Page 54 of Second Dance
“I agree. I just don’t know how.”
“Just tell them straight out. Kids are more resilient than we think.”
“They’ve been through so much. When their mom was sick, we all clung to hope that she’d get better, but then she didn’t.Bella took it hard. She and her mom were always close. The move here distracted her some, and she loves living near the beach, but I can see sometimes the heaviness in her heart. I just want her to feel joyful again. She was such a happy little girl—but now she’s always sad or sullen.”
“She knows heartbreak and loss much too young,” Gillian said. “I was older when I lost my sister, but not by much. It’s not something one ever gets over, unfortunately. But as time passes, we learn how to live with a new normal.”
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you to take on a baby. You were so young.”
“I grew up fast.” Gillian gazed out at the ocean view, her expression one of wistfulness. “But Grace was so sweet and helpless. Goodness, she was a pretty baby too. I was so in love with her. I can remember those first nights with her. She woke every day around four a.m. for a feeding. I’d bring her into my bed and give her a bottle, just staring down at her little downy head and thinking—it’s just me. All she had was me and I had to step up.”
“It was similar for me, when I met Mattie and the kids. She was feisty and strong, but even I could see how hard it had been to raise them on her own when she was broke and single. When she came to work for me, the kids would come with her to the office if there was a school holiday or whatnot, and I thought they were cute. It wasn’t until later, after Mattie and I were in a relationship that it hit me. If I were to marry her, the kids would be my responsibility.”
“Did you ever hesitate?”
“God, no. I’d not have gotten involved if I’d thought I could let them down. That’s not in my nature. Yours either, it seems.”
“We have that in common.”
We shared a smile, silent for a moment or two.
“I’d not have pictured early parenthood for either of us,” I said. “During that summer we were together, we were both so ambitious.”
“I know. When I think back on how totally focused I was on dance, it’s hard to believe I was able to make the transition. But like I said, I fell hard for Grace. She became my whole world.” Gillian took a sip of wine, her brow knitting. “Do you think Darren has any legal standing?”
“Unfortunately, he does. He won’t win a custody suit against me because of his criminal background and current lifestyle. However, he could drag me into a nasty court battle, smear my name, make the kids go through more hell. I contacted my attorney earlier to tell him what’s going on. He said he could prepare some kind of settlement agreement. Money in exchange for him giving away his parental rights.”
“It will be better to get everything out in the open. Have your attorney make the deal. Then you can officially adopt the kids. You’ll never have to worry again.”
I nodded, thinking through what she’d proposed. “I was a fool all these years, thinking we’d never hear from him. It never occurred to me that Bella would want to find him. And it was me who found him for her.” I scratched my neck, sighing. “I’m kicking myself.”
“It’s going to be okay.” Gillian stroked my bare arm with her fingernails, sending waves of desire through me, despite my fears about Darren and the kids. “You have money. That’s all he wants.” Her eyes softened but stayed sharp all the same. I wondered if there was ever a time her gaze reflected anything but a keen intelligence and sensitivity. I’d forgotten how beguiling she’d been. How completely smitten I’d been with her.
“I wonder how much it’ll take to get rid of him for good?” I asked.
“A guy like that? He’ll try to weasel as much as he can out of you.” Gillian crossed one shapely thigh over the other, twisting slightly to look at me.
I studied her across the rim of my glass, thinking how pretty she looked in the early evening light. “Ben, my attorney, will get him to sign those papers, one way or the other.”
“See then? Everything’s going to be fine,” Gillian said.
We were interrupted when Sonya came out to the patio with a platter of marinated chicken and the bottle of wine. While she filled our glasses, I placed the chicken on the now warm grill.
“Set a timer, Señor Alex,” Sonya said.
“Yes, ma’am.” I winked at her. “Prepare to be amazed by my grilling technique.”
“I’ll prepare myself accordingly.” Sonya raised both eyebrows as she exchanged a humorous glance with Gillian. “In the meantime, I’ll let the kids know that dinner’s almost ready.”
“What have they been doing?” I asked, closing the lid of the grill.
“I heard them upstairs listening to music and laughing,” Sonya said. “We should all be optimistic.”
After she left, Gillian and I stood together, leaning against the railing, watching as the sun lowered in the sky, casting the world in an orange glow. She leaned her head against my shoulder. “Optimism seems easier when I’m by your side,” Gillian said.
I kissed the top of her sweet-smelling head, one of her curls tickling my cheek. “I couldn’t agree more.”
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