Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
L ater that night, Antonio rang the doorbell to his parents’ house. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the situation with Scarlett and he hoped to get some perspective from his father. His dad was the best man he knew, and in the last thirty-plus years, he hadn’t steered him wrong.
The front door swung open just as he was about to ring the bell again. He could use his key, but he preferred to only use it in case of emergency.
“Hey, son,” Ben Sr. said and opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
“Thanks for being okay with me stopping by this late,” Antonio said as he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it in the coat closet. It was around nine o’clock at night, probably too late for a visit, but he needed to talk.
“I always have time for you. Come on, we can talk in my office.” Ben Sr. started for the hallway leading to the back of the house but slowed. “Are you hungry? There’s lasagna in the refrigerator.”
“No, I’m good. I don’t plan to stay long, but I wanted to talk more about what we discussed this morning.” As they moved farther into the house, Antonio noted how quiet it was. “Where’s Mom?” he asked of his stepmother who had been more of a mother to him than the woman who’d given birth to him.
He had known of Makena for as long as he could remember, but it wasn’t until he was an adult that he actually met her. She and his father had grown up together, but after high school graduation, their lives went in different directions when they attended different colleges out of town. They’d both majored in law, got their degrees, married other people, and had families. Unfortunately, and fortunately, they both got divorced.
After Antonio’s mother left, his dad rarely dated, and it was years later that Antonio knew why—Makena. He’d been in love with her since they were kids, but he never pursued her the way he should’ve. At least not until several years ago, after her divorce when she moved back to Cincinnati. Now they were married, sharing a law practice, and Antonio had never seen his father as happy as he was since Makena came back into his life.
“She’s at a fundraiser, somewhere downtown that Ava is hosting,” Ben Sr. said of Antonio’s stepsister.
Antonio followed him down the long hallway to the back of the house where his office was located. “I’m surprised you didn’t go. You usually attend her events.”
“I would’ve, but I worked late and knew I wouldn’t get there in time. Thankfully, Ava was okay with me writing a fat check to the organization.”
Antonio laughed. “Yeah, I bet she was.”
His sister was always volunteering and supporting one nonprofit organization after another. She had a big heart for giving, and made sure to rope all of them, one way or another, into some of her charitable campaigns. Antonio was surprised she hadn’t hit him up for a donation or to attend. Maybe because she’d gotten him a few months ago.
When they entered the office, his dad sat behind his desk, and Antonio dropped down on the leather sofa that was off to the side. Not wanting to waste his father’s time, he got right to the point.
“Were you serious about what you said, regarding marriages of convenience? Do you really see that a lot?”
His father studied him a long time before nodding. “Yeah, more often than you would believe. I’ve done contracts for people who had to be married in order to gain an inheritance. Some who married to help keep someone else in the country. There were even a few who married in order to get onto someone’s health insurance.
“Many of the marriages have been successful, but there are a few which ended at an agreed time. Usually after two or three years. Are you and Scarlett considering that option?”
“Me more than she is.”
“I see.” His dad rocked slightly in his seat as he continued to study Antonio. “Even though I think it’s a bit extreme, I understand why Scarlett wants you to adopt Bella. What I don’t understand is why you’re agreeing.”
“I love both of them,” Antonio said without hesitation. “Besides, you know I’ve always wanted to get married and have a family. When Scarlett asked me to be Bella’s father, even though she said nothing about marriage, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have them in my life. And Bella...”
His dad smiled. “Yeah, she’s a little sweetheart, and you two get along like you’ve been in her life since birth.”
“I feel like I have. As a matter-of-fact, I can see myself spending the rest of my life with her and Scarlett.”
He told his father about the eerie feeling he’d gotten as Scarlett walked down the aisle during Ben Jr.’s wedding. Antonio would never forget that moment when he could’ve sworn he heard the words: She’s the one .
“I know it sounds strange,” he said. “But it was as clear as day. Dad, I’ve never experienced anything like it, and I’ll admit, it shook me.”
His father chuckled, a knowing look on his face. “Been there. Done that, and if you ask any Jenkins man who’s married, he’ll tell you the same thing. We all have similar stories. Don't ignore the feeling, Antonio. I really do believe—”
“Do not say you believe in that Jenkins men myth. Even with that experience at the wedding, I still find it hard to believe our mind, body, and soul can know a woman is the one .”
His dad grinned and shook his head. “Son, believe what you want, but I’m telling you, so far, it’s been true. And before you ask, the situation with your birth mother was different. She might not have been the woman I was destined to live the rest of my life with, but she gave me the two most incredible gifts I've ever received in my life—you and your brother.”
“So when you married the first time, was it for love?”
His father rubbed his short beard as he considered the question. “I loved your mother. She was a good friend, but…”
“But?”
“But I never felt the ‘can’t live without you’ love that I feel for Makena. She’s my heart, and I can’t even imagine my life without her.”
As his father tried to explain his truth, it was as if Antonio was hearing Scarlett’s confession all over again. She’d basically said the same thing to him about her feelings for Todd and Ezra. How she’d never felt like she was in love with either.
“I’m sure everyone’s falling in love experience is different,” his father said. “But I’m a true believer that when you find that one woman, the one who feels like your other half, you’re going to know. Follow your heart and try not to overthink and over plan in this case like you do with everything else.”
Antonio laughed. Everyone knew he could ruin a good time in any aspect with overthinking the hell out of something.
They were interrupted by the house alarm chime, announcing someone had entered.
“That must be your mom. I’ll be right back,” his dad said before leaving the room. A short while later, they both entered the office space.
“Well, hey there,” Makena said. “This is a pleasant surprise. What’s going on? A meeting of the minds?”
Antonio chuckled and hugged her. “Something like that. You look nice.”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
Her golden-brown skin seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights. Or it could be her warm smile causing it. His stepmother always looked classy, and tonight was no different. Her long hair was in an elaborate twist on top of her head, and the short, black cocktail dress made her look as stylish as usual.
“I heard you were at the office this morning. I hate that I missed you.”
“Yeah, your assistant said you were in a meeting. I told Dad he could fill you in on why me and Scarlett were there. Did he tell you?”
Makena was an estate planning attorney and had joined his dad’s practice a year after they’d married. Their offices at work were on different floors, but whenever he visited one of them, he usually tried to see the other while he was there.
“Yeah, I told her,” Ben Sr. kissed Makena’s cheek before returning to his seat at the desk. “Babe, tell him what you said to me.”
“I told him if you’re anything like your father, you’ve probably already determined Scarlett is the one for you. And you’ll stop at nothing to make that happen, even convince her to marry you before she’s ready.”
Antonio grinned and glanced at his dad, who smirked and rolled his eyes.
“I also told him Scarlett seems like an intelligent woman, who is quite smitten with you. I didn’t miss how she kept looking at you during the wedding. She knows you’re a sure thing and will do right by her and Bella. However, getting married when you’re not in love is a whole different beast.”
Makena approached him and cupped his cheek.
“You’ve shown her who you are. I say ask her to marry you and see what happens. I love you, and you know we’re here to support whatever decision you make. And don’t worry, I’ve been told that this stays between us.”
Antonio’s heart swelled, and he hugged Makena. “Thanks, Mom, for everything. You always know exactly what to say. I’ll keep you posted.”
“You do that and have a good night.”
When she left the room and closed the door behind her, his dad said, “I can’t say I agree with the idea of you and a marriage of convenience. However, if you believe in your heart Scarlett is the one , go for it. If things don’t work out the way you want them to, at least you’ll know you gave it your all.”
Antonio nodded, feeling surer about this than he had about anything else in his life. “She’s the one.”
“What if you marry and she never feels the same as you? Are you prepared for that?”
Antonio had thought about that since dropping Scarlett off at home hours ago. She may never love him the way he loved her, but he had to go for broke. He had faith that she’d fall in love with him. When? He wasn’t sure, but he was going to love her so good she wouldn’t want anyone else.
“I’m prepared to do whatever I have to do to make Scarlett my wife.”
“In that case, I suggest we start working on a marriage contract.”
“With no expiration date,” Antonio added.
His father looked at him doubtfully. “I can tell Scarlett cares about you, but I don’t know if she’ll go with a contract that doesn’t have an end date. But you’ll never know until you ask.”
“I’m going for it.” Antonio ambled to the desk and folded his arms across his chest. “What do I need to do?”
His dad grinned. “Well, since I know my son, I took the liberty of starting a contract for you.”
Antonio laughed as his father turned his computer screen around for him to see.
“One thing, though. This afternoon, I talked with one of our family law attorneys. She mentioned that in some cases, it can take up to a year for an adoption to be finalized.”
Just when he was getting hopeful about his future, another wrinkle made an appearance. “What?”
“Every case is different, but Luke knows people,” his dad said with air quotes. “He claims, if necessary, he can get the adoption application expedited when or if you and Scarlett get married.”
Antonio frowned. He had no idea it could take that long, and it was safe to say Scarlett didn’t know either. “How can he expedite it?”
“I didn’t ask, and as your attorney, I suggest you not ask either—plausible deniability. Just know, it’ll be legal. Or it’ll at least look legal.”
Antonio didn’t miss the way his dad cringed after those last words. Still, he wouldn’t allow Antonio to move forward if he had any concerns.
Antonio rubbed his hands together as excitement swirled inside of him. “All right, let’s fine-tune this contract. I have a woman to propose to and a daughter to adopt.”
Assuming Scarlett says yes.