“Well, I can’t wait to get the bill for this one,” Jeremy said to Tim. They were in the downstairs lobby at Hamilton Media and the office Christmas party was in full swing. “Exactly how much did we spend on this lavish spread, brother?”
Tim lifted a hand toward the Christmas tree shining brightly in the far corner. “Hey, it was worth it. We’ve had a rocky year, but we managed to stay on top of things. In spite of all the scandals, our subscriber bases with both the paper and the magazine are strong and our employees seem content—they all got Christmas bonuses.”
Jeremy touched a hand to Tim’s forehead.
“What?” Tim asked, moving his head away.
“Just checking for fever,” Jeremy teased. “Who are you, and what did you do with my Scrooge brother?”
Tim laughed, slapped Jeremy across the back. “I was never that bad, was I?”
Jeremy nodded. “You used to grumble with every gathering. You always wanted to be alone, upstairs, working. You had no time for celebrations.” He conjured up a frown. “Now I guess I get to play bad boss, since I’m more of an executive than ever before.”
“You don’t like your new job here?”
Jeremy wasn’t ready to answer that with complete honesty. “I didn’t say that. I’m just still a bit restless.”
Tim’s dark eyebrows shot up. “You’re distracted. Just like the rest of us, you have a new purpose.”
“You mean, besides living and breathing Hamilton Media?”
“Exactly.”
Tim glanced across the room at Dawn. Jeremy watched his brother’s face light up as he waved at his intended. Dawn did look pretty in her blue-and-white Christmas sweater and flowing wool skirt. She had changed his brother, that was for sure. Wishing Gabi would hurry up and get here, Jeremy wondered if he wasn’t a changed man himself. He’d certainly been through the fire lately. Now he felt as if he might just make it to the other side. And Gabi had helped him with that. He wanted to tell Tim all about his idea for the new magazine, but decided he’d do that later when there weren’t so many people around. Besides, he wanted to tell Gabi about it first, since she’d planted the idea in his head.
“I’m happy for you and Dawn,” he told his brother. “And it’s good to see you actually celebrating with everyone else.”
“I have a lot to celebrate this year,” Tim said. “Dad is on the mend, the business is solid, and you came home.”
Jeremy raised his cup of cider. “Not to mention, you are head-over-heels in love.”
“Yes, there is that,” Tim said, inching toward Dawn. “Got to go.”
“I understand,” Jeremy said, glancing around. He’d been waiting for Gabi near the lobby doors, the Gargoyles hovering nearby, their eyes sharp, their chuckles contagious as they rushed about making sure everyone had enough food and drink. But Jeremy couldn’t relax until Gabi got here. Last time they’d talked, she said she’d be here by six. It was six fifteen. Maybe he should call her again.
Or maybe he should just cool his engines. He started walking toward his mother. Nora held reign in a wing chair beside Wallace, who sat in a wheelchair basking in all the praise from family and friends. They’d come in while Jeremy was still upstairs, and had been surrounded by well-wishers since. Thinking he should at least have the courtesy to speak to his father, Jeremy stopped when Dr. Luke Strickland stepped in front of him.
“Jeremy, how have you been?”
Jeremy shook the doctor’s hand, but a wall of resentment kept him from responding with a smile. “I’m doing okay, Luke.”
Luke didn’t look convinced. “Just okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jeremy said. “Why do you ask?”
Luke ran a hand through his thick dark hair. “Look, I know you’re angry at me—for not revealing what I knew about your paternity as soon as I found out. But you have to understand—”
“I know,” Jeremy said, his hand going up. “Doctor-patient confidentiality.”
Luke nodded. “That and the fact that I already knew you weren’t a good donor match. I wish I could have spared you all this trouble, Jeremy. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
Jeremy took a calming breath. He couldn’t keep blaming everyone else for what he now knew to be the truth. He wasn’t Wallace Hamilton’s biological son, but for all of his life, he had been the firstborn son. That hadn’t changed. Things could only get back to normal if he let go of all his pain and just accepted that he’d had a good life, and he’d been protected from the truth for his own sake.
“I’m okay, Luke,” he finally said. “I’m working through all this, one day at a time. I don’t hold it against you. You were just doing your job.” He held out a hand. “And I’d like to thank you for that.”
Luke’s expression changed into a slight smile as he shook Jeremy’s hand and relaxed back on his heels. “I’m glad you feel that way. These past few months, with Wallace in the hospital, it just wasn’t the same without you.”
Jeremy nodded. “You don’t have to remind me of that. I’m back for good now.”
“Good,” Luke said. Then he gave Jeremy a playful punch on the arm. “And from what I hear, you’re doing okay in the dating department these days, too.”
Jeremy couldn’t hide his smile. “I am. If my date would just show up.”
He saw Tim motioning for him. “Look, Luke, my brother’s signaling me. That probably means the presses are down or something else dire has happened. Enjoy the party.”
Luke shook his hand again. “I’m glad we talked.”
“Me, too.” Then Jeremy leaned close. “And I hear a certain nurse might be interested in sharing a glass of punch with you.”
Luke looked surprised. “Really now?”
Jeremy pointed to Tammy Franklin. According to his mother, Wallace’s favorite nurse only had eyes for Dr. Strickland. The brown-haired, blue-eyed nurse had been watching them intently. “Wouldn’t hurt to ask.”
Luke actually looked nervous, but he lifted a hand in greeting. Tammy smiled and waved back. “You might be on to something.”
“No, buddy, you might be on to something.” Jeremy watched as Luke headed over to where Tammy stood with some of the other nurses from the hospital who’d helped Wallace through his illness. Tammy seemed very glad to see him.
Proud of his own matchmaking skills, Jeremy put off talking to his father to go and see what Tim wanted instead.
“Y’all look very serious,” he said as he entered the intimate circle a few feet from where his parents sat. Most of his siblings were there, minus their various significant others who were mingling with the merry crowd. Only Chris and Melissa were missing. Chris was on duty and was expected later and Melissa was talking to Richard and some other people on the other side of the room.
Jeremy noticed his father watching them with keen eyes. He nodded at Wallace and was rewarded with a shaky salute from his father.
“What’s up?” he said, looking at Amy.
“We were just discussing the rumor thing,” Tim said. “Have you had any luck narrowing it down?”
Jeremy let out a sigh. “If you mean, do I know who’s doing this, then no. I’ve talked to as many people around town as possible, including Betty Owens. She assures me she’s not involved and I believe her, and I never questioned her about Justine.”
Tim leaned forward. “You don’t actually believe Justine could be a Hamilton, do you?”
Jeremy looked toward their father, then back. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. We can never be sure. But I didn’t push the issue with Betty. That’s between her and our father, if it is true.”
“I don’t believe it,” Tim said, his voice rising and frustration causing him to scowl. “Anyway, back to business. I just want all this scandal to be over.”
“So do I,” Jeremy replied. “And I have been working on it. But no one here at the office can shed any light, either. I checked back over all the employee records, too, to see if anyone left mad. It all started after we found out about Dad’s illness.” He stopped, a light bulb going on inside his head. “Hey, wait a minute.”
“What is it?” Heather asked, her eyes going wide.
“When did Ellen Manning leave Hamilton Media?”
“Right after…right after you left town,” Heather said, realization dawning in her eyes. “You don’t think—”
Jeremy held up a hand, trying to connect the pieces. “You know, through this whole thing, I’ve had this nagging thought that the answer was right in front of us.”
“You think Ellen might be that answer?” Tim asked, careful to keep his voice low.
Jeremy figured his father was probably straining to hear their conversation, so he spoke in hushed tones. “I left town this summer, right after Dad got so sick. And Ellen quit at about the same time, right?”
Heather’s head came up. “Yes, right after I had to fill in as the subject at one of her Makeover Maven shoots. We had a great shoot and everything was fine, though she disappeared in the middle of it, then she didn’t show up for work the next day.”
“Ellen was ditzy, but she always struck me as very professional. It’s odd how she left,” Jeremy said.
“Very,” Amy echoed. “I’ve never made the connection, but these rumors did start circulating after Ellen quit. And she quit a day after you left, Jeremy.”
“And why exactly did she quit?” Jeremy asked.
“We never got an answer,” Heather admitted. “She just up and left after I got the makeover. She insisted I do it, but do you think she resented me for stepping in that day?”
“Could be,” Tim replied. “The woman was great at her job, but neurotic when it came to dealing with anyone who threatened her. Maybe after she talked you into it, she felt as if she’d shot herself in the foot—since you were such a great subject and a Hamilton to boot.”
Amy nodded. “Ellen was kind of paranoid. And she had this way of dating the wrong men, which only added to her insecurities. She worried about other women taking her conquests away.” Then she snapped her fingers. “If I remember correctly, she’d been dating someone new back then. She wouldn’t even talk about him, though, which isn’t like Ellen. She loved to brag about her relationships. A couple of times, she did let some tidbits slip, things like how he’d taken her to a fancy restaurant in Nashville and bought her jewelry, but she was very mysterious and closed-mouth about her new fellow.”
“Where is she now?” Jeremy asked.
“We’ve heard she’s working at the Observer,” Tim said. When Jeremy looked surprised, he added, “It’s not what you think. She’s not a top reporter. I think she’s more of a stringer and she writes ad copy on the side. Why she’d take a job like that is beyond me. She can’t be making the same money she made here, and she’s not the center of attention there, either. This is more of a background job.”
“Why didn’t any of you mention this connection?” Jeremy asked, his gaze moving from one concerned face to the other.
“Probably because we had too much else to worry about,” Amy admitted. “Ellen Manning wasn’t on our priority list, especially after she quit without giving notice.” She shrugged. “Her new job didn’t seem that high-profile, so I guess we never thought about it. With everything else going on, it didn’t seem that important. And besides, reporters and other press workers switch jobs all the time. That’s how we got Felicity and Ethan.”
“Okay,” Jeremy said, nodding. “I think I need to check Ellen out. Even if she’s not involved, she might be able to tell us if someone over at the Observer is deliberately supplying scandalous things about our family. No one else is willing to talk. Maybe Ellen will, if I corner her and hint at a libel suit.”
Heather let out a gasp as she looked toward the front doors of the lobby. “Well, now’s your chance, Jeremy. Ellen Manning just walked in the door.”
Wallace Hamilton had heard enough of the hush-hush conversation in the corner to know he had to take care of a few details before he could start his life over again. Everyone had been tiptoeing around him lately, trying to keep any bad news away from him. But he still had his own sources, in spite of being out of the loop. And he had heard the rumblings of this latest rumor, his alleged illegitimate child, even before he’d seen his own children discussing it here tonight. He just hoped Nora hadn’t heard it yet. He needed to be the one to explain to her.
Reaching a hand up to his wife, he said, “Nora, we need to talk. In private.”
“Of course, dear,” Nora said, giving Dr. Strickland an apologetic look. The doctor had stopped to say hello before heading back to the hospital.
“Are you feeling ill, sir?” Luke asked, leaning over Wallace.
“I’m fine,” Wallace said, his tone curt. “I just want to talk to my wife.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it,” Luke said, concern on his face.
Wallace ignored his hovering doctor, waving him away as Nora wheeled her husband down a hallway to an empty conference room, away from the noise of the party. Wallace craned his neck to make sure the doctor didn’t follow them. But Dr. Strickland was headed out the door, Tammy Franklin by his side. Good. He didn’t want anyone to overhear this conversation.
“What’s wrong, Wallace?” Nora asked, her voice low and unsure.
He hated the fear and pain in her eyes. He took her hands in his and looked up at her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, darling.”
“Then I hope you’ll understand what I’m about to tell you.”
“You’re scaring me,” Nora said. “Should I get the doctor back in here?”
“No, honey. Just listen.” His hands were shaking, but Nora held him steady. “I heard the kids talking—just bits and pieces, but I think I’ve figured something out.”
“What?”
“Another rumor.” He shrugged. “I heard things, at the hospital. People whisper when they think I’m asleep. And I’ve been in the news business a long time. I know the right questions to ask. But I wanted you to hear this from me first.” He let out a long shaky sigh. “Before I met you, I was kind of wild. I played around a lot.”
Nora’s smile was full of tolerance. “I know that, dear.”
“But what you don’t know is this—I…I was with Betty Owens, before you came along.”
Nora stood still, her hands holding on to him. He felt the trembling inside her. “What are you saying, Wallace?”
“Justine might be my child.”
“I didn’t want to believe that story in the Observer, but I’d wondered…”
Nora’s whole body slumped, but only for a minute. “It seems we’ve both been carrying secrets all these years.”
“That’s why I’m telling you this now,” he said, tears biting at his eyes. “I want a clean start, Nora. I don’t want any more secrets between any of us. My family is everything to me, including Jeremy. Especially Jeremy. I don’t know if this latest is true, but I heard the kids—I heard Justine’s name mentioned, and Betty’s name, and I saw the confusion on Tim and Jeremy’s faces. I’ve shamed them yet again. I’ve shamed you, too.”
Nora dropped her hands away. He thought she was going to leave him sitting there, but instead, she hugged him close and whispered. “You married me when I was carrying another man’s child, Wallace. How can I even begin to judge what you did before we got married? The shame would be in letting this change things between us. My love for you will never change.”
“Are you saying you forgive me, even if this is true?”
“Or course, darling. We’ve come too far to let the past ruin us now.” She straightened, wiped her eyes. “Wallace, you almost died. But we have a second chance. God gave us that. We need to rededicate our lives to the Lord. It’s the only way to get through this. We should go see Reverend Abernathy and get right with God again.”
“I agree,” he said, taking her hand again. “And I promise, I’m going to rededicate myself to you and our marriage, and to our family, too.” Then he swallowed hard. “Nora, I have never been unfaithful to you—not since I laid eyes on you, and certainly not since we took our vows.”
“That’s all I need to hear,” she said. Then she kissed his forehead. “It’s all going to work out.”
Wallace nodded, wiped at his own eyes. “I need to find Jeremy. All this time, I’ve waited for him to come to me, but I think he did.” He lifted his head again. “I think he visited me the other night. I know I heard his voice. He tried to reach out to me, in his own quiet way. But I need to make the next move. I need to make a public acknowledgment and an apology to him. Then I can finally be well again.”
Nora smiled. “That sounds like a good plan to me.”
Jeremy watched as Ellen Manning smiled and greeted a few of her surprised former coworkers. She was fashionably dressed in a fitted red dress, but she looked tired and harsh, as if she’d had a long, hard day. He was working his way toward her when Gabi came in the door. Relieved to see her, Jeremy waved to Gabi, taking in her pretty burgundy suit and shiny black pumps. She motioned for him to come over. He’d have to talk to Ellen later.
“Hi,” he said, taking Gabi by the arm. “I was worried.”
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she replied, sounding breathless. “I went by the church to make copies for the Christmas Eve church bulletin, but the copier at the church broke down. I couldn’t get in touch with anyone to help fix it. I brought the master copy here, hoping I could finish them upstairs, if you don’t mind me doing that.”
“Of course not,” Jeremy said. “I’ll take you up there myself.”
She shook her head. “No, you don’t have to do that. Stay here with your staff and family. I know where the copiers are. I’ve helped Dawn enough times when she was running behind on meal-delivery night. I’ll use the one out by Tim’s office, since I know how to run it, if that’s okay.”
“I don’t mind helping,” he said. “And besides, we’d get to be alone together.”
She smacked his arm, a teasing light in her eyes. “I have to get this done, so I don’t need you distracting me.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Will this get us to our romantic dinner quicker?”
“Yes, if you let me get on with it.”
“Okay, I do have something to take care of myself. You go on up and I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”
“Thanks,” she said, hurrying toward the elevator.
Jeremy watched as she explained to the ever-watchful Herman Gordon what she needed. Herman bobbed his head and helped her onto the elevator, then hurried back to his station by the food table.
Jeremy turned his attention back to Ellen. She was talking to the head of advertising and sipping a cup of punch. She glanced around, obviously nervous by the way her hands fluttered as she almost spilled her punch. Deciding it was now or never, he started toward her.
“Jeremy?”
He turned to find his father right behind him. “Hello,” he said, noticing Wallace’s animated expression. “Are you all right?”
“I’m doing great, son,” Wallace said as he wheeled his chair closer. He reached out a hand. Jeremy took that hand, and was surprised to feel the strength as Wallace squeezed his fingers. “We have a lot to talk about, but first, could you get everyone’s attention? I need to say a few words.”
“Of course,” Jeremy said, wondering what was going on. He had yet to have a real conversation with his father. Maybe he should just give up on that. And on confronting Ellen Manning, too, for now. He didn’t want to upset his parents or ruin everyone’s good cheer. Longing to sneak away with Gabi, Jeremy was torn between duty and need.
But Wallace seemed to have other ideas. He looked impatient and eager. “Jeremy, please?”
Jeremy found a glass and a knife and standing on a low sturdy coffee table, tapped the knife against the crystal to get everyone’s attention. A hush fell over the crowd as they saw father and son together for the first time in months.
“Thank you,” Jeremy said, forcing a cheery smile. “I’m so glad you’re all enjoying the party.” Then he hopped down off the table and turned to Wallace. “My father wants to talk to us.”
Wallace waited as everyone settled and stilled, his expression unreadable. Jeremy held his breath, then glanced toward his mother. Nora looked excited, but frail and drained. Her eyes were red-rimmed. What was his father up to now? Jeremy didn’t want another confrontation. He only wanted a reconciliation. But maybe he had waited too late for that to happen.