Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
The Five Families Club house was adjacent to an eighteen-hole golf course, tennis courts and the community swimming pool.
Growing up, Alec had spent most summers at the clubhouse, charging things on his family’s account and playing with his brothers and the friends he still had today.
The area was named after the five families that had originally inhabited Cole’s Hill.
Wanting their town to be different from the others in the area, they’d established a close bond and had often driven their cattle up to Fort Worth Stockyards together back in the frontier days.
“You’re looking...different tonight,” Mauricio said, coming up to him and handing him a Lone Star beer.
His brother had always seemed like he had too much energy, like he was going to explode if he didn’t keep moving.
Their mom had often said that they were yin and yang to each other.
But since Mo and Hadley had gotten engaged, his brother was calmer.
Alec wanted to know what had made the difference but tonight wasn’t the time to ask.
Alec took a long swallow and then glanced around to see if anyone was close enough to hear their conversation.
The coast was clear; Mal and Diego were off in a corner discussing the upcoming polo match on Sunday and new strategies for the game.
“It’s Scarlet. Her blood pressure is a little high.
I’m worried about her. I had been thinking of the—” he dropped his voice lower “—baby as something that we had time to adjust to and had completely forgotten that pregnancy can be complicated. And things between us are just starting to gel, you know?”
Mo clapped him on the shoulder and squeezed. “I get it. That’s how I continue to feel with Hadley and she’s even worse than I am. We both want this perfect version of life but it’s not that way... It’s messy and complicated. I don’t want to sound like a sap but do you feel like you two are a team?”
“A team?”
“Yeah, like sometimes when things get really stressful I know I can turn to Hadley and just vent or other times I don’t have to say it, she can see I’m on the verge of losing it and she helps me destress. I do the same thing for her.”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to really tell. We are getting closer, but you know me... I’m not really good at reading people,” Alec said.
“I am. And she watches you like she cares about you,” Mo said.
“I think we like each other. How did you know things were different this time with Hadley? I mean, you broke up after high school and then got back together, and did it again after graduating college, and then again when she moved to New York.”
Mo shook his head. “I didn’t, bro. I was just winging it and trying like hell to control my temper. Then I started to realize instead of being angry...that part of me, well, Hadley calmed me down and was exactly what I was missing in my life.”
“I don’t have the anger you always did,” Alec said.
“No you have a different kind of thing... Maybe emptiness?” Mo asked.
He shrugged. But his twin was right on the money.
There had always been an emptiness inside him that he didn’t know how to fill.
But Scarlet was starting to fill it... Maybe that was what had him so off-kilter.
Because she hadn’t indicated that there was any reason for her to stick around after the baby.
“What are you two talking about?” Diego asked, coming over to them with Malcolm on his heels.
“Relationships.”
“So it’s getting serious with Scarlet?” Malcolm asked.
“Yes, but I know she’s only in town temporarily. I mean, we’ve only been together for six weeks,” Alec said, rubbing the back of his neck and taking another long swig of his beer. This discussion wasn’t what he’d intended for the evening.
“Six weeks can be a lifetime in some relationships. Helena and I dated a long time before we got married but I knew on our second date that she was the one,” Malcolm said. “Then I had to figure out how to up my game so that when I asked her she’d have no choice but to say yes.”
“How did you up your game?” Diego asked. “Pippa and I started out with lust and then, well, things sort of happened.”
“Things sort of happened?” Mo asked, jokingly. “You’re such a romantic, bro.”
“You know what I mean,” Diego said. “Some women don’t care as much about the words. It’s action that matters.”
“You have a point,” Mo said, laughing.
Actually, his older brother did have a point. Was he worrying this entire situation to death? Trying to make something out of it that wasn’t there? She was here and she was pregnant and they were together.
“I agree, but I want to add one thing, Alec. Helena didn’t need me to up my game. She’d been ready since that second date, too. She’d just been afraid to tell me,” Malcolm said. “Sometimes in love you have to take a risk.”
“Wow, I’m a few minutes late and I walk in on a therapy session,” Bart said as he approached.
“Hey, not all of us can rely on an accent to charm women,” Alec said, going over to give Bart a one-armed hug.
“It’s not just the accent, mi amigo,” Bart said. “I can try to teach you boys, but I think it might be something you’re born with.”
There was a lot of good-natured ribbing as they started playing pool. Alec realized that despite the fact that he hadn’t really told them the entire situation with Scarlet, his friends had given him some solid advice.
Now if he could figure out a way to charm Scarlet into staying in Cole’s Hill. Into believing that he’d make a good father for their baby and that he was worth the risk of staying here.
He went to take another swallow of his beer and realized it was empty.
The clubhouse kept the bar and the fridge behind it fully stocked in the pool rooms so he went and grabbed another drink.
He had a lot to think about and the answer wasn’t that hard to figure out.
He needed to ask Scarlet to stay or at least to stay in his life.
Scarlet was surprised when she opened the door and saw Mrs. Velasquez standing there with Lulu at her heels two days later.
The dog barked once and then when Mrs. Velasquez leaned down to pet her, stood up on her back legs and just watched her.
Alec’s mom was a morning news presenter in Houston and commuted to the city every day.
So on her days off—according to Alec—she usually spent her time chilling out.
But here she was on Scarlet’s doorstep. Though the two women had met before, they really hadn’t spent much time alone talking.
“Hello, Scarlet. I’m sorry for the intrusion. I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes to chat with me.”
“I can,” Scarlet said as her dog danced around her feet. “I was actually about to take this one for a walk. Would you like to join me?”
“That would be nice,” Mrs. Velasquez said.
“Come on inside while I get her harness and leash, Mrs. Velasquez,” Scarlet said, stepping back into the foyer.
“Please call me Elena.”
“Of course,” Scarlet said. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes... It’s just I haven’t had a chance to get to know you and I know you and Alec have been spending a lot of time together...”
“And?”
“And I wanted a chance to just chat with you. Bianca said you’re funny and smart and I think I was a bit jealous,” Elena said with a laugh.
Scarlet realized that Alec’s mom was here to see what kind of woman she was. How she would suit her son. And it was interesting—she didn’t think she’d ever been in a situation like this before.
She got the dog’s leash and they started out on their walk. The weather today was a bit cooler but not really cold.
They made small talk about the town and the upcoming open-air movie night in the park and then finally Elena stopped walking and sighed. “My husband said don’t go over there, you’ll make things awkward, and I hate to admit it but he was right, wasn’t he?”
Scarlet shrugged. “I think so. I’m not sure what you want to know about me.”
“I don’t know, either. I miss out on what goes on in the daily routine of my kids and my husband because I do the morning news show and I’m gone a lot.
And I didn’t get a chance to know you at the polo match.
It just wasn’t the right time. I should have invited you to lunch or something,” Elena said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I pretty much grew up without my mother, so I have no idea how to deal with situations like this,” Scarlet admitted. Talking about her mom always made her feel hollow and empty.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Elena said. “I did know your mom had passed away... I read your bio online, and am familiar with your TV show. Seems like you’ve had your share of tragedy.”
Scarlet wasn’t sure where this was leading and she didn’t really want to talk to Alec’s mom, but she wasn’t going to be rude.
Plus, she and Alec had had a paternity test just to resolve the issue and make sure there were no lingering questions, so she could speak with absolute assurance if the subject came up with Mrs. Velasquez.
“I have, but I’m sure that’s not why you wanted to chat,” Scarlet said. She wondered if Elena knew she was pregnant. Scarlet had the tiniest belly but it wasn’t visible beneath the baggy top she had on.
“It isn’t. Bianca shared your news with me and, of course, I know I should wait until Alec wants to tell me, but I’ve been a career woman who has been pregnant and I know that there are other considerations.
.. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I’m here if you need someone to talk to.
I realize you don’t have a mom and I know you are very capable but. .. Oh, Lord, I’m rambling.”
Scarlet was upset that Bianca had told her mother. She turned to face the older woman and saw the concern and worry on her face. She’d felt attacked a moment earlier but now she realized that Elena was concerned.
“It wasn’t Bianca’s news to share,” Scarlet said.