Battling Destiny (The Piper Anderson Series Book 6)

by Danielle Stewart

  That was what had made Michael and Piper great friends in the first place. A healthy skepticism and an ability to read between the lines of a conversation was something they both did well. Jules, on the other hand, gave everyone the benefit of the doubt.

  “I can’t believe you got married and had a baby and didn’t tell us. Who does that?” Josephine asked as she scooped Frankie out of Michael’s arms and began planting kisses on her chubby cheeks.

  “It doesn’t matter, we’re all together now and that’s what counts. Everything else can be worked out. Now lunch is about to be served,” Tabitha announced through her plastered-on smile.

  “I need to talk to Jules,” Michael insisted.

  “There will be plenty of time after lunch for that. I don’t want the food to be cold.” Tabitha began walking with her arm around Jules, ignoring Michael’s words.

  “Mother, I don’t care about the damn food. I need to speak to my wife in private.” Michael’s booming voice was not something Jules had heard frequently. He knew that, and judging by the look on her face, she didn’t like it.

  “Michael, we can talk right after lunch. Don’t be so rude.” Jules tilted her head and raked over him with her eyes as though he were suddenly a stranger.

  “That’s right,” Tabitha smiled, turning and hugging Jules tightly. They all headed toward the large dining area, and Michael hung back for a moment to catch Piper’s ear.

  “This is bad,” he said in a grumbling whisper. “She doesn’t understand what’s going on here.”

  “That’s because you left without telling her. You didn’t tell any of us,” Piper whispered back, her face washed with worry.

  “We’re leaving after lunch. All of us are getting on a plane and getting the hell out of here. I need you to help make sure that happens.”

  “Fine. But why?” Piper asked, staring up at Michael.

  “Because you trust me.”

  Chapter Ten

  Seeing Michael holding Frankie had settled the rough seas of Jules’s heart for a moment, but the tide turned again when she heard him bark madly at his mother. Since she’d met him, Michael had been a constant beacon of self-control. He maneuvered situations with the utmost respect for people. Yet he was treating his own mother like garbage. Tabitha was right, something was very wrong with him.

  All thoughts of Michael evaporated for a moment as the two large doors to the dining room were opened by white-gloved men in tailored suits. The room was massive and embellished with gold trim and scrawling floral patterns across the walls. The length of the table was greater than Betty’s entire kitchen and dining room combined. With dark mahogany furniture and tall, elegant centerpieces, the room looked fit for royalty.

  Jules had daydreamed many days away, thinking about eating in a room like this. She was one of those small town girls with big city tastes. When other girls were playing with dolls, she was cutting out clothes from fashion magazines and mixing and matching designs. Rather than being boy crazy, for years Jules was clothes crazy. She drooled over fashion and as she got older that morphed into interior design as well. Though she could never afford it, that never stopped her from imagining it as a part of her life.

  “In honor of Jules I had Genevieve prepare some southern dishes I’m sure you’ll love. Perhaps even as much as your mother’s.” Tabitha gestured to each chair letting everyone know his or her place. “You’ll be here by me, Jules, and Michael you’ll be across over there.”

  Jules watched as Michael ground his teeth together and rolled his eyes. She couldn’t believe how different and disrespectful he was being and she was actually glad not to be sitting next to him.

  “You can put the baby right here.” Tabitha smiled widely as she gestured toward a cream-colored highchair.

  “That’s a Bebe-Alesio highchair, isn’t it? They’re imported from Italy. I heard they only made a hundred of them,” Jules swooned, running her hand along the fabric seat as though she were touching a treasure.

  “It is,” Tabitha said with a breathy laugh. “You really know your designers. I can tell you have wonderful taste.”

  “I’m a little bit of a fashion addict.” Jules felt her cheeks flush as she slid Frankie into the beautiful plush seat.

  “Have you spent much time in Paris? The dresses there are head and shoulders above anything you can find in the States.” Josephine took a seat next to Michael, and Piper sat on the other side of Tabitha. Jules felt a lump grow in her throat as she tried to answer Josephine’s question.

  “I haven’t been to Paris. I’d love to go someday.” Jules took the napkin that was elegantly folded into some kind of bird and opened it as she placed it across her lap. She knew her cheeks were now burning fire engine red.

  “We’ll have to all see Paris this summer. It’s a wonderful place for Frankie to visit, and you and I can meet with some designers for some special tailor-made dresses.” Tabitha patted Jules’s leg and then waved for the men in the corner of the room to start serving.

  “I wouldn’t have anywhere to wear designer dresses,” Jules said, clearing her throat. “Back in Edenville we don’t have many galas. Since I’ve had Frankie I’m lucky to get out of yoga pants on an average day. I love beautiful fashion, but I don’t wear it. Admiring it in magazines is about as close as I get.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” Tabitha comforted as she turned to face Jules.

  “Really?” Michael asked with an arrogant tone. “How exactly can you relate to that? You never wear the same dress twice.”

  Jules shot daggers from her eyes at her rude husband. She felt like picking up her fork and launching it at him.

  “I’m not just talking about fashion. Becoming a mother for the first time is life-altering. In those first months after I had you I spent plenty of days in sweat pants and just feeling . . .” Tabitha put her hand over her heart as she seemed to contemplate the right word. “I don’t even know what to call it. Overwhelmed I guess. I’ve done a lot of things in my life but the most difficult experience was the first year of Michael’s life.”

  Jules felt warmth spread across her chest just hearing someone else voicing the way she’d been feeling. It was hard. She was overwhelmed. “Exactly,” she sighed, wiping away a stray tear before it could fall.

  “I didn’t know you were feeling that way,” Michael cut in, looking genuinely concerned, the smugness falling from his face.

  “Forget it,” Jules sniffed. “I’m just glad to be here so Frankie and I can meet more family.”

  “It takes a village,” Tabitha said as she leaned back and gestured for the man serving the peas to take them away. Something must have been wrong with them based on the way she turned up her nose, and the man reacted quickly to get them replaced.

  “My mother, Betty, says that often.” Jules couldn’t for the life of her figure out what had driven Michael to hide her away from these people. They seemed delightful and perfectly comfortable that she wasn’t from as prestigious of a family as they were. But all she could read was he seemed incredibly angry with his mother.

  “I hope to meet her someday soon. From what you’ve told me she seems absolutely lovely.” Tabitha glanced down at the new bowl of peas being presented to her and gave a nod that they were acceptable.

  Piper’s voice came out in a stronger tone than Jules imagined she meant it to. “She’s an amazing woman as long as she likes you. If you cross her or her family she’s as fierce as anything I’ve ever seen. A force to be reckoned with.”

  “Piper,” Jules shot back, leaning forward and giving Piper a look as though rudeness might be contagious around this table.

  “Then she and I will have an abundance of things in common.” Tabitha’s cool face was level as she replied.

  “Actually I couldn’t think of two people more different in this world than you and Betty,” Michael scoffed, and he was met with the sharp slamming of a fork by his sister against the fine china plate in front of her.

  “You really
just can’t help yourself, can you? You have to come back here after all these years and still cause problems. I understand you and Dad couldn’t see eye-to-eye, but Mother and I have done nothing wrong. You are the one who ran away and hid your new family from us. We deserve more than that. Mom deserves your respect.”

  Michael’s mouth opened and then abruptly closed. Jules felt a wave of relief when he didn’t escalate this argument any further. After his chest rose and fell with a few centering breaths, he stared down at his plate and spoke. “We’re leaving after this lunch so there won’t be any need to worry about my attitude after that.”

  Josephine rolled her eyes and pushed her chair back from the table. “Then let me move things along for you and end this meal now.”

  “Josephine,” Tabitha said in a steely tone, “sit down. We aren’t going to solve anything like this. Every family has its hardships. This has been a difficult week for all of us, but let it be a starting point for some healing.”

  Michael’s audible huff grated on Jules who was starting to feel terrible for Tabitha. She never imagined her husband would be a petulant child whose attitude matched that of any pubescent with a chip on his shoulder. Tabitha was clearly trying, and she’d gone so far as to chase Jules down last night.

  “I am very sorry for the loss of your father, Josephine. I lost my dad twelve years ago and it’s not easy. Even to this day I struggle with not having him around. That’s why it’s so important to hold on to the family you do have. My mother says family is like a song, some notes are in tune, some are out, but the music is always beautiful because it’s yours.”

  “That’s so lovely, Jules.” Tabitha sniffled a bit as she drew in a deep breath and placed her napkin down on the table. Hardly anyone had eaten, but appetites seemed to have evaporated under the hot glow of tension around the table. “I know you want to leave, Michael, but please let me show you one thing before you go. It’s important to me that you see it.”

  “Of course we will,” Jules answered as she rested her hand Tabitha’s shoulder and took note of the buttery soft silk of her bright blue kimono sleeve top. “I’ll help you clear the table and then you can show us whatever you like.”

  “We don’t clear the table,” Josephine laughed, pushing her plate forward as though the idea of carrying it to the kitchen was ludicrous.

  “They pay people to do that,” Michael grumbled as he pushed his chair back and stood.

  Tabitha was trying to ignore the awkwardness as she continued. “I know it’s a bit over the top but when I got back here last night the idea of being a grandmother just swept me off my feet. I couldn’t help myself.” Tabitha lifted Frankie from the highchair and rested her maternally on her hip.

  “Let me wipe her hands, Tabitha,” Jules said, rushing toward Frankie with a napkin. “She’ll get food on your shirt.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t care less if she does. That’s what babies do. I’ll take precious little finger prints all over this house again in a heartbeat.”

  At that Jules felt her tense shoulders relax. These people weren’t painfully pretentious when it came to her or Frankie. Their wealth was apparent, but it didn’t make them terrible people.

  “Come on with Grandmother,” Tabitha sang as she waved them all to follow her out of the room. Jules had to admit it did feel a bit strange to hear the woman call herself Grandmother, but that was what she was. And equally odd was watching the staff swoop in and silently clear the table of the food and dishes. Jules stayed back for a moment looking at her plate wondering if she should just grab it and take it to the kitchen. “I can help you,” she said with a soft smile as she reached for a few dishes and stacked them up. “I do mountains of dishes at home.”

  The smallest of the women clearing the table froze and became immediately uncomfortable at the sight of Jules helping out. Everyone else had stepped out of the room with Tabitha but the tiny woman still spoke in a whisper. “Please don’t, ma’am. Mrs. Cooper will not be pleased with us if she sees you doing that. It’s not proper for you to clear the table.”

  “That seems silly to me. I’m the one who made the mess. I could at least help clean it up. It’s no trouble at all.”

  “No trouble to you, I’m sure, but it’ll mean trouble for us,” the man in the white gloves whispered anxiously as he took the pile of plates from Jules’s hands. “Please, ma’am, we can appreciate your kindness, but we can’t accept it.” Scurrying to get the rest of the dishes off the table quickly and quietly, the staff went into overdrive. Jules stepped slowly out of the room as she heard the chatter of the staff fading away out the opposite door. A hushed man’s voice was all she could make out. “I knew those peas wouldn’t be good enough. I tried to warn the chef but she didn’t listen. I guess this will be her last night here.”

  “Everything all right, dear?” Tabitha asked as Jules finally sidled up to them. She watched Michael quickly pluck Frankie out of his mother’s arms, and she took note of the dark circles below his eyes and deep worry lines on his forehead. Something was eating at him. The last week had been the most confusing time of her life and she was plumb full of doubt and fear. But one thing was apparent: her husband was hurting. Whether his reasons were justified or not wasn’t clear, but for the first time since meeting Tabitha Jules felt the bell of tentativeness ring in her confused brain. Michael had a track record of being a painfully accurate judge of character and a man who doled out second chances to those who’d earned them. If he had dug his heels in deep here and was angry to the point where he didn’t want to see his own mother holding his daughter, then maybe it was time for him to start talking and Jules to start listening.

  Betty had told her just before she boarded the plane: Every apple has its spots but if you don’t eat around them you’ll starve. This week had been the bruise on their apple, and without Michael’s love she did feel like she could starve. So maybe it was time to flip this thing over and take a bite out of the other side.

  Chapter Eleven

  Michael was preparing himself for anything. A surprise from his mother could genuinely be anything. There were no limits on what she would do to get her way.

  “I went a little over the top and I’m going to apologize ahead of time. It’s just that last night when I found out I had a granddaughter this pain in my heart was a little bit less.” His mother swung open freshly painted white French doors to a room that used to be a second or third guest room.

  “Oh my word,” Jules gasped, and Michael felt a twinge in his chest at the glow that took over his wife’s face. This room, this newly decorated nursery adorned with pink frills and pale green accents, was something Jules had likely dreamed of from the moment she found out she’d be a mother. This was his mother’s power play and, judging by Jules’s dropped jaw, it was making an impression.

  “How did you do this, Mother?” Michael asked, a sharp pain darting through his temple.

  “You know me, when I put my mind to something it gets done. I called in the big designing guns and they worked through the night. They were putting the finishing touches on it until about fifteen minutes ago. Through that door is a guest room so you can be close to Frankie at night. That should make things easy.”

  “We’re leaving, Mother.” Michael drew in a deep breath and locked eyes with Piper who looked like she had a rock in her stomach.

  Blatantly ignoring his words, his mother continued, “Jules, I need to talk to Michael for a moment. Please look around the room and let Frankie play with those toys in the corner. They are the absolute latest technology in educational toys. If you need to feed her, that rocking chair is the smoothest and most comfortable on the market. Please make yourself at home.”

  “Tabitha,” Jules opened her arms wide and pulled her in for a tight hug. “This is so unbelievably kind of you. I can’t believe you were able to do this so quickly.” She took Frankie from Michael’s arms and turned her back on him before he could even get his words of protest out. Jules and Frankie were already s
pread out on the plush carpet stacking up rings and digging through a pile of stuffed animals.

  Piper was still looking like a statue in the corner of the sparklingly clean room as Michael reluctantly stepped outside with his mother.

  “If you think you can buy her you’re wrong. Jules values real things in this world not material things. That’s something you wouldn’t understand.” Michael planted his feet on the marble floor and grounded himself, knowing nothing his mother could say right now could get him to stay. Nothing.

  She shut the door and let the silence hang between them for a long moment. “Michael, I understand if you don’t want to protect the image of this family. That might not be enough to keep you here, but protecting your sister should be.”

  “Jo has made it perfectly clear she is a grown woman and doesn’t need anything from me. She’s chosen the life she wants and it seems very similar to the one you have. If she has to bear witness to Dad’s fall from grace, and yours as well, maybe that’s just how it has to be.” Michael wasn’t truly so cold that he didn’t care about his sister’s feelings, but he had his wife and child to worry about first. They all belonged back in Edenville, not here in Ohio, while he did damage control that would likely fail anyway.

  “It’s not ruining her image of your father I’m worried about. She’s in trouble. She needs your help, and I know you won’t walk away and let her get hurt. You don’t have it in you.” Her face was stone serious as she dropped her voice to just above a whisper.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know firsthand what your father was capable of. The reason you left—well, he did the same thing to Josephine. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “Stop talking in code, Mother. You have exactly sixty seconds to explain yourself or I’m taking my family and getting the hell out of here.”

  “As Josephine was finishing college your father convinced her that her best shot at a successful career was a hardy résumé. He began getting her invested in the company and charities. He gave her little jobs and she became immersed in the business. Your father began switching some responsibilities over to her, telling her how proud he was to have her on his team. What he was really doing was taking the most toxic assets and those impacted most by his illegal activities and moving them over to her. He was maneuvering himself free of any responsibility and putting it on her shoulders. His plan was after Wilson, her fiancé, was out of law school he’d move the rest as though it was a wedding present.”