Chapter 28
Blaze
We’ve only been married three days. I’ve not been separated from my wife yet. We move as one from the bed to the kitchen to the bathroom. We bathe together. We use the toilet when the other one is in the room. We heat Gretchen’s meals at the quaint stove.
We’re finally heading to the main house this morning.
I’d rather hide here for a month with my girl, but that’s not practical.
We have obligations. One of them is a meeting with Thomas McAndrews.
He texted everyone a few hours ago to say that he would be coming over this morning and wanted all of us to be present.
So Victoria and I have to come out of hiding.
After brushing my teeth, I drop onto my knees in front of my sexy wife, lift her thin dress, and kiss her stomach.
She grabs my hair and giggles. “You’re incorrigible.”
I am. I know we’ve already made a baby. He or she is in there. Just a pin drop. But I can feel it in my soul.
I tip her leg to look at the stitches. Kinsley is going to take them out this afternoon.
Victoria can’t wait. Apparently, they itch.
I’m wondering if I should make Victoria get on all fours during this visit so Kinsley can decide how hard it’s okay to spank my pregnant wife.
I’ll get a better gauge on Victoria’s needs when we arrive.
Finally, I stand and take her hand. “Ready to face the family?”
“Ready as I can be. Do you think McAndrews is coming about my dad’s will or something related to my stepmother?”
I cup her face and kiss her because it’s what I do every few minutes.
“I don’t think so, baby. When I spoke to him yesterday, he said it would probably be a few weeks before he had all the paperwork ready.
Sheila is in jail and doesn’t have anyone to post bond.
I’m sure she’ll find a way eventually, but she’s not your problem. ”
She nods. “Okay.”
I tip her chin back. “I’m going to handle whatever arises, baby. I don’t want you to worry about it. Your job is to eat healthy and grow our baby.”
Her cheeks flush adorably. “Blaze… I don’t want you to be disappointed if I’m not pregnant. It doesn’t always work that way.”
“I’ll never be disappointed, Victoria. I mean that. Half the fun is in making babies.”
She sighs. “Also, I can’t just sit around doing nothing but eating what you tell me to.
You’re going to let me work with Dallas cataloging the antiques, right?
” One of the things my wife checked off our to-do list yesterday was canceling her museum interview in Phoenix.
She’ll be working here in the mansion when she feels up to it.
“Absolutely. As soon as Kinsley gives you the all-clear, you can get lost in the mansion, staring at old things.” I chuckle.
I don’t see the fascination, but my wife is absolutely giddy about that old monstrosity.
I kiss her again. “To a reasonable extent. You’ll rest when I tell you, eat at mealtimes, and always go to bed with me. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
I glance at my watch. “Let’s go.”
We’re all gathered in the library, talking over one another, when Gretchen announces that McAndrews has arrived.
Ryder leaves us to greet him and returns a minute later with McAndrews and another man I’ve never seen before. He appears to be in his mid-forties.
We all hush as they step into the room.
McAndrews pulls his shoulders back and motions toward the man next to him. “I’d like you all to meet Carson Davis.”
I’m confused, and so are my cousins, judging by the looks on their faces.
McAndrews continues, “He’s one of your first cousins.”
If a pin dropped in the room, we would all hear it. That’s how tense it is.
Nervously, Carson rubs his hands together. “None of you knew about me, I guess.”
I glance at my cousins. We all shake our heads.
McAndrews chuckles awkwardly and runs a hand over his head. “My job was to mail the instructions in the will to every one of Amos Wilde’s grandchildren. I wasn’t at liberty to tell any of you who that might include, and I’m still not. Amos’s wishes were very clear.”
“But…” Brody clears his throat. “Who…? I’m sorry. I’m very confused. How old are you?”
“Forty-six. And I have a twin brother, River.”
Seconds of silence again before Brody says, “I’m the oldest grandchild. I’m forty-five.”
Carson nods. “I assumed that was what you believed. After all, I’ve never met any of you, nor did I know you existed either. My mother’s name was Luanna Davis. Apparently, Amos Wilde had an affair with her mother.”
I look at McAndrews again. “Is this true?”
“Yes.”
Carson speaks again. “I’ve actually been here before. My mother brought me and River here once when we were about ten. I never forgot that day or this mansion. She didn’t tell us that the man we met was our grandfather, but we’ve always had a strange suspicion. And then we got the letters.”
I jerk my gaze to McAndrews.
It’s Ryder who speaks next. His voice is deep. “Now we know why our parents left this town and never returned. How many more grandchildren are there?”
McAndrews sighs. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
Holy. Shit.
“I’m sorry to barge in. I know you’re all shocked,” Carson says.
“We are shocked,” Dallas agrees, “but it’s not your fault. Hell, you’ve at least been here before. Until we got the letter, none of us knew a thing about Wilde or our grandfather. Our parents never told us.”
“No wonder they were so pissed,” Tiago mutters, reiterating what we’re all thinking. “I bet our parents knew Dear Old Grandad cheated on their mom.”
After another awkward silence, I hold out a hand. “I’m Blaze. Welcome to the Wilde mansion.”