“Of course, Auggie.”
“Ladies, will you please join me in there?” August asked.
Zac watched as his mom nodded but Nick stepped in front of Cora. “I don’t think so. She’s not going anywhere with you. I want to know what’s going on. Why are they calling you Bonnie?”
“I agree with Nick,” Adler said, going over to her fiancé and taking his hand. “What’s going on?”
Juliette stood up and looked at Iris and Gran, and both of the women walked out of the room. But Zac stayed. This was his family and he wanted to know what was happening.
The butler closed the door to the conservatory. The groups in the room formed an odd triangle. Zac and his mom were on one side, his father and Carlton on another and Nick, his mom and Adler finished the formation. His father looked like he was going to lose his temper, his mom looked scared and Cora looked defensive.
He glanced over at Adler. She looked pale and afraid.
“Dad, how do you know Nick’s mom?” Zac asked.
“I don’t think you should be—”
“Just answer him, August. Tell our son how you know Nick’s mom,” his mom said.
From the tone of his mom’s voice, Zac had the sinking feeling that Cora had been one of his father’s other women. God, this was a mess. Had his father become her lover to get back at his rival Tad Williams?
“They were friends,” Carlton said. “A long time ago. She was an intern who worked at the company just after Darien was born.”
“Friends?” Nick asked, looking down at his mom. “With August Bisset?”
“Yes, dear,” Cora said. “It was before I knew your father. We were friends.”
“How do you know Juliette?” Nick asked. “Were you all friends?”
His mom’s shoulders straightened and she shook her head. “No. That’s not how we know each other. I met your mom the night I gave birth to Logan.”
“We were in the hospital together. Both of us. In that rural hospital in the middle of a storm.”
August looked at Cora and then shook his head. “You gave birth the same night as Jules?”
“I did,” she said. “Unfortunately, I was a single mom and Juliette was kind to me.”
“I know how hard it can be,” Zac’s mom said.
There was more to it. He could feel it in the room. A single woman giving birth at the same hospital as... Zac looked at his dad as he came to a conclusion that he hoped was wrong. Had his dad been Cora’s lover? Was he Nick’s father? Hell. He hoped not because then this entire wedding weekend was going to be a lot tougher than he’d thought it would be.
“Dad?”
“Zac.”
“Is Nick your—”
“Niece’s fiancé?” Carlton asked. “Because that’s really the only question that makes sense, Zachary.”
“Carlton, enough. It’s just us. I want the truth,” Zac said. “Adler deserves that. Hell, I think we all do.”
He turned to look at Nick, who was staring down at his mother, and he saw the truth on the older brunette’s face. She started to cry and before anyone could say anything else, the door burst open and Tad Williams walked in. He went straight to his wife’s side. “What did that bastard say to you?”
But Cora couldn’t answer. She just shook her head and Tad pulled her into his arms. Nick was looking at his mother and then back at August and then he just walked out of the room. Adler ran after him and Zac wondered if he should leave, but when he started to go, his mom held on to his wrist, keeping him by her side. He looked over at her.
“Please.”
He nodded and put his arm back around her shoulder. Zac knew he shouldn’t be surprised because his father had never been a one-woman man. But in recent years he’d started to mellow and settle down. He’d been a good husband to his mom since Mari’s birth. But this was a secret from the past and it was coming back to bite them. The kind of secret that could hurt them all. Not like the secret he and Iris had. That one was just between the two of them.
He’d made damned sure of that. “Dad, is Nick your son?”
“What?” Tad asked. “What is he talking about?”
* * *
Juliette had never felt like this before. She knew that Nick was August’s child, which meant that Logan, the twin she’d raised, was August’s child too. She’d always felt bad about deceiving her husband but now she felt sick. This complicated game that she and August had been playing with each other for forty years was now going to ensnare too many other people. And their sons would be hurt. Mari had been the product of their reconciliation after August’s blatant affair in the early ’90s but this was from almost a decade earlier. At the time, Juliette had never suspected her husband was having an affair.
She’d had some postpartum depression after Darien’s birth and it had taken her a long time to get pregnant with her second child. The pregnancy had made things start to feel better between them. She had the feeling now that she’d been fooling herself. Because Cora had been pregnant at the same time with who she now truly believed were August’s twins.
“I asked a question,” Tad said.
“Tad, honey, August and I—”
“She worked for me, Tad. After you left the company, we had those interns come in and Bonnie—I mean Cora—was one of them.”
Zac knew there was bad blood between Tad Williams and his father but not being a part of the day-to-day operation at Bisset Industries, he didn’t know the details.
“Did he work for you?” Zac asked.
“I was an intern at the company for a short while until your father had me fired,” Tad explained.
“You weren’t performing up to expectations,” August said.
“Whatever. How could you have an affair? You had a new wife and baby at home,” Tad said.
“You’re right, I did,” his dad said. “I can make no excuses, only apologies. I wasn’t the man I am today. When I saw something I wanted, I went after it. I didn’t care who I hurt. And, Jules, my love, you know I regret that. I don’t regret it if Nick is my son. Cora was my lover at about that time. But I assumed he was your son.”
“No, Cora and I started dating when Nick was three months old,” Tad said. “Cora?”
“August is the father. I never told him I was pregnant. I ended things as soon as I realized that he had a wife and baby at home.”
Zac wasn’t sure what to say. This wasn’t at all what he’d been expecting when he’d come to his gran’s house for lunch with Adler’s fiancé’s family.
The conservatory doors opened again, and this time Logan and Leo walked in. Both of his brothers came straight toward him and his mom.
Logan put his hands on his hips, “What’s going on? Adler is in tears. I really couldn’t understand a word she said but she mentioned Dad...”
“Oh, God,” Zac said. “Dude, there’s no easy way to say this but it seems like your archenemy in business might be related to us.”
“What the f—!” Logan didn’t handle the news well. He turned on their father, who held his hands up.
“I just learned about it a second ago,” their dad said.
Their mom put her hand to her throat and walked out of the conservatory and August followed.
“No one talks to the press. We need a meeting to figure out how to do this properly,” Carlton said. “Mr. and Mrs. Williams, do you have a PR person, or would you like me to run point on this.”
“We don’t have a PR person,” Cora said. “Nothing like this happens to us.”
“I’ll handle it for you,” Carlton said, patting Cora on the arm. “Don’t worry. This isn’t going to be a big deal.”
“I guess when you’re used to cleaning up after August Bisset, it seems that way to you,” Tad said. “But we are straight shooters. The Williams family doesn’t cover up the truth.”
Carlton nodded. “I know you and August have had issues in the past, but there is no way that you and your wife look good in this scenario if you go public with just the truth. August has a child he knew nothing about. You can see how that will play in the press.”
Cora started crying and Tad put his arm around his wife. Zac walked over to them. He wasn’t involved in the Bisset business. He felt that of all his brothers, he was the one who could liaise most easily with the Williams family.
“Carlton will make this right for all of us,” Zac said. “He’s not going to do anything that will put you in a bad light, Mrs. Williams. Isn’t that right?”
“Of course. I’m sorry if it seemed I might,” Carlton said. “We just have to cover all of the bases.”
“I can’t do this right now,” Cora said.
“You don’t have to,” Carlton said. “I’m sorry I came on strong. Would you both come with me and we can figure out how you want to handle this announcement? I can tell you from past experience that we want to be the ones controlling the narrative.”
Carlton led the Williamses out of the room and Zac turned back to his brothers. He hadn’t seen them in person in over six months. “This isn’t how I envisioned our reunion.”
“Damn,” Leo said, coming over to hug him. “It’s good to see you, but what the hell happened?”
“Let’s go get some cold ones and I’ll tell you,” Zac said.
“I can’t,” Logan said. “Is Nick really related to us? I mean, I hate that guy. I know Adler’s marrying him and I was willing to be cordial but he can’t be our half brother. I mean, he’s the worst.”
Zac clapped his older brother on the shoulder and squeezed. “I think he is. We’ll figure out how to deal with him. Maybe he’s not as bad as you imagine.”
“Who’s not?” Dare asked, coming into the room. He had his phone in one hand and a whiskey glass in the other. “Carlton told me you’d catch me up.”
“We’re all going to need something to drink,” Leo said, leading them out of the conservatory to the lounge down the hall with the built-in bar. Iris and Gran were already sitting there and the women glanced up as they came in. Zac heard his brothers talking to his grandmother but he ignored them as Iris smiled at him. Who knew their charade would be the least exciting secret this weekend?
Fourteen
Iris didn’t know how to help the actual situation they were in, but she did know how to be a good friend. When Adler came to the doorway and Iris saw the tears on her friend’s face, she didn’t even hesitate. She grabbed her friend’s hand and took her upstairs to the bedroom that she knew Adler used when she was at her grandmother’s house.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “How’s Nick?”
“Nick’s mad. He’s mad at his mom, his dad and August. It’s just too much. You know I never thought that he’d have anything like this happen in his life. Oh, my God, this is something I’d expect from my dad. He’s going to be completely crazy about this. He told me that I couldn’t escape the chaos of life,” Adler said.
Her friend was rambling and pacing around the bedroom. Iris saw that her hands were shaking.
“It’s okay. Chaos is your friend,” Iris said. “Your dad is going to be protective. Is he on Nantucket yet?”
“I don’t know. I was supposed to text him when everyone was here. He was planning to come over and diffuse the tension between the Bissets and the Williamses,” Adler said. “Given these new developments, I don’t think even Dad can do that.”
Adler stopped in front of the big bay window looking out at the ocean and Iris went over and hugged her. “What do you want me to do?”
“Make this all go away,” Adler said.
“I can do that. We can leave Nantucket and go off grid until this passes.”
Adler started crying and Iris hugged her friend harder. She didn’t know how to fix this. She didn’t know what impact Nick’s paternity was going to have on Adler. Clearly she and Nick weren’t related, as Nick was Cora and August’s son; Adler wasn’t a blood relation to August. But still, this was the kind of thing that Adler hated. She didn’t like the jet-set party scene, or the bohemian live-for-the-moment mind-set. She wanted normal.
“Nick was supposed to be my Cory.”
“I know,” Iris said. Adler was referring to Cory from Boy Meets World. Growing up, the show had been their favorite to escape into. They’d loved that family dynamic and Adler had craved it for herself.
Adler’s phone started ringing but she didn’t make a move to see who it was.
“Want me to handle that?”
“Who is it?”
Iris glanced down at the screen. “It’s your dad.”
“Let me talk to him,” Adler said. She took the phone and Iris stepped away to give her some semblance of privacy.
Iris was worried about Nick and Adler. This wasn’t the news they needed two days before their wedding. She pulled out her own phone and texted Nick to ask if he was okay.
She got back a thumbs-up emoji.
She couldn’t leave Adler and she knew that Nick needed someone. She didn’t have any of his siblings’ phone numbers and she wasn’t sure if it was the right solution or not but she texted Zac.
Would you go and check on Nick? I think he’s alone and he might need someone to listen.
She got an almost instant response. Where is he?
Iris used the location service on her messaging app. Nick was at the yacht club. Probably in the bar. At least he wasn’t driving.
She sent the information to Zac.
On my way to see him. I’ll tell him you sent me. He might not want to talk to me.
At least he won’t be alone. Thanks.
No problem. This wasn’t how I saw the day going.
Me either.
I’m glad you’re here with me.
Me too.
She didn’t have to think too hard about it. Seeing the people she loved, a family she thought she knew, thrown into a maelstrom was hard to witness. Knowing that they were going to have to put on a good public face when all of the guests started arriving made her glad she was here. She could help with that. And being with Zac was giving her a safe base to do it from. She wasn’t just Adler’s friend; she was posing as Zac’s girlfriend and this family drama included her.
Adler collapsed back on the bed as she ended her call with her dad. “What am I going to do?”
Iris went over and lay down next to her on the bed. “About what?”
“Nick. The wedding. Everything. This isn’t what I signed up for.”
“Do you love him?”
“I thought I did.”
“Do you still want to marry him?”
Adler leaned up on her elbow. “I don’t want the media circus that this could become but I do want to marry him. But Nick isn’t the same guy now.”
“I wish it were simple. I’ve never seen two people as in love as you guys were,” Iris said. “Are you strong enough to handle this?”
“I don’t know,” Adler said. “Our love has been easy. We’ve never been tested like this.”
“You’ve handled way worse,” Iris said.
“But that was easy because I was sort of removed when dad was having his issues with the media,” Adler said. “It’s simpler when I’m not in the direct spotlight.”
“I know. But you won’t be for long. If I know your dad, he’ll do something outrageous to keep the attention off you. He loves you more than any other person on the planet.”
Adler nodded. “That wouldn’t be good either because he’s just started to settle down. He can’t go back to being outrageous again and living that rock’n’roll lifestyle. I mean he’s barely recovered—”
“He won’t,” Iris interrupted. It was hard enough for Adler to worry about Nick, let alone having to worry abou
t her dad.
“Oh, my God. I shouldn’t have let Nick leave alone. I freaked out about my perfect wedding,” Adler said. “He’s just found out a man he hates is his father.”
“I know. I sent Zac to find him,” Iris said.
“I think I need to go to him. We have to talk about what this means for us.”
Iris agreed. Her friend was too emotional to drive so she went with her. They snuck out of the house because Adler didn’t want to risk running into any of her cousins or her uncle on the way.
* * *
Zac picked up two Maker’s Marks, straight, before approaching Nick. The other man looked like Zac had felt when he’d walked away from the UK team he’d been part of and decided to strike out on his own. He’d had no idea if any of his friends would come with him and it had been a lonely, lonely feeling.
“Nick, would you like some company?”
Nick glanced up at him and for the first time since Zac had known him—which, granted, wasn’t long—the man didn’t look at ease. His eyes were bloodshot and Zac noticed that his knuckles were scraped as if he’d punched a wall.
“I brought a double, figured you could use it,” Zac said.
Nick took the drink and pushed the chair opposite him out with his foot. Zac sat down and took a swallow once Nick drank some of his.
“Iris sent me. I would have come on my own but had no way of getting in touch with you.”
“Thanks, man. I’m not sure what the hell is going on and I know I’m not the best company right now.”
“That’s cool. I spend most of my time on the ocean fighting against the wind and waves and trying to prove I’m nothing like the rest of my family,” Zac said.
“Your family...”
“It’s yours too, right? I mean we don’t have to talk about it but I want you to know that we’re not as bad as you might think.”
Nick downed the rest of his whiskey. “I can’t do this right now. I was already a little nervous thinking of marrying Adler and starting my own family and then to learn that everything I knew about myself was a lie...”
Her One Night Proposal (One Night Book 4) Page 13
