Page 60 of The Tycoon's Shock Heir

Ruby pulled back the sheet and tried to get out of bed.

‘No, no, stay there—you have to have breakfast in bed.’

Coral Rossini picked up the tray and came over to the bed, the fresh morning light streaming in to reveal the golden glow from the African sun on her well-tended skin and eyes that were penetratingly bright and clear.

Ruby watched her warily. What was her tone going to be? Would she hate her, thinking that she had trapped her beloved son? Would she be cool and condescending? Or the same old Coral who had sparkled and charmed every other time she’d seen her?

She put the tray down and sat beside it on the bed, her gaze never shifting. ‘It’s your wedding day—and I’m here to look after you. But first,’ she said, ‘let’s have a proper chat.’ She poured tea from a modern silver pot, one cup each. ‘Milk?’ she asked.

Ruby nodded, sat up straighter, took the cup, cleared her throat and said, ‘Thanks...’

‘Well, I’ll bet neither of us could have imagined we’d be here a few weeks ago. But here we are.’

‘Coral, I want you to know that I really and truly did not mean for any of this to happen. I hope you don’t think...’

The older woman sat back and looked at her carefully. ‘No. I don’t think. So just stop there. I have known you since you were a teenager—since Banca Casa di Rossini started to sponsor the company and I started coming to see you and all your lovely friends rehearsing and performing and pushing yourselves to the limit. I know what dancing means to you.’

Coral reached for her hand.

‘I know, Ruby,’ she said, quietly. ‘I know your mother moved away. And I don’t want to pry, but everyone needs a mother and I’ll be yours, for as long as you want me to be.’

Ruby felt her throat burn and her eyes sting as she choked back the surge of emotion that gushed forth inside her. She pursed her lips hard and nodded. ‘Thanks,’ she said, returning the squeeze on her fingers.

‘It’s my pleasure. Just love my grandchild and love my son. Don’t assume that they won’t need you, because they will. They will. And we won’t give up on you. We’re your family now.’

Ruby stared at her. How did she know? How did this woman know that her biggest fear in the world was that they would give up on her because they’d realise, like everyone else did, that there was something unlovable about her? How could Coral open her mouth and say aloud the words that she, Ruby, couldn’t even bear to think?

What was she going to do if it all fell apart?

In ten short days she’d gone from being terrified that she would be left alone to look after a baby to feeling terrified that Matteo would realise he could do it all without her.

All her life she’d been so sure that she could tough it out alone, but the moment Matteo had walked into her life nothing had felt sure any more. She’d thrown caution to the wind and slept with him, and now she was pregnant by him and getting married. Her rules and boundaries were looser than the curtains wafting in the breeze.

‘I know,’ Coral said, sipping her tea but never taking her eyes from her, ‘that had things been different—the baby, this merger with Arturo—we might not be sitting where we are right now. But Matteo is very fond of you. I’ve no doubt about that. And what you’re going to do today shows me that you are very fond of him too.’

Ruby stared at Coral, desperately keen to tell her just how much he meant to her...how he made her feel alive...how he understood her like no one had ever taken the trouble to do before. How he’d made her begin to feel strong and sure and confident about raising a child.

‘He’ll be a great dad,’ she said. ‘He’ll do everything for the baby.’

‘Exactly,’ said Coral, smiling. ‘That’s exactly what I think too.’

They sipped their tea in silence for another moment. Then Coral spoke again.

‘Family is very important to us. Your child—my grandchild—is going to be brought up in a loving family. And you, lovely, sweet Ruby, are going to be part of that loving family’

Then she lifted the cup and saucer, lifted the tray, put it down carefully on the floor and enveloped her in the firmest, surest hug. And Ruby felt something thaw in the deepest, coldest corner of her heart. She squeezed her back, sealing a heartfelt promise and knowing that another little sliver of rainbow had spread its colour in her life.

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