Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
REBECCA
Nerves swarm my stomach, and no matter how many deep breaths I take, they won’t quit.
It’s stupid considering I hold all the cards and Felicity holds none.
Even with Tobias’s solid support by my side, I can’t help this feeling of foreboding.
I guess it’s understandable. Felicity tried to take my daughter from me, and that’s something that will stay with me for a very long time.
I promised myself I’d give her a chance, but I’ll be watching her like a hawk. If she says one wrong word to Isla or tries to turn my daughter against me, she will never see her again. Facts I plan to tell her once we’re settled at the restaurant.
I’m glad I insisted we held this meeting in public.
The thought of being in Felicity’s house, where I used to go with Marcus, makes me want to lurch into the nearest toilet and throw up.
Every day I spend married to Tobias is another day where I think of Marcus less and less.
The last thing I need are more reminders of how much he put me and Isla through.
A neutral setting is the right decision.
I am surprised, though, that Felicity didn’t argue.
She’s being entirely too reasonable, which makes me suspicious.
I hope the time away from Isla, and me having the added protection of being a De Vil, has given her a chance to think and maybe mend her ways.
I’m not holding out much hope, but I also don’t want to begrudge Isla contact with her only grandmother.
Lord knows, I’d never introduce her to my mother, so Felicity is her one and only chance to have that relationship.
As long as Felicity doesn’t fuck it up and be, well, Felicity, this could work.
And despite what she probably thinks, I want it to work.
For Isla. She deserves to know her grandparents, although it’s only Felicity today.
Apparently, there’s some big vote in Parliament that Preston has to attend, meaning he can’t be here.
Benton accompanies me, Tobias, and Isla into the hotel.
He takes up station right outside the restaurant entrance, his expert gaze sweeping the room.
The ma?tre d’ leads us to the table, where Felicity is already waiting, playing with the strap on her handbag.
Looks as though I’m not the only nervous one.
“Felicity.”
She looks up. “I wasn’t sure if you’d come.”
“I said I would.”
“You always were a woman of your word.” A thin smile makes her lips even thinner. “Thank you for bringing Isla.” She holds out her arms. “Darling, do you have a hug for Grandma?”
Isla hesitates. After she’s looked at me and Tobias for guidance, she edges forward and accepts a hug from her grandmother.
“You’ve grown so much. Such a big girl.”
Isla pulls back. “Big.”
Felicity’s jaw drops. “She’s talking.”
“No thanks to your son,” Tobias says.
Her eyes cool. “So, that’s how it’s going to be?”
“We’re thrilled she’s talking again,” I interject. “But it’s hard not to stay bitter at the reason she stopped talking in the first place.”
I’m unsure how much Marcus told his mother, but the fact she doesn’t ask me what I mean tells me everything I need to know. She’s aware of what he did, and she still stands by him. I wonder where her line was, and where mine would be with Isla.
“Here, sweetheart, come and sit with me.” Tobias takes a seat at the table and lifts Isla onto his lap.
Felicity’s face twists, as though she’s sucked on a particularly bitter lime. She catches me looking and smooths her expression. “Sorry. It’s difficult to see her with a man who isn’t her father.”
Somehow, I bite my tongue and stop myself from snapping “Tobias is more of a father to her than Marcus ever was, and I can’t wait for him to be recognized in law as her daddy.
” This isn’t the time to tell Felicity about the adoption.
Besides, even though she’s lost every legal battle in relation to Isla, I wouldn’t put it past her to try to block the motion.
“Shall we order?” Tobias says, beckoning to the server, as eager as I am to get this over with.
“You’re different,” Felicity says after the server retreats. “Confident. I hardly recognize you.”
“I’m allowed to be myself without fear of retribution,” I say, voice low. “Tobias would never, ever hurt me.”
Felicity flicks out her napkin before laying it in her lap. “I don’t make excuses for what my son did, and for what it’s worth, I am sorry.”
That’s the funny thing, though. For years, she made excuses for him. Her selective memory is almost laughable.
“I just want to put everything behind us and have a relationship with my granddaughter.”
“I said I would give this a chance, and I will. But there are rules, Felicity.”
Her eyes narrow, nostrils flaring slightly. “What kind of rules?”
“Supervised visits only. Once a month to start with, in a neutral location.”
“Twice a month. Please, Rebecca. At Isla’s age, a month is like a year to most people. We’ll never build our relationship if I have to start from scratch every time.”
I side-eye Tobias. He shrugs, a silent “it’s up to you, and I’ll support you with whatever you decide.”
“Once a month for three months. Then we’ll reassess.”
Her chin lifts a fraction. “I don’t suppose I have much of a choice, do I?”
She’s clearly pissed. I don’t care. “No.”
God, it feels good to say that. Maybe the joy I’m taking in having power when for so long I had none makes me a bitch, but so be it. I’ve earned the right.
“Then, I accept.”
Lunch is a polite affair with each of us circling the other.
Isla seems comfortable enough, even at one point sliding off Tobias’s lap to sit with her grandmother.
After ordering dessert at Isla’s insistence, I step away to use the bathroom.
When I return, Tobias is standing a couple of feet away, talking on the phone.
Isla’s perched on Felicity’s lap, the remains of chocolate ice-cream smudged up one side of her face.
“Don’t worry, darling,” Felicity says, unaware I’m behind her. “One day soon, we’re going to be together all the time. That’s what Daddy would have wanted.”
My blood runs cold. It’s a ruse. All of Felicity’s supposed understanding and begging to see Isla is bullshit. She hasn’t given up getting custody of Isla, and she never will. I should have known. I’m so fucking gullible.
“Isla, it’s time to go.”
Felicity startles, hand flying to her chest. She peers up at me, her bony cheeks tinged with pink. “Rebecca. I didn’t see you there.”
“That’s obvious.” I hold out my hand. “Isla.” Isla slides off Felicity’s lap and tucks her hand in mine. “I heard what you said, Felicity.”
Tobias locks gazes with me, then immediately ends his call. “What’s going on?”
I jab a finger at my former mother-in-law. “She’s played me for a fool, and like the idiot I am, I fell for it.”
Felicity stands. “You misunderstood what I said.”
“I don’t think so.” I tighten my grip on Isla’s hand. “You never had any intention of giving up trying to take her from me, did you?”
“You’re wrong.”
Tobias lifts his finger, indicating to Benton that we’re leaving.
"Wait." Felicity's voice cracks, and when I glance back, tears glisten in her eyes. "Please. I know I said the wrong thing, but... can't I at least say goodbye properly? Will you let me give her the gift I brought?"
She reaches into her handbag and pulls out a small, pink gift bag with tissue paper spilling from the top.
"Please, Rebecca," Felicity whispers. "It’s some sweets I made for her. Better than all that preservative loaded stuff you get in the shops. Let me give them to her, then you can leave and never see me again if that's what you want."
Oh, I’ll never see this woman again, and neither will Isla.
I nod curtly. "Fine. Make it quick."
Felicity crouches down to Isla's level, her smile trembling. "I got you something special, darling. These were your daddy's favorite sweets when he was your age. I used to make them for him all the time." Felicity holds the bag out. "Go on, have one now. For Grandma."
Great. More sugar. I’ll have no chance of settling her down for a nap now. Isla peers inside, but before she can take one, Tobias snatches the bag out of Felicity’s hands.
“She’s just eaten lunch and had dessert. She can have one later.”
Isla bursts into tears. Surprised at his harsh outburst, I squint up at my husband. He gives the slightest shake of his head. I don’t know what it means, but I trust his judgment. I scoop Isla into my arms and kiss her cheek.
“We’ll save them for later, okay, pumpkin? I’ll even let you have two. Maybe even three.” I kiss her again and squeeze her in reassurance.
Her sobs lessen and she rests her head on my shoulder as she sticks her thumb in her mouth. Tobias has this expression on his face, a mixture of regret and determination. He strokes her hair and grimaces.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He places his hand on my lower back and eases me from the restaurant.
We don’t speak of it on the journey home. Once I’ve settled Isla down for her nap, I emerge from her bedroom to find Tobias examining one of the sweets.
“Care to tell me what that was about?” I perch on the arm of the chair.
He drops the sweet in his palm and gazes at it for a few more seconds. “All I can tell you is my gut screamed at me not to let Isla eat those sweets, yet I have absolutely nothing factual to back that up other than instinct.”
“You think she poisoned them or something?” I laugh.
Tobias doesn’t. “Maybe.”
“Oh, come on. Felicity has many faults, but she adores Isla. Why else would she have tried to get custody?” I shake my head. “Can’t see it.”
“Well, we’ll know soon enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m having them tested.”
My mouth drops open. “You seriously think there’s something wrong with them?”
He hitches a shoulder. “Should only take a couple of days. In the meantime, I’ll keep these locked in my safe.”
“Jesus, Tobias.” I run a hand over my face. “Even considering the possibility is mind-blowing.”
I don’t see it. I can’t. But, like he said, it hurts no one to put the sweets through a simple test. I’m certain the results will be negative.
And if they aren’t… what then?