Chapter 8 #2
"You don't know a damn thing. And if you think I have feelings for that, that man, then you're out of your damn mind."
"Then why are you so defensive?"
"It might be because you're saying that I'm still hung up on him after all these years. He means nothing to me."
She stopped, realizing how angry she sounded.
Trying to steady her breathing, Abby ran a hand through her hair and stared at the city skyline, gathering her thoughts.
The silence stretched comfortably between the twins, filled only by the muted hum of traffic from below.
She wanted to say more, but the words tangled in her throat, mixing regret and hope.
Finally, she whispered, "I just want Zoe to be happy. I need to learn how to let go, even if it scares me."
He rubbed her shoulders soothingly. "It's going to take some time."
*****
Cade was euphoric. He had his daughter with him. He had seen the way her mother looked when she was leaving and regretted that she was finding it difficult to accept that he was going to be in the child's life.
Zoe was a treasure. He received compliments from staff members on her beauty. It was hard to believe she was in fact four. She was much smarter and very curious.
She asked questions and her love for books warmed his heart.
She also had no problem tucking her small hand into his as they toured the place.
She was content to sit outside with Lilieth when he had a meeting he could not get out of. They had lunch inside the little dining room he had also repaired. She was vivacious and so full of life, it sent tingles inside his heart.
Her mother had done a very good job bringing her up. She was polite and well behaved. Her smile was a mirror image of his.
Somehow, his sister got word that she was there and marched right over.
They were sitting on the sofa next to the expanse of glass that overlooked the harbor when she rushed in, eyes zeroing on Zoe.
Lilieth came in behind her, a stony expression on her face. "I tried to stop her from rushing in."
"It's fine. No one can."
"Hi." His irritation melted away at the look on her face. "I'm your aunt Kat."
Zoe giggled. "Like a kitty cat?"
Katherine felt her heart melting. "Something like that, except my Kat is spelt with a K. It's actually Katherine." She came forward and stood in front of them.
"You look like my daddy." Zoe said curiously.
Kat's eyes flew to her brother's and saw the emotions warring on his face.
"That I do. And you look like him."
She nodded.
"Daddy said I have grandparents, an uncle and another aunt."
"Who cannot wait to see you." Kat crouched down and took the small hands in hers. "It's so nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too."
"May I give you a hug?"
Instead of answering, Zoe simply slid off the sofa and into her arms. Kat closed her arms around her and met her brother's eyes.
"Thank you." She whispered, inhaling the scent of baby powder and hot chocolate. "Okay, what're we doing?"
She sat and prepared to be entertained by the niece she had just met.
Zoe beamed with excitement at the prospect of new family. "Can we draw together?" she asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Kat laughed, charmed by her enthusiasm, and nodded. Cade watched the two of them, feeling a deep sense of gratitude as laughter bubbled up between his sister and his daughter, the beginnings of a new bond forming right before his eyes.
*****
He was reluctant to take her back to her mother. Part of him wished he could carry her home and tuck her in. Perhaps even read her a bedtime story.
Abigail was waiting for him in the parking lot. As he drove in, he wondered if she had thought he wasn't bringing her back.
Sliding the car next to hers, he went around the back to lift her from the car seat and cradle her sleeping form gently.
"She's tuckered out." He whispered. "My sister dropped by."
"Your sister?" She wanted to snatch her daughter away but managed to step back and allow him to put her in the back of her vehicle and secure the belt of her car seat.
She waited until he had closed the door.
"That wasn't the arrangement. She was just supposed to see you, get used to you."
His eyes flared. "My sister came by and wanted to meet her. Should I have refused her? Sent her packing?"
"You're not taking her away." She hissed.
He felt the anger almost strangling him. "Is that what you think? That I want to take her away from you? She's your daughter, Abigail. You're her mother and I'm her father. I want to be able to spend some time with her. My family wants to meet her.
She wants to meet them."
Her hands shook and she had to shove them into the pockets of her jacket to keep him from noticing.
"You have it all planned, don't you? Little by little you want to worm your way into her life, dazzle her with your vast resources and make her promises, ones you have no intention of keeping.
How long before you run after the latest woman to grab your interest?
I won't have my daughter subject to your whims and fancy. I."
She let out a gasp as he grabbed her by the arms and shook her.
His eyes were glittering cold, his face set.
"Hear me carefully." His deep voice was cold and controlled.
"Zoe is my daughter. You kept her from me for four years.
I won't be kept away any longer. I'm not the enemy here and I never made you any promises.
I was always careful never to do any such thing.
She's a child and she needs both her parents.
You can either be civilized about it, or we can go to war. You decide." Letting go of her, he turned to go to his vehicle. Wrenching the door open, he turned to look at her. "Oh, and another thing. She will either be spending Thanksgiving with me or Christmas. You decide."
She leaned against the door, her knees knocking together and her heart pounding. Gulping in air, she managed to get into the car. Checking to see if her daughter was still asleep, she drove out of the lot and headed home.
*****
He listened with half an ear as his sister raved over his daughter. She had taken pictures while they were together and was showing them to the family. After the argument with Abigail, he had driven around aimlessly, haunted by the stricken look on her exquisite face and felt like a monster.
She had behaved as if he had committed murder.
And the worse part of it was that he had wanted her. That he had felt that keen lust that had him walking, no goddammit, running away five years ago. He had wanted to taste her. Her scent had rose up to stagger him.
He could smell her. Christ Jesus! He was at war with her. And all he wanted to do was sink himself so deep inside her, he would have had to be pried loose.
"Darling?"
He was so deep in thought, he had not realized the conversation had petered off and he was the object of several pairs of eyes.
"Sorry. What?"
His mother gave him a strange look before repeating the question. "When will we meet her?"
That brought back the argument in full force. "I told Abigail that I would like her for either Thanksgiving or Christmas."
Eloise's eyes lit up. "Thanksgiving is only two days away. We should get her rooms ready. I'll ask one of the maids to clean out the suite next to yours. It's a little small."
"I'm sure, she's not going to mind how 'tiny' the room is."
His mother laughed at his teasing tone, happy that he was out of his funk. The poor thing had looked so unhappy.
She turned to her daughter. "Seeing the two of you together, shows the resemblance even more."
"She's a beautiful child, inside and out." Kat nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I cannot wait to take her shopping. Romano's has the best children's section and one floor completely dedicated to girls."
"We'll take her shopping."
The men sat there in contented silence as the women planned and argued about a child who had just entered their lives.
Cade sat back, watching the animated faces around him, a small, reluctant smile tugging at his mouth. For a moment, the warmth of family and the gentle stirrings of anticipation eased the guilt that gnawed at him. He thought that this holiday would be different. Healing was possible after all.
*****
"He wants her for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
" Abby accepted the glass of wine her mother placed on the counter in front of her with a brief smile.
She had brought her daughter in, changed her clothes and tucked her in.
Zoe had woken up long enough to ask where her daddy was and when she could see him again.
She had also chattered for some time about her 'Aunt Kat'. "Like a kitty cat." She added with a giggle. It had pierced her heart and made her feel as if she had already lost her little girl.
"That's to be expected." Arlene sat next to her and put a hand over hers on the counter. "You cannot fault him for wanting to spend time with her."
"I can damn well do." Panic was making her angry. "She's going to go to that mansion and see all those people and come back here feeling the lack. They will want to impress her, give her presents and take her shopping, dazzle her with their unlimited resources."
Putting aside the wine, she tipped her head to her mother's shoulders and wept.