Page 325 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 2
Wednesday
"But I don't want to stay with Grandpa. I want to come with you." Scarlett pulled on the hem of my dress to get my attention.
I looked down at her cute little scowl. "I know, Scar. But Grandpa has all sorts of fun activities planned. You're going to have so much fun. Rumor has it he's taking you to the zoo." I reached down and picked up the sandals I had been searching everywhere for. Of course they were exactly where they should be in the closet. I had almost forgotten to pack them.
"Hmph." Scarlett crossed her arms. "I don't want to go to the zoo. I want to come with you, Mommy." She plopped down in the middle of the closet in protest.
"Scar, get up off the floor and we'll get your stuff ready to go to Grandpa's."
"Mommy, please let me come with you!" She flopped backwards and spread her arms and legs out like she was about to make snow angels. But she stayed perfectly still like the thought of not coming with us had killed her.
"What are you two doing?" James said. He was staring down at our daughter sprawled out on the floor.
Scarlett immediately got up. "I'm helping Mommy pack. She said if I was good I could come with you."
"Scarlett Hunter." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What have we told you about lying?"
She gave me the most innocent look. "I don't remember. Daddy, please let me come!" She ran over to James and wrapped her arms around his leg.
"Pumpkin, why don't you go downstairs and help Ellen with dinner." He ruffled her hair.
"If I do will you let me come?"
"I'm going to give you to the count of ten to do as I asked," said James.
"You're a mean daddy!" She ran out the door and her little feet could be heard sprinting down the stairs.
James frowned and turned his attention back to me. At first I thought he was upset by what Scarlett had said. But he looked upset with me.
"What's wrong? I had already told her no. We really need to talk to her about lying again." I walked past him and back into our bedroom. I tossed my sandals on my suitcase.
"Penny, we discussed traveling with the doctor. I thought this was already settled. You're not going anywhere."
I turned back toward him. "What?"
"We're not going."
"James." I laughed, because he must have been kidding. "I thought you were talking about London. Driving a few hours to the beach is hardly traveling."
"We're. Not. Going."
I swallowed hard. The way he said it was as condescending as it was sexy. But I was way more focused on the condescending aspect of his statement. "Yes we are. I'll be sitting down in the car. And sitting on the beach. It's practically bed rest."
"I already called them and told them we couldn't come. This discussion is over."
Like hell it is."You canceled without asking me?"
"The doctor said..."
"James, I'm Bee's matron of honor! I have to be there." Why was he acting like this?
"And you're my wife. What's more important to you?"
How could he even ask me that? I swallowed down the lump in my throat. "So that's it? You want me to sit around for two months while you fly off to God knows where and abandon me?"
He shook his head. "Jesus, Penny. I'll be gone for two days. Three tops. Why do you insist on pushing yourself? Why can't you just stay still for once?"
Suddenly it felt like the weight of the world had fallen on my shoulders. Honestly, I wasn't upset about his tone. I knew hewas doing it because he cared. I wasn't even upset that he had made the decision not to go without asking me. It was so much deeper than that. I blinked away my tears. "Because what if this is it, James?" My voice cracked. "What if I go into labor and the stress on my heart is too much and I die on that table?" I voiced my fears and hearing them out loud was so much worse than thinking about them in my head.
