by Beck, Jamie
“Jenna, I still have some doubts. Once the baby is here, the lines could get blurry fast. I can’t do it unless I know that everyone will let Sara and me raise this child as we see fit, without interference.”
He’d just voluntarily put himself in a position of asking Jenna for something and of sharing her concerns. If that wasn’t proof of his love for his wife, nothing was.
Jenna’s green eyes turned flinty. “I expected your spite when I wanted to sell the business, but stooping to stealing my grandchild is beneath even you, Hunter.”
“Jenna, cut it out,” his dad interrupted. “That’s not what’s happening. He’s just saying we need to respect boundaries.”
Jenna threw her hands up, looking heavenward. “It’s no secret that he and I don’t get along. Now my daughter is handing her child over to him, and you expect me to accept his limitations on my future relationship with my grandchild?” She shot off the couch and strode to the window, rubbing her shoulders as if she’d been tossed onto a tundra in a swimsuit. “Someone please tell me I’m on some horrid hidden camera show.”
Hunter let her insults glance off him, conserving his energy for bigger battles. He hadn’t expected her support, but he wanted his dad’s. “Dad, what’s your honest opinion?”
Jenna didn’t face them, but Hunter noticed her spine straighten. His father stalled for time, possibly to give his wife a chance to return to the sofa. She didn’t. Stubborn as usual, as if her tantrum might change the outcome. Perhaps that’s how she always got her way. Hunter had never paid that much attention until recently.
He returned his attention to his father, praying that his dad wouldn’t disappoint him.
“We all want you and Sara to become parents.” His father’s sad smile foretold of a “but” on the way. “But having the perspective of being a parent, I’d be remiss not to point out that Gentry has no idea of what she’s giving up or how she’ll feel after the fact. I worry she’ll have regrets down the road.”
“Dad!” Gentry scowled, even though Hunter agreed with their father.
“Hold up, girl.” Their dad raised one hand. “I’m entitled to answer my son and to be worried about you. That said, this isn’t up to me. It’s up to you three. I’ll support whatever you do and hope for the best.”
“Jed!” Jenna whirled around so fast Hunter checked the hardwood for a divot from her heel.
“Jenna, it’s not our decision. Besides, Gentry’s twenty-six. If we want our kids’ respect, we need to give them ours. And you can’t argue that Hunter and Sara won’t be loving, thoughtful parents.” That compliment sent much-needed warmth flowing through Hunter’s heart. “Let’s not turn this into a fight. We’ve got enough of that at the office. I’m too old and tired to keep arguing with the people I love.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Hunter cleared his throat. This man—that speech—was the father he’d loved and admired his entire life. The kind of dad he’d want to be to his own children in the future. He needed to remember that, instead of viewing him as the enemy at the office. “I know it’s rough at work lately, but I appreciate your support on this.”
“You and Sara will be tremendous parents.” His dad then rubbed his knee, wincing. He did look old lately. When had that happened? He’d denied being sick when Hunter had asked the other week, but he definitely wasn’t well.
“Can I get you an ice bag, or some ibuprofen?” Sara asked, staring at his knee.
“No, honey. I’m okay. But enjoy your youth. An aging body can be a real pain in the ass.” His dad smiled at Sara, whose eyes looked suspiciously watery. He then rose from the sofa and pulled Gentry up into a hug. “Baby, don’t take this the wrong way, but I didn’t know you could be so selfless. I’m glad for it, though. And proud.”
Hunter braced for one of Gentry’s smart-aleck remarks, but she surprised him by hugging their dad and mumbling a thank-you.
Sara and Hunter both stood to offer him a hug, too. For a moment, Hunter had his dad, wife, and sister all joined together, with Jenna on the outside. This kind of moment should have shot off a tiny thrill. But given everything that was going on, he couldn’t quite muster a sense of victory. Nor could he clear the vague, ominous fog taking up space in his head and chest.
“Jenna, let’s go home.” His dad started toward the hallway.
“Jenna,” Sara called, crossing to her and giving her a stiff hug, which was pretty much the only kind Jenna could manage. “Try not to worry. As far as I’m concerned, there can never be too many people loving a child. No one will box you out. In fact, once the shock wears off, I hope you and I can share Gentry’s pregnancy journey together.”
Jenna forced a small smile and then looked over Sara’s shoulder to Hunter. “She’s the best decision you ever made.”
“I know.” Hunter grinned at Sara, reminding himself of why he was willing to take such a monumental leap of faith. She would be a fabulous mother and build a happy home for him and their children. Of that he had no doubt.
“I’m off, too,” Gentry announced. “Guess I’d better start searching out fashionable maternity clothes.”
“I think you have some time.” Sara chuckled and hugged Gentry for the hundredth time in two days.
While Sara walked everyone out, Hunter scrubbed his face with both hands and then shook them out. The stress had messed with his circulation, making his arms and feet tingly and cold.
“You’re upset?” Sara said when she returned to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of tea. “I thought your dad handled it well.”
He laid his hands on the island and hung his head. He’d just put his future in Gentry’s hands, of all people. Every day for the next several months, he’d be relying on her and her body. He’d be worrying about all the things that could go wrong and whether all three of them could be on the same page with each bump along the way. Oh, Christ, he felt like he might be sick.
Unable to give voice to those fears, he deflected. “If I thought Jenna was gunning for me with this CTC sale before, she’s going to be twice as bad now.”
Sara set down her cup, her face stricken as if he’d slapped her. “Are you seriously thinking about how this amazing gift—this beginning of our family—might affect the business?”
Why did she think these were somehow mutually exclusive events . . . as if he could separate one part of his life from the other?
“We both know that today’s conversation will make Jenna more determined than ever to stick it to me.”
Her expression pinched as if she’d swallowed bleach. “Is that why you’ve been so hesitant to get on board?”
“No. It didn’t cross my mind until today.” He saw her chest puffing up as she prepared to lay into him, so he raised a hand. “Before you start, remember that I’m going along with this adoption for you, so maybe you could stop chewing me out for trying to protect what I want, too.”
Sara pressed her lips together, clearly biting back whatever remark had zipped through her head. “Don’t you hear how it sounds when you talk about this adoption that way—like you’re doing this for me instead of for us?”
For the love of God, he didn’t understand her nitpicking his words. “Of course it’s for us. We’re married. This is our family.”
“If you know that—if you feel that way—why do you say things like ‘going along with this for you’? That makes me feel like you don’t really want a family. It makes me feel like I’m alone.”
He held his breath even though, in that moment, he wanted to stomp his foot or shout or hit the wall. Nothing he did or said came out right these days. Was this slow erosion of communication inevitable in marriage? Did anything good lie on the other side of this hideous downward slide, or were the “Hunter and Sara” of yesteryear forever gone?
“Let’s not get tripped up on semantics, Sara. You’re my wife. I love you, I want to make you happy, and I’d love a family. We’re in this together, like we’ve been for years. When I said going along with this adoption, I meant th
at it has peculiar problems that give me pause, not that I don’t want kids.” He decided to withdraw from this conversation before it turned into an argument. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to make a call.”
“Right now?” She crossed her arms. “What’s so urgent?”
“The future, that’s what. Especially if I’m going to have a growing family to take care of.” Hunter tried to cut through the tension with a quick kiss to her forehead and then went directly to his office and closed the door.
She thought she felt alone? He’d never felt more alone in his life. His father had turned his back on their long-held plans. His wife was always disappointed in his priorities. And now he’d agreed to undertake an adoption he sensed would lead to trouble.
He scrolled through his contacts until he located Rich Cortland’s number. Last they spoke, he’d expressed some interest in Hunter’s bottling idea. Now Hunter had to proceed with caution because he couldn’t talk about the Pure Foods deal thanks to the nondisclosure he’d signed, and he didn’t want Rich reaching out to his father, either.
Hopefully, his personal relationship might allow him a little latitude. He just needed to secure solid letter-of-intent terms for a bottling joint venture to present to the shareholders. If he could hammer that out before Pure Foods floated its own LOI, he’d have his best shot at saving CTC and taking it to new heights.
The next morning, Sara took her frustration out on her hair, brushing it as if plowing through thousands of tiny knots. After Hunter took off for CTC, she’d called her parents—by herself—to share their big news.
“Gentry’s sweet, but isn’t she a little flaky?” her mom asked.
“Incredibly generous is more like it.”
“Won’t it be hard to raise the baby with her looking over your shoulder and bonding with her child?” her mother’s halting voice replied.
Sara’s throat burned. “Why are you casting doubts instead of being happy for me?”
“We’re happy for you, honey. Just get everything in writing,” her dad cautioned.
The lack of unequivocal support had caused her to end the call more abruptly than planned. Even an hour later, their doubts left her a bit shaken. Her sisters hadn’t been much more enthusiastic, although Mimi had rallied toward the end of their conversation.
So far, only Sara and Gentry thought this plan was the perfect solution. Limitless gratitude overwhelmed Sara, so she decided to go pick up a little thank-you gift for her sister-in-law and then stop by the Angel House. Ty and her volunteer work there always made her feel better. Just as she was thumbing through her wallet and getting her keys, the doorbell rang.
“Gentry?” Sara’s gaze fell to the suitcases in Gentry’s hands, her stomach then following that downward turn. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t stay at home anymore. My mom’s being a nightmare about the adoption plan.” Gentry cracked her gum, staring at her expectantly. “Can I live here for a while?”
“Of course.” Sara uttered the words, envisioning Hunter’s reaction to this development. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours and already an unexpected wrinkle had surfaced. She took one of the suitcases and waved Gentry inside. “I hate to see you become estranged from your parents.”
“Become estranged? You know my mom and I never had a good relationship. I should’ve moved out a while ago.” Gentry set the bag down and sighed, quickly scratching the section of stomach revealed by her crop top. “I won’t be here forever, so don’t panic. I just need a place to crash while I look around for something I like.”
While Hunter might not be glad about this news, Sara didn’t mind the idea of company. Gentry’s attitude could exasperate others at times, but generally speaking, she’d spared Sara the worst of her moods throughout the years. Given Gentry’s current condition, Sara would be happy to make things easy for her for a while.
“I’m happy to have you here.” Sara tried to imagine Gentry’s flat belly getting round but couldn’t. She suspected Gentry would be one of those pregnant women who wore midriff-baring clothes until the very end. Maybe she should show off her body as it nourished and grew a child. Sara’s body hadn’t been able to pull it off, after all. She tore her gaze away from Gentry’s navel, blinking back the melancholy tears that had started to form. “Like I said, I’d love to participate in this pregnancy as much as you’ll allow. But I know you’ll want your own place and space, too. I’ll even help you house hunt.” Palling around with Gentry could prove fun. If nothing else, it would keep Sara busy and feeling younger. “In the meantime, maybe you can join me when I volunteer at the Angel House. They can always use more help.”
“You think I should counsel women?” Gentry made a wonky face and shook her head. “I’m not exactly a role model of responsibility, Sara. Besides, I’ll be busy setting up my own place and dealing with being pregnant. If we sell the company, I’ll have beaucoup bucks and can afford an awesome house.”
That remark burst the bubble of confidence that had been rising in Sara. Losing CTC would devastate Hunter. Lately, she’d been thinking a sale would be a gift to her marriage and future family. That once Hunter got over the loss, he’d see how much more enjoyment he’d get out of life if he were more present. But she wanted him to slow down by choice, not force. “Sounds like you’re in favor of selling.”
Gentry shrugged. “I’d never have to work again. I could travel the world in high style. Do whatever I want, whenever I want. How can I be against that?”
“That’s all true.” Sarah bit her lip, weighing her words and thoughts. Her dream of motherhood had been revived, thanks to Hunter’s cooperation, so maybe she should stay neutral in this debate.
“What?”
She shrugged. “Hunter says he can expand the business and make it worth even more down the road.”
“Down the road I could be dead or God knows where. Honestly, I just don’t understand why everyone always puts off the good parts of life until later. What if later never comes? I plan to live in the here and now. Forcing Hunter to do the same wouldn’t be the worst thing for him, you know.” She emphasized that statement with raised brows and a sharp nod.
“It’s complicated. I don’t want him to suffer, which he will if it’s forced on him before he reaches that conclusion on his own.” Surely, though, when the baby came, Hunter would fall in love and realize that he needed more balance. That people, not paperwork, would most enrich his life.
Speaking of Hunter, she had to warn him about their houseguest, but this news called for a face-to-face meeting. “I was on my way out to run errands. Pick a bedroom and make yourself comfortable. I’ll be home in a while. Maybe the three of us can have dinner at A CertainTea later.”
“Cool.” Gentry hefted her luggage and started up the stairs. Staring up at the landing, she said to no one in particular, “I always liked the lake view from the yellow guest room.”
The nursery, Sara thought, but didn’t say. It did have a beautiful view of the lake below. Its window barely cleared two lovely dogwood trees. For several weeks each spring, that sight line included pretty pink flowers. Perfect for a baby, especially if Gentry had a girl. A girl! Sara’s entire body grew warm in anticipation of those quiet moments when she’d share that view with her baby.
“See you later,” Sara called out, and then dashed over to CTC’s offices to find her husband.
As she strolled down the executive hallway, she saw that his door was closed, as always. Haru sat at her desk just outside his office, her face awash in the unflattering glow of her computer screen. A quick glance around proved that all of the assistants were similarly transfixed.
Sara didn’t miss being tied to a desk, poring over e-mails and spreadsheets and reports. Had she grown lazy, or had she simply pointed herself in a direction that she knew she’d find most rewarding?
“Hi, Haru. Is Hunter in there?”
Haru stood, her expression officious. “Yes, but he’s with Bethany and asked not to be disturbed.”
Discomfort slid through Sara. Why would Haru think Sara wouldn’t be welcome to interrupt her husband? A montage of Bethany’s admiring glances at Hunter played in her mind. She’d never thought Hunter lacked integrity, but could she be wrong? Was Bethany the reason for all the long hours? “I’m sure that doesn’t apply to me.”
Before Haru could stop her, she swung open Hunter’s door, stomach clenched, bracing for an awful revelation.
Hunter and Bethany were working at the small table in the corner beneath the painting she’d bought him in Carmel. Hunter’s focus remained aimed at the papers splayed before him. Bethany’s body canted toward his, her gaze lingering on his face as he spoke, even though he was still looking at the figures. The blouse under Bethany’s tailored pantsuit revealed more cleavage than necessary, in Sara’s opinion, but otherwise nothing untoward was happening. Her heart, which had been pounding against her ribs, settled.
Her husband looked up at her and Haru and smiled.
“Hey, babe.” Hunter rose to greet her with a kiss. “This is a surprise. What brings you by? Is something wrong?”
“That depends on your perspective.” She grimaced, thinking of Gentry’s overstuffed suitcases.
He scowled in confusion. “Bethany, can you take these estimates to your office and look through them? I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
“Of course.” Bethany gathered her things and smiled at Sara. “Nice to see you again, Sara.”
“Thanks. You too,” Sara said but didn’t mean. Not after, once again, seeing a hint of Bethany’s interest in her husband. Did Hunter notice? Did he care? She didn’t think so, but how many wives had been duped by husbands who had affairs at the office? Might Bethany eventually capture his interest? She’d seen it happen to friends, and with Hunter’s own dad, more or less.
Wives nagged about sharing the housework and kids and in-laws, while women in the office looked up to and shared the goals of men like Hunter, making those men feel smart, desirable, and successful. Reminding them of what life was like before the obligations and sacrifices required by marriage.
