“There’s nothing to see.”
Gemma opened her mouth to spout something scathing, but she heard a noise in the doorway and her head snapped up to see Peggy standing there. “Er…I have to go now. Please call Tate on his cell phone if you need to talk to him.” She hung up and fought to keep her face blank.
A moment crept by.
Peggy frowned. “Mrs. Chandler, I hope you don’t think I’m being forward, but if you need to talk—”
Gemma tried to look casual. “Thank you, Peggy, but I’m fine.” She was tempted to ask what the other woman had heard, but she was sure Tate wouldn’t appreciate her discussing their marriage with anyone, much less their employee. Besides, she didn’t want Peggy thinking she had heard anything of importance.
“I thought you might need a friend.”
“Thank you.” Gemma gave a half-hearted smile. “I can always do with more friends.”
Peggy didn’t look convinced, but she was professional enough to leave things be. Gemma took advantage of that and remained close-lipped about it all, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Still, she was relieved once they’d finished moving and Peggy had gone back downstairs. With Nathan taking a small nap, she had some time to think about things away from prying eyes. She couldn’t contemplate the phone call before now, in case Peggy read her face and related her worries to Tate. As it was, Gemma hoped Peggy would keep her own counsel.
Damn Drake for this. He knew he had her running scared and that she wouldn’t say anything to Tate. If only Tate had heard the conversation, then he’d believe her. Perhaps she could record Drake’s call next time, she thought with a flash of hope.
On second thought, there wasn’t any guarantee that Tate or anyone else would hear the same smugness that she’d heard. She wasn’t imagining it, but Tate might not believe that.
God, this was like navigating around quicksand, in the dark, with Drake hot on her tail. She dare not even reach out a hand to Tate and ask him to help her. If she did, she might find the man she loved wasn’t prepared to save her while sacrificing his best friend.
Not even for Nathan’s sake.
Mid-afternoon, Gemma took Nathan to the kitchen for a snack and found Peggy at the island, chopping food. With thoughts of Drake filling her mind, and on edge about all he was capable of doing to her marriage, Gemma hesitated in the doorway. She was still afraid that the housekeeper might say something to Tate, however inadvertently.
Peggy looked up and blinked. “Oh, Gemma, you startled me. I was miles away.”
Gemma put aside her worries. “Sorry.” She stepped into the room with Nathan on her hip. “What are you making?”
“Apple pie for tonight’s dessert.”
“Homemade? Yum. I love apple pie. My mother used to make them,” she said, not thinking. Her heart wrenched at the reminder of her parents and yesterday’s events. She tried to ignore it. “Can I help?”
Peggy must have seen something on her face. The house keeper wouldn’t know about yesterday’s visit, but she would certainly remember her parents hadn’t been at the wedding. A touch of concern filled the older woman’s eyes and she gave a kind smile. “Why not?” She held up a slice of apple. “Would Nathan like a piece?”
“Sure.”
Gemma strapped Nathan in his high chair and gave him the apple, and soon she was busy slicing and rolling out the pastry. The fruit cooked on the stove, the sweet smell of apple and cinnamon wafting in the air. They had an enjoyable time and ended up making two thick, delicious-looking apple pies.
“We’ll never eat all this,” Gemma said ruefully as they surveyed their handiwork.
“You don’t know my Clive. He’d eat a full one himself.”
As Tate walked into the kitchen, the sound of Gemma’s soft chuckle sent his pulse hammering. She stood with her hands on her slim hips, her blond hair slightly mussed, her gorgeous mouth curved in a smile. She was certainly a picture to come home to. In fact, the whole scene made him feel good about his life. A beautiful wife, a handsome son and a motherly housekeeper who had adopted them as if they were her own.
A sense of satisfaction filled him. This was his family. He’d been sitting at his desk and hadn’t wanted to work. He’d wanted to see Gemma and Nathan. He’d actually missed them. It was a strangely powerful feeling that, surprisingly, gave him more pleasure than the corporate world he loved so much. He hadn’t realized what had been missing from his life before this.
Gemma suddenly saw him, and panic flared in her eyes. “Tate! You’re home early.”
He scanned her face. Did she expect him to be the bearer of bad news? He supposed he couldn’t blame her for jumping to conclusions. It always seemed to be bad news for her lately.
“I thought we might take Nathan for an ice cream and a walk to the park,” he said, putting her mind at rest. He glanced at his son in his high chair. “But he looks pretty happy here with the measuring cups.”
Her whole body visibly relaxed. “Oh, yes, that would be lovely.”
“It’s a glorious day outside,” Peggy said encouragingly.
Just then, Nathan let out a wail. There was a small red mark on his forehead where he’d obviously hit himself. Gemma swung their son up in her arms, cuddling him until the crying subsided.
“Is he okay?” Tate asked, an odd feeling in his chest as he watched her mothering his child.
“Yes, he’s fine.” She rechecked the fading mark on Nathan’s forehead, then smiled at the adults. “But I’m sure an ice cream will make it much better.”
Peggy laughed. “I’m sure it will.”
Tate remembered how he’d been looking forward to taking them to the park. “I’ll just go change out of this suit.” He glanced at Gemma. “When can you be ready?”
Gemma looked at Peggy. “Do you need any more help?”
The housekeeper shooed her on. “No, we’re finished here. I’ll clean up.”
“Thanks, Peggy. I had fun.”
“Me, too, Gemma.” Peggy darted a guilty look at Tate, before spinning away toward the sink. He was tempted to invite her to call him by his name again but it would be a waste of breath. Neither she nor Clive would budge on this.
“I’ll come upstairs with you and change Nathan’s diaper before we go,” Gemma said.
Tate waited for her in the doorway. “Let me carry him. He’s heavy.” He lifted Nathan out of her arms and they left the kitchen. “I’m still amazed at your accomplishment,” he said, as they headed for the stairs.
One finely shaped eyebrow rose. “What accomplishment?”
“Getting Peggy to call you Gemma.” He grimaced ruefully as they stopped at Nathan’s room. “She still calls me Mr. Chandler.”
Gemma flashed him a smile. “We women have our ways.”
His eyes dropped to that mouth. “That you do.”
Gemma’s cheeks held a soft blush. Her reaction filled him with pleasure and stirred his blood.
“You’ve got flour on your ear.” He reached out and ran the pad of his thumb over her earlobe, making her jump. “By the way, I’d ask you to join me in the shower but—”
Her blush deepened. “Don’t say that in front of Nathan.”
He was amused. “He doesn’t understand what I’m saying.”
“I know, but—”
He took pity on her and cut her off with a quick kiss. “Go change him.”
They would have tonight.
The walk to the park was companionable and leisurely. They enjoyed sitting on the bench and eating their ice creams. There was no sight of the children and the puppy from the other week, but the playground was busy with kids ridding themselves of energy built up in the classroom.
Tate realized Gemma was staring off into space, chewing her lip. “You seem distracted.”
She blinked. “Do I? Sorry, I was just thinking about something.” She turned away to drop Nathan's now-empty ice cream cup in the bin nearest her.
Tate didn’t know
why, but Drake slashed through his mind. The thought turned his blood cold, making him glad of his dark sunglasses.
Yet for once he pushed thoughts of Drake aside, not wanting to jump to conclusions. He didn’t want the other man spoiling this moment between him and his family.
She attempted a smile. “It’s good to get out like this, don’t you think?”
“Yes.”
She picked up after that, but during the evening, as they ate dinner, then watched a movie together before making love, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something still wasn’t right. She was pretending it was, but it wasn’t.
It could be about her parents, he told himself as he lay in bed in the dark with Gemma asleep in his arms. It was only yesterday they’d been here causing havoc and heartache for their daughter. God, they had a lot to answer for.
And then another thought hit him.
Perhaps he had a lot to answer for, too.
As quickly as it had come, he dismissed that thought, not liking the guilt that rose inside him. He’d had a right to be angry about Drake, and a right to be angry about Gemma not telling him about Nathan. Just because he felt sorry for her now didn’t mean he was at fault.
Even though it felt like he was.
Nine
So many times over the following week, Gemma wished she could tell Tate she believed Drake had posted the pictures of her apartment. But despite her husband making love to her every day, despite him coming home early on a regular basis, she was very much aware of how fragile their marriage was.
Then, at the end of that week, Tate finally volunteered the information that every trail seemed to lead to a dead end, though the investigator hadn’t given up. She could have pointed him in the right direction, of course, but at what cost? At least Drake had not called back.
Thankfully, her marriage had slipped out of the media’s radar for the moment, and with the awards dinner only a few days away, she began to relax. Time would dull the pain of Tate thinking she’d kissed Drake, and the pain of Tate not believing her denial. She wished she could talk to him about Drake as easily as she’d talked to him about her parents. How she wished he would be equally as understanding. Unfortunately, she knew that wouldn’t happen.
And then…life rolled onto the next crisis.
One evening after Nathan was in bed, Tate flicked through the television channels. Out of the blue, an older couple appeared on the screen.
“What the hell!” Tate exclaimed, sitting forward.
Gemma’s heart rose in her chest. “Th-that’s my parents!”
He darted a look at Gemma. “I’ll turn it off. You don’t need to hear this.” He went to press the remote button.
“No!” She swallowed. “Leave it on.”
He paused. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, her eyes already returning to her parents’ interview on one of those current affairs programs. To say she felt betrayed was an understatement. She felt like she’d been speared right through the heart.
It only got worse. They talked about being unable to control her as a teenager, about how she’d left home too young, breaking their hearts. How they’d let her come back home, single and pregnant, but she’d walked out again.
“That’s not true,” she whispered in disbelief, trying to accept that they could hurt her even more than they already had. “They’ve twisted it all around.” She’d left home at twenty because of them. And they’d asked her to leave when they learned she was pregnant.
“It’s a sob story, that’s all,” Tate growled.
And everyone would believe it.
Then they said how they hadn’t been invited to their own daughter’s wedding, and when they’d come to see Gemma and their grandson, they’d been asked to leave.
“But they didn’t even ask to see Nathan,” she cried.
Tate’s eyes were hard. “I was there, Gemma. I saw what they were like.”
“I never thought they’d do something like this. I know they had to save face, but this—”
“You’re being too generous, as usual.”
Her mind swirled with confusion. “Why now? It’s been nearly two weeks since we saw them.”
“My guess is it’s about the awards dinner on Friday. They’re probably trying to put a stop to my family getting the award because they’re jealous that you and Nathan are Chandlers now.”
“But they didn’t want me…or Nathan,” she choked, jumping to her feet, trying to shake off the anguish.
Tate stood up and pulled her into his arms. “I know, sweetheart.”
She buried her face against his chest, the endearment warming her before another thought kicked in. She jerked her head back to look up at him. “Your family won’t be happy about this, Tate.”
He didn’t hesitate. “They won’t hold this against you.” His jaw clenched as he looked past her to the television. “Your family will be retracting this, I promise.”
“But it’ll be too late for the award. They’ve already done a lot of damage.”
“No, they’re wrong. It’s related to the award but it won’t affect it at all. If the board was going to withdraw the honor, they would have done it before now.”
She supposed that was true. Part of the reason they’d married in a hurry was to protect the family name.
He put one hand under her chin. “You’d better stay home tomorrow. And don’t answer the telephone. I’ll beef up security.”
She hadn’t planned on anything but a lovely, relaxing day with her son, but now… “They’re not nice people, are they?” she said on a ragged breath.
Tate gave her a soft kiss. “No, they’re not. And you’re not like them at all,” he said, meaning it.
Gemma didn’t sleep well, and she knew Tate hadn’t either. He offered to stay home with her the next morning, but she thanked him and told him no. She was in danger of throwing herself a “pity party,” and she needed to do it alone.
Of course, once their son was up and about, Nathan’s smiling face put things into perspective. How could she mope about when she could be with her child? Every moment with him was precious.
As was every moment with Tate, she thought, as he kissed her goodbye on his way to the office. And a tender kiss it was, too. Loving him might be one-sided, but having this man in her life was more important than anything her family could do to her.
Her head was in a better place, but she was still startled when Peggy showed her mother-in-law into the sunroom just after lunch. Had Darlene been sent to find out more about Gemma’s parents? Or was she here to take Gemma to task for bringing further disrepute on the Chandler name?
Gemma gestured for Darlene to sit on the sofa, then she sat, too. “It’s nice to see you, Darlene,” she said warily, once Peggy went off to get them refreshments.
“It’s always lovely to see you, Gemma, but I thought you might need my support today.”
Gemma’s heart warmed. “That’s very sweet of you.”
Darlene looked around the bright and airy sunroom. “Where’s my grandson? Asleep?”
“Yes, I’m trying to get him to nap after lunch instead of in the late morning.”
As if by silent agreement, they spoke about general things until Peggy brought refreshments and left them to it.
“Tate dropped by the house this morning to explain about your parents,” Darlene said, once they were alone again. Sympathy filled her expression. “I can’t believe what they did to you, not just now, but in the past. It must have been devastating when they turned their backs on you.”
Gemma swallowed. Her mother-in-law was a kind person, but Gemma hadn’t expected actual compassion. “It was,” she murmured with a catch in her throat. Then, in case Darlene couldn’t say what she might need to say, Gemma took the bull by the horns. “I’m really sorry to bring your family into this.”
“We’re your family now, too, you know.”
Gemma blinked. She wanted to cry in gratitude. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
She released a shuddering breath. “Being a part of a family again is wonderful, and being a part of your family is terrific.” She wouldn’t mention that she hadn’t felt quite at home with the other Chandlers.
There was a short silence as Darlene nodded. “I know they’re not perfect but…” Without warning, her mother-in-law burst into tears.
Gemma stared for a moment. “Darlene?”
Darlene tried to speak but cried even harder as she grabbed for a hankie from her handbag. Gemma could only watch with concern until the woman got herself partly under control.
“Forgive me, Gemma,” Darlene sniffed. “I didn’t come here to talk about my problems.”
Her mother-in-law had problems? “If you want to talk, I’m here to listen. And I promise I won’t say anything to anyone. You can trust me.”
The older woman looked at her. “Yes, I think I can. I haven’t known you very long, but I feel close to you, Gemma.” She paused. “I’m talking about your parents but…” She gave a small sob. “I’ve not been such a good parent myself. You see…” Sob. “I had an affair years ago.”
Shock rolled through Gemma. “You had an affair?”
“Yes. And please don’t think too badly of me,” she said quickly.
“Of course not. I’m just really…surprised. You and Jonathan have such a great marriage.”
Darlene nodded and wiped her wet cheeks. “We do now. We didn’t then.” She winced. “You see, Jonathan was never one to show his feelings. I hope I don’t embarrass you by saying this. He’s a passionate man in the bedroom, but not even after we were married did he once tell me he loved me.” She took a shaky breath. “Oh, I knew he did, but it’s not the same as hearing the words.”
Gemma understood only too well.
Darlene’s eyes started to fill with tears again, but she rapidly blinked them back. “We’d been married about fifteen years when I finally realized I would never hear those words from Jonathan. He was working hard and it seemed he needed me less and less. I was starting to feel not only like less of a woman but like less of a wife.”
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