Page 54 of Just One More Temptation

Clara treated her to an obviously forced smile. “I thought I knew my son. I understood he was arrogant, pompous, and entitled. In no world did I think he’d try to kill me, his mother, or you.” Turning her hand over, she squeezed Fallon’s.

“You know about the fire then?” Fallon hadn’t been sure how she was going to tell her.

“The police came by to ask me more questions and they told me. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for something Oliver did. You aren’t responsible.”

Clara sighed. “It’s hard not to feel as though I failed as a parent.”

Although Fallon understood, Clara didn’t need the emotional baggage that kind of guilt would bring. “He’s a grown man who makes his own decisions.”

“And the gallery.” She blinked back tears. “I can’t believe he thought by getting rid of us both he’d have the money he owed some dangerous people.”

“You’ll be okay. I know I’m not your biological daughter but you’ll always have me.”

Clara’s eyes filled with tears and she reached for a tissue on the moveable tray by her bed and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so grateful for you.”

“Same here,” Fallon whispered, a lump lodged in her throat.

“And don’t worry about me. I didn’t make it to this age without being tough. I’ll survive my son’s betrayal and come out stronger. And we will rebuild the gallery. I promise.”

Fallon managed a bob of her head. She was as overcome as Clara with their conversation. But she promised herself whatever big family events she had, Clara would be a part of them.

Chapter Twenty-One

One week hadpassed since the fire. Without the gallery to go to, Fallon was at loose ends. She spent her days with Clara, first at the hospital, making sure she was emotionally okay after the trauma with Oliver, and then helping her get home and settled in. The older woman had grown stronger after the toxins had been flushed from her body, and she resisted laying around in bed.

Her son was in jail. Clara, for as much as she loved her child, refused to visit him or support him by paying for an attorney. Fallon couldn’t imagine the pain her friend was feeling but she was there for her, helping her through it.

The twins’ mother had come for a visit and she’d taken over time with the girls. The new nanny even had time off her first week on the job. Charlie had brought the girls to her hotel, giving Fallon and Noah plenty of nighttime togetherness. There were some nights he had dinner with his kids and Charlie but most times, he was with Fallon and she soaked up his singular attention.

Fallon hadn’t yet met Charlie but today was Liam’s birthday and she would see her at Noah’s parents’ house for a family get-together. To say she was antsy would be an understatement.

For whatever reason, she had this vision of Charlie as a worldly woman who would judge Fallon for her youth and relationship with Noah. But she was the twins’ mother and Fallon intended to do her best to win her over.

The girls were with their mother, so Noah picked up Fallon at her apartment and they drove to Westchester County. The ride took about forty minutes and Fallon looked out the window at the green leaves on the trees.

Noah placed a hand on her thigh, stilling the tapping movement she hadn’t been aware of doing. “Are you nervous?” he asked.

“A little. I just want Charlie to like me. She’s the twins’ mom and she means so much to them.”

“Hey. She’s as easygoing as you are. Don’t worry about it. So, tell me what you bought Liam for his birthday. No pressure or anything but you have a reputation to live up to.”

She let out a laugh. “Oh, I think I did a good job. You’ll have to wait and see.”

He squeezed her knee and she shrieked in surprise. “Ow! What was that for?”

“I can’t believe you won’t tell me first.”

“Fine, Mr. Impatient. I bought him a set of candles. They’re called Connoisseur Candles for Men. They smell like different smells a guy would like. Whisky, gin, tobacco, and bourbon. Happy now?”

He laughed. “Perfect. You’re good at gift giving.”

“Thank you. Just wait until the girls see their birthday presents.”

That was another thing she’d devoted time to this week. Working on her painting. She had two special canvases, one for Dakota and one for Dylan, their names worked into the design, in the hot pink and purple colors they’d loved on the original work. Their birthday was next month and she couldn’t wait.

He’d managed to distract her with conversation and soon they’d pulled into the driveway of his parents’ home. A rental car was already parked there, as were a couple of other vehicles. Apparently, they weren’t the first ones to arrive.

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