by Vivi Holt
“More like a lioness,” he mumbled. “You should’ve seen her when we were kids. When she called us in for supper, she could yell all the way to the property line where the river was. I could even hear her if I was underwater.” He laughed and Daniel joined him, the brothers sharing a knowing look.
Gwen smiled. This was a family she enjoyed being a part of – if only for a few days.
The limousine pulled up in front of a large restaurant with Salty’s written in cursive neon above a covered entryway. They made their way to the back of the building where a private porch had been set up for the dinner. The bride and groom were already there, along with a few other family members.
Gwen gasped as she looked around – it was like walking into a fairy tale. Round tables dotted the porch and fairy lights were hung around the outside and across the ceiling. The place settings were all in white with crystal glasses, and white flowers were mixed with vibrant greenery. White organza was hung from the ceiling, illuminated by the tiny yellow lights. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Heath tightened his grip on her hand. She was glad he hadn’t let go. She liked holding onto him more than she should, given their relationship would only last one more day, two at most. The thought tied a knot in her stomach. Breaking up would be hard to do – it might be a fake relationship, and the breakup would be no more real than their engagement was, but her gut still roiled whenever she thought about it.
Heath led her to their seats beside Graham and Arlene. She lowered herself into the chair and was glad to see Heath’s Nana across from her. She waved.
Nana waved back. “How lovely you look!” she said loudly.
Her cheeks colored. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
It was noisy in the room as the family, bridal party and friends of the bride and groom filed in. Finally everyone took their places and the wait staff began to bring out the food. They were interrupted in their conversations between each course for speeches and toasts.
Gwen found herself having more fun than she’d had in a long time. She’d thought being around the Montgomerys would be awkward and stiff. They were rich and privileged; she was poor and had to fight for every opportunity, every promotion, every penny. Yet she found them warm, welcoming and relaxed.
Just thinking about it made her throat tighten and tears spring to her eyes. She ducked her head, not wanting anyone to see. What was wrong with her? Maybe she was just homesick. It had been a difficult few years and she missed her folks, her friends, even missed Long Beach. But she could’ve gone back there after the divorce – why hadn’t she?
Well … because her family was nothing like this. Her mother would’ve blamed her for the divorce and asked why she didn’t make things right with Ed, just as she did over the phone every time Gwen called her. Her stepfather would’ve ignored her, his eyes flitting back and forth until she moved out of the way of the TV that played constantly in the background. Her friends had all moved on with their lives. And she hadn’t wanted to face them – she didn’t want to go home a failure.
She dabbed her eyes with her napkin, then set it in her lap again.
“You okay?” asked Heath, his hand on her shoulder.
Just a single touch sent her nerves into a frenzy. “I’ll be fine.”
“What is it?”
“I just miss my family – and I don’t. It’s complicated.”
He smiled. “Family usually is. We love them, but …”
“… We can’t live with them,” she finished for him.
He chuckled. “Sometimes, that is very true.”
She felt a tap on her other shoulder and turned to find Nana sitting beside her. She took Gwen’s hands in hers, squeezing them tight. “Did I ever tell you about how Heath’s grandfather and I met?”
Gwen shook her head. “No, you didn’t.” She loved hearing other people’s stories.
“I was a dancer in a chorus line at a theatre in New York City …”
Heath interrupted. “You were a dancer, Nana?”
She frowned, her forehead wrinkling. “Yes, my darling boy. Don’t interrupt. Now Herb – that’s Heath’s grandfather – came to see the show. He was only in town for a few days on business and he thought he’d go to Broadway for a lark. Well, there I was, and he said I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.”
Her eyes grew dreamy and she stared off into the distance. “He was handsome, my Herb. And we fell in love, just like that.” Her eyes fixed on Gwen’s face, then traveled to Heath’s and back again. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t fall in love that way. You can and it can be the most wonderful thing in the world. I’m so happy the two of you are getting married. It gives me something to look forward to.” She stood, patted Gwen on the shoulder and turned to walk toward another table.
Gwen smiled down at her own hands, then met Heath’s gaze, his eyes full of dark intensity. “Gwen … I.”
There was a shout and a crash. Gwen leaped to her feet, her heart in her throat. Nana had fallen over and lay still on the porch. She ran to Nana’s side and bent over her. “Call an ambulance!” she shouted.
Heath was beside her in a moment, checking Nana’s pulse. “Sam, where’s Sam?” he shouted, glancing about the room. Gwen saw his sister hurrying toward them. “She’s breathing,” his voice was thick with emotion. “Nana, can you hear me?”
She groaned and rolled onto her back. “I feel a bit dizzy, dear …”
Gwen’s eyes fell shut, then bounced open again. She leaned back against the cold, sterile hospital wall and sighed. They’d been there for two hours already and still hadn’t heard a thing. Heath’s parents were in the room with Nana, but the rest of them were stranded in the waiting room.
Heath sat in a chair close by, his head in his hands. She walked over and sat beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “She’ll be fine.”
He glanced up at her and grimaced. “I hope so.”
Graham and Arlene walked into the waiting room side by side with red-rimmed eyes. Graham cleared his throat and spoke to the group. “She’s going to be okay.”
There were sighs of relief all around. Gwen put her hand into Heath’s and squeezed it.
“She’s just had a bit too much excitement. You can all head back to the resort. They’re going to keep her overnight just to monitor her vitals and make sure she didn’t hurt herself. But she wanted me to tell you to have fun and don’t miss out on a beautiful evening on her account.”
A few of the family chuckled at that as everyone stood, stretched, yawned and began to make their way out to the parking lot. Heath walked over to his parents, one hand in his pocket, the other still clutching Gwen’s. “Is that all?”
Daniel joined them, his eyes bloodshot. Graham glanced at Arlene, then faced his sons. “No. Nana didn’t want us to tell everyone just yet – she wants them to enjoy the wedding. But you two should know, she’s really sick.”
Heath took a quick breath. “How sick?”
“Lymphoma – they found it last month. It’s treatable, so don’t jump to any conclusions, but the chemo has made her a bit woozy.”
Daniel ran his hands through his hair and walked to the other side of the room.
Heath pulled Gwen a little closer, and she rested her cheek against his arm. She didn’t know what to say, but could tell he was suffering over the news. All she could do was be there and hope that it helped.
Heath shifted gears and the truck lurched forward, the engine revving.
“Go easy, son,” Graham scolded. “We won’t make it over that hill if you give it too much gas.”
“I know, Dad.” He gritted his teeth and tried again. This time the truck topped the rise and continued down the muddy track, following Newton’s four-wheel-drive. The groom had requested a four-wheeler outing rather than a bachelor party, and Heath had been glad to oblige. He loved getting out into the countryside, and the challenge of keeping a vehicle on the track and not getting bogged down usually piqued his competitive i
nstincts.
But today, his mind was elsewhere. Nana had come home from the hospital early that morning. He’d heard her chastising the orderlies who wheeled her down the hallway. She’d been adamant she could walk to her own room, but they hadn’t allowed it. He smiled at the memory.
“Take it back to second, Heath.” His dad held onto the dash with one hand, his knuckles white.
Heath rolled his eyes. “Dad, you can relax. I’ve done this before.”
“I still don’t know why Newton chose to do this. On the day of his wedding, no less. He could get hurt, or stuck out here. What then?”
Heath chuckled. “Maybe that’s what he wants.”
Dad studied him through narrowed eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, maybe he doesn’t want to get hitched after all. He could be getting cold feet and this would make a great excuse for not showing up to the wedding – I couldn’t, dear, I was stuck in a mudhole. Suddenly he’s off the hook.” He laughed and turned the steering wheel to avoid an enormous pothole.
Dad gripped the dash a little tighter. “Is that what you think of marriage, son?”
Heath took a slow breath. “No, Dad, of course not. I was just making a joke.”
“Because if it is, perhaps we need to have a little talk. You’re engaged, and I think maybe it’s all moving a little fast for you.”
Heath sighed. “Really, Dad, I’m fine. I was just having fun …”
“I mean, we hardly know this girl. We don’t know her motives. Why would a pretty girl like Gwen make such an impetuous decision and agree to marry someone she barely knows? I think you should be a little more suspicious and a little less trusting, son.” He blinked and grabbed his seatbelt with his free hand as the truck lurched to the right.
Heath’s jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. His father always thought people were coming after their money. He could understand that – when you had money, there were so many who wanted it. But a lifetime of building his legacy had left his father cynical and wary. “Are you insinuating that she’s only marrying me for my money, Dad?”
“I don’t know, son.”
“Because if you are, I can assure you that’s not the case.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Heath shook his head, angry that he had to explain himself. Angry that he had to defend Gwen when she’d done nothing to deserve it. Angry that even after running the man’s company for him, his dad still didn’t completely trust him. “Because she doesn’t know how much money we have.”
“What do you mean? You’re engaged! She flew here on the jet with you. You’re a Montgomery. Everyone knows us. Have you even met her family? Do you know anything about them? For all you know, they could behind this whole thing, encouraging her to come after you …”
“I don’t understand you, Dad.” He could feel his blood pressure rising as frustration pulsed through his veins. “All this time, you’ve been on my case about getting married. You want me to settle down, have a family, so you can trust me with the business. Well, you’re getting what you’ve always wanted – I’m engaged – and you’re still not happy. You want to know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think you don’t want to hand over the reins, so you’re coming up with excuses to keep from doing it. Do you want me to be CEO or not, Dad? Just tell me, because I’m sick of all the games.”
His Dad rubbed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “Of course I want you to be CEO.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes, son, you know I do.”
“Then make the announcement. Tell everyone this week when we get back to Billings, that I’m the new CEO. Step aside. If you don’t want to, don’t and I’ll move on. I’ll find something else to do. I want to make you proud, carry on your legacy, but only if that’s what you want. If you don’t, just tell me.” He pulled the truck to a halt, rested both hands on the steering wheel and stared at his father.
“I’ll do it,” Dad said.
“Yes?”
“Yes. This week, I’ll make the announcement.” Dad smiled weakly.
“Only if you’re sure. I don’t want to force your hand – I just feel as if you’re holding back because you don’t believe in me.”
“It’s not that, son. It’s hard for me to let go is all. I’ve built this company from the ground up over many years. Taking a step back is difficult.”
“Then don’t. But whatever you decide to do, please be honest with me about it.”
Dad nodded and frowned. “You’re a good son, Heath, and a good man. I trust you and I believe in you … and it’s time. Your mother’s been asking me to retire for years now – if I changed my mind now and stayed on as CEO, she’d probably go traveling without me.” He chuckled. “I will announce it this week.”
Heath’s throat constricted and he swallowed the lump that’d formed there. “Thanks, Dad. It means a lot to me. Don’t think of it as leaving the company – you’ll still be around, and I’ll always value your input.”
“I know. Come on, then, let’s get moving. They’re leaving us behind.” Graham cleared his throat and waved a hand at the taillights disappearing over the rise ahead of them as Newton’s SUV pulled away.
Heath stepped on the accelerator and followed the narrow trail through a thicket of Pacific dogwoods, their small white flowers forming an arch over the muddy track.
It was finally going to happen – he’d be CEO. Their ploy had worked. And once he was CEO, his father wouldn’t think twice about his love life. Sure, he might be disappointed when Heath called of the engagement, though given his worries about Gwen’s ulterior motives, maybe not. But he knew his father wouldn’t change his mind about the promotion, not after it was announced to the entire company. All he and Gwen had to do was wait until after the announcement and they’d be home free.
A twinge of guilt flashed through him. He hated lying to his parents this way, but what other choice did he have? He hadn’t dated anyone since Chantelle – or wanted to – and his father wasn’t going to accept that he’d given up the bachelor lifestyle to stay home and watch documentaries on IFC or host a Bible study group in his living room. So he was doing what he had to. And one day they’d all laugh about it together.
He pulled to a stop behind Newton’s vehicle, and Daniel jogged toward him as he and his father climbed out. They were at the top of a cliff looking over the ocean, and gulls circled overhead, their calls echoing across the water. He set his hands on his hips to survey the beautiful scenery and smiled at Dan.
Dan, though, wasn’t smiling. “Hey, I haven’t had a chance to talk to you …”
Heath raised his eyebrows. “Uh-huh?”
Dan leaned close. “What’s going on?” he whispered. “Is Gwen that waitress from the diner?”
Heath chuckled. “I was wondering when you’d ask me about that.”
“I see you every single day. I know you haven’t been dating anyone. So how are you suddenly engaged to a woman we’ve just met?”
Heath rubbed his chin and fixed his brother with a steely gaze. “You can’t tell anyone.”
Dan nodded, eyes narrowed.
“I’m paying her to pretend to be my fiancée.”
Dan’s eyes widened and he took a step back. “What?!”
“I know, it sounds ridiculous, but it’s working – Dad just told me in the car that he’d announce me as CEO next week. After all this time waiting and him constantly nagging me to settle down and get married to prove I’m serious about the job – like that proves anything – he’s finally going to take the ‘acting’ off my title.”
Dan studied him, his nostrils flaring. “You’re pretending to be engaged … to get the promotion?”
Heath nodded, his cheeks flaming. Hearing it spoken made him all the more aware of just how crazy the whole plan was.
Dan shook his head. “Well, I’m glad it’s working out for you. But you know you’re gonna break Mom’s heart, not to mention Nana’s.”
“I know, I know.” Heath took a quick breath. “I admit I didn’t think that part through very well. And now I don’t know what to do about it.”
Dan suddenly grinned. “She’s a nice girl. Cute, too.”
Heath’s eyes rolled. “Yeah, she is. But don’t get any ideas – it’s a business transaction, nothing more.”
“How on Earth did you get a girl like Gwen to agree to do it?”
“She’s in a bit of a pinch right now – she needed the money.”
“Well, if you ask me, you should hold onto her. You say she’s been pretending, but I see the way she looks at you – that’s something you can’t fake.” Dan walked away.
Heath watched him, his brow furrowed. He inhaled deeply and his gaze wandered over the cliff top, the circling gulls and the deep blue of the water down below. He wished Gwen were there with him now – she’d love the view. And his heart ached at the thought.
9
Gwen stretched out on the bed and put her cell phone to her ear. It rang, then Diana answered with a sing-song “Hel-lo?”
“Diana, it’s Gwen.”
“Oh, Gwen – how’s the wedding? Are you having a wonderful time? I bet you are. Oregon … wow. I’m so jealous.”
Gwen chuckled. “It’s pretty amazing here. I’ve never been to a wedding like this before – everything is so decadent compared to what I’m used to.”
“Enjoy yourself. Everything here is just fine … oh, I do have a couple of messages for you. Hold on …” She could hear papers being shuffled. “… okay. The first one is from a Lisa Connelly – she says she has some resources for you, come see her Monday after the staff meeting and she’ll get those to you.”
“Oh, thanks. That’s my new boss.”
“And the second message is from an Ed Alder – I guess he must be related, huh? Anyway, he said to call him back as soon as you get the message. That’s all he said – kind of a gruff guy.”
Gwen shivered and rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling. How had Ed gotten her new home number? Regardless, he was still coming after her about money she didn’t have and didn’t owe him. When would he finally leave her alone?