Twins for the Soldier

by Rochelle Alers

  The little girl made a big show of planting a noisy kiss on her grandmother’s cheek. “Umm-ma!”

  Angela helped Malcolm out of his seat and he rushed over to hug Joyce’s knees. “I missed you, Grammie.”

  Joyce patted his curly hair. “And I missed you, too. Come in the house and wash up.”

  Zoe rubbed her eyes. “I’m sleepy, Grammie.” Joyce took each child by the hand and led them up the steps and into the house.

  Angela retrieved the luggage from the cargo area and followed them inside. She would miss sleeping with Lee but having her children back filled her with an indescribable joy.

  * * *

  Lee sat on a rocker on the wraparound porch, staring at the tiny birds chattering and splashing in the marble urn filled with water from the prior night’s fast-moving thunderstorm. It had become his favorite spot to relax over the past week. The engineer had completed his report, confirming the house and the guesthouses were structurally sound, and within days the foreman of a home improvement firm arrived with his workers and reassured Lee that if his men put in ten-hour days and with a skeleton crew working Saturdays he would be able to complete the renovation mid-September.

  Lee’s impatience, unlike his sister’s, did not focus on opening the B and B, but marrying Angela and living under one roof with her and her children. He had become accustomed to her sharing his bed at the extended stay, but that had changed when he moved into The Falls House after she returned to live with her children and mother-in-law.

  A soft click punctuated the quietness of the early morning and he looked over his shoulder to find Viviana balancing a cup and saucer in each hand. “Don’t get up,” she urged when he rose from the rocker. She handed him a cup of coffee and then folded her body down on a chair facing his.

  “Thanks. What are you doing up so early this morning?” It was only 6:30. Viviana usually didn’t get up until after eight to prepare breakfast for them.

  “When you told me Giles Wainwright and his cousin are coming over at eleven I thought I’d put together a little snack. There’s nothing worse than discussing business while your stomach is making noises because you need sustenance.”

  “What do you consider a snack?” And knowing Viviana her snack could be anything from a three-course meal to caviar on toast points. He stared at his sister as he took a sip of the vanilla-flavored brew. He much preferred Mexican or Jamaican coffees to the flavored varieties.

  A mysterious smile softened her mouth. “I can’t decide whether to make a fruit and cheese platter, crudités, or skewered meats and shrimp with accompanying sauces.”

  “The Wainwrights are coming here to talk about purchasing land, not to chow down, Vivi.”

  Viviana set her coffee on the glass-topped all-weather table next to her chair. “Folks are usually more receptive and relaxed in discussing business if there’s food and drink. The house may look a mess because of the work that’s being done, but that shouldn’t preclude us from showing the Big Apple Wainwrights some Southern cordiality.”

  His sister’s words reminded Lee that she was the one trained in hotel management and hospitality. That she had been the go-to person to set up meetings and had doubled as the backup banquet manager when employed at a local hotel. He knew Viviana didn’t need his input when it came to operating the bed-and-breakfast. What she needed was money to make the new business a reality and make it sustainable.

  The month before the certificate of deposit had matured and instead of rolling it over Lee had withdrawn the proceeds and deposited it into a business account under the newly formed corporation. And to avoid a repeat of Viviana’s last financial crisis, Lee had authorized the bank to set up alerts on the account for any expenditure over one hundred dollars, and all checks were required to have two electronic signatures. He didn’t want his sister to think he didn’t trust her to run the business. It was that he was distrustful of others who just might take advantage of her openness and generosity.

  “Fix whatever you want. And you’re right. It wouldn’t hurt to show our New York guests that we can be charming and hospitable.”

  Viviana picked up her cup. It rattled slightly when her hand shook. “I didn’t want to bring it up because I don’t need you growling at me, but I spoke to Dad yesterday. He said he’d finished whatever he was working on and was planning to come down again. I told him it’s not a good time because of the work going on in the house.”

  “I’m not going to growl at you if you want to keep in touch with Emory. I have no right to interfere if you want a relationship with him.”

  Viviana stared at Lee as if he’d taken leave of his senses. “Are you all right?”

  “Of course I’m all right. Why would you ask me that?”

  Damp, black curls danced around her face as she shook her head. “I thought you hated him so much that you couldn’t stand to be in the same room together.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, Vivi. I don’t hate anyone. I resent Emory for what he put our mother through. I resent that he was so selfish that all he ever thought about was Emory Remington. I do understand how he became addicted but what I don’t understand is how he could desert his wife and children whom he claimed he loved.”

  Viviana’s eyelids fluttered as she blinked back tears. “I asked him the same question and he said he loved Mama but drugs were his jealous mistress. Every time he tried to leave her she would lure him back, and claims that she finally let him go only after he went to prison. Dad said he went cold turkey and has been clean and sober for twenty years. He’s been living in Philadelphia, painting and volunteering at a center focusing on high-risk youth.”

  * * *

  Lee, stretching out his legs, crossed his feet at the ankles. “I’m glad he’s finally gotten his life together.” He was relieved his father was drug-free and that he was doing what he liked.

  “Are you really serious, Lee, or are you saying that because you think that’s what I want to hear?”

  “Why are you making this all about you, Vivi? Emory decided a long time ago how he wanted to live his life. And only he can determine what he wants and needs for his future.”

  Viviana averted her head. “Does this mean you’re going to forgive him?”

  “Forgive him for what, Vivi? Forgive him for cheating on his wife with mistresses with names like heroin and crack cocaine, and for neglecting his kids because he was too cowardly to let them see him for what he was—a junkie? It’s up to Emory to forgive himself for the pain he caused our mother when she needed him most. He wasn’t a very good husband, but now that he’s clean maybe he’ll be given a second chance to be a good grandfather.”

  Viviana leaned forward. “Angela’s pregnant.” The query was a statement.

  Lee felt his heart stop for a few seconds, and then start up again, beating wildly against his ribs. Although he’d used protection whenever he made love to Angela, there was always the possibility that he could’ve gotten her pregnant and she’d elected to tell his sister first.

  “No,” he replied, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt.

  “So, why did you say that Dad could be a good grandfather?”

  “When I marry Angela, her children will become my children and Emory a surrogate grandfather.”

  A hopeful expression lit up Viviana’s eyes. “Does this mean you’re going to invite him to your wedding?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  Viviana squeezed her eyes tightly as tears overflowed and trickled down her face. “Dad said he will carry the pain he caused us to his grave. I know we can’t turn back the clock but I’m trying not to judge him for what he’s done.”

  Lee stood and pulled his sister to stand. He held her as she cried without making a sound. He knew she had a soft spot for their father and prayed Emory wouldn’t hurt her again. She was seven when their mother passed away and it had hit Viviana hard because sh
e claimed she had no mother and no father.

  “You shouldn’t have to judge him, Vivi. The next time he comes I promise to sit down with him and hopefully come to terms about the past.” He kissed her forehead. “Go and buy whatever you need for your snack.”

  Viviana sniffled and swiped at her tears with the backs of her hands. “I’m sorry for losing it.”

  He angled his head, smiling. “There’s no need to apologize.”

  Her expression brightened. “Would you mind if I invite Angela to join us? After all, she’s going to become part of this family and she should know what’s going on behind the scenes.”

  “Of course I don’t mind.”

  Now that her children were back, Lee rarely got to see Angela. She had invited him to join them tomorrow for church services before going back to her mother-in-law’s house for dinner. It was to be his first time interacting with the little boy and girl.

  “I’m going to call her now.”

  Lee shook his head when Viviana reached into the pocket of her blouse and took out her cell phone. He picked up both coffee cups and managed to open the door without dropping them as the sound of his sister’s laughter floated in the air. Nothing fired up Viviana more than entertaining. They’d been teasing each other that both had chosen the perfect career path. He had become the ultimate soldier and she the perfect hostess as an innkeeper.

  * * *

  Lee opened the door and nodded to Captain Giles Wainwright. He knew the man standing behind the former marine was his cousin, Noah. Noah was tall, with a mop of shaggy ash-blond hair falling over his ears and forehead. Giles had called to inform him Noah was in DC and had planned to take a side trip to The Falls before returning to New York.

  “Please come in.” Lee stood off to the side, watching the Wainwrights as they stared up at the entryway’s soaring twenty-foot ceiling. He extended his hand to Giles and then his cousin. “Leland Remington.”

  The blond, who looked more like a California surfer than a real estate developer, took the proffered hand. “Noah Wainwright.”

  “Welcome to what will eventually become the Wickham Falls Bed-and-Breakfast. The work crew is currently on their lunchbreak, so we should be able to discuss business without have to shout to one another to be heard over the hammering and drilling. We’ll talk in the solarium.”

  “How many rooms are in this house?” Noah asked as he followed Lee through the great room and down a hallway to the rear of the mansion, into a room resembling an indoor oasis.

  “There are ten bedroom suites, five in each wing of the house.” Lee waited for Giles and Noah to sit before taking his own seat. Bright sunlight came through the French doors of the solarium, turning it into an emerald forest. He pointed to the cloth-covered table with a number of small bowls of sauces. “The ladies of the house have put together a little repast to sustain us.” As soon as the words were off his tongue Viviana and Angela walked into the solarium.

  The three men came to their feet. Lee heard Noah’s soft exhalation of breath as he stared at Viviana. He wanted to tell the man to close his mouth because he was practically salivating.

  Moving quickly, Lee took a platter heaped with thinly sliced chicken, cubes of beef, snow-peas-wrapped shrimp, lamb and ginger-orange pork skewers from Angela and set it on the table next to the sauces. He winked at her when she met his eyes. She hadn’t hesitated when Viviana called and asked her to help her put together a buffet for a luncheon business meeting.

  He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her when she walked in wearing a pair of stretchy navy capris, a blue-and-white pinstriped tailored shirt, and navy leather low-heeled mules. She looked delightfully wholesome with a barely-there cover of makeup and her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.

  He put an arm around her waist. “Giles, you’ve already met Angela Mitchell and my sister, Viviana.”

  Giles nodded to Viviana. “It’s good seeing you again. And congratulations, Angela, on your engagement.”

  Angela smiled. “You’ve heard about that?”

  Attractive lines fanned out around Giles’s brilliant blue eyes when he returned her smile. “The whole town’s talking about it.”

  Lee tightened his hold on Angela’s waist. “Giles, I’ll leave it up to you to introduce your cousin.”

  Giles rested a hand on Noah’s shoulder. The resemblance between the two men was noticeable. Both were tall with blue eyes. Giles’s were clear, reminiscent of blue topaz, while Noah’s were closer to aquamarine.

  “I’d like you to meet my business counterpart and younger cousin, Noah Wainwright.”

  Noah took a step and offered Angela his hand. “It’s my pleasure.” He then turned to Viviana, who was holding a bottle of red and white wine in either hand. He took the bottles and set them down on the table. “I’m honored. It is Viviana, isn’t it?”

  She gave him a direct stare. “Yes, it is Viviana.”

  Lee noticed a vaguely sensuous light pass from the developer to his sister, and he wanted to tell Noah to turn off whatever signal he’d hoped to send her. Whenever he offered to set her up with one of his buddies, she would invariably inquire if he was blond because she was partial to dark-haired men.

  Cupping Angela’s elbow, Lee pulled out a chair at the table and seated her, while Noah moved quickly to seat Viviana. He had to admit that his sister and fiancée had outdone themselves. They’d set the table with china, crystal, silver and serving pieces. They’d also prepared fruit and green salads along with the various skewered meats.

  He pressed his shoulder to Angela’s. “Do you want red or white wine?”

  “White, please.”

  Wineglasses were filled and raised in a toast to new and old friends and success for the new B and B. Lee gave the Wainwrights the abridged version of the Wolfes’ rise to power as owners of several very profitable coal mines in Johnson County. He was forthcoming when he revealed how the Wolfes had resisted workers’ unions and hired a private army of goons to intimidate them. But it was a number of accidents, resulting in loss of life, and their refusal to install the safety measures mandated by the government that had finally brought down their empire.

  “The Wolfes were still considered wealthy because they owned large parcels of land,” Lee continued. “There was a time when this house and outbuildings sat on more than two hundred acres. Over the years they began selling off lots until we’re left with twelve acres, eight of which I’d like to unload.”

  “Why?” Noah asked, speaking for the first time since sitting down opposite Viviana, as he continued to stare at her under lowered lids.

  “Four acres is more than enough for our current lifestyle,” Lee said.

  “There was a time when our family did a lot of entertaining and every room in this house overflowed with family members and their guests,” Viviana added. “People don’t have large families like they did in the past, and that means Lee and I would have to have at least eight children between us to fill up all of the rooms if we hadn’t turned half the house into a bed-and-breakfast. Then there are two guesthouses on the property with two-bedroom suites for any overflow.”

  Noah and Giles shared a glance. “Do you intend to keep the guesthouses?”

  “Yes,” Lee replied. “And if you’re interested in purchasing the land, then I can give you the geologist’s report from the last sale.”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, Noah leaned back in his chair. “If I decide to make you an offer, after I survey it, what do you propose I use it for?”

  “I’d like to answer that question,” Angela volunteered. All eyes were directed at her. “There’s a shortage of modern affordable homes in Wickham Falls. I hadn’t realized that until I began looking for a house for me and my children.” She smiled at Noah. “You claim you’re a developer.”

  Pale eyebrows lifted slightly. “So they say.”

  “
As a developer you can either build eight middle-income or sixteen moderately-priced homes on one-or half-acre lots.”

  Giles tented his fingers. “I like the sound of that.” He turned to Noah. “Maybe you should hire Angela as a consultant for the Wainwright Developers Group.” He’d raised his voice to be heard because the hammering and drilling had started up again.

  Angela shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I have a set of three-year-old twins, and I’m getting married in a few months. Leaving Wickham Falls on business isn’t an option for me.”

  “I just thought I’d ask,” Giles said.

  Noah picked up a napkin and touched it to the corners of his mouth. “Perhaps I can look at what you’re offering before we go even further.” He stood up. “Viviana, would you mind showing me what I can expect to get for my money.”

  She blinked slowly and rose to her feet. “It rained last night, so the ground may still be a little damp. I’ll be with you as soon as I change my shoes.”

  Noah nodded. “I’ll wait for you on the porch.”

  Pushing back his chair, Giles also stood. “If you guys don’t mind I’m going to have to walk off some of this food. I definitely ate too much. And if this is a sample of what you plan to serve your guests then you can look for me and Mya to check in every once in a while.”

  * * *

  Angela waited until she and Lee were alone in the solarium to say, “I think Giles’s cousin is smitten with your sister.”

  Lee traced the rim of his water goblet with his finger. “Poor dude. He has no idea that she’s not interested.”

  “Why are you speaking for her, Lee? You told me about how her last boyfriend scammed her, and that’s hardly going to happen with Noah Wainwright. I’m willing to bet the Wainwrights could buy every house in The Falls and still have money left over to pick up a few more in Mineral Springs.”

  Shifting on his chair, Lee turned to face Angela. “How do you know their net worth?”