Page 27 of Easton Island: Old-Fashioned Christmas
“His name is Tristan. Mr. Blakely claims Tristan is here to meet his father, Brett.”
Chapter 11
Elizabeth reached out to steady herself. “The boy standing in our foyer is claiming to be Brett’s son?”
Mrs. Arnsby nodded.
“Blakely,” Morgan repeated. “Isn’t that…”
“Addison Blakely, Brett’s ex-wife, the one I told you about a couple of months ago.”
Morgan’s eyes slid to the side, to Mrs. Arnsby.
“I know I commented that no one other than Rhett, Brett and I knew about Addison, but Easton Estate’s staff…Jane, Jax and Ben, are all aware of what had happened.”
Mrs. Arnsby made an “x” across her chest. “I swear I never breathed a word to anyone.”
“And I appreciate your discretion. However, it appears Brett’s past is coming back to bite him.” Elizabeth sucked in a breath. “Where is my grandson?”
“Upstairs in his office. I went to the door. It sounds like he’s on the phone.”
“I’ll see what I can do to ascertain whether there’s cause for concern.” Elizabeth strolled out of the kitchen and down the hall.
Morgan hurried to keep up with her grandmother’s brisk pace. They reached the grand foyer where a man, close to Morgan’s age if she had to guess, and a boy who was young but not too young, maybe in his “tween years,” stood waiting.
“Hello.” Elizabeth offered them a guarded smile. “My staff said you’re looking for Brett Easton.”
“We are.”
On closer inspection, Morgan thought the man appeared nervous. He cleared his throat and placed a protective hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to show up unannounced. I’ve been trying to track Mr. Easton down but haven’t had much luck.”
“He travels between his office in Toronto and Easton Island. How can I help you?”
“I was hoping to speak with him.”
“I’m Elizabeth Easton-Ainsworth, Brett’s grandmother. About what?”
“I’m Jeff Blakely. This is my nephew, Tristan. His mother is…was Addison Blakely, Mr. Easton’s ex-wife.”
“Was?”
“She died a few weeks ago. Tristan is her son…and Mr. Easton’s son.”
“How did…why would you wait until now to show up on our doorstep?”
“It’s somewhat complicated,” Blakely said. “Which is why I was hoping to speak with Mr. Easton.”
“You do know we’re on the verge of being hit by a blizzard.”
“And the last ferry back to the mainland is leaving soon,” Morgan added.
“I’m aware of the fact. We flew in from Vegas early this morning. I have a reservation at the hotel in town. I travel often for work. My time off is limited. It was either make the trip now or wait until I could schedule time away.”
“Please come into the library.” Elizabeth motioned for their visitors to follow her to the room across the hall.
“I’ll go get Brett.”
“Thank you, Morgan.” She pinned her granddaughter with a stare that said it all. Not to blindside Brett but to give him a heads up about what he was walking into.
