9. CHAPTER 9
The morning air in Sam’s living room was thick with tension and disbelief as Alex’s words hung suspended, almost tangible in their weight. Daniella’s mind raced her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind as she tried to grasp the reality of the situation.
Alex Blackwell, the man whose name was synonymous with fleeting romances and high-profile escapades, had just proposed marriage?Daniella couldn’t quite believe it.
If she wasn’t the object of attention from four pairs of eyes, she’d have pinched herself to ensure she wasn’t dreaming. The shock had rendered her speechless. Her voice had been lost somewhere between her accelerating heartbeat and the tightness constricting her chest. But she knew everyone was expecting her to say something.
All Daniella could muster was, “Excuse me?” Great, Daniella. That showed them you were all together. The tension in the room seemed to get heavier.
Alex’s nervous laughter kept the room from falling into silence. “That wasn’t the reaction I thought I’d get when I proposed for the second time in my life,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
But his attempt at humor only seemed to deepen the awkwardness. Daniella had already seen the glint of hurt and heard the underlying tension in his voice.
Why would he be hurt?Daniella gave herself a mental shake. Snap out of it. You’re overthinking this. Alex only asked you to marry him because it’s his insane way of trying to help. Her heart lurched at the thought of marrying Alex. It would help me feel less vulnerable to Doctor Jackson! She gave herself another mental shake. Wait! No! You don’t need a marriage to make you feel secure and face that arrogant jerk! She drew in a breath. Stop overthinking this and breathe. She glanced at Alex. I knew he had a heart beneath that playboy exterior. She swallowed. Her throat felt raspy and dry.
“Wait! What?” Harley’s voice cut through the air, switching the attention to him. “You’ve actually proposed to someone before?” He looked at Alex in disbelief.
Daniella barely heard the question. Her mind felt like a dryer filled with hot air, turning mindless thoughts over and over.
“Yes. It was a long time ago,” Alex answered Harley.
“Huh!” Harley pursed his lips, nodding as he looked impressed. “Who knew!”
“Me!” Jennifer put up her hand and glanced at Alex apologetically. “I knew.”
“Of course.” Alex rolled his eyes. “Let me guess, Dawn and Harriet told you?”
“No.” Jennifer shook her head. “It was Brad.”
“That snitch!” Alex breathed in disgust.
“In all fairness to Brad,” Jennifer stuck up for her best friend’s new husband, who also happened to be one of Alex’s lifelong best friends. “He was standing up for you.”
“By telling everyone that I was engaged and the woman left me?” Alex’s brows rose. “How is that protecting me?”
“He was trying to convince us that you had a heart.” Jennifer pulled a face. “Sorry. That was before I started to get to know you.” She stepped closer to Harley. “Although we weren’t convinced.” She took another step closer to Harley. “But, this… this is such a nice thing to do for someone.”
“It is,” Harley agreed. “Not many men would do what you’re doing.”
“What are you saying?” Jennifer looked at Harley suspiciously. “That you wouldn’t do the same for me?”
“That is not what I meant,“ Harley pointed out. “You know I’d move mountains for you. I love you.”
“Aw,” Jennifer cooed, going on tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “I love you too.”
“Can we get back to Daniella and Alex?” Sam looked at Jennifer and Harley.
Daniella tried to concentrate on what they were saying as the shock slowly started to wear off. The reality of what Alex had proposed started sinking in, and her mind conjured a pros and cons list of marrying Alex in order to flush Doctor Jackson out and keep Emily safe.
“While it might be a little crazy,” Jennifer drew Daniella’s attention out of her deep thoughts, “I think this might just work.” Her eyes met Daniella’s. “Think about it, Daniella. A marriage to Alex Blackwell will spark nationwide media attention, and it’s bound to rile Doctor Creepo into making his move.”
“Or it will send him to ground,” Daniella finally found her voice, and reason started to flood back into her mind. “Although he also won’t like the idea that I was able to get the better of him by getting away and hiding.” She glanced at Alex, her heart slamming into her ribs as their eyes. “I also found someone else in the interim. Someone he’ll think I wanted to marry and have a relationship with.” She broke eye contact with Alex and looked at Jennifer, Harley, and Uncle Sam. “Doctor Jackson does not like to lose anything.”
“Agreed,” Sam said, nodding. “If you do decide to do this, the two of you will have to go to Boston to get married in court there. We’ll all be there with you, of course.”
“We’ll need to let the rest of our family and friends know,” Harley stated. “We can’t leave any loose ends as Doctor Jackson is very smart, cunning, and calculating. This means while the two of you are out in public, if you’re going to make this work, you need to look like you’re head over heels in love with each other.”
That won’t be too hard to do, a little voice whispered from deep in her heart. Shut up! Daniella berated the little voice. Good grief. This has driven me mad! I’m now talking to myself and, worse, having an argument with myself.
“What do you think about the idea, Daniella?” Alex asked, his voice gentle, urging her to consider the plan seriously and drawing her attention back to him.
Her eyes once again locked with his, and she knew that this was a sure path to heartache, but it could also be the path to salvation—to finally be free from the shadow of her past.
Sam chimed in, supporting Jennifer’s point. “Not that you need it or should even feel you should have to go to such lengths to protect Emily and yourself,” he added. “But marrying Alex protects you in more ways than one. Especially if this goes to court. The jury will see you as a happily married woman and Doctor Jackson trying to break that up.”
“Yes, jurors don’t like a third party messing with a happy couple,” Jennifer agreed.
Daniella heard their points, and they all made sense. She couldn’t believe she was even entertaining the idea. It was ludicrous, but it may just be crazy enough to work. Like Uncle Sam always said, you have to fight like with like. Daniella would fight crazy with crazy because that’s what this was: a crazy situation that most people only ever read or watch movies about.
“Ethan mentioned the press already thinks Alex has a secret love. This makes your romance a lot easier to sell,” Harley added.
Jennifer nodded, elaborating, “And if it comes out, Alex can say you were afraid to step out into the world as a couple because of what Doctor Creepo did, so you two eloped.”
“After the court ceremony, I’ll get a buddy of mine who works for a newspaper to leak some photos from a source that spotted Alex and a new lady friend at court,” Sam proposed. “That way, Doctor Jackson will think it’s real and that you’re still intimidated by him to the point you had to hide your relationship with someone as high-profile as Alex.”
Jennifer added, “Harley and I will keep Emily, Reef, and Shay in Boston.”
Harley told them, “I’ll add extra security to Shay, Reef, and Emily’s details.”
“I’ll stay in Boston as well,” Sam said. “That way, if Doctor Jackson does have eyes on us, he’ll think that Daniella and Alex are alone here on Plum Island as we’re celebrating Emily’s sixteenth in Boston.”
“While Alex and Daniella have a bit of a honeymoon back on Plum Island,” Jennifer continued the plans. “Which will fit because the filming for The Cobble Cove Mysteries is starting in two weeks.”
As the discussion evolved, Daniella found herself caught in the whirlwind of planning and strategic maneuvering. Her heart wrestled with her mind, the former intrigued by the audacity of the plan and the potential safety it promised, while the latter screamed caution. The seriousness in Alex’s eyes, the spark of hurt at her initial silence, tugged at something deep within her. It was a vulnerability she hadn’t expected to see in him. It was another thing compelling her to consider the crazy plan.
“Okay,” Daniella squeaked. “I’ll do it.” She turned and met Alex’s eyes. “Yes, Alex, I’ll marry you.”
A flash of emotion that took Daniella’s breath away darkened Alex’s blue eyes, and the smile that spread across his lips set her heart hammering once again.
This was definitely one of the most foolish things I’ve ever agreed to.Daniella let out a breath. But it was done, and no sooner had the words left her lips than Jennifer was across the room hugging her in delight.
“Yay!” Jennifer said excitedly. “This is going to be great, even if it’s just a marriage of convenience. We have to sell it to the public to make sure it looks real when the news and pictures are leaked.” She grinned. “I can help with that, and so can Harriet.”
“Shoot!” Alex hissed and rolled his eyes. “I forgot for a few minutes that we’re going to have to let everyone else in on the plan.”
“What?” Jennifer looked at Alex with narrowed eyes. “Are you suggesting we deceive everyone, including our friends and family?”
“Could we?” Daniella and Alex said in unison, then looked at each laughing nervously.
Daniella had already gone through the daunting task of telling her family circle about her life before Plum Island. She wasn’t ready to tell the story all over again and add another layer of complexity by telling them she was getting married to try and poke the bear.
“No!” Jennifer, Harley, and Sam chorused.
“Doctor Ron Jackson has shown us what he’s capable of, Daniella,” Sam reminded her. “If this is going to work, everyone who’s involved, which means everyone close to you, has to be brought in on this.” He looked at Alex. “And you’ll need to brief your family as well, Alex.”
“I’ll get everyone to meet us at Alex’s house,” Harley said and moved off to make the calls.
“I’ll go call my father,” Jennifer told them. “Make sure he can get the license for us and do the ceremony by tomorrow.”
“If he can’t, I guess we could always fly to Vegas!” Alex suggested.
“Ooh, could we?” Jennifer’s eyes widened hopefully as she glanced at Sam.
“No!”Sam said firmly. “Your father, Andrew, will help with this. So please go call him because we need to put this plan into action like yesterday, especially now that Doctor Jackson and his father are in the wind.”
“Okay, okay!” Jennifer pulled a face at Sam, took her phone out, and disappeared into the kitchen to make the call, muttering. “Vegas would’ve at least been exciting.”
“I need a moment.” Daniella smiled at Alex and Uncle Sam.
“Of course,” Alex said. “I’d like to discuss security and how to tell my parents with Sam anyway.”
Daniella nodded, packed her medical bag, and took it with her to her bedroom. As soon as she stepped inside, Daniella closed and locked the door. She dumped the doctor’s bag at the end of her bed and sat down on it, picking up Tom’s photo.
“What have I agreed to?” Daniella stared at his handsome face, and for the first time in years, her heart didn’t ache as much as it usually did when she saw his picture.
When you’re in a jam, Dani, remember to let your heart guide you. Your mind only sees black and white, but the world doesn’t work that way. There are a whole lot of colors in between—colors that only your heart can decipher, so let it be your guide. Stop, take a minute, and think, does this feel right?Tom’s voice echoed in her mind as if he were right next to her, whispering the words in her ear.
Daniella drew in a breath and hugged the photo close to her heart. Closing her eyes, she drew in his strength. “Your love was the bright star in the sky that guided me, and your love kept me pushing through. I’ve been so lost trying to keep the shattered fragments of Emily’s life and mine together.”
You wouldn’t have agreed to the plan if it made you feel uncomfortable. Daniella could hear his voice, and a warmth filled her heart.She kept her eyes squeezed shut, and it was like Tom was right there next to her.
“You’re right,” Daniella whispered. “I know Alex has a reputation, but I’ve seen glimpses of the man beneath, and in a way, he reminds me so much of you. He is loyal, faithful, and fiercely protective of those he loves.”
You always did see beneath the facade, Daniella imagined Tom saying. And as per your favorite saying, your gift is a boon and bane. She imagined the breeze that blew over her forehead to be Tom’s soft kiss. While I’m not sure how to take him, he makes you smile, and Emily feels safe around him. While it’s good to guard your heart, don’t block out the possibility of falling in love again. You still have so much to give, Dani. It’s time to dip your toes back into the romance pool.
“I’m scared,” Daniella admitted. “I’m scared that if I give in to these feelings that are developing, even though I don’t want them to, that …” She swallowed. Smiling as the breeze lifted a strand of hair on her neck, Daniella pictured Tom’s hand brushing it.
What are you scared of?Daniella could see his face light up with a warm smile. Are you afraidthat Alex won’t return your feelings? In her mind, she could see his eyes filled with understanding and love. Or are you scared that he does?
“Both.” Daniella’s voice dropped and wavered with uncertainty. “Having a relationship doesn’t just affect me. It affects our daughter, too.”
Emily will be thrilled for you, and you know that. While your mind is overanalyzing everything, think about this: Alex didn’t have to suggest such drastic measures, but he did. As you’re discovering, there is a lot more to Alex than meets the eye. This plan not only helps to keep you and Emily safe, but it will draw Doctor Creepo out and will also give you a chance to see the real Alex—the man behind the mask. Be cautious, but also don’t be afraid to love again, Dani. My love for always and eternity.
Daniella breathed, and a soft shudder ran up her spine as the scent of Tom’s cologne wafted past her but faded as fast as it came. Another light breeze caressed her forehead, and her heart squeezed as she opened her eyes. She suddenly felt alone. Her heart, echoing Tom’s imagined advice, nudged her toward the path they had chosen. Suddenly, Daniella felt more at ease with her decision and felt it was the right thing to do. This was the way to keep her daughter safe and reclaim a semblance of normalcy in their lives without the constant threat of their past looming over their shoulders.
Daniella stood up, and a soft breeze hugged her as she put the photo back on the nightstand. She smiled, picturing it as a hug from Tom.
“Thank you, my love.” Daniella ran her finger over the glass one last time.
As she turned to leave the room, feeling happier about her decision to go along with the crazy plan, a thought struck her—none of the windows in her bedroom were open, and her bathroom door was closed. Daniella’s eyes widened as she gazed at the window in disbelief, and a soft golden light glinted off the window and was gone in the blink of an eye. A warm feeling settled in her chest, and the ache she’d carried over Tom for the past seven years was replaced by a feeling of peace and acceptance. Her eyes drifted to Tom’s photo.
Could it have been?Daniella frowned and shook her head to clear it. “It was all in your head. The mind is a powerful tool that can play tricks on a person, and it can seem real thanks to our imaginations.”
As Daniella left her room, she glanced at the photo of Tom and smiled. But that doesn’t mean I can believe you were here with me to guide me. She blew a kiss at the photo as she stepped out of the room and gently pulled the door closed. Daniella drew in a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and walked into the living room, filled with more confidence about Alex and her family’s crazy plan. She stifled a nervous giggle at the strange thought that this time tomorrow, Daniella may be married to the most notorious playboy in America.
An hour later, Daniella’s nerves were back in full force as she sat in the entertainment lounge of Alex’s glass house, which jutted off the side of the cliff. The lower ground floor led onto a large paved area that backed onto the beach. She clutched an untouched glass of freshly pressed apple juice that was getting warm as the ice was quickly melting in the glass.
Her eyes roved around the room on the lower ground floor. The large glass rollback doors were open, allowing the tangy sea breeze to drift in from the sparkling blue ocean rolling onto the rocks. Daniella wished her nerves were as calm as the breathtaking view this room looked out onto. She’d give anything at that moment for a smidgen of the peace reflected from the scene outside.
Breathe, Daniella. Remember why you’re doing this! An image of Tom flashed into her mind as a warm, gentle breath wafted past, ruffling her hair. She breathed it in, closing her eyes. Daniella centered her thoughts and an image of Tom standing beside her popped into her mind. She smiled as she gathered some of the quiet strength he always exuded.
“Mom?” Emily’s soft voice surprised her, and Daniella’s eyes flew open.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Daniella smiled, her heart expanding at the sound of the sweet tones. “Are you okay?” she said and signed.
Emily nodded and, to Daniella’s delight, said in a slow, steady voice, “Are you okay?” Then signed. You look like you’ve had bad news. Her eyes widened. Is it him?
We’re going to discuss this now, and that’s why we’ve asked everyone to be here, including you, Reef, and Shay. We’re just waiting to get the rest of Alex’s family on a conference call,Daniella signed, deciding to be honest. Emily already knew something was going on, and Daniella had warned her that this day would come. She quickly filled Emily in sign language and told her that Alex had offered a solution, although it was kind of crazy.
What kind of crazy solution?Emily’s eyes narrowed curiously.
I asked your mother to marry me in order to keep you both safe and flush Doctor Jackson out,Alex answered and turned to Daniella. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No. Thank you.” Daniella smiled. “I was trying to figure out the best way to tell Emily.”
“Seriously?” Emily’s brows rose, and Daniella saw the strange look she gave Alex.
Harley suggested that your mother and I have a fake relationship. Alex explained how the idea came about, and by the time he was finished, Emily was staring at him as if he’d grown two heads.
If this idea makes you uncomfortable in any way, sweetheart,Daniella told Emily, her heart dropping as she realized she should’ve discussed it with her daughter before agreeing to it.
Emily’s eyes met Daniella’s as she asked: Are we going to live here with Alex?
Yes.Alex answered for Daniella, and she let him because she was still finding it hard to comprehend it all. Your mother will have the guest room on the top floor next to mine to keep up appearances in case Doctor Jackson is having us surveilled.
Can I get the pretty peach room between Harriet’s and Dawn’s room?Emily surprised Daniella by asking.
You can have any room you want,Alex assured her with a laugh.
What about Hicks?Emily glanced at the dog sitting faithfully by her side, his tongue lolling out his mouth, looking bored with their conversation.
He’ll have the run of the house,Alex told her.
Cool. Emily grinned and then hugged Daniella. “I think this is an awesome idea.”
Emily straightened and then hugged Alex. “Thank you for helping my mom.”
Daniella heard Emily whisper; her whisper wasn’t as soft as her daughter thought it was. Alex’s eyes darkened with a tender emotion as he hugged Emily back.
“Of course,” Alex replied, his voice suspiciously croaky before he cleared his throat.
Daniella and Alex watched as Emily went to join the other teens, Shay and Reef, who were hovering near the doors as if they were trying to slowly disappear outside.
“Thank you, Alex,” Daniella said softly. “This was a really gallant thing to do.”
Alex took a seat in the armchair beside her. “I told you, I want to help.”
“This is more than helping,” Daniella pointed out. “You’re opening your home and life to us while a dangerous man is stalking me. While it will definitely put you in Doctor Jackson’s crosshairs, your family and friends could be potential targets too.”
“Look around you, Daniella.” Alex’s voice was low. “As soon as we told everyone in this room that you needed their support, none of them even hesitated to drop everything and get here.”
Daniella swallowed down the burning lump that had wedged in her throat. She followed Alex’s gaze and watched as Uncle Sam started to gather them all to take a seat. Harriet, Dawn, Carly, Ethan, Jennifer, and Harley. Her heart felt like it was going to burst with love for each one of them. Besides her cousins, Daniella’s only other friend was Jennifer until a year ago. Her circle of close, important friends had expanded to the people sitting in the room. Daniella frowned when she realized two people were missing. She looked at Alex.
“Where are Caroline and Brad?”
“They had to go to New York,” Alex told her. “Brad’s father had called a family meeting.”
“Oh!” Daniella nodded. “I hope everything’s okay.”
“I’m sure it is,” Alex said. “My parents would’ve been the first to call if something was wrong with the Danes family.”
“Your families are close?” Daniella looked at him curiously.
“Yeah!” Alex nodded. “My parents, Brad’s, Harriet’s, and Dawn’s parents’ friendship all goes back to their childhood, as with the generations before that.”
“Wow!” Daniella snorted. “That is a close circle.”
“Yes, we’re like a big extended family,” Alex explained. “I don’t think there was ever a Christmas, New Year, or birthday that our families didn’t celebrate together.”
“Is it still like that?” Daniella’s eyes widened.
She’d grown up with her cousins and uncle, thinking they had a large, close-knit family. Daniella couldn’t picture the scale of family get-togethers Alex was talking about. But then again, people like the Blackwells and their friends lived in a different world from Daniella’s family—or at least they used to. Her eyes scanned the room once again, and she realized that their worlds had slowly morphed and melded together. If this had happened a year ago, Daniella, Carly, Harley, and Uncle Sam would’ve been the only people attending this meeting.
“I’ve finally got them,” Ethan called triumphantly. “Hey, Mom and Dad,” he said to the monitor. “I’m putting you on Alex’s oversized television screen so you can see everyone in the room, and they can see you.”
“Hello, son,” Alex and Ethan’s parents called in unison.
“What is this big announcement Alex has?” their mother asked. “He hasn’t gotten someone in trouble, has he?”
“I hope not,” their father said as his parent’s faces were transferred to the giant screen.
“No, parents, I haven’t gotten anyone, including myself, into trouble,” Alex stated, giving them a wave at the camera Harley was adjusting so the Blackwells could see them. “Do you know where Bailey is?”
“Yes,” his father answered. “She can’t make it, but we promised to fill her in after the meeting.”
His eyes roved around the room. A smile split the woman on the screen’s beautiful face that belied her age. “Hello everyone…” Her head pushed forward. “Harry, Dawn?” Her smile broadened. “Hi there. I just saw your mothers this morning. We had a game of tennis. Brad’s mother couldn’t make it.” She waved her hand. “They’re going on this three-month cruise, and they wanted to tell Brad and Caroline. What a lovely woman, by the way.”
“Vicky, can you get on with the story, love?” Alex’s father shook his head at his wife. “You’ve completely veered off from your initial storyline.”
Alex’s mother glared at her husband. “As I was saying, we needed a fourth, and you’ll never guess who had just finished a tennis lesson and offered to play with us?” She rolled her eyes and shook her head before glaring at Alex. “Monica Spiers.”
“Oh!” Harriet, Dawn, and Ethan said together, and Daniella saw they pursed their lips, trying not to laugh at the look of disdain on the woman’s face.
Dawn’s brow creased into a frown. “Since when does Monica play sport?”
“She used to play volleyball,” Harriet reminded them.
“Until you broke her arm!” Alex pointed out. “Then she stopped playing.”
”I didn’t break her arm!“ Harriet hissed. “I lobbed the ball back, and Monica got in the way. She fell and landed awkwardly on her arm.”
“You mean you torpedoed the ball back at her,” Alex said.
He was rewarded with a pillow being torpedoed at him. And to everyone’s surprise it was skillfully intercepted by Hicks, who leaped up and caught it before it hit Alex.
“You little traitor. And after all the treats I gave you.” She looked accusingly at Hicks, and a chorus of laughter followed as the teens saw what had happened.
“Good boy,” Alex scratched the dog’s ears when he flopped down beside Alex’s chair.
“Anyway,” Alex and Ethan’s mother drew attention back to her. “She is as dreadful at playing tennis as she was at volleyball.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “If she’d concentrated more on the game rather than chat my ears off about Alex…” She scoffed. “We wouldn’t have lost by the landslide that we did.”
“Oh dear,” Dawn sympathized. “Is Monica still not over the Alex relationship?” She shot a look at Alex.
“Apparently not!” Alex and Ethan’s father sighed. “But then again, she never could let things go, even as a child.” He looked at his wife. “Do you remember the incident with her and her older sister, Mel?”
“Was it Mel coercing her cat to like her more than the animal liked Monica?” his wife asked. “Or the time when she tried to steal Monica’s prom date?”
“Oh, I’d forgotten about the prom date thing.” Alex and Ethan’s father said.
“Mom. Dad!” Alex growled. “There are other people in the room, and we didn’t call you for your insight on the Spiers family or your latest tennis score.”
“Alex,” Daniella childed him softly, “I think it’s great how comfortable and down-to-earth your parents are.” She gave him a nervous smile. “It makes me feel a little less nervous about meeting them and the plan.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about,” Alex assured her in hushed tones. “I can guarantee you that within a few minutes, they’ll be treating you like a daughter and will have adopted Emily as their latest grandchild.”
Before Daniella could respond, Alex commanded the room’s attention. “Mom and Dad,” he started. “I know you’ve met everyone in the room except for…” He turned and indicated that Emily should join them. “Doctor Daniella Thornton and her daughter, Emily.” Before they could respond, he turned to Daniella. “Daniella, Emily, these are my parents, Victoria and Arthur Blackwell.”
While the Blackwells’ attention was on other people, Daniella felt as daunted as she did by them as their eyes scrutinized her and Emily, who sat on the arm of Daniella’s chair. Daniella instinctively put a protective arm around her daughter.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Daniella said in her professional doctor’s voice, hoping she didn’t sound too stiff or formal.
Emily waved and looked at Alex for guidance.
They know how to sign,Alex told her.
Hello, it is nice to meet you,Emily signed.
Hello.Victoria’s eyes softened, and her smile warmed as she greeted Emily. It is lovely to meet you, too.
Arthur Blackwell greeted both women before turning to Alex, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Are you dying?”
“What?” Alex spluttered. “No!” His brow creased. “Why would you even say or think that?”
“You have your doctor with you, your brother, and friends all sitting there with pensive looks on their faces,” Arthur observed. “The last time you did this to us, it was to tell us that you’d bought that blasted boat of yours and were taking a year off to sail around the world.”
“You’re not considering doing that again, darling?” Victoria looked worried at Alex. “Especially so soon after being so sick again.”
“No!” Alex hissed impatiently.
“You didn’t buy that jet, did you?” Arthur asked. “I told you it wasn’t a good investment, and there’s a reason we didn’t buy it.”
Daniella felt herself relax as she realized the Blackwells may be a powerful family, but they were just like any other family, and it was obvious that they were very much a part of their children’s and extended family’s lives. Her heart squeezed as she thought of her own parents and how much she missed them, even though they’d been gone for fifteen years. Daniella turned to see Harriet, Dawn, and Ethan all watching Alex intently. They, too, were curious to know why Alex had called the meeting and were letting his parents play their guessing game as to why they were all there.
“This isn’t about me sailing around the world. I’m not in any trouble; my boat hasn’t sunk, and I’m not buying a jet!” Alex growled, his voice resonating with frustration. He blurted out, “I wanted to let you all know together that I’ve asked Daniella to marry me.”
A collective gasp echoed through the room before it fell into a heavy silence, and everyone, except for Jennifer, Harley, and Sam, gaped at Alex. Daniella started to feel decidedly awkward at that moment. Doubt over their plan crept back in while wondering. While everyone seemed frozen in a gaping suspended animation with their eyes pinned on Alex, Daniella wondered if she and Emily could quietly sneak away.