Gracie lay low for the next few days. She didn’t want to see anyone, and she certainly didn’t want to do an interview. News vans had parked outside her house for two days, but by the third day, they’d found the next new big scandal and left. Thanks to Sebastian and his lies, she’d been like a prisoner in her own home. The flowers he sent every day had been returned, the notes went unopened. Sebastian continued to text her, continued to clog up her voice mail with messages, until finally, because he’d given her no choice, she decided to confront him.
On Friday morning, she put her long dark hair up in a ponytail, and tossed on a ball cap and sunglasses. Wearing jeans and a big bulky sweater and no makeup, she got into her car, making sure no one was following her, and drove to Sebastian’s office on the outskirts of town.
She parked in the large parking lot and sat there, determined to set him straight, make her point and get away from him as quickly as possible. But her heart still ached, and it was difficult to make the move, difficult to get out of the car.
“You’re doing the right thing, Gracie,” she whispered to herself. She had to put the future she’d always dreamed about out of her mind. Had to make a clean break. Sebastian would be free to date anyone he wanted. She’d make that clear, too. Just thinking of the humiliating photos and articles written about her gave her the incentive she needed to get out of the car and march toward Sebastian’s office. As luck or fate would have it, she was nearing the building when she heard her name called from behind.
“Gracie? Is that you?”
She turned to find a blonde-haired, green-eyed Wingate approaching. For a second, she thought it was Sutton, but as he strode closer, she knew it was definitely not him. She’d learned the tiny nuances that other people usually didn’t notice to determine it was Sebastian.
He seemed glad to see her, his eyes so very green at the moment, his handsome face filled with hope. A less determined woman might just melt on the spot, but she wouldn’t allow that to happen. If she had to confront Sebastian in the parking lot, so be it.
She acknowledged him with a nod.
“Gracie, I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”
“I guess I didn’t want to be reached, Sebastian.”
“I’m sorry about this whole mess. If you’ll let me explain, I’ll—”
“I don’t want to hear your explanations, Sebastian. I doubt I’d believe them. I only came here to tell you we’re through. You can stop sending flowers and notes. They don’t mean anything to me.” She took a breath, watching the light dim in his eyes, watching his demeanor change instantly.
“You’re not even going to hear me out?” he rasped.
“Are you saying you didn’t lie to me countless times?”
“I—I... Okay I did, but for a good reason.”
“There’s no reason that’s good enough for me,” Gracie said adamantly. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to see you anymore. I think it’s best this way.”
“It’s not best. You can’t break up with me like this. You have to be reasonable and allow me to explain.”
His voice held an edge, as if he was barely holding on to his anger. She knew why he was so upset, aside from being caught in the act. It was because of the baby. He wanted an heir, his own flesh and blood, but he didn’t want her. Sebastian had never claimed to love her. He’d rebuffed her marriage proposal almost instantly, making her feel unworthy yet again. And worst of all, he may have pursued her solely for her money.
She lifted her chin, more determined now to make things clear. “I won’t get in the way of you seeing the baby, Sebastian. I’m not that cruel. You’ll have generous visitation rights. The child should know its father. We’ll work something out between our attorneys when the time comes.”
“We’ll work something out between our attorneys,” he repeated, his voice a low growl. “That’s not the way we should approach this, and you know it, Gracie.”
“I know of no other way.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I can think of a dozen different ways, and they all start with you letting me explain.”
“Ever since we’ve met, I’ve listened to your explanations, Sebastian. I’ve heard about enough this time.” She released a quavering breath. “I’m humiliated and hurt and angry enough to cut you completely out of my life. Am I sorry about this? Yes, but it’s not my doing. It’s yours.”
Sebastian closed his eyes briefly. “We can’t be through.”
His plea broke her heart all over again. “You’re free to see anyone you want. You can go about your business and—”
“I don’t want to see anyone else! Damn it, Gracie, listen to me. I have no feelings for Rhonda—”
“Stop. Just stop, Sebastian. No more. I have to think about the baby and how this turmoil is affecting my pregnancy. If I do know one thing, it’s that you care about this child. At least, I think so.”
“Of course I do,” he said firmly.
“F-fine, then. If you care about the health of this baby, let me walk away. I need you to. This is hard for me, Sebastian. Maybe you don’t realize how much, but I’ve let you hurt me enough. I can’t do it any longer. I don’t have the strength.”
Sebastian stared at her, his gaze penetrating, and she recognized the exact moment he relented. His face fell, his shoulders slumped and he shifted his stance ever so slightly to let her pass.
She stepped away from him and squeezed her eyes closed, saying a silent goodbye to her dream. Her heart hurt now, more than it ever had. Putting one foot in front of the other, she moved through the parking lot, got into her car, took one last look at Sebastian and then drove off. She was doing what she had to do to protect herself and the baby, yet the pain was almost unbearable.
It was hard to believe that just a week ago, Gracie had proposed marriage to him and he, like a fool, had reacted badly. It wasn’t that he didn’t love her, he did. He was just coming to the realization that Gracie was his whole world, when she’d proposed and caught him off guard. Now that she’d cut him out of her life, it was a vital wound to his heart, a stabbing pain that ached with every breath he took.
But he loved her beyond belief and he wasn’t about to let her go so easily. He’d just have to show her she couldn’t get rid of him so fast. That he was in it for the long haul. So he mustered his bravado and entered the birthing center, enduring the stares of the couples who now knew more about him than he’d like. But he was here for Gracie and their baby.
He waited around for Gracie, hoping to prove to her he wasn’t going to abandon her, but after a few minutes, the instructor, Maddy, approached him. “Hello again.”
“Hi.”
“I, um, thought I’d mention,” she said quietly, just for his ears, “your partner, Ms. Diaz, dropped out of class.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she’s going to be taking private classes from now on. I’m sorry.”
“No, no. I should’ve figured. I’m sorry for bringing your place into the public eye like that. It was all one big misunderstanding.”
She nodded. “It’s okay. Good luck with the baby,” she said.
“Thank you.”
Sebastian walked out of the place feeling like he’d been sucker punched in the gut. He was angry with Gracie for cutting him out of her life like that, but he was angrier with himself for all the bumbling mistakes he’d made with her. Of course she wouldn’t want to show her face in the early bird class, not after all the things that had been printed about her.
She been humiliated, and it had been his fault.
He’d never really given her a reason to trust him. He’d gone about this courtship all wrong, and wow, now he was paying the price.
By six o’clock he was dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt and knocking on his mother’s door. It was family dinner time, his mother calling the shots, wanting everyone in the family to sit down with her. She didn’t do this often, but when she did, you didn’t dare refuse. He was in no mood tonight for a get-together, but his family’s name, once again, had been dragged through the mud because of some overambitious news reports that got it all wrong. He owed his family an explanation, for many things.
Ava greeted him at the door with a big hug, and the look in her eyes wasn’t what he’d expected. She’d always been a stickler for transparency and expected to be clued in on everything that went on with the family. It surprised him that she wasn’t showing her disapproval. She wasn’t judging him, but instead was providing unconditional love. “Hello, dear.”
“Mom.”
“How are you doing tonight? You had a rough week.”
“I did, but I’m doing okay.”
“Just okay?” Ava asked.
“I may have lost something, someone, who I really care about. Mom.”
“That’s not the man I raised, Sebastian. You’re one to never give up, and it’s a trait I admire about you. Don’t throw in the towel just yet. Gracie will come around.”
He doubted that, but his mother’s encouragement meant a great deal to him.
“Come, your brothers and sisters are all here.”
She led him into the dining room, where the others were already seated, noisily chattering while drinking wine and munching on appetizers. “Hey,” he said to everyone, slapping his brothers’ backs and kissing the women on the cheek.
Sutton and Lauren were here along with Beth and Cam, who were back from their honeymoon. Miles and Chloe were in town, as was Aunt Piper, who was sitting beside Brian. Beside them sat their cousins and the women in their lives, Luke and Kelly and Zeke and Reagan. Then, turning toward his baby sister, Sebastian marveled at what an adorable threesome Harley and Grant and little Daniel made. Soon, Daniel would have a cousin, which was a good thing, but would they be close? Would they even get a chance to know each other?
He pulled out a chair and sat down. This dining room in his mother’s rental apartment was a far cry from the beautifully decorated oversize one in the mansion they were used to, but it didn’t matter. The family was here, and everyone was in good spirits.
After downing a glass of wine, he asked for everyone’s attention and apologized to his family. “I’m sorry for bringing our name down again. We’ve worked so hard to improve our image, but I have to say the news reports and tabloids got it mostly wrong.”
“They usually do,” Miles said, and others in the room nodded. Being wealthy and famous meant there was a target on your back, and he’d never felt it more than this past year.
“The truth is, Gracie and I are going to have a baby. That part was factual. But I only just found out the baby was mine. I guess everyone assumed she’d gotten pregnant through an in vitro procedure, but as Grant knows, the treatments never got that far.”
Grant smiled. “My lips are sealed.”
As any good doctor would say.
“I’m sorry that you all had to find that out on the news. I wanted to shout it out to the world, but Gracie wanted to wait.”
He was met with a round of congratulations and smiles, which bolstered his sagging heart.
His family really had his back, and he needed that right now.
“The Gossiper wasn’t too kind, either.” Sutton had been furious about what that sleazy tabloid had written. “They can all go to—” He stopped himself, realizing Daniel was in the room.
“Thanks, bro. But just so you know, I wasn’t going behind Gracie’s back with Rhonda. I was trying to help her with her brother, Lonny. My mistake was in not telling Gracie about it.”
“Why didn’t you?” Lauren asked.
He turned to her. “Lonny was heading down a bad path. He’d gotten in trouble at school and was acting out. And since I’d always bonded with the boy, Rhonda simply asked me to talk to Lonny. He valued my friendship and needed some guidance, and Rhonda asked me to keep this private. If news got out, she feared it would set back any progress I made with the boy.
“Now I might’ve blown it for good with Gracie. It’s killing me that she won’t talk to me. I should’ve been up front with her. I should’ve trusted her with what I was doing, and now she doesn’t trust me.” Regret tightened the corners of his mouth. “And the worst part? I honestly don’t know if there’s anything I can do at this point to change her mind. Anyway, this isn’t a Sebastian pity party. I just wanted my family to finally know the truth.”
They nodded and gave words of encouragement, which meant a lot to him.
And after another round of drinks, Miles spoke up. “Well, I have good news to report, and I’m glad we’re all together today to hear it. Thanks to Chloe’s heads-up, I finally have proof that dear ‘Uncle’ Keith did more embezzling than we originally thought. Turns out that while Dad was recovering from his stroke, Keith took advantage of the crisis to siphon off huge chunks of money without us realizing it. And the best news is, the money is all accounted for and we’ll have it back in our hands soon. It’s enough to keep our other holdings afloat and enough to put the family back on track financially.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Ava said. “I still can’t believe I let that crook dupe me for so long. Brian, I’m sorry to say that in front of you, but we all know you’re not like your uncle Keith.”
“He certainly is not,” Aunt Piper said in defense of her much younger boyfriend. Brian might be a Cooper but it was in name only. He’d proven his loyalty to the family by helping to expose his traitorous uncle.
“Miles, you’ve really saved our family,” Ava said, with pride in her eyes. Miles had once been the black sheep of the family, but he’d come around, and his firm, Steel Security, was a top-notch investigative company.
“Thanks, Mother. But it was all of us. We’re all in this together, the good, the bad, the ugly. And it’s been ugly, but all that’s behind us now.”
“Yes,” Ava said. “We’ve proven time and again that we’re a family that sticks together.”
“It’s really great news because,” Luke said, taking his fiancée Kelly’s hand, “now Kelly and I can go to Oahu and get the hotel ready for the big launch without worrying about the family. We plan to spend an entire month there, and having this peace of mind will help take some of the pressure off.”
“Pressure in paradise?” Harley asked. She and Grant were leaving in just a matter of days themselves, and so this family dinner was also a good way to send them off.
“I know, it’s tough work, but somebody’s got to do it,” Kelly teased. The family’s mood was definitely lightening up. It was good to see.
“Well, since this is a day for announcements, Reagan and I have some good news, too. Seems Sebastian isn’t the only one bringing a new little one into the world.”
All eyes turned to Luke’s brother, Zeke, and Reagan. “While we’re in San Diego setting up the new family-oriented resort there, we’ll be also using the facilities for our own little ready-made family.” He looked to Reagan. “Tell them, honey.”
Reagan didn’t hesitate. “We’re having twins!”
Gasps of joy filled the room. Everyone rose to congratulate Zeke and Reagan, and Sebastian was incredibly happy for them. Seems his family was finally blessed with good news. It only made him wish for a second chance with Gracie. Or was that a third or fourth? He’d certainly messed up his chances.
And after everyone was settled back in their seats, Brian stood up with glass in hand. “I’d like to propose a toast.”
The room quieted and all eyes were on Brian Cooper at the opposite end of the table. “But first I have something to say. I can’t tell you how sorry I am about what my uncle did to Wingate Enterprises. It was unforgivable and I’m truly glad he’s out of all our lives now. But I’m also grateful that despite everything, all of you have welcomed me into your homes and family.” He cleared his throat. “And since this is a day for announcements, I’d like to add to the happiness. Ava,” he said, garnering her full attention, “you’re going to be an aunt again.”
His mother’s mouth just about dropped to the floor. Her eyes riveted to her sister, Piper.
And Piper acknowledged her with an excited nod of the head.
“Yes, it’s true.” Piper took Brian’s hand and rose, moving to stand beside him. “We didn’t want to steal anyone’s thunder today. But yes, Brian and I are having a baby. We’ll think about a wedding some time down the line, but right now we’re excited for this child.”
His mother walked over to Aunt Piper. “You robbed the cradle,” she said. The entire family watched on with trepidation. Ava and Piper hadn’t always been close, so everyone’s eyes were on his mother. “Lucky you,” she declared finally, wrapping her arms around her sister and hugging her to her chest. “Congratulations,” she murmured, turning to kiss Brian’s cheek. “May I finish the toast?” she asked him.
He handed her the glass and took a step back. Ava began, “This family...well, we’ve been through a lot, and I can’t say it’s always been pleasant. But we survived and are stronger for it. So this toast is for each and every one of you and the new little ones to arrive soon. May we always be close, be loyal, be true. May this family not only survive, but thrive. Here’s to our family,” Ava said, her eyes misting up as she raised her glass.
Glasses clinked, and there were heartwarming smiles all around.
Now, if only Gracie were here by his side, all would be perfect.