13. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
R afael cursed his luck. From the moment he had woken up that morning, everything had gone wrong. He had overslept. He’d stubbed his toe getting out of the shower and cut his neck while shaving. He had only arrived at the airport on time because the company’s helicopter had been available to pick him up from the estate helipad.
Once he’d reached the airport, the company jet was down due to mechanical issues, and Dina had taken the second jet to Toronto. It had taken his EA half an hour to get him another flight. Thankfully, his assistant had contact with a real estate tycoon in the area who agreed to lend him his jet since there were no flights out of GDL to San Antonio.
Bad weather had kept them from taking off for a few hours. He had almost insisted the pilot try to get out sooner, but he didn’t dare chance it, not after the loss of Jaime and Maddie in their flight.
He had been texting Sky nonstop since landing, but she hadn’t responded, probably because her phone was in her purse. When he’d approached that conference room and heard Beverly saying such horrible shit to his wife, he had seen red. He hadn’t ever put his hands on a woman, but he had been sorely tempted by that bleach blonde harpy.
“I have my car,” Sky said, interrupting his thoughts. “I can drive us home.”
She ducked under his arm and right out of the elevator. He chased after her, suddenly realizing he had missed something very important. “Wait. Where’s Jasper?”
She frowned as she dug through her purse. “With Taegan.”
“Who is Taegan?”
“Our new nanny,” she said matter-of-factly. She retrieved her phone and unlocked it with the passcode. She must have seen his messages because she said, “Well, I would have tried to delay the meeting if I had gotten these in time.”
“I don’t care about the messages. What do you mean we have a nanny? When did you hire her? I thought we talked about this. About not getting help until after the custody fight is finished?”
“I heard what you said, but I can’t do this alone. I need help.”
“You’re not alone.” He bristled at the insinuation that he wasn’t doing enough. “When I’m here, I do everything I can to help.”
“When you’re here,” she repeated. “When you’re not? I’m drowning, Rafael.”
Taken aback, he stared down at his wife and actually looked at her. She never wore heavy makeup, but today, she had applied more than usual. It was artfully done, but he could tell she was covering up her complexion to make herself seem healthier and more awake. It might have been his imagination, but he thought she might have been a little thinner in the face.
She’s not eating.
She’s not sleeping.
She’s drowning—and I wasn’t there to save her.
Conscious of the watchful eyes surrounding them, he gently took her hand. “Let’s go home. We’ll talk there.”
She relented with a nod. Silently, they left the law firm and made their way to the parking garage. She gave him the key fob when he asked and seemed relieved not to have to drive. She settled into the passenger seat and picked up her phone.
Even though he had a million questions about the new nanny, he kept quiet. He had said they would talk at home. He would at least keep that promise. “Are you hungry? We could stop for lunch.”
“I’m tired, but if you’re hungry, I’ll sit with you while you eat.”
There it was. Always selfless. Always making sure everyone else got what they wanted.
“I’m fine. We’ll go straight home so you can sleep.”
“Well, actually, Taegan doesn’t work on Wednesday afternoons.”
“Why not?”
“She’s an early ed major at St. Mary’s. She has classes on Monday and Wednesday. She’s with us Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.”
“I see.” He navigated across two lanes of traffic to reach the turn lane he needed to use. “And that’s enough help for you?”
“I think it will be.”
He had more concerns, but he let it go. She was tired, and she’d been through hell with Beverly. All of his questions could wait.
When they arrived home, Sky introduced him to Taegan. His anxiety over having this new person in their lives melted away when he saw how much Jasper enjoyed her. She had a gentle way of speaking and a sweet disposition. Every question he asked, she answered easily and honestly. He was a pretty good judge of character, and nothing about her made him suspicious.
Nevertheless, after she left, he said, “I want to have her checked out.”
Sky looked up from the diaper she was changing. “Why?”
“I want to know that Jasper and you are safe.”
“She’s twenty-one, Rafael. She’s from Plano. She came with a reference from the archbishop and two nuns. Plus, she worked for the Radley family next door for two years.”
“Still, I want to know about her family, the men she dates—.”
“Women,” Sky corrected. “She dates girls, Rafael.”
“Well, then, I want to make sure she doesn’t have a history of dating criminal women.”
Sky rolled her eyes. “If it will make you feel better...”
“It would make me feel better to have security with the two of you day and night,” he admitted. “I should have hired bodyguards weeks ago.”
“Bodyguards? Really?” She finished changing Jasper’s diaper and helped him stand on the table. “You hear that, Jas? Your silly uncle thinks we need babysitters!” She nuzzled Jasper and made him laugh. “He’s so paranoid!”
“It’s not paranoia, Sky. You’re my wife, and I’m extremely wealthy. Jasper is an heir to my family’s empire. You’re both at risk.” He shuddered at the thought of the two of them being hurt. “If anything happens to you—.” He bit back the words that he couldn’t bear to say. “After my father and grandfather were killed, I insisted we all have security. Jaime and Maddie chose not to follow that rule while they lived here in San Antonio.”
“It wouldn’t have changed what happened to them,” Sky pointed out carefully.
“No,” he agreed sadly, “but I’ve had about as much death as I can handle. Losing Jasper? Losing you?” He gulped as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. “I can’t, Sky.”
Her expression softened, and she brought Jasper to him. After she handed over their nephew, she put her hands on his chest and gazed up at him with concern. “All right, Rafael. Hire security. I trust you to find the right people.”
Surprised by her acquiescence, he said, “I promise you’ll barely notice them. How often did you see security around the estate?”
“Not often, but the estate is massive. We’re in much closer quarters here.”
“True,” he allowed.
“If you’re going to be traveling frequently, it’s probably best we have someone here with us.” Her expression turned dark. “Especially after the way Beverly behaved today.”
Beverly. He decided not to speak the words he was thinking. They weren’t words he wanted Jasper to hear.
With Jasper in the crook of one arm, he used the other to pull Sky close. He held her worried gaze and promised, “She will never get her hands on Jasper.”
“She’s always hated me, and she’ll do anything to hurt me.”
“I won’t let her touch you,” he swore. “You’re my wife. I protect my family.”
“She could hurt us, Rafael.” Sky’s voice quavered, and his brow furrowed. “She knows things about—.”
His phone rang. It was his mother’s ring tone.
“Answer it, Rafa. It’s your mother.” She reached for Jasper. “It must be important.”
“I’ve got him, Sky. You should go take a nap. You said you were tired on the drive.”
She hesitated. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
“I know.” He carefully turned her toward the stairs. “Go. Sleep. I’ve got it handled.”
She bit her lower lip but eventually nodded and walked out of the living room. He carried Jasper to the couch, shrugged out of his suit jacket and toed off his shoes before returning his mother’s call. He soon regretted that decision. Once he told her the truth about the disastrous mediation, she went off on him for being late, for not living up to his marriage vows and for being a bad husband.
“Mama,” he groaned, rubbing his aching head. “I’m going to fix it. We have a housekeeper and a nanny. I’m bringing in security. I’ll hire a cook. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“ Humph . You can’t just throw money at it and fix it, Rafael. Sky needs more than that. She needs a man—her man—to step up and take care of her.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” His mother sighed with displeasure. “You told me you were going to be more present for Sky and Jasper.”
“I am, Mama. I’m trying.” He kept his voice measured and his tone respectful even though he wanted to yell. “I have responsibilities with the business. I can’t just shove all of that at Dina and run away. I have long-term relationships I have to handle carefully.”
“Then handle them and make a plan with a clear timeline,” his mother insisted.
“I will.” Jasper started to clamber all over him and gnawed on his little fist. “Mama, I have to go. Jasper is hungry, and it’s almost time for his nap.”
“Is Sky there? I wanted to talk to her about the party.”
“She’s sleeping.”
“Good. Don’t bother her. Let her rest. If you can’t handle Jasper on your own, call me. I’ll tell you what needs to be done.”
“Okay, Mama.” He made a face at Jasper who squealed with laughter as he ended the call. Tossing aside his phone, he picked up Jasper and carried him into the kitchen. “All right, mijo , let’s find something to eat.”
He no longer felt silly narrating his movements as he made a simple snack for Jasper. Sky had explained that it was important for Jasper to hear them using language. It made sense and had shown him how ignorant he was when it came to raising a child.
He was working on that. Jasper’s pediatrician and the child life specialist they had been referred to had given him a list of books and YouTube videos. He felt like he was back in college, cramming for an exam as he read through the books and took notes. Of course, the consequences for failing this exam would be dire.
After smearing more banana on his face than into his mouth, Jasper finished his bottle and fell asleep. Rafa marveled at how very little he minded his Brioni shirt being absolutely trashed by his nephew. A few weeks ago, he would have been nearly apoplectic to spill even a drop of red wine on it. Now? He couldn’t even see some of the buttons because they were so crusted with banana and graham crackers.
He brushed a tender kiss to Jasper’s head, breathing in the scent of his baby soap and shampoo. He remembered teasing Dina about constantly smelling and snuggling Camilla when she was a tiny baby. He finally understood why. There was something addicting about the scent.
These were the parts of parenthood he found easy. Feeding him. Playing with him. Holding him. Loving him. They came surprisingly natural to him. It was everything else that terrified him. Every parenting book he read or podcast he listened to filled him with fear. There were so many ways to fail.
Then again, he considered how well Maddie had turned out despite her mother. Rafael couldn’t stop thinking about the venom Beverly spewed at Sky. What kind of person blamed a child for all the wrongs in their life? Sky hadn’t asked to be born to a philandering father. She didn’t force her father to divorce Beverly. She was innocent and didn’t deserve—.
His phone began to vibrate across the couch cushion. He was glad he had remembered to silence it before Jasper fell asleep. He snatched it up and glanced at the screen. Seeing his niece’s name worried him, and he immediately answered. “Camila? What’s wrong?”
“Tio Rafa! Is Sky with you?”
“Yes. She’s upstairs asleep. Why?” His heart began to beat faster. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s all over TikTok!”
“What is?”
“That crazy lady put out a video.”
“Crazy lady? Who? Beverly?” His stomach dropped. “What kind of video?”
“It’s...well.” Camila sounded suddenly embarrassed. “It’s you and her. Um...in the garden. At Tio Jaime and Tia Maddie’s wedding.”
“What?” His question came out harsher than he had intended, and Jasper startled atop his chest. He hurriedly soothed his nephew with gentle strokes, not wanting him to wake up.
“I’ll send the link. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry, Tio Rafa.”
When the video came through, he couldn’t hear anything over the pounding of his heartbeat against his ear drums. The video was blurry, and there were lots of shadows. You couldn’t see his face or hers, but anyone who had ever been to his family’s estate would recognize that section of the garden and that particular fountain.
His stomach lurched at the disgusting narrative Beverly had created to accompany the video. The voiceover accused him of pedophilia, of grooming. She alleged that he and Sky had orchestrated Jaime and Maddie’s deaths to steal Jasper and his inheritance. She insisted that there was a conspiracy by the Mexican government and drug cartels to kidnap an American-born baby.
“This crazy, stupid—.”
“Rafael.”
He turned toward the arched doorway and found Sky standing there, her phone clutched in one hand. Pale and shaking, she looked like she might faint at any moment. Tears streaked down her face, and she sobbingly choked out, “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. It’s always my fault.”