Clara Collins is in the car with me. We're heading to her Uncle John's house, and then later, we go back home."

  "No, you promised to pack your bag to come stay with me, and we'd go to your dress shop."

  Vicki felt heat rising in her body as she nodded to her daughter. Clara turned toward her window as she listened to her music again.

  Peter smacked his lips. "I'm happy Colt is being agreeable with you. It will be better for everyone if we don't have to fight."

  Her brothers both had her back. Her heart constricted. Vicki stared at her daughter. This wasn't how the conversation should go. Vicki whispered, "His mother was in the nursery the day Clara was born. Colt's a good father. Clara loves her dad, and we should talk about all this in person."

  "Some dads must be loveable," Peter replied with contempt. Vicki swallowed her agreement, but then, most people did not call their last name a brand when discussing family. The House of Morgan shattered all notions of love and kindness. Peter continued, "Montenagro wants a timeline documented in case we need to press for legal action."

  If Colt stayed generous, then there would be no legal action. Vicki would resume the life that she'd almost lost. She stared at the road until she saw in the mirror how Clara soaked in every word. Her heartbeat grew faster. "I'll be at John's soon. Meet us there. I bought you a coffee."

  Peter coughed. "You sure that's the best place to meet? Alice is his sister."

  "She's marrying our brother, John. Besides, I respect Colt, and he's been amazing with me. If I hadn't listened to our dad and then pretended to be dead, all of this would have been avoided."

  "It takes two to screw up this bad, Vicki."

  Despite what John claimed, Peter was not exactly like their father. "We should go. Clara and I are going to have fun in the car."

  "Dad had me block Colt's calls years ago." Peter swallowed. "I never knew why."

  Colt had tried to call. Vicki swallowed. Her father had used his teenage son to teach him how to run their family. "We have to go. See you there."

  "Vicki is cooler than Belle. I want Vicki to marry my dad," Clara added but her eyes went to her screen for a movie and she hit play.

  Vicki's eyes widened as goosebumps grew on her body.

  Her brother asked, "Who is Belle?"

  She ought to clue her brother in more. "Colt's fiancée."

  "Colt found a woman to marry him? I'm shocked."

  She'd have married him, so her brother shouldn't be so surprised. Vicki stared at the road. "Yep."

  "I'm hanging up. I can't wait to talk to you in person, sis."

  "See you there."


  "Wait." Peter's voice became serious.

  "What?"

  "I should have been a better older brother to you, sis. I should have stood up to our father."

  "None of us were that strong." Her brother had been locked at their father's side and groomed to take over the family. In her heart, she hoped Peter never turned into her father, but he was well trained. John's return home had been her safety valve, as Peter was poised to run the House of Morgan. She swallowed her fear. He'd been helpful and sweet. "So don't apologize. We're more a family now than we ever could be as children."

  "I wish you had met our mother. You remind me of her." Peter then changed topics sharply. "Colt was the square peg who knew exactly who he was, and demanded honesty. It's why Dad didn't like him. You can't manipulate people who know in their core what they value."

  "I spent so many years lost and confused." Her voice cracked. It would be nice if she had someone in her corner, like a mother. For Clara, Vicki would be the person she had always wished returned to her life. "I had to leave home to figure out who I was. Colt's lucky. Talk soon, Peter."

  She hit the red button on her mirror and ended the call. She took a glance in her mirror as Clara resettled in her seat. Vicki would have to ensure no one said anything in front of her. She rolled her shoulders and stared at the highway as she turned on to the next road.

  Everything was fine. Her gut whispered that Belle had lied to her last night. Vicki needed to learn patience, and if she talked, she could make the entire situation worse. She continued to hope Colt ended things today with Belle.

  Then she clutched the steering wheel to stop that thought. She took another peek at Clara. She had to ensure they stayed together as mother and daughter. It was more important than her love life.

  #

  The exit read the end of I-95. She was close to the Grove now. Her phone rang as she turned onto a side street that headed toward the bay. She hit the button for Bluetooth and then answered, "Hello?"

  "Vicki." Colt's voice echoed in her car. "Morning."

  This time he didn't sound edgy. His voice rang through her as sexy. She she let herself smile. "I'm glad you called. Colt, we're almost at your sister's."