Chapter 19
Nineteen
Blair
“I feel like I’m going to vomit,” I tell Adrian as we take our seats in the private room of one of New York’s finest restaurants. It was Adrian’s idea to make this reservation and request the presence of my parents at a neutral location.
We blindsided them. They didn’t even know we were in the city. We texted them this morning and asked them to meet us at seven for dinner. It’s six thirty now. Adrian thinks of everything. He wants us to have the upper hand in every aspect of this meeting, including arriving first.
He leans over, kisses behind my ear, and whispers, “Probably morning sickness.”
I flush and giggle. “We don’t know that yet.”
He shrugs. “Only because you haven’t taken a pregnancy test yet. I’m quite confident you’re carrying my child, princess.”
We’ve been married for ten days, but I suspect he’s right. I’m probably ten days pregnant. Although I’m pretty sure the nausea is because I’m not looking forward to this awkward meeting with my parents, that’s not the only symptom that would indicate I’m pregnant.
I shift in the seat and discreetly adjust my bra.
Adrian turns toward me, takes my hand in his, and brings my knuckles to his lips. He holds my gaze while he kisses my fingers. “Your breasts are sore.”
I swallow and look down.
He tucks a finger under my chin and lifts my face. He’s smiling. “You’ve started wincing when I touch them.” He slides his hand to my waist and then up until he barely grazes the side of my boob. “Fuck, I love you.”
My cheeks flush, and I give him what he wants.
A smile. The only bright part about this day is that I’m confident there’s a child growing inside me.
They were made with love, and they will be loved.
I will never force this baby into a profession they aren’t interested in.
Not for any reason, and certainly not for money.
I shake the thoughts from my head. We have to face my parents, and then we can deal with my possible pregnancy.
“We’ll stop and buy a test on the way back to the hotel, baby.”
I nod. “Okay.”
“Hey. Look at me, princess.”
I do.
“I love you,” he repeats.
I respond in kind. “I love you, too.”
“I will be polite to your parents, princess. They’re your family. I want you to have a relationship with them if it’s possible. It tears me up that mine were taken from me too young, and I never like to see families ripped apart. So much wasted time.”
“I know,” I whisper. It must be very painful for him that he’d give anything for another day with his parents, while we may have to sever ties with mine.
“But, Blair…”
I nod. “I know.”
He tucks a finger under my chin again. “I will not let them treat you poorly, baby. I can’t sit back and allow it. Do you understand?”
I’m trying not to cry. Another symptom that’s irrefutable.
I’ve been very emotional for a few days, and not just because of what we’ve gone through.
I’m also tired. Granted, we haven’t slept enough, either.
We’ve spent hours with the lawyer and then hours discussing what happened afterward. I’m exhausted.
“My top priority will always be you and our kids. If your parents aren’t respectful, I will ask them to leave or take you back to the hotel.”
“I understand.” I love him for it, too. It’s so nice to have someone willing to stand by my side, someone who puts my interests first.
At the sound of my mother’s voice, I inhale sharply and sit taller.
Adrian turns toward the doorway and stands, helping me up next to him. He keeps a hand resting on the small of my back.
The man never ceases to impress me. He reads a room like no one I’ve ever met. Instinctively, he has decided to greet my parents eye-to-eye instead of remaining seated. Seconds later, they step into the private room.
The first thing I notice is that my parents aren’t touching each other.
For some reason, I’ve never thought about that before.
They never hold hands or share a light kiss.
My father doesn’t keep a palm on my mother’s back.
I try to recall when I last saw them express affection. I can’t come up with an instance.
Adrian steps forward, ensuring he is the first to speak and take control. He holds out a hand. “Mr. Snyder. Adrian Gallant. Nice to meet you.”
My father is caught off guard, but he’s too polite to enter this fancy restaurant swinging, so he takes my husband’s hand, but his words cut deep. “Wish I could say the same.”
I cringe. I’m embarrassed to know these people.
Adrian ignores his rude comment and turns to extend his hand to my mother. “Mrs. Snyder. Also nice to meet you.”
My mother’s face is flushed. All she does is nod.
Adrian swings his arm around, indicating the two open chairs. “Please, have a seat.” He’s fucking brilliant. This is his meeting. Not theirs. He’s controlling every second of the narrative. They are stunned.
“What is going on with you?” my mother asks as soon as she’s seated. Her gaze is on mine. She sits tall and proper, but her face is tight.
“I needed a change, Mom.”
“So you just took off without a word and went to the mountains?”
My father glares at me as if I’m a child needing scolding. He looks like he’s about to admonish me for upsetting my mother. What a joke.
I refuse to cower to these people. I don’t even know them. “I knew if I told you my plans, you would try to stop me.”
“Damn right, we would have. You’ve lost all common sense,” my father says.
“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
My mother leans forward, keeping her words barely above a whisper.
She certainly wouldn’t want anyone in the restaurant to hear her raised voice.
Appearances are everything. “We’re concerned about you, Blair.
People don’t just walk away from their lives unless they’re having a nervous breakdown.
Perhaps you’ve been working too hard, and you need some time to step back and catch your breath.
There’s a lovely little spa I’ve looked into.
They’ve gone out of their way to reserve a spot for you. ”
My brows shoot up. A spa? Is that a code word for a facility where she thinks my head might get fixed? I shudder.
Adrian wraps his hand around mine on my lap under the table. “Mr. and Mrs. Snyder. You need to take a step back and listen to your daughter. She’s not having a nervous breakdown. She has simply reassessed her life and decided it isn’t right for her. That’s not grounds for medical intervention.”
My mother jerks her gaze toward Adrian. “What do you know? You’ve known her for a few days. I’ve known her for twenty-six years.”
“Have you, though?” I ask. “Do you really know me? You never ask me anything. I can’t remember the last time either of you checked to see if any of your plans for me were okay with me. You’ve never asked me what my hopes and dreams are. You simply set me on a path and expected me to follow.”
“Don’t be so ungrateful,” my father responds. “We’ve given you every opportunity in life. You’ve had the best money could buy, including a top-notch education.”
“And yet, in return, I’m expected to do as I’m told. Do you have any idea what plans William had for us as a married couple? Huh? Did you know he thought our marriage would just be a sham for public image, and he intended to keep a mistress on the side?”
My mother scoffs. “Don’t be so dramatic, Blair. It’s unbecoming. Marriages are arrangements. At least he was upfront about his intentions and didn’t lie about them.”
I gasp. So does Adrian. My gaze shifts back and forth between the two people across from us. I don’t even know them.
My father leans forward, seething. “You ungrateful little brat. We’ve done everything for you, including setting you up for life with the finest things money can buy, and your thanks is to run off to the mountains to sow your wild oats.”
“Watch it,” Adrian warns, his voice firm. “I will not allow you to upset my wife. If you can’t speak civilly, we will leave.”
My father jerks his attention to Adrian. “Don’t give me this nonsense about my daughter being your wife. What a joke. You must have forced her to marry you under duress.”
“No one has forced me to do anything, Dad. You’re the one being dramatic. I married Adrian because he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Well, you’re going to unmarry him, too, Blair, because you clearly don’t have any clue what the best thing is for you.”
“This is your last warning,” Adrian says. “Treat Blair with respect, or this meeting is over.”
My father growls, nearly coming out of his seat. “Don’t you threaten me, Gallant. She is my daughter. I know her better than you. She obviously suffers from delusions and depression. Stay out of our family affairs. You can go now. I’ll have my lawyers handle the annulment.”
Adrian stands, helping me up with him. “I’m sorry you are incapable of repairing your relationship with your daughter.
It saddens me that you’re so heartless. I lost my parents over a decade ago, and it hurts my soul for my wife’s parents to be living and walking this Earth while being unwilling to have a relationship with her.
But I can see you’re not reasonable people, so this conversation is over.
Think about your actions. If at some point you decide you’d like to be part of our lives, contact me, and I’ll consider it.
Until you’re willing to behave like sane adults and loving parents, do not contact Blair.
I will not have her constantly upset by your unkind words. ”
Adrian sets a business card in front of my father.
It’s brilliant. Next, he reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulls out a thick envelope.
He sets that on the table in front of my father, too.
“We had papers drawn up by my lawyer. If you even think of following through on your threat to have Blair committed, I suggest you read through these legal documents first. You have no grounds to stand on. She’s already been declared of sound mind, and she is my wife.
My responsibility. I’m her legal next of kin. Not you.”
Adrian guides me toward the room’s exit.
My mother gasps and stands, dropping her purse on the floor. “Blair. Don’t you walk away from us, young lady. If you step out of that door, you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your life.”
I smile sweetly and lean into my husband. “I’m pretty sure I’ve finally started making the best choices. Any mistakes I make in the future will be my own. Not yours.”
My father growls again. “You’re giving up your inheritance for a lumberjack, Blair.”
I chuckle. I’m not even shaking. His words are too absurd for me to feel threatened.
“Come on, Dad. You’re way too smart not to have done your research.
Don’t try to convince me you haven’t Googled Adrian and know every single detail about who he is and what his net worth is.
He may occasionally cut down trees, and let me tell you, it’s so sexy I have to fan myself, but he’s worth more than you’ll be valued at, even if you do merge with the Sanfords.
Maybe you could adopt someone and have her marry William.
I’m choosing love and laughter. Have a good life. ”
At that, my husband guides me out of the room, through the restaurant, and out of the front door. He hands over our ticket and a tip to a valet who rushes off to get our rental car. We never even had a glass of water in the restaurant, but we knew it might go that way. Neither of us is surprised.
While we wait, Adrian turns to me, cups my face, and kisses me soundly. He’s breathing heavily as he nibbles a path to my ear. “Do you have any idea how fucking hard I am right now? How damn sexy you were in there?”
I giggle and rise onto my toes to wrap my hands around my husband’s neck. “I love you.”
He kisses me again, keeping his hands on my waist. “This dress is a bit short to hold your arms up so high, naughty girl. If you don’t lower yourself, I’m going to spank your ass as soon as we get in the car.”
“Promises, promises.”