by Ana E Ross
She would never have guessed there was any discord between them. Bryce was a master at masking his emotions, except those that were related to sex.
“A month,” his father reiterated. “We’ve spoken on the phone several times, and not once did you mention that you’d remarried and raising your godchildren. I have three grandchildren and I didn’t even know it.”
“You weren’t here,” Bryce stated in a tone Kaya thought quite despondent.
“Yes, we were in Asia, but you could have mentioned it in a phone call. We would have flown back for the ceremony and then gone back to finish our work there.”
“That’s it, Mom. You are never here. You’re always there, and everywhere, but here,” Bryce declared as if holding a raw emotion in check.
“So we’re back to that,” his father stated in an irritating voice. “We’re back to your childhood. We had to work, Bryce. You know that. We had to work to provide a decent life for you.”
“Because we love you. We wanted the best for you,” his mother said on a sniffle.
“I know you love me. I don’t doubt that. But you weren’t there when I was sick, or scared, or even when I was happy about some simple accomplishment. You let Grannie raise me. The best you can give your child is yourself, Mom. That’s what Grannie gave me. Herself.”
“Well, if she hadn’t made me work two jobs, sometimes three, to pay for your boarding school, especially when she could have afforded to pay for it herself, I may have been free to spend more time with you,” his father retorted defensively. “I still can’t believe she was sitting on all that money when I was breaking my back.”
“You wouldn't have spent more time with me.” Bryce chuckled sarcastically. “She made you pay for my education because she wanted you to have a part in my success, Dad. Haven’t you figured that out, yet? She didn’t do it out of spite or meanness. Because you were working so hard, it made me work harder to make you proud. I received full scholarships from every Ivy League college I applied to.”
There was a long, brittle silence then Bryce spoke again. “After Pilar and I were married, I asked you to move to Granite Falls, to get to know her, and me, and all the grandchildren we planned to give you. But your friends and your life in New York were more important than me.”
Kaya’s heart felt as if it would burst. She covered her mouth with her hands to keep from crying out. It’s natural to want your mother at any age, Bryce had said yesterday when she’d told him about her mother’s abandonment. Apparently, there was more than one way to abandon a child.
“I didn’t tell you about Kaya and the kids because I don’t want them to get close to you and then be disappointed when you don’t show up as you promised. I don’t want them to ever feel that anything or anyone is more important than them.”
Tears slid from Kaya’s eyes and ran down her face. She felt as if a hand had closed around her throat.
Bryce loved her.
He either just didn’t know it, or couldn’t say it yet. The knowledge warmed her heart.
“I’m sorry if that’s the way we’ve made you feel all these years, son,” his mother said, breaking the silence that was growing tight with tension. “We didn’t know. You’re so big, and strong, successful, and important. We didn’t think you needed us.”
“I’ll always need you, Mom, Dad. Always.” His voice trembled with emotion. “I don’t resent you. I just learned to live without you. The question is, do you need me?”
“Oh, Bryce. My baby. I need you. I need you.”
Kaya heard feet shuffling across the hardwood floor, then thuds as if arms were being slapped about each other.
Kaya didn’t even know her sobs had reached the trio in the kitchen until a shadow appeared on the stairs below her. She held her breath as she peered through her tears at Bryce, clad in jeans and a sweater, standing with one hand on the railing, staring up at her.
His eyes were red, his face puffy. She knew that he knew she’d been eavesdropping but there were no traces of judgment or concern in his countenance.
He reached out his hand to her. “Come, meet my parents.”
“I’m not dressed,” she said, staring down at her bare feet with red toenails sticking out from beneath her robe. She ran her hands over her rumpled curls, trying to brush errant strands from her face.
“It’s okay. They’re family.”
There was nothing for Kaya to do but walk down the stairs toward him. He put his arms about her shoulders and led her silently into the kitchen were his parents were standing around the island, expectant looks on their faces as if they were waiting for Michelle Obama to appear.
Bryce stood behind her, his hands still resting on her shoulders, his thumbs massaging the nervous muscles in her upper neck. “Mom, Dad, this is Kaya, my wife. Kaya, these are my parents, Henry and Lillian Fontaine.”
“Oh my God, Bryce.” Lillian clasped her hands to her mouth, a big grin on her face as she stared at Kaya. “She’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.”
“Kaya. What a lovely name for a lovely girl,” Henry said.
“It’s nice meeting you,” Kaya said, looking from one to the other, not quite knowing what to make of them. They must have been aware that she’d been eavesdropping on their emotional and extremely private conversation with their son.
Henry Fontaine was tall and broad, with a full head of salt and pepper hair. Bryce was a chip off the old block with the same wide forehead, thick brows, prominent nose and lips, and a strong jawline and chin. His eyes, though, Kaya noted with interest were his mother’s—dark and intense, with tenderness lurking in the background. Lillian was a few inches shorter than her husband, and sported a curvaceous body that looked as if it spent a lot of time at the gym. Her long black hair was done up in a sophisticated style away from her long attractive face. Kaya remembered that Bryce had said she used to be a hairdresser. With all the little girls in the family, Kaya thought her skills would come in handy.
“Can I hug you?” Lillian asked, opening her arms wide.
Bryce pushed her forward, and Kaya fell into the soft, welcoming bosom of her mother-in-law. “Welcome to the family, dear,” Lillian said, as she clasped Kaya in a tight, genuine hug.
Kaya glanced up as Henry came up behind his wife and, reaching around her with long arms, he hugged Kaya’s shoulders. “Yes, daughter, welcome.”
Kaya smiled at him, knowing that if she were fully dressed, he would have hugged her to his chest. But he was a gentleman just like his son.
She stood back when they released her. “Thank you, um—” She had no idea what to call them. Lillian and Henry? Mr. and Mrs. Fontaine? Or…
“Mom and Dad is good,” Lillian said, astutely picking up on her uncertainty.
“Okay. Mom and Dad, thank you.”
“Maybe you should get dressed now,” Bryce said, placing his hands on her shoulders again. “I’ll order up some breakfast.”
“Okay,” Kaya turned to walk out. She needed to breathe and compute.
Bryce pulled her back, and leaning down, he planted a quick kiss on her lips. Even with his parents standing a few feet away from them, Kaya felt the effects of his magical touch.
“Everything will be okay,” he whispered against her mouth then gave her a tender push toward the living area.
“Don’t be too long,” Lillian called after her. “We have a lot of catching up to do, plans to make, missions to accomplish.”
* * *
Lillian’s first mission was to convince Bryce—no, Kaya thought, her first mission was to demand that Bryce move out of his penthouse and into L’etoile du Nord. For a husband and wife to sleep under two separate roofs, she’d said, was no way to start a marriage, much less maintain one.
Bryce being Bryce had kicked up a storm of protest, but Lillian Fontaine, Kaya, had quickly learned was not a woman who took “no” for an answer. Like mother, like son. Two days after they’d arrived in town, Lillian had gone to Bryce’s penthouse, packed up all his cloth
es and had them delivered to the house while he was at work. She hadn’t even left him a pair of boxers.
As Kaya sped along Route 80 in her brand new white Maybach Landaulet—a wedding present from Bryce—she smiled as she remembered the fury in Bryce’s eyes as he’d stormed up the stairs and into the second-floor balcony family room at L’etoile du Nord, and ordered his mother to stay out of his life.
“You asked to have me in your life, remember?” Lillian had sweetly responded, never missing a beat as she rocked Anastasia in her arms. “I’m only doing what I know is best for you, your wife, and these children.”
He’d glared at his father, who was hunched over a chessboard, deeply concentrating on his game with Jason. “Were you part of this?”
“She’s your mother, son. And what your mother wants, your mother gets. You know that. Besides, think of the perks,” he’d added, winking at Kaya, who’d been trying to fashion Alyssa’s hair into two French braids, the way Lillian had taught her.
“What are perks?” Alyssa had enquired, petting Webster who was sprawled out next to her on the sofa.
“Perks are good stuff,” Jason had answered. “Checkmate!”
“Argh!” Henry had groaned. “Who taught this boy to play Chess?”
“The coolest aunt in the world.” Jason had beamed at Kaya.
Anastasia had let out a tremendous burp and everyone doubled over with laughter.
“Goodness,” Lillian said, wiping Anastasia’s mouth with the edge of a baby blanket. “I’ll have to have a serious talk with this child, teach her how to burp like a lady.”
“You do that, Mom, and since it’s Haley’s night off,” Bryce had growled, picking up Alyssa from Kaya’s lap and walking over to deposit her on Henry’s. “You two old busybodies can take care of the kids while I go enjoy my perks.”
He’d scooped up a giggling Kaya, tossed her over his shoulder and climbed the stairs to the third-floor master suite like a formidable caveman on a ravishing mission. In the bedroom, he’d dumped her unceremoniously on the air mattress where they’d first made love, and came down on top of her. They didn’t leave that room until noon the next day.
That was weeks ago.
Winter had finally melted into spring, and April showers were working hard to prepare the ground for blooming May flowers. Henry and Lillian had since moved to Granite Falls, and were staying at L’etoile du Nord until Bryce found them a suitable home close by. He said he’d build one if he had to.
The kids loved having “wicked cool” grandparents and had began calling them “Grandpa Henry” and “Grandma Lillian”. Alyssa was finally sleeping through the night in her own bed, and Jason was lavishing Kaya with hugs and kisses in front of his friends, like he used to do with his mother.
Lillian’s second mission was helping Kaya furnish the third-floor master suite. It was elegantly and romantically decorated with three base colors of red, gold, and beige, and an enormous rotating bed that was situated in the middle of the bedroom. It was raised on a round platform with three wide steps that ran the perimeter, leading up to it.
Most nights, moonlight lulled her and Bryce to sleep in each other’s arms and most mornings, the sun kissed them awake, still locked together in satiated bliss. Bryce had kept the penthouse, and sometimes Kaya would meet him there for a quick lunch and a “marital romp”, as he put it. And the times when he couldn’t get away, he’d summon her to his office for a quickie on his desk, or his couch where he conducted his professional business. Talk about missing business and pleasure.
But best of all, Bryce’s nightmares had all but ceased, and last Sunday, his parents had enticed him to attend church with them.
They had all morphed into a wonderful, loving, happy family.
Yet, something was amiss.
Bryce had still not told Kaya that he loved her, even though he frequently showed her in countless ways, like jetting her off to Paris or Milan for a day or two and showering her with priceless jewelry. The one thing that touched her most, though, was his daily delivery of white and yellow orchids to the house. She knew he signed each card on a daily basis, because he would always refer to some event that happened the night before.
Why couldn’t he tell her that he loved her? Kaya wondered as she made a turn onto Evergreen Drive in downtown Granite Falls and saw the steel and glass tower of Fontaine Enterprises looming ahead of her. Before Kaya could analyze her actions, she’d passed the street to the post office—the reason she’d come into town to sign for her father’s jewelry that she’d had sent from the bank in Palm Beach—and was heading toward Fontaine Enterprises.
Bryce had not come home last night, but had stayed at the penthouse. He’d reassured Kaya that all was well, and that he just had to concentrate on a huge international business deal that was to take place the next day. However, right on time, her orchids with a card stating that he missed her was delivered that morning.
As Kaya pulled into her personal parking space in the underground garage, next to Bryce’s silver-grey Lamborghini, her heart began to beat faster. As she walked toward the elevator, she felt like she was spying on her husband, but that thought was foolish since she’d surprised him many times in the past by showing up announced. He’d always welcomed her. This time, she was certain, would be no different.
Kaya stepped off the elevator onto the tenth-floor that housed the private quarters of the CEO of Fontaine Enterprises. In addition to several conference rooms, there were only three offices on this floor: Bryce’s, Elaine’s, and Libby’s.
Kaya strolled tentatively down a short hallway to discover that Elaine wasn’t at her desk. She checked her diamond watch. Well, it was noon. Both Elaine and Libby were probably at lunch. She glanced at Bryce’s half-opened door as knots formed in her stomach. Should she call and let him know she was here, or should she just barge right in? She stepped closer and male voices drifted from inside.
“I definitely think it’s the way to go, Bryce. I mean the Chinese are…”
Kaya smiled as she recognized Massimo Andretti’s voice. She’d met him at the last Club gathering that had taken place at the LaCrosse’s home. She’d instantly liked Massimo, or Mass as his friends called him. He was tall, wide-shouldered, and handsome like the rest of the gang, but his reputation with women far exceeded Bryce’s. Kaya had taken comfort in the knowledge that there was a bachelor who trumped her husband in infamy. She wondered about the woman who would dare to tame the Italian playboy’s heart.
Feeling a sense of rightness, Kaya walked bravely through the door. Massimo stopped in mid-sentence and glanced up at her, his bright blue eyes and his smile warming her. He immediately got up from the table where he and Bryce were hunched over some piles of papers.
But when her husband turned around and let his dark gaze slide lazily over her, Kaya’s heart began to pound and her knees felt weak. She still couldn’t understand how he had the power to make her tremble every time she was near him.
He pushed to his feet and came toward her. “Darling, what a wonderful surprise.”
She melted into his arms, loving the smell and feel of him. “I hope my interruption doesn’t cause a problem. I know you’re very busy men, running huge corporations.”
Bryce released her and stood back. “I think we covered all the bases for now,” he told Massimo. “We’re scheduled for another meeting with the Fonandt crew in a couple weeks. We’ll have more details then.”
Massimo walked toward them. “You look more beautiful each time I see you, Kaya.” He brought her hands to his lips and quickly kissed the outsides of her wrists. “I haven’t seen my brother this happy in years. You’ve worked wonderful magic on him.”
Kaya smiled shyly up at him and laced an arm around Bryce’s waist. “It’s what a good wife does for her man. You should get one, Mass.”
The smiles on the men’s faces vanished as they exchanged wary glances.
“That’s my cue to leave. Catch you later, buddy,” Massimo told Bryce. He
bowed courteously to Kaya before practically running out of the office.
“Did I say something wrong?” Kaya asked as Bryce closed the door.
“It’s a long story. And I’m forbidden to talk about it.” He took her hand and led her across the spacious room toward the couch.
“Even to your wife?” As they passed his desk, Kaya tossed her purse on it.
“I’m sorry, darling, but I can’t discuss it with you. It’s Massimo’s business, nothing to do with us,” he said, pulling her down on the couch beside him and wrapping one arm about her while holding her hands with his left. “Now, to what do I owe the honor of this wonderful surprise visit?”
“I missed you last night, and since I came into town to pick up that package from the post office, I thought I’d— Oh my God,” Kaya whispered as she glanced down at Bryce’s hand on her lap. The ring on his finger wasn’t the one she’d put there. Without being told, she knew that it was the one Pilar had given him over five years ago. No wonder he couldn’t tell her that he loved her. He was still hopelessly in love with Pilar.
How could she have been so stupid to think that she could make him forget his first love? Tears welled up in her eyes. She fought out of Bryce’s embrace and struggled to her feet, stepping back to put distance between them. She couldn’t bear to be near him right now. Her stomach crunched up in painful little knots, and blood rushed to her heart and lungs, making breathing painful and difficult. She felt as if she was about to explode, or faint, or vomit, or all three together.
Bryce pushed to his feet. “Kaya, what is it? What’s wrong?” He reached out to her.
She jumped back, bumping into his desk. “Don’t touch me.”
“Kaya. What is the matter with you?”
“You’re still in love with her,” she said, glaring at him through her tears as she pushed the words past the scorching pain in her throat. “You’re still in love with Pilar. You’re wearing her ring, Bryce. You took mine off, and you’re wearing hers.” She dropped weakly against the edge of his desk and covered her face with her hands.