Chapter 41
CHAPTER 41
GAbrIEL
I re-enter the dining room, torn between letting Leah walk away and doing what she asked. I know by following her, I’ll only prolong the pain and make things worse. I also need to deal with my asshole of a brother.
Caleb sits back at the table, but his mind is elsewhere. Elijah’s expression is like thunder.
It’s my mother who speaks up. “Is Leah all right?”
“She’s fine, Mum. She’s gone for a walk in the garden.”
I watch the tension leave my mother’s shoulders. I was right when I told Leah my mother likes her. Somehow, that eases some of the pressure on my chest.
A palpable silence fills the room as Elijah and I face off against one another. At five years my senior, he is bigger in every way.
Years of swimming built his shoulders. Subsequent years of gym visits to work off whatever frustrations have overtaken his life have turned him into a man mountain.
“You are out of order,” I say, facing him.
“Why, for speaking the truth? Have you learned nothing?” he says, shaking his head at me .
“Learned what? Leah and I are nothing like you and Darra,” I spit. “You know nothing about us or our relationship.”
“Don’t you think it’s strange she works for you and then suddenly winds up pregnant?”
I shake my head at him.
“Leah and I have worked together for eight years. Ever since I founded Frazer Investments, she’s been my trusted right-hand woman. She’s far from a stranger. She’s one of the most hardworking people I know, and she is dedicated to my firm. I should know.”
I direct my gaze towards my brother for confirmation, but he’s still lost in thought, his complexion green.
I run a hand through my hair and sigh, “Leah wanted a baby. I offered to be her sperm donor.”
There, I said it.
“Wow, Gabe, who says romance is dead,” Harper chirps from the end of the table. “That’s a new one, even for you, babe.”
“Shut up, Harper,” I say, shooting her a look that has her holding up her hands and smiling.
“Hey, don’t shout at me. I like Leah, just saying.”
She shoots her deadliest look at Elijah before picking up her wine glass.
“What do you get out of this?” Elijah asks, returning his attention to me.
I raise an eyebrow as I stare at him. “An heir,” I say, telling him the truth.
The initial truth.
I know, however, that’s not the most recent truth. Things between Leah and I have changed. She invades my thoughts, my dreams. I find myself wanting to spend more and more time in her company. Not something I’ve ever felt about another human being. But I haven’t processed these feelings yet. Not enough to discuss them with my family, or even Leah. All I know is something inside me didn’t like Leah’s declaration.
Caleb’s chair slides back. “I’ve seen you together. There is no way this is fake. This is bullshit.”
He slams out of the room before I can reply.
I drop my head to my chest and inhale deeply. This is why I hate family gatherings. Why I stay away from people.
“Gabriel, I don’t understand. I’ve seen you and Leah together like Caleb has. She lives with you. You seem so happy together. Was that an act?”
It’s my mother’s voice that breaks through my stupor, and I hate the hurt I can hear.
“No, Mum, it wasn’t an act. What you saw is Leah and me. That’s how we are together.” I realise I’m telling the truth. We’ve never put on an act for any of my family. “As for her moving in, that was an accident.” I sink back into my chair. “When Leah’s engagement ended, she needed somewhere to stay.”
“You let her stay with you? Above and beyond for an employee, don’t you think?” Elijah’s voice cuts in.
“Will you shut up?” I shoot at my brother before returning my attention to our mother. “She initially rented the apartment I own beneath mine. That place flooded, so she moved into my spare room.”
I run a hand down my face, knowing I should be with Leah—wanting to be with her—but knowing I need to stop any further speculation before she returns.
“And while she was living with you, she just mentioned she wanted a kid?”
I can hear the contempt in Elijah’s voice.
“No, actually,” I say, staring my brother down. “She was going to use a sperm bank. I was the one who talked her into a co-parenting arrangement. ”
“Co-parenting?” My mother’s voice echoes around the silence that has descended.
“Yes, co-parenting. It’s where a couple have and raise their child together, but live separately.”
“But why?” My mother sounds concerned. “Why do this? Why not meet someone and settle down? This is so... cold... even for you, Gabriel.”
I round on my mother.
“But that’s the problem, or at least everyone else’s problem.” I draw in a breath. “I don’t want to find someone to settle down with. I like my space, my life. I’m no good at relationships.” Sighing, I take hold of my rising temper. “This works out perfectly for the both of us. Leah gets it. She understands me. One thing I know. My child won’t be raised where its parents are constantly arguing.”
Elijah lets out a low growl.
Harper holds up her hands. “You have to admit, mum, his love life has been a little sparse. It’s why you and your cronies are constantly trying to fix him up.”
“What? No,” Mum’s voice cuts in. “Is that what all this is about? Me trying to fix you up with a date? Is that why you’ve done this?”
My shoulders drop, and I sigh. “No... partly.”
My mother gasps.
“You wanting to set me up started me thinking. Then, when I found out that Leah wanted a child, it seemed like the perfect solution. The best of both worlds. I’m happy, Mum. We both are. It’s what we want,” I say, although I can’t seem to shift the hollow feeling in the centre of my chest.
I meet my mum’s gaze, her eyes glazed with unshed tears. “I know you are... I’ve seen you two together, that’s why...” She tails off, and I wonder what she was going to say.
I tilt my head, thinking back to the night after we came back from Monaco. How she and Leah had laughed over dinner. I hadn’t seen Mum so happy in a long time.
“You need to find her, Gabriel. If Leah means something to you, then you need to let her know what she’s just told us is okay, that we’re okay with it. That as the mother of your child, she will be part of our family, even if it is unconventional.” I stare at my mum open-mouthed. “And Elijah, you will apologise to Leah. I raised you better than this, both of you.”
“I’m with Mum on this one,” Kat says. “And Elijah, you need to find Lottie. Whatever issues you and Darra have are not that young girl’s issues or Leah’s. You need to get your own shit together before you sling any mud.”
We all stare open-mouthed at Kat, who usually keeps her own counsel.
Elijah humphs behind me as if denying Kat’s claims until she sends him a glare that would freeze water. I want to smile. My big sister truly is an ice queen when she wants to be.
Elijah grunts.
I need no further encouragement. I leave to check on Leah.