Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
HOLLIS
Imight not be into this whole Christmas party, but I enjoy the hell out of watching Candy have a part in planning it alongside Polly.
I’ll see Candy hurry past my office in one direction and then back a few minutes later.
She’s flittering around the whole house and issuing orders for where she wants things.
Good. My girl is getting comfortable. That’s what I hoped she would do, and over the last week, each day she has settled in more.
Not only to our home but to the town as well.
A handful of people have been told to keep a watch out for Maxwell but to not approach if they see him. To only let the sheriff and me know.
Maxwell has dropped off the radar, and while I might be upping security around here, I won't be playing defense waiting for him to pop out. No, I'm going to lure him out. I won't have Candy filled with worry; that's the last thing she needs. I want Maxwell handled and out of our lives permanently.
I don't think that should be too difficult.
Not with all the shit my lawyers and I have dug up.
I also have a security team that's been hired and put into place.
They too are digging into Maxwell and have feet on the ground to get more information.
I called in a favor, and they're the best out there.
"Hollis?" I hear my mother call. I stand up from my desk as she enters my office. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
"It's nice to see you too, Mom." She was supposed to be here a few days ago but got held up. With what, I'm not sure, but give it time and I bet I will.
"Oh whatever," she huffs with a laugh. "This." Mom shows me her phone.
Ah, yes. The engagement announcement I had sent to be plastered all over the city. I’m sure anyone who is anybody knows at this point. Word travels fast in these circles. I wanted everyone to know without a doubt that Candy is mine.
I also know it’s going to piss off Maxwell. That’s the plan. Let his anger get the best of him, and he’ll get more sloppy than he already is.
“You didn’t think I was going to marry her?” I still haven’t told Mom about the babies. Well, she knows Candy is pregnant, but I hadn’t told her the babies are mine. I thought that would be done better in person.
“I knew you would, but I thought I would be told first, and I wouldn't find out from a text from an old friend.”
Perfect. As I thought. Word is spreading quickly.
“Mom, you knew.”
“Not really.” She huffs, pretending to be annoyed, but it doesn’t last long. “So where is she?”
“We need to talk before you meet her.”
“Oh God. What now? Is it Maxwell? You know how hard it’s been to not call his mother?” Not sure what that would do, but okay. I had filled her in on this being linked to Maxwell Holmberg.
“No, it’s about Candy and me.” I motion for her to take a seat.
“Don’t drag this out. I’m old, and my heart can’t take it.”
“That card doesn’t work with me, Mom.” The woman could run circles around most people.
“Out with it. There are people to meet and things to be done.” I lean up against my desk, kicking my feet out and crossing them at the ankles in front of me.
“Candy is having twins.”
“Oh my gosh!” Mom’s whole face lights up.
I knew it would. I know she’ll be thrilled to learn they are biologically mine, but it wouldn’t matter to her.
Mom herself was adopted when she was a baby.
“I need to double everything.” She starts to stand as though she has to start doing that right this second.
“Mom.” I motion for her to sit back down.
“There is more?”
“Maxwell Holmberg.”
“You found the link?” Mom had thought the same thing I had. It couldn't be a coincidence that I knew the man who was linked to Candy and she'd showed up at my door.
“Yes. Years ago I outed his shady dealings to his father and a few others.” Mom’s expression turns skeptical, and I know her mind is already trying to solve this riddle on its own. “I guess he’s out for revenge.”
"And Candy is linked to this revenge?"
“I’ll get there, but let's start with my accident.”
“You think that was him!” Mom is once again out of her chair.
“Sit, Mom.” A small growl leaves her, but she sits back down.
“I have my suspicions because it’s clear to me now he was following my recovery.
So that made me go back and search over my medical files.
I sent them to another doctor, and he found an issue.
I never needed that check to make sure I was still functioning and capable of having children one day. ”
A gasp leaves her. I’m sure she’s putting it together. She’s wanted to know the clinic's name from the start. He’s been planning this for some time.
“I don’t mean to be crude,” Mom says. "Actually, I do. Are you about to tell me that man stole your sperm and used it to impregnate Candy?”
“I know it sounds insane.”
“The truth is often stranger than fiction.”
Mom listens as I tell her the rest and fill her in on all the things that have been happening. By the time I’m done, she’s swiping at tears on her cheeks. I hand her a handkerchief.
“Hollis, did you see—” Candy pauses in the doorway of my office. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re not,” Mom says, standing. “I’m Mary, Hollis’s mom. He has caught me up on everything.” Mom swipes at the rest of her tears.
“Mom, she probably thinks you’re crying because you’re upset.”
“No!” Mom gasps.
“Candy has a habit of thinking everything is going to be bad news. I’m working on fixing that.” I make my way over to her, grabbing her hand to lead her back to my mother.
“Of course you are. I taught him well.” Mom gives Candy a giant smile. “Can I hug you?”
“Yes.”
That’s all Mom needs before she pulls her in for a hug. “I’m so excited to meet you.” Her hands cup Candy’s face. “I tend to be a lot. Hollis tells me this, so if I’m ever overstepping, just bring it to my attention.”
“You’re fine.” Candy’s cheeks start to turn pink.
“Then, I can touch?” Mom asks her. The sweater Candy is wearing today fits her snugly, and you can see her baby bump. It’s been hard to keep my hands off her. I didn’t know pregnancy could be sexy, but fuck, I didn’t know a lot of things until Candy entered my life.
“You can.”
A few more tears escape as she rubs Candy's belly. "This is going to be the best Christmas." Mom glances at me. "And look at her. She's beautiful." That makes Candy's cheeks even more pink.
“Thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Did she get everything I sent?” Mom had helped me with all the clothes and things Candy might need.
“Yes, I got them. You’ve done so much and—”
“Nonsense.” Mom waves off the comment. “There is more to be done. You’re having twins. Oh goodness, where do we start?” Mom takes Candy’s hand and tries to lead her out of my office, but I still have a hold of her other hand.
“Mom, you can’t just steal her.”
“Why not?” Mom's expression turns confused, making Candy giggle.
“I do still need to speak with Hollis about something I just learned about from Polly.”
“What?”
“She congratulated us on making our engagement official, though you have never asked me to marry you.” She has a point; I do just keep calling her my fiancée. “I asked what she meant by official, and she showed me an article on her phone.”
“Do you want me to ask you?” Candy’s eyes bounce between my mother and me.
“I—ah, I don’t know.”
“You know we’ll be getting married.”
“I don’t have a ring.” She tries to lift her hand to show me, but Mom and I both still have a hold of one of her hands.
“Where is her ring, Hollis?” Mom demands.
“I’m not in a tug of war, right?” Candy wiggles her arms, and I let her hand go so I can go to my desk and open the top drawer. I was going to plan something, but if she wants the ring on her finger now, I’m putting it there. “You really have a ring? I was teasing.”
“There is no teasing when it comes to this.” I drop down onto one knee and slide the ring onto her finger. It’s a pear-shaped solid diamond on a platinum band. It’s classic but exquisite. “You’ll marry me.”
“Is that a question?”
“It’s whatever it needs to be so that you’ll agree.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “I’ll marry you.”
I stand, kissing the hell out of my girl.
If Maxwell thinks he can take Candy from me, he’s got another thing coming. I’ll make cutting brake lines look like child’s play. If he forces me, by the time I’m done, there will be nothing of him left, in every sense.