Chapter 30
Old Friends
Zahirah
“Thanks for coming to hang out with me,” Gilbert says with a smile.
“No problem. Dinner on the yacht was fun. Although I didn’t know you would be here this long.”
“My grandmother wanted to stay a bit longer. Her yacht, her decision.” He shrugs.
“That’s cool. How are things going with the family business? You running things yet?”
“Not yet.” He chuckles. “I sort of hit a snag. My family would prefer me to be married before I’m handed everything.”
“Oh, that must suck. What are you, twenty-nine? That has to be a lot of pressure.”
He shrugs again. “Notice I said would prefer. The real pressure comes from my grandmother. No one is good enough for her. My fiancée has to have her approval.”
“And she doesn’t like your girlfriends?”
“None that she has met. She’s a romantic. She has this great love story in her head for me.
“I’ll see it in your eyes when she’s the one, Gilly,” he mocks.
I snicker and take a sip of my water. This is such a lovely house he’s renting for the week. He said his grandmother needed some time on land.
“Are you sure I can’t get you something stronger than water?”
“Oh, um, no. That’s fine. Water is perfect,” I say with a smile.
The last thing I need is for him to run back to Bentley to tell him I’m pregnant. I get a little nervous and begin to fidget. I’m saved as an older woman enters the room.
“Grandmother, I would like you to meet Zahirah,” Gilbert says as the woman takes a seat.
She looks me over with a warm smile. I return the smile as I take her in. She has all the markings of a woman of wealth.
The Chanel suit, the pearls, the diamonds. Her perfectly coiffed hair. There’s a regal air about her.
“Aren’t you lovely. Very pretty indeed. Do you live here?”
“I’m visiting for a bit. To be honest, I’m getting a bit homesick,” I reply.
“Where is home, dear?”
“Arizona, Grand. We went to school together. She’s from our hometown.”
“Oh, this is the young lady you used to talk about. Uh, Zahirah Nickels, the track star, yes?” she says excitedly.
I look to Gilbert and knit my brows. His cheeks blush and his blue eyes widen. I watch as his mouth flaps open and closed a few times.
“Grand, I … uh … yeah. That Zahirah. I didn’t know you remembered any of that.”
“How could I not? She was all you talked about in high school. I’ve been waiting for years to meet her.
“Have you eaten, dear? Would you like some lunch?”
“I don’t want to be a bother. I should probably be going soon.”
“Nonsense. It’s not every day I finally get to meet Gilbert’s girlfriend. I’ll go to the kitchen and have them prepare something for us,” she says happily.
“Oh, ma’am, I’m not—”
Gilbert reaches for my hand and squeezes it. I look to him, and he shakes his head at me. I search his face and take in his tight expression.
I fall silent and allow his grandmother to leave the room. Once she’s gone, he stands and gently tugs my hand for me to follow him. I do so with furrowed brows.
“Oh my God, I’ve never seen her so happy to meet a girl in my life before. I don’t want to break her heart. We leave in a few days.
“Could you do me a favor and just go with it? She has more days behind her than in front of her. Who knows if she’ll make it back home? Please, Zah.
“I’ll give you anything you want. Name it. Just pretend to be my girlfriend for her sake,” he pleads.
I look up into his eyes, searching. He’s serious. I take a step back. This is all a bit too much. My stomach decides this is the moment it’s going to act up.
Covering my mouth, I race back inside for the powder room I used when I first arrived. Thank God I make it and am able to empty my stomach in private. Once I’m done, I wish I could hide out in here forever.
“Zah, are you all right in there?”
“I’ll be out in a second,” I call.
Splashing water on my face, I then take a deep, calming breath. I can do this. I’m going to go out there and tell Gilbert and his sweet little grandmother I need to go home.
I nod at my reflection and turn to do just that. However, that’s not what happens at all. I step out of the bathroom, and they are both standing there, looking concerned.
Suddenly, Mrs. Manning’s eyes light up. She pulls me into a surprisingly strong hug. I return the embrace as I look up at Gilbert with wide eyes. He looks back at me pleadingly as he mouths, please.
“Oh, this is wonderful news. You’re expecting, aren’t you? Gilbert has a little one of his own on the way. When are you due, dear?”
“Uh, um. July, ma’am. The baby is due in July,” I reply, too shocked to say anything else.
“None of this ma’am business. You will call me Grandmother Christen or Grandma Christen. You are family now.”
Gilbert gets this grin on his face. “We were waiting to say anything about the baby. Zah plans to finish up her work here and we’ll be able to finalize our plans stateside when she returns home.”
“Oh, we have so much planning to do. An engagement party, a baby shower, I think a year is a long enough time to plan a proper wedding. Depending on whether we can get a suitable venue. No worries, dear. We’ll take care of everything,” she chortles.
Gilbert wraps an arm around me and tugs me into his side. Then he places a kiss on my forehead. I try my best not to cringe.
“Thank you,” he whispers in my ear. “I take it the father and your mother aren’t aware of any of this? There isn’t anyone who could expose us?”
I shake my head. Then I pause. “Erica,” I breathe.
He nods slightly. “Will she talk? Do you think she will take a million for her silence?” he murmurs.
“She won’t say anything.”
“Is it Coswell?”
I remain silent. Who the father is is my business. He doesn’t need to know.
“Your silence is answer enough. I will be here for whatever you need. Ask and it’s yours. Thank you for doing this. You’re a great friend.”
I relax just a little. I’m doing this for a friend. As we sit down and his grandmother begins to speak excitedly, I can’t bring myself to tear this hope away from her. I also feel guilty as hell for lying.
What am I doing?