0373659288 (R)

by Leanne Banks

  The crowd applauded again with several people giving shouts of approval.

  Stefan nodded. “And now, we’ll bring out the rest of our growing family to join us.”

  Several palace nannies led the royal children to stand with their parents or, in the case of the babies, to be held in their arms. The crowd gave a collective “Aw.” Sara couldn’t blame them. The royal children were decked out in festive clothing and looked adorable.

  “That’s a lot of royal kids,” Gavin said in a low voice. “That Devereaux clan has been busy.”

  Sara chuckled at his observation. “Such a happy sight.”

  “The royal family of Chantaine wishes you the happiest Christmas ever full of love, hope and peace.” With that, the entire family, including the children, waved to the crowd. “If you have candles, light them as we light the tree,” he said, giving a nod to the guard in charge of the lights.

  The crowd erupted again, and Sara lit her candle and allowed Adelaide to hold it. Gavin helped Sam with his and the boy lifted his light high above his head. Sara was braced for Adelaide to try to put the plastic candle in her mouth, but the baby seemed entranced with the light it emanated.

  A children’s choir sang a Christmas carol. As the children’s voices rang through the night, Sara’s eyes filled with tears at the sweetness of the sound and the message. She blinked, but one tear escaped.

  She felt Gavin slide his arm around her waist. “Are you okay?” he asked in a low voice.

  She nodded. “It’s just so peaceful and wonderful.”

  He nodded in agreement and brushed his lips over her forehead. Her heart was so full.

  They stayed for the Christmas blessing given by a village priest and for the first song performed by the orchestra. Sam watched silently, then turned around and tugged on Gavin’s shirt sleeve. “Look, Daddy,” he said in an excited loud voice. “There’s a man playing the piano just like Miss Sara does.”

  Sara felt her cheeks heat in self-consciousness.

  “You’re right,” Gavin said and put his finger over his lips. “Indoor voice.”

  “But we’re outside,” Sam said.

  At that point, Adelaide began to squirm and make fussy noises. “I think it may be time to go,” she said and Gavin nodded in agreement.

  They exited to the spot where Gavin had parked the car, and they loaded the children into their safety seats. As soon as they arrived home, Sara changed the baby’s diaper, fed her a bottle and put her to bed while Gavin gave Sam a snack and put his son to bed.

  She met Gavin in the hallway and he took her hand, leading her toward the den. “What a lovely evening,” she said.

  “Yeah. We got out just in time, considering Adelaide screamed most of the way home,” he said, tugging her under the mistletoe. “You know what Sam would say right now, don’t you?”

  She smiled up at him. “Sam would say that since you’re under the mistletoe, someone has to kiss you. And that someone is me.” She lifted up on tiptoe to kiss him. Gavin put his arms around her and deepened the kiss. He pulled back after he’d left her breathless.

  “Tonight was nice,” he said. “Felt like family.”

  A crazy thrill raced through her at his words because she felt the same way. It truly had felt as if they were a family. She lifted her hand to touch his strong chin. A strong man with a strong but gentle soul, she thought. How had she gotten so lucky?

  “I think I’m—” Her cell phone rang, interrupting her confession. She thought to ignore it, but so few people knew her number. Sighing, she gave a weak smile and pulled back. “Sorry. I should probably take this.”

  Glancing down at the phone, she saw that it was Tabitha. She immediately answered. “Hey, there. What’s up?”

  “I need you,” Tabitha said with a sob.

  Alarmed, Sara felt her heart take a dip. “Of course, I’ll come to you. What is it? Are you ill?”

  “Yes, but I hear it only lasts nine months. I’m pregnant,” she wailed.

  “Oh, dear. I’ll be right there. Right away. I just need to tell Ga—” she corrected herself “—Mr. Sinclair. We will handle this.”

  She felt Gavin’s curious gaze on her. “Who was that?”

  A lump formed in her throat. Another lie? she taunted herself. She closed her eyes. “I’m not supposed to say. All I can tell you is that it is someone very dear to me and this is an emergency. I must go right now. I’ll call the palace on the way and ask them to send a nanny in the morning. I’m sure they’ll be more than willing to help.”

  Gavin took her hand. “You’re as cold as ice. Are you sure there isn’t some way I can help you? I don’t want you driving when you’re this upset.”

  “I’ll be okay. It’s just a shock,” she said, trying to think of how she and Tabitha would handle this. The only thing she knew for sure was that they would get through it together.

  “Of course, I’ll let you go, but Sara,” he said with a warning note in his voice, “I need answers, and I need them soon.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sara coached herself to remain calm as she drove to Tabitha’s apartment even though she didn’t know how they were going to handle this. She scrambled for a plan. Princess Ericka would need to be told immediately. The Devereaux family would have to release them from the rule that Sara and Tabitha couldn’t be seen together in public. If Sara was going to help Tabitha with the pregnancy and subsequently the child, then she couldn’t continue to remain in hiding.

  Perhaps the Devereaux clan would toss them out of Chantaine. Sara’s heart raced in terror at the thought. That was the worst-case scenario. Right? No, there were worse things that could happen to her family. Some of those things had already happened.

  Pulling in alongside Tabitha’s apartment building, Sara took a deep breath and another then got out of her car and climbed the stairs to her sister’s apartment. She barely knocked on the door before it was flung open and Tabitha pulled her inside.

  Her sister’s face was red from crying, and it broke Sara’s heart to see her suffering. “Oh, sweetheart, come here.” She held Tabitha in a close embrace. “It’s going to be okay,” she said as much for herself as for Tabitha. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “How can it be okay?” Tabitha wailed, sobs racking her slim frame. “I’m pregnant. I’m going to have a baby, and I’m working in a restaurant under a fake name.” Tabitha pulled back slightly. “Tell me, what about this is okay?”

  Sara studied her sister’s face. “I guess I should ask you if you want to keep the baby.”

  Tabitha stared at her in shock. “Of course, I’m keeping my baby.”

  “Well, that takes care of a few questions,” Sara said. “Why don’t we sit down?”

  “I don’t know if I can,” Tabitha said. “I’m so terrified I feel like I’m going to shatter into a million pieces. What am I going to do?” she asked as she allowed Sara to guide her to the sofa.

  “Sit down and I’ll pour some tea for you. Do you have some chamomile?”

  “Yes,” Tabitha said, wringing her hands as she sank onto the sofa “This is such a mess. I’ve got to figure out how to make a living to support my child,” Tabitha said, her voice jagged with panic.

  Sara poured the tea and brought two cups into the den. She placed them on the table. “First, you’ve got to stop saying I. You are not in this alone. You and your child will have me by your side. I will help you provide for this child. We can and will work this out.”

  Tabitha picked up her cup and took a sip. “But what about our agreement with the Devereaux family? I don’t know how we can hide the fact that we’re sisters if you’re helping me the way you say you plan to,” she said. She pressed her lips together. “Thank you for being such a wonderful, dear sister to lousy me.”

  “Stop that. You’re not lousy. I love you. I couldn’t not be here for you,” Sara insisted.

  “That still doesn’t solve our situation with the Devereaux family,” Tabitha said.

 
; “If they throw us out of the country, then we’ll just find somewhere else to go. I don’t think we can go back to Sergenia, but maybe tempers have cooled a little since we’ve left. It has been over a year.”

  “There was a lot of anger,” Tabitha said.

  “Yes, there was and we were the target. Now that the target has been removed, maybe people will realize that we actually didn’t have much to do with the Sergenian economy, after all.”

  “That’s very logical,” Tabitha said. “But when people get into stressful situations, they’re not always logical.”

  “We will work this out, Tabitha,” Sara said, placing her hand over her sister’s hand.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Look at what we’ve been through during the past year and a half,” Sara said. “We’ve made it through despite all the threats, uncertainty and change. We can make it through this, too. So...about the father,” she began, trying to tread lightly.

  Tabitha took another sip of tea and took a shaky breath. “It’s Christoph. We used a condom every time except once. Who would have dreamed that when I was giving my cheeky advice to you, I was already pregnant?” she said in a dark tone. “He gave me his cell number, but he hasn’t returned my calls.”

  “Are you in love with him? Were you in love with him?”

  Tabitha grimaced. “I don’t know. He was more of an escape for me. I could forget about how unhappy I was when I was with him. He made me laugh and he was very handsome. To be perfectly honest, I don’t know if I could fall truly in love with anyone at the moment. As you know, our lives have been chaos central.”

  Sara nodded, although she was surprised by Tabitha’s practical response about love. Sara couldn’t be nearly so practical about her feelings for Gavin and the children.

  “Well, I think you should take a hot shower and put on some clean nightclothes and let me tuck you in to bed,” Sara said. “I’ll sleep out here on the sofa. If you need me for anything, you can just call for me.”

  Tabitha’s lower lip trembled. “How can you be so kind?”

  “You would do the same thing for me,” she said.

  Tabitha took another deep breath. “Yes, I would.”

  “Okay, then get your shower. Things won’t look so dire after you’ve gotten some rest. I’ll call the restaurant tomorrow to tell them you’re sick and you can’t come in. You need a day to rest and let me pamper you with take-out food.”

  Tabitha reached toward her and hugged her tightly. “Thank you for coming.”

  After borrowing one of Tabitha’s nightgowns, Sara helped her sister into bed and then stretched out on the sofa. She stared up at the ceiling, wondering if she would get any sleep herself. For all the reassurance she’d given Tabitha, there was a lot to be figured out. Questions and possibilities whirled through her mind, making her more weary with each passing moment.

  Sara told herself she couldn’t solve all of this tonight, but they would make it work. Between the two of them, Sara knew that she and her sister had enough determination to conquer this newest challenge.

  The next day, she burned the toast the first time she made it. The second time, it turned out fine. Tabitha awakened in a quiet mood. Sara hoped her sister would be able to find a bit of her sense of humor, but she understood it might take a while. Sara settled Tabitha on the sofa with a soft blanket and pillow where her sister watched mindless television and napped. During the afternoon while her sister rested, Sara made a trip to the market for soup, crackers and soda. Then she picked up some food from the bistro down the street.

  By evening, Tabitha had sipped soup, eaten a sandwich and was ready to dig into the chicken Sara had brought her. “My appetite is so strange. One moment, I detest food. The next moment, I can’t seem to get full.”

  “At least we know you don’t have the flu or some horrid disease,” Sara said.

  “I’ve been thinking about it and this is going to turn my life upside down. But, as you said, our lives have already been turned upside down. Maybe this turn will make it all turn out right again.”

  Sara smiled as she watched her sister eat. “You sound much calmer today.”

  “Thank God you came over. I don’t know how I could have survived that level of hysteria much longer.”

  That glimmer of humor gave Sara hope. Tabitha would find her way through this. “I’m going to stay another night,” she began.

  “No, you’re not,” Tabitha said. “That darling man and his darling children are probably lost without you. I’ll be fine. I’m going back to work tomorrow.”

  “Are you sure?” Sara asked. “Maybe you should take another day.”

  “And do what? Sit on the sofa and feel sorry for myself?” Tabitha asked.

  “The palace has provided a relief nanny for Gavin and the children,” Sara continued. “It wouldn’t hurt you to have another day of rest.”

  “Yes, it would. I’ll just sit around and mope and worry. If I’m working, I’ll be busy and solutions will come along when I’m not straining for them. So go,” Tabitha said. “You came when I needed you, and I’m confident I’ll be needing you again.”

  “If you’re sure,” Sara said, surprised at the quick return of Tabitha’s independent nature.

  “I’m sure,” she said. “Now off you go.”

  “Only if you promise to call me if you need me for anything,” Sara said.

  “Yes, of course,” Tabitha said.

  “And you’ll stay in touch and return your calls,” Sara said.

  “Now you’re being a bit of a nag. I’m pregnant. Women have been doing this forever. There’s no reason I can’t muddle through it, too,” she said. Then she smiled and stood and held out her arms. “One more hug, please.”

  Her heart filled with love and protectiveness, Sara gave her sister a big hug, then returned to the Sinclair house. She was eager to see Gavin and the children, but she dreaded the prospect of not answering Gavin’s questions. She totally understood his need to know. If the tables were turned, she wasn’t sure she would be able to be quite so patient.

  Pulling into the driveway, she said a little prayer that her return would be smooth. She walked in the front door to find him sitting in the den working on his laptop. He looked up to see her. “You’re back.” He put his laptop aside and stood.

  Her heart turned over at the sight of him. Just the sound of his voice made her feel so much better. She walked toward him. “Yes, I’m back. Are the children in bed?”

  “Yes. They missed one of their naps during the day today, so they went down early. Is your emergency taken care of? Is everything okay?”

  She smiled, although it took some effort. “I can say there’s no more hysteria, and that’s a good thing.”

  “Hysteria,” he repeated. “Sounds mysterious.”

  “I wish I could tell you,” she said.

  “I’m not asking. Right now, anyway. But we do need to talk,” he said. “Glass of wine?”

  She shook her head. Something about his tone was serious and unwavering. She felt a strange sense of foreboding and told herself to stop. If he wasn’t going to ask questions about all her secrets, then it couldn’t be so bad. Right?

  “Let’s sit down,” he said, leading her to the sofa.

  Again, she felt that niggle of nerves, but pushed it aside. She sat a little bit away from him and waited.

  “I’ve received some good news. We’ve caught up on the project and it will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.

  “That’s fantastic news. Congratulations,” she said.

  “Thank you. It wouldn’t have been possible without your support of me and the children.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you would have managed it. You’re the kind of man who gets things done.”

  He nodded. “I need to be making plans for my next position. I’m leaning toward taking the kids back to the States,” he said.

  Sara’s stomach felt as if it had thudded to the floor. “Oh, that’s right,” she said.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll make the best decision for all of you.”

  “I want you to come with us,” he said.

  Surprise rendered her speechless. “Pardon me?”

  “I want you to come with us. The children have flourished under your care. I’ll pay you very well and make sure you take your vacation days. You don’t seem to have anything holding you here in Chantaine. After all, you just arrived last year, so I can’t believe you’ve put down roots.”

  Sara blinked. His offer was both exhilarating and heartbreaking. He was determined to keep her with his family, but he knew offering her anything more than a job would have been crazy. She was devastated by the idea of not having Gavin and the children in her life. She’d known she’d grown attached to them, but the reality of them leaving wrenched at her.

  Her insides felt as if she were being torn apart. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes,” he said.

  Sara closed her eyes. Her inner turmoil was so strong, she felt nauseated. “I can’t,” she finally managed.

  “Why?” he asked.

  She inhaled a sharp, painful breath. “I can’t tell you.”

  Gavin’s face hardened. “Is it to do you with all your secrets? Something about your emergency?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “It is.”

  “Sara, this is important. I thought you loved my children,” he said.

  “I do,” she said. “I do. Much more than I thought possible.”

  “I can’t imagine anything that would keep you from sticking with us, then. You’re not married, are you?”

  “Oh, no,” she said. “No.”

  “Are you a criminal?”

  “Absolutely not,” she said. “I just can’t come with you. I can’t.”

  “I wish I could believe you,” he said. “But to turn this down with no explanation—” He broke off. “Maybe you care, but you just don’t care enough. Don’t worry,” he said bitterly, rising from the couch. He picked up his laptop and looked down at her. “We’ll just have to get by without you. You need to at least let the children know, so they won’t grow more attached to you than they already have.”