Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Adalyn
I hugged Roberto tight when I saw him standing in the middle of baggage claim waiting for me.
“It’s good to see you again, Adalyn.”
He broke our embrace, looked down at my belly, and then up at me. Even though I had an oversized coat on, he could feel my baby bump. He gave me a sympathetic smile.
“Roberto, I’m so sorry.”
“She was an amazing woman and will be dearly missed.”
It was wintertime in New York City, and the streets were covered in snow. It blanketed the trees in white as soft flakes fell from the sky. It was like a scene out of a Hallmark movie. I wished I could have been here for the holidays to see it lit up with Christmas lights and decorations.
Roberto pulled up to the curb of the Infinity and helped me from the limo. The doorman rushed out and retrieved my suitcase from the trunk.
“Call me if you need anything. I am at your disposal. I don’t want you driving around in the cabs here, especially since you’re with child.”
“Thank you.” I placed my hand on his cheek.
“Now get inside and get warm.” He smiled.
I stepped into the lobby and saw Xavier with a grin across his face.
“Welcome back to the Infinity, Miss Banks.”
“Thank you, Xavier. It’s good to be back.”
“The passing of Mrs. Grant deeply saddens us. If there is anything you need at all, you call me directly. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Athena had put me in a suite one floor down from the penthouse suite I previously stayed in. When I stepped inside, a fruit tray with chocolate-dipped strawberries and a cheese and cracker plate was waiting for me. Walking over to the table, I picked up the square white envelope with my name and pulled out the small card inside.
I’m so happy you’re here. I can’t wait to see you. Enjoy the goodies.
Love, Athena
I unzipped my suitcase and changed into my nightshirt and robe. Standing in front of the mirror, I placed my hands on my belly.
“We’re here, little one. I wish it were under better circumstances. Your great-grandmother was such an amazing woman, and I know she would have loved you.”
I grabbed a chocolate-dipped strawberry from the plate, took it over to the window, and stared out at the beautifully lit and snow-covered city. Thoughts about Harrison circled through my head. I made up scenarios of how he would react when he found out I was carrying his child, and they weren’t good ones. A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. Opening it, I saw Athena standing there.
“Welcome back.” She grabbed me and hugged me tightly. “I know it’s late?—”
Before she could finish her sentence and I could say a word, she broke our embrace and placed her hand on my belly.
“Adalyn, are you?”
“It’s good to see you, Athena.”
“Oh my gosh.” She stepped inside and shut the door. “You’re having a baby!”
“I am.” I nervously smiled.
“Is it Harrison’s?”
“Yes, of course, it is.”
She pulled me into an embrace.
“Why didn’t you tell me? How far along are you?”
“Sixteen weeks. Almost seventeen, actually.”
“Come sit down.” She took my arm and led me to the couch. “Adalyn, I’m in shock right now.”
“I’m sorry, Athena. I couldn’t tell you, for I feared you would tell Harrison. Please forgive me.”
“You’re right. Even if you told me and I promised not to tell him, I would have. It would have slipped out during one of our petty little arguments. Were you never going to tell him?”
“How could I tell the man who told me I meant nothing to him and to go back to Seattle that I was pregnant with his baby?”
“I understand. I do. But he has a right to know that there would be a little Grant running around in the world.”
“I know.” I looked down. “But you know your brother, and I don’t need that kind of stress in my life.”
“He’s been broken up since you left.”
“I doubt it.”
“He has, Adalyn. He said he tried to call you several times and send you a few text messages, but you blocked his number.”
“Damn right, I did. He said everything he had to that night. You never told him you’ve spoken to me?”
“No. I’d caused enough pain for the two of you as it was. I really thought you’d change him before you finished the townhouse. I was certain of it. But he was more fucked up and stubborn than I wanted to believe he was. And you never once asked about him.”
“That’s because I was trying to heal and forget him.”
“Kind of hard now that you’re carrying his child.” She smiled.
“Yeah, no kidding. Do you think this is what Lenoir meant when she said there would be forks in the road and my strength would be tested? Maybe she was referring to the baby. Maybe this is what’s written in the stars for me.”
We talked for a while, and she informed me that the funeral service would be tomorrow morning at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church. The same church where Mary and her husband were married. I tossed and turned all night and barely slept.
When I awoke the next morning, I showered and looked at myself in the mirror. It looked like my belly grew a little more overnight.
“Child, of all times, you had to grow. You couldn’t have waited a couple more days?”
I should have been nervous about seeing Harrison, but I wasn’t. Okay, I was. But not as bad as I thought I’d be. I put on some makeup, threw some curls in my hair, and struggled to get into the black dress I had brought. It was too tight in the waist. Shit. It fit a couple of weeks ago when I bought it. Damn it. I threw on some shoes and took the elevator down to the lobby.
“Xavier, I need your help.”
He looked down at my belly and then up at me.
“Miss Banks, are you?—”
“Yes. This is the only dress I brought, and it doesn’t fit. I need something for the funeral quickly.”
“Don’t stress. Come with me to the boutique. I’m sure they’ll have something for you.”
We stepped into the boutique, and Xavier had a woman named Stacy help me.
“This is Adalyn Banks, and she is attending Mrs. Grant’s funeral. She’s in a bit of a pickle.” He pointed to my dress.
“I can see that. Come with me, sweetie. I have the perfect dress for you.”
I slipped into a casual black, long-sleeved, curved-hem tunic dress in the fitting room. It was perfect, aside from the fact that you could still see my baby bump. Well, maybe it was more like I had just gained some weight.