“I hope you don’t mind but Alec did tell me the reason why,” Scarlet said.
“I don’t mind. I mean, at the time I was horrified. I had that big, televised wedding... I’m sure you know what that’s like. Everyone saw it and I was really embarrassed by how fake it had become.”
Scarlet definitely got that. “I try really hard to think of all my social media stuff as a job. When I film, I think of it as getting dressed up for the day. I’m still me but I’m playing a part. Then when I’m home I’m the real me... But if I had a wedding like yours, it would have been hard. I loved it, by the way. My sister and I watched the entire thing. It was a gorgeous wedding.”
“Thank you,” Bianca said. “I had hoped to transition into doing more lifestyle modeling after it, you know, a prettied up version of my real life, focusing on being a new mother and all of that, but with my marriage breaking down and the baby, it just never happened.”
“I’m working with Kinley and Helena to do some subscription wedding boxes... Would you be interested in sponsoring a month? You would be perfect for a fairy-tale wedding planning one and then maybe you could keep it real by talking about living in the actual world after all that fantasy,” Scarlet said.
Hadley came back and handed Scarlet a glass of water and the damp towel, which she placed on the back of her neck. “I love the wedding box idea. I hope it’s ready before I get much further into planning mine. Do you have one for dealing with moms who want to take over the entire thing?”
Bianca and Scarlet both laughed at that. Hadley’s mom was definitely having a moment with two engaged daughters and enjoying planning both of them.
“Not yet,” Scarlet admitted. “We will have to do one.”
She continued talking to the other women and started to feel sort of normal again, but in the back of her mind was the reminder that no matter how much she was enjoying her time in Cole’s Hill, it was just a short interlude before she was going to have to return to her real life. Bianca’s comments tonight had made her realize she needed to make a decision about Alec, so she could start figuring out the pregnancy and childbirth part.
She liked his family and his hometown. So, if they weren’t going to be together, the thought of asking him to raise their child was becoming harder because each time she pictured that future she imagined herself with him. And she wasn’t sure that she’d fit in. Right now when she was out of control and adrift it was easier to think of letting Alec raise their baby alone, but she had started to change and she only wished she could trust herself and believe that she could be a good mother. But had she ever been good enough at anything except scandal?
Twelve
The Five Families Club house was adjacent to an eighteen-hole golf course, tennis courts and the community swimming pool. Growing up, Alec had spent most summers at the clubhouse, charging things on his family’s account and playing with his brothers and the friends he still had today. The area was named after the five families that had originally inhabited Cole’s Hill. Wanting their town to be different from the others in the area, they’d established a close bond and had often driven their cattle up to Fort Worth Stockyards together back in the frontier days.
“You’re looking...different tonight,” Mauricio said, coming up to him and handing him a Lone Star beer.
His brother had always seemed like he had too much energy, like he was going to explode if he didn’t keep moving. Their mom had often said that they were yin and yang to each other. But since Mo and Hadley had gotten engaged, his brother was calmer. Alec wanted to know what had made the difference but tonight wasn’t the time to ask.
Alec took a long swallow and then glanced around to see if anyone was close enough to hear their conversation. The coast was clear; Mal and Diego were off in a corner discussing the upcoming polo match on Sunday and new strategies for the game. “It’s Scarlet. Her blood pressure is a little high. I’m worried about her. I had been thinking of the—” he dropped his voice lower “—baby as something that we had time to adjust to and had completely forgotten that pregnancy can be complicated. And things between us are just starting to gel, you know?”
Mo clapped him on the shoulder and squeezed. “I get it. That’s how I continue to feel with Hadley and she’s even worse than I am. We both want this perfect version of life but it’s not that way... It’s messy and complicated. I don’t want to sound like a sap but do you feel like you two are a team?”
“A team?”
“Yeah, like sometimes when things get really stressful I know I can turn to Hadley and just vent or other times I don’t have to say it, she can see I’m on the verge of losing it and she helps me destress. I do the same thing for her.”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to really tell. We are getting closer, but you know me... I’m not really good at reading people,” Alec said.
“I am. And she watches you like she cares about you,” Mo said.
“I think we like each other. How did you know things were different this time with Hadley? I mean, you broke up after high school and then got back together, and did it again after graduating college, and then again when she moved to New York.”
Mo shook his head. “I didn’t, bro. I was just winging it and trying like hell to control my temper. Then I started to realize instead of being angry...that part of me, well, Hadley calmed me down and was exactly what I was missing in my life.”
“I don’t have the anger you always did,” Alec said.
“No you have a different kind of thing... Maybe emptiness?” Mo asked.
He shrugged. But his twin was right on the money. There had always been an emptiness inside him that he didn’t know how to fill. But Scarlet was starting to fill it... Maybe that was what had him so off-kilter. Because she hadn’t indicated that there was any reason for her to stick around after the baby.
“What are you two talking about?” Diego asked, coming over to them with Malcolm on his heels.
“Relationships.”
“So it’s getting serious with Scarlet?” Malcolm asked.
“Yes, but I know she’s only in town temporarily. I mean, we’ve only been together for six weeks,” Alec said, rubbing the back of his neck and taking another long swig of his beer. This discussion wasn’t what he’d intended for the evening.
“Six weeks can be a lifetime in some relationships. Helena and I dated a long time before we got married but I knew on our second date that she was the one,” Malcolm said. “Then I had to figure out how to up my game so that when I asked her she’d have no choice but to say yes.”
“How did you up your game?” Diego asked. “Pippa and I started out with lust and then, well, things sort of happened.”
“Things sort of happened?” Mo asked, jokingly. “You’re such a romantic, bro.”
“You know what I mean,” Diego said. “Some women don’t care as much about the words. It’s action that matters.”
“You have a point,” Mo said, laughing.
Actually, his older brother did have a point. Was he worrying this entire situation to death? Trying to make something out of it that wasn’t there? She was here and she was pregnant and they were together.
“I agree, but I want to add one thing, Alec. Helena didn’t need me to up my game. She’d been ready since that second date, too. She’d just been afraid to tell me,” Malcolm said. “Sometimes in love you have to take a risk.”
“Wow, I’m a few minutes late and I walk in on a therapy session,” Bart said as he approached.
“Hey, not all of us can rely on an accent to charm women,” Alec said, going over to give Bart a one-armed hug.
“It’s not just the accent, mi amigo,” Bart said. “I can try to teach you boys, but I think it might be something you’re born with.”
There was a lot of good-natured ribbing as they started playing pool. Alec realized that despite the fact that he
hadn’t really told them the entire situation with Scarlet, his friends had given him some solid advice.
Now if he could figure out a way to charm Scarlet into staying in Cole’s Hill. Into believing that he’d make a good father for their baby and that he was worth the risk of staying here.
He went to take another swallow of his beer and realized it was empty. The clubhouse kept the bar and the fridge behind it fully stocked in the pool rooms so he went and grabbed another drink. He had a lot to think about and the answer wasn’t that hard to figure out. He needed to ask Scarlet to stay or at least to stay in his life.
* * *
Scarlet was surprised when she opened the door and saw Mrs. Velasquez standing there with Lulu at her heels two days later. The dog barked once and then when Mrs. Velasquez leaned down to pet her, stood up on her back legs and just watched her. Alec’s mom was a morning news presenter in Houston and commuted to the city every day. So on her days off—according to Alec—she usually spent her time chilling out. But here she was on Scarlet’s doorstep. Though the two women had met before, they really hadn’t spent much time alone talking.
“Hello, Scarlet. I’m sorry for the intrusion. I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes to chat with me.”
“I can,” Scarlet said as her dog danced around her feet. “I was actually about to take this one for a walk. Would you like to join me?”
“That would be nice,” Mrs. Velasquez said.
“Come on inside while I get her harness and leash, Mrs. Velasquez,” Scarlet said, stepping back into the foyer.
“Please call me Elena.”
“Of course,” Scarlet said. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes... It’s just I haven’t had a chance to get to know you and I know you and Alec have been spending a lot of time together...”
“And?”
“And I wanted a chance to just chat with you. Bianca said you’re funny and smart and I think I was a bit jealous,” Elena said with a laugh.
Scarlet realized that Alec’s mom was here to see what kind of woman she was. How she would suit her son. And it was interesting—she didn’t think she’d ever been in a situation like this before.
She got the dog’s leash and they started out on their walk. The weather today was a bit cooler but not really cold.
They made small talk about the town and the upcoming open-air movie night in the park and then finally Elena stopped walking and sighed. “My husband said don’t go over there, you’ll make things awkward, and I hate to admit it but he was right, wasn’t he?”
Scarlet shrugged. “I think so. I’m not sure what you want to know about me.”
“I don’t know, either. I miss out on what goes on in the daily routine of my kids and my husband because I do the morning news show and I’m gone a lot. And I didn’t get a chance to know you at the polo match. It just wasn’t the right time. I should have invited you to lunch or something,” Elena said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I pretty much grew up without my mother, so I have no idea how to deal with situations like this,” Scarlet admitted. Talking about her mom always made her feel hollow and empty.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Elena said. “I did know your mom had passed away... I read your bio online, and am familiar with your TV show. Seems like you’ve had your share of tragedy.”
Scarlet wasn’t sure where this was leading and she didn’t really want to talk to Alec’s mom, but she wasn’t going to be rude. Plus, she and Alec had had a paternity test just to resolve the issue and make sure there were no lingering questions, so she could speak with absolute assurance if the subject came up with Mrs. Velasquez.
“I have, but I’m sure that’s not why you wanted to chat,” Scarlet said. She wondered if Elena knew she was pregnant. Scarlet had the tiniest belly but it wasn’t visible beneath the baggy top she had on.
“It isn’t. Bianca shared your news with me and, of course, I know I should wait until Alec wants to tell me, but I’ve been a career woman who has been pregnant and I know that there are other considerations... Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I’m here if you need someone to talk to. I realize you don’t have a mom and I know you are very capable but... Oh, Lord, I’m rambling.”
Scarlet was upset that Bianca had told her mother. She turned to face the older woman and saw the concern and worry on her face. She’d felt attacked a moment earlier but now she realized that Elena was concerned.
“It wasn’t Bianca’s news to share,” Scarlet said.
“I know. I tried to pretend I didn’t know but frankly that’s not the way I’m wired and after I realized you didn’t have your mom...well, I thought you might need someone. And I know you don’t know me but I want to fix that.”
Scarlet also thought she saw a bit of joy. Elena might be the first person to see this baby just as a source of joy. Unlike Alec and her, who had been busy trying to figure out what to do next.
“It’s okay. I was trying to keep it quiet as I’m not sure I’m ready for it to get out on social media.”
“Bianca swore me to secrecy, but I just couldn’t keep away,” Elena said. “I want us to try to have a relationship. It’s different with Bianca because I can just show up at her house and boss her around, but I won’t do that with you.”
Elena Velasquez was funny, Scarlet realized. And really sweet. “I’d like that. I’m not sure how long I’m going to stay in Cole’s Hill. I sort of just came to give Alec the news... Well, I actually thought he was Mo at first.”
“My boys really can be dumb sometimes,” Elena said. “Would you like to have lunch? Maybe once a week. We can do it my house or wherever you like.”
“Okay,” Scarlet said. “That sounds nice. Thank you, Elena.”
“No, thank you. I know I came over unannounced and then proceeded to be a meddlesome mom but I’m not someone who can just sit by and wait... But I won’t be too pushy. Well, I am pushy, but you can always tell me to back off,” Elena said.
Scarlet nodded. Her mom hadn’t been around since she was a child and she had very few relationships with women who weren’t her age or just a few years older, so this was different. They started walking again and Elena was more relaxed talking about current events and life around Cole’s Hill. She admitted to being glad she worked in Houston, so she could sometimes escape from the bustle of small-town gossip.
After Elena left, Scarlet tried not to let the feeling of melancholy bother her. If her father had been a different sort of man, if he’d married a woman like Elena... But he hadn’t. It was nice to have Elena now, but she didn’t need a mom. Her child would have a grandmother who wanted to be in the baby’s life, and that was something she’d never thought was a priority before.
But did Scarlet have what it took to be the baby’s mother?
* * *
Alec had asked his housekeeper to make sure the garden and pool area looked like something out of a romantic fantasy tonight. She’d sent him several pictures from which to choose and she’d hit it out of the park. The entire backyard had been lit with fairy lights in the trees and bushes. There was music playing through the landscape speakers and a thick carpet had been laid in the sitting area under the portico.
He took one more look at everything before he left to go and pick Scarlet up. Mal had been right the other night when he’d said that waiting sometimes wasn’t the answer. Alec had been letting his fear dictate his silence with Scarlet. He wanted them to be a couple, and while he was the first to admit that there was no way they were going to have everything sorted out before the baby came, they were certainly on the path to that.
So he’d done it. Pulled the trigger and gone to the jewelers in Houston to buy her a ring. He’d planned a night that would show her how much she’d come to mean to him. He could work from anywhere in the world. Unlike his brother Diego, who had to stay in Cole’s Hill be
cause of the ranch and his horses, Alec’s job was pretty much online. So he could be wherever Scarlet needed to be.
He knew his parents might not like that; his mom especially preferred that they all lived in Cole’s Hill. But she also was realistic. He’d stopped by his parents’ house the night before to talk to them about it. Though it would be embarrassing if she said no, he couldn’t ask a woman to share his life without telling his parents about her, the baby and how he wanted a life that he might have with Scarlet.
He ran his hands down the side of his dress pants, felt the ring in his pocket and realized his hands were shaking.
He had also given Mo a heads-up about his plans, but his twin said he’d already seen it coming. Alec wasn’t sure if that was true or not.
He took his time driving to Scarlet’s house to pick her up. He parked in front and fiddled with the in-car audio system so that when they got back in the vehicle, the song that had been playing the first time they danced would come on. It wasn’t a particularly romantic song—“Hey Ma” by Pitbull and J Balvin—but it was their first song.
He flipped down the mirror to check that his hair was in place and then got out of the car. He’d never felt so nervous. Then Scarlet opened the door and he saw her standing there in a cocktail dress with her hair up. Simply put, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
She was everything that he hadn’t realized he’d been looking for and suddenly he understood what Mal had meant when he said he needed to up his game. When he stood there staring at Scarlet, he had to wonder if he was good enough for her. Most of the time he was a good man but there were days when he did what he had to in order to get by. He could improve...not that she’d asked him to.
“I’ve never known you to be so quiet,” she said in greeting.
“You’re gorgeous tonight. I just can’t believe that you’re mine,” he said at last.
“Am I yours?” she asked with an arched eyebrow.
One Night, Two Secrets (One Night Book 2; Velasquez Brothers Book 3 Page 12
