In an effort to be a responsible citizen after his diagnosis, William Blackstone Jr., by then one of the richest man in America, had made the decision to make his identity known to any biological children that had resulted from his adolescent sperm bank donation. These offspring were not to be told until they were eighteen. After that, he was willing to meet them all and do anything in his human power to give them support and provide a genetic history for them.
William had married Lidia when he was forty-five and she was much younger. She gave a birth to a naturally conceived baby, Roman Blackstone. Austin’s only known half- brother by blood.
Roman was William’s only child conceived naturally. His only other child was Austin Stevens.
His phone beeped to announce the text message “ ;) be there at seven, starving!”That was the first good news of the day. There was a hope that Lidia might know better what to do in his situation. Lidia had a sharp mind. Austin valued her friendship a lot.
Rom was quite a different and difficult story. He had resented Austin from the moment he learned about his existence. No amount of reasoning to chill out and accept Austin for what he was helped. Austin could not blame him. He had been the same stubborn, hardheaded teenager.
TWELVE
“We are going to do some shopping for the babies!” Cadence was beaming as she made the announcement.
Roman gave her a disapproving parental stare, as if to scold the kid for such an irresponsible idea.
“No one will go missing, mother!” (She wanted to call him mom.) “Don’t be ridiculous, Rom!”
“Did you know that pregnant women are strangely attractive?” Rom softened his look.
“For your information, only one of us is pregnant!” Cadence smirked.
“It does not change the fact that you are both extremely attractive women and you are going to be alone in the big city, though!”
“But we want to make this a girls’ trip, just two of us, one last time. Before the babies suck me into the black hole of motherhood, taking all my time. ”
“Then in anticipation of such universal disaster I want to be the only baby you ever love for now, before the rest of the bunch arrives.” Roman pulled his wife close to his wide hard chest.
“I have unlimited love in me, baby! It just grows bigger. ”
Cadence picked up his hand a put it on her belly. Roman gently stroked her growing bump.
“You girls hurry up and leave before it’s too late. Walden will drive you. He’s already waiting in a car.”
“What?! Becca was going to drive us. ”
Cadence wouldn’t give up.
“Not until we get her a bigger and safer car, she won’t. And with a load like this, you are a too precious to risk the drive in her favorite clunky automobile.” His tone left no room for bargaining.
Roman did not mean to offend Becca with his comment. Her retro Beetle belonged more in the museum than on the road.
“What a spoiler,” Becca mumbled quietly.
Now Walden, Rom’s body guard, was going to follow them like a shadow. And, they would have to take him for lunch with them too. Here goes our girls’ only dinner in the city...and her plan to sneak away for half an hour in the shopping center.
Island life had its disadvantages.
If you needed anything out of the ordinary, like a crib for three babies, or a stroller for triplet toddlers, you had to go to a city on a mainland.
Of course, one could always order online. But, it was not as exciting as actually going shopping with a friend—especially with your best friend. And especially for her three little babies.An hour later, they were fully loaded with everything Cadence considered ‘necessities’. What were they hoping to get for themselves? They had not even been through half of the shopping list and already their arms were full of designer bags and various fancy boutique boxes with ribbons.
Thank God, Lidia had hired a nanny from Miami to help with the future generation of Blackstones. Maria already accompanied Cadence now almost everywhere.
Becca knew in her heart that nothing would change her relationship with Cadence when the babies arrived. But, at the same time, she could not help but think that she was missing something already.
“Mrs. Blackstone, maybe we should go back home? You look a little bit tired and your face has lost some color,” Maria suggested with soft emphasis, shyly rubbing Cadence’s cheek with one hand and trying to balance all the shopping bags in another. She looked uncertain as if she did not know how to voice her worries.
“You don’t know me yet, sweetheart! I can run a mile with this baggage!” Cadence burst into laughter pointing at her belly. Everyone around could not help but join her.
Maria still looked genuinely concerned. She had children of her own and, obviously, was experienced in these matters. She knew only too well how many things could go wrong with a pregnancy.
She’ll learn soon that Cadence possesses a fighter’s attitude toward life, Becca thought to herself. How lucky they were to be around of this human ball of positive energy. She would have to help Maria out and fill her in on her new workload and household members later on.
“Shall we all have something to eat? Maybe the Jungle Cafe we just passed couple of turns ago?” Cadence looked at Becca with a pleading look only a child can muster.
“We don’t have time for this tonight, Mrs. Blackstone,” Becca said, emphasizing her friend’s new name.
Cadence was complaining endlessly about the way people around the villa referred to her. Her simple nature and lowly upbringing didn’t allow her to bask in the power of being the Lady of the villa, as her title determined. But Roman insisted it be that way. Becca had to use different ways to instill the title into her friend’s mind.
“The line was huge there, Miss Cadence,” Walden said, worried.” You don’t want to miss the ferry home,” he added shyly. He was a big man but looked like he could be easily intimidated by almost any woman.
Cadence would never admit it. But, she had underestimated the pressure three little bodies were putting on her fragile frame. She got visibly pale and seemed to slow the pace she was setting for their walk.
“Okay, how about we load everything into the car and return for something light, tasty, and fast?” Becca had no doubt now that the mother-to-be was exhausted indeed. Good catch, Maria!she thought.
***
“What did you just say?” Cadence exclaimed in disbelief.
“I just said that I saw my gynecologist today, while you were in that maternity shop, trying out hundreds of cute dresses. The clinic is in the same shopping centre. And I had to follow up with him on my ...ahmm, infertility ... treatment. So, I took a pregnancy test.” she repeated, failing to hold back the tears that had built up in her eyes.
Her brain tried desperately to hold on to what she had just actually said. But, she could not believe it herself. Being irresponsible never had been her weak spot. Her friend was just now accusing her in exactly that. That was the reason why Cadence had gone all ballistic on her.
Yes, she planned to have a baby on her own.
And, yes, maybe it was a stupid selfish plan, as Cadence had just sharply pointed out to her. But Becca had desperately wanted to have a kid of her own for some time now. Who could blame her for wanting to be a mother?
Her kid could grow up here, in this perfect place. She would enjoy her privacy and avoid quick judgments in the quiet peace of this island.
Clearly, that was one of the reason she loved her job so much. She loved being here, on an isolated area away from the big world. She would gladly call it home.
But there seemed always seemed to be complications to her simple plan. She supposed to have an awesome one night stand, on a date strategically calculated with the help of her ob-gyn. There, she’d get pregnant and have a baby. She figured she could have a good chance, until she learned that it was not that easy for her dumb body to conceive a child.
Her obstetrician had guaranteed to her that he
r condition was very common. Getting pregnant would just take more tries than a normal woman would need. When she started freaking out, he also assured her that the “bio-panic” women used to suffer on their thirtieth birthday had moved to their 40th. She had a plenty of time. The one condition was that she needed to have plenty of sex.
Fat chance!
A few months ago, after considering all her options, Becca had decided to go ahead with her plan. That was before she learned about Cadence’s engagement. At that time Becca settled with an idea that, instead of searching for Mr. Right, she should perhaps settle for Mr. Good Enough.
She had tried and tried. And it did not work!
Some of her dates were just unbearably boring. Some were quite hot and mindless. Obviously she wanted her candidate to have good looks and some brains too. It was clear to her that choices were limited.
Even though her plan seemed like nothing out of the ordinary, she struggled. By mere chance accidents like that happen to women all the time. She was not even supposed to have any ‘plan’ for that.
Cadence, who got pregnant even before her wedding day, was walking proof that the accidents do happen.
Not with her luck!
But now she was cursing herself for lying to Austin that she was on birth control pills that night. She’d stopped taking them a while ago. She did not remember much of anything about what happened before they had sex. Her memories were blurry. She was not thinking about the consequences of anything. She was reckless, again. Only Austin Stevens could have that kind of effect on her.
What was she going to do about Austin? Will she ever tell him that she was pregnant with his child? That she did not mean to deceive him? No! That was not an option. He would think of her as a manipulative little whore, nothing more.
What kind of respectable woman would do this to herself? Stupid, plain stupid!
“You cannot do it to yourself, Rebecca Lawson!” Cadence was reading her mind. “Don’t you dare! Where is the strong and confident girl I knew?! I won’t let you to ruin your life like that. You are only twenty-five, for God’s sake! You can marry and have a normal family.” Every word her friend said was like a slap to her face. Becca’s cheeks were on fire already.
A fierce Candice, Rebecca hadn’t known existed was giving her a real hard time. Had her hormonal balance change with the pregnancy?! God!
Becca couldn’t stop staring at Cadence’s stomach, worrying about the negative effects of this outburst. Her friend was so adorable in her new maternity dress! Just a picture perfect pregnant woman, she though enviously.
Panic gripped her at the realization that Cadence might have a point. If she was to keep the secret about the biological father of her baby, she would most definitely lose all chances with Austin, forever. This was a real catch 22. Tell Austin and look like a needy irresponsible idiot, or do not tell him and be a fast and easy one-night-stand type of girl.
Becca was losing her grip on reality. Her head started to spin wildly.
Her situation would have been worse if she had succeeded with her plan and was already pregnant with a no-name man’s child when Austin had showed up in her life like he had.Thank God that hadn’t happened! Never in a lifetime had she ever expected see Austin Stevens again! Not that she did not dream about it! But she never believed something like that would actually happen.
And what a timing that was! Stupid, stupid woman! Having found the man of her life, she was not able to hold on to him!
Rather than asking her question, Cadence just squared up her shoulders, put her hands on her widened hips, and looking bigger that she was, gave Becca a meaningful silent level look.
Just then a shocking realization hit her. Becca’s secret “get-knocked-up” plan actually included Austin on his yacht. On. Her. Wedding. Night! The wild thought made her hold her breath. Her mouth dropped open. “No way it’s Austin!” Cadence yelped, catching her breath.
“Yes… guilty…” Becca gave an impish look.
“Becca, you did it! That changes everything. Why didn’t you tell me right away?” Cadence was so relieved that she was ready to hug her friend after this surreal moment of revelation. Becca also felt that there were no more words of explanation needed. They held each other in a long, silent embrace, two best friends reading each other’s mind. Relief swept through both of them. But the air was still filled heavy with an unsaid worry.
“And you have put the infertility treatment to rest now?” Cadence could not keep the sarcasm out of her voice. She still could not believe that Becca would go to such extremes to get a baby.
Becca did not look surprised by the question.
“Till the next time.” she smiled that her friend understood her so well.
Not only understood, but also had her back covered. That was what she really needed.
“Then, we have some work to do, hon!” Cadence concluded.
THIRTEEN
Roman put the telephone down and looked at Becca and Cadence who were busy discussing Lidia’s move from Miami to the island. Both women were terrified by the news, but were trying to show their good face to him.
“Oh, come on. Mom was always a control freak. She cannot stand the idea of something important happening without her. But she is all soft and fuzzy inside. I promise. You’ll see,” he promised. It sounded more like he was begging his wife to agree.
“BUT I really worry, that she will be bored and might get restless here. There is nothing for her to do on the island. She hates swimming.” Cadence shifted on the sofa. It was not easy to swallow the news of her mother-in-law moving in with them. Even with the vast living space that Villa Grande provided, the idea of having Lidia here all the time made her uneasy.
“Yeah, but I’m being a little selfish here. You girls can fix her attitude. Maybe she will even learn how to relax—and leave me alone.” Roman was joking, of course. His mother drove him nuts most of the time. But her intentions were always good and her reasoning perfect. He got used to her controlling fits and learned how to ignore them without being rude.
“Okay. I give you two the first tip for dealing with Mom,” Roman lifted his index finger thoughtfully. “I think sometimes it’s better to let her have it her way. She tends to change her mind often. You will have better chance to win in most situations. But, if you start an argument with her right off the bat, she will do everything possible to prove that she was right. And then, you’ve lost it.”
“Funny you!” Cadence eased up a bit.
“No woman in the world would dream of living with her in-laws. You must accept it.” Becca wanted to protect her friend. So she took her aside, but did nothing more than adding pour some water on the fire. “It killed my parents’ marriage,” she finished with less certainty.
“I have survived her! So will you. Both of you. Besides, she only ‘thinks’ she likes little kids. We’ll see how it goes when she actually will be surrounded by three.”
As much as Becca believed that Roman was her friend too, she did not really want to put herself in the middle. She wasn’t known for being mean or nasty to people. But, she always spoke what was on her mind.
I need to keep my mouth shut, if I want to survive this.
She could not fathom how this will affect her own situation—especially now, when she was conspiratorially pregnant. What she counted on most in her job arrangement was a security for her and her child, a place to live, to work, and be happy. How could this be guaranteed with Lidia moving in here? The history of humankind showed that there can be only ONE ‘lady of the manor’.
“Thanks for agreeing to help mom with the move. I hope that this wasn’t too much to ask of you, Becca.”
Cadence called Lidia Mom? Where had this come from?
***
Becca felt a little tired after her three-hour flight to Miami. The trip was supposed to be exciting. Her flight was absolutely not. She hated all the bumps and tilts of the airplane. It did not help that the hurricane season was in full swing.
<
br /> Even though she did not enjoy big city noises and rush hour, she was still glad that she had a chance to experience it again. It made her sure she was not going to miss it when she would be voluntarily stuck on the island.
Waiting for her luggage to arrive, Becca thought that—not counting the unexpected move of Roman’s mother—she felt very good overall. She had almost forgotten her worries. With Cadence babies and her own, dream were coming true for her. She’d gotten what she’d wished for: A baby. Austin’s child! A miracle. She was delighted to notice all the changes in her body and cherished every moment of it.
What was wrong with the stupid useless home pregnancy tests, anyway?! She’d taken five of them. They were all negative. She got used to seeing one stripe on the stick instead of two for the last couple of years. Her ob-gyn told her to get over to the clinic anyways if she felt some changes in her body and disregard the test. Thank God she had! She must thank her own boobs, for giving her a clue. It was the weirdest thing when she could not fit them in any of her bras. That’s why she decided to follow her doctor’s advice. Becca shivered as the cold spread all over her body at the thought of what could have happened if she hadn’t!
As she waved for the taxi, someone behind her tapped her on the shoulder, startling her.
“Yes?” she turned in surprise.
“Miss, are you Rebecca Lawson?” A tiny, silver-haired man in his late sixties was staring at her hopefully. He looked like he’d been running after her for a mile as he struggled to catch his breath.
“Yes, I am.”
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