The Replacement Wife

by Tiffany L. Warren

  “Maybe if you spent more time with them . . .”

  Quentin sighed. “You’re right. I’m going to make a plan to take Deirdre on a daddy/daughter date right now. Deirdre!”

  Deirdre appeared at the top of the stairs with an annoyed look on her face. “Yes?”

  “I was thinking that you and I should go to a concert and to dinner. How’s Saturday sound?”

  Deirdre shuddered. “Or you could just give me money and I could go to a concert with my friends.”

  Quentin looked at Estelle. “Sure, honey. We’ll chat about it later.”

  Deirdre rolled her eyes and went back down the stairs. Estelle shook her head and frowned.

  “That didn’t prove anything,” Estelle said. “You’re not off the hook.”

  Quentin sighed. “Is this a lecture about the church or about the foundation?”

  “It’s actually a lecture about neither. I’d like to talk to you about getting a nanny for the youngest three.”

  “A nanny? The twins will be going to high school next year, and Danielle is nearly old enough to be left alone. They don’t need a nanny.”

  Estelle said, “Not a preschool nanny, but someone who can help them with homework, be here when they have questions about being young ladies, and maybe . . . a friend.”

  “Isn’t that what their grandmother is for?” Quentin asked. “Besides, they’ve got Chloe if they want to talk to a younger woman.”

  Estelle burst into laughter at the mention of Chloe. The children couldn’t stand her. “I’m quite busy with the church, and I’m not even going to comment on that woman.”

  “They don’t need a nanny, Mother. Deirdre can watch the younger three.”

  “And then who is watching Deirdre? Last week one of the sisters at the church thought she saw her in a movie theater slobbering all over that boyfriend of hers.”

  “Your church snitches are rarely accurate. Last I heard they were saying I’m gay because I haven’t remarried.”

  “This has nothing to do with your marital status.”

  “Well, what brought all this on, Mother? Are you concerned with that check I had Tippen write to the foundation?”

  Estelle stared at her son and gave him a stern expression. The half-million-dollar check Quentin had had his lawyer write to his pet project, the Transitions Foundation, was somewhat disconcerting. The cause, though, a group home for terminal cancer patients without the necessary resources to ease the pain at the end of their lives, was really important to Quentin.

  “I would like to be aware of you spending my grandchildren’s inheritance, but no, that is not what brought this on. I think it is time for things to get back to some semblance of normalcy. Just how long are you going to stay away from the church? The music ministry isn’t the same without . . .”

  “Say it. Without me and Chandra. There is no way I can sit at that keyboard without Chandra directing the choir. I can’t play. I can’t write. I can’t sing . . . all of it reminds me of her. So I work with the foundation, and I enjoy my time with Chloe. I’m trying to live.”

  “And what about the children? Don’t they deserve to live too? They need someone around them who isn’t grieving.”

  “Mother, do whatever you want. Get a nanny. I don’t care.” There was defeat and resignation in Quentin’s tone, but at least Estelle had a victory, albeit a small one.

  Ms. Levy, the family housekeeper, entered the room with Chloe. Although it wasn’t required of her, Ms. Levy acted as butler, cook, staff manager, and close personal confidante to Estelle. Ms. Levy also chose her own uniform—all black with a straight skirt that came down to the middle of her calf. She was just showing off with the severe bun at the nape of her neck. It pulled her face back so tightly that she looked Asian.

  “Ms. Brooks is here to see you, Mr. Chambers,” Ms. Levy said.

  Chloe’s appearance was a stark contrast to Ms. Levy’s. Estelle took in her ensemble—a knee-length, tan, vintage Dolce & Gabbana sundress. It was perfect for the warm Atlanta spring day, and it flattered Chloe’s perfectly sculpted body. There were a lot of things Estelle could say about Chloe, but she could never take issue with the woman’s appearance. She certainly looked the part of a high-society lady, even if her past exploits, spoken of in whispers at the country club, told a completely different story.

  Chloe gave Ms. Levy a dismissive wave of her hand. “When are you going to stop announcing me every time I come over? I’m practically a member of the family. We’re on our way to a yacht party, for crying out loud. He’s expecting me.”

  “I will stop announcing you when you are an official member of the family,” Ms. Levy said, without a moment’s hesitation.

  “Uh, thank you, Ms. Levy,” Quentin said.

  Estelle said, “Come on, Ms. Levy. We’ve got a nanny to find.”

  “Will I be allowed to interview her?” Ms. Levy asked.

  “Of course.”

  Chloe walked over to Quentin and threw her arms around his neck. She planted soft kisses on his face and lips. Quentin leaned back and smiled.

  “Are you sure you’re trying to go to a party? You sure you’re not starting something else?”

  Chloe laughed. “We can always go upstairs and have our own little party inside.”

  “Upstairs? Nah, but we could go to the Four Seasons.”

  “Why go to a hotel, when my man has a mansion?”

  Quentin untangled himself from Chloe’s grip. “You know, babe. The kids.”

  “Right, the kids. The kids who need a nanny. Aren’t your children a little old for a nanny?” Chloe asked.

  “Yes, but my mother won’t rest until she’s got Mary Poppins flying around my home with an umbrella in her hand.”

  Chloe stared blankly at Quentin, as if she didn’t get the reference.

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen Mary Poppins.”

  She cocked her head to one side. “Is that one of those cutesy movies where everyone is sweet, and the sweet sappiness continues until they’re happily sappily ever after?”

  “Pretty much,” Quentin said.

  “Yeah, no. I’ve never seen that, sweetheart.”

  “Never mind, Chloe. My mother is going to do whatever she wants to do. No one says no to her.”

  Chloe didn’t voice her response to this with words, but if Quentin had been paying attention, he would have noticed the grimace on her face. In her opinion, someone should say no to Estelle. Those girls didn’t need a nanny; they just needed an all-girls boarding school. Far, far away. So she could spend time with her man in his home and not at a hotel.

  “I’m not sure I agree with your mother, not that anyone asked my opinion. The girls have entered puberty, for crying out loud.”

  “That’s exactly what I said,” Quentin replied. “Maybe if you spent some time with them, my mother would change her mind.”

  “Or m-maybe your mother is right. Who am I to question their grandmother?”

  Quentin burst into laughter at Chloe’s reaction to spending time with his children. In all the years they’d been enjoying each other’s company, she’d never once mentioned becoming his children’s stepmother.

  “Is this what you’re wearing to the yacht party?” Chloe asked.

  Quentin looked down at his outfit. “Right, the party. What do you want me to wear?”

  “Something that makes you look incredibly hot.”

  Quentin shook his head. “You’re starting again.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” Chloe giggled.

  “While I’m getting dressed, I want you to think about my fund-raiser for the foundation. I’d love to talk about it tonight with Lichelle and her band of millionaires. They should want to support this cause.”

  “Where’s the fund-raiser going to be again?”

  “The Georgia Aquarium.”

  “The Aquarium? Why can’t you have it right here? That ballroom is just waiting to have a party.”

  Quentin considered this idea for a momen
t. They hadn’t entertained in years—since before Chandra had died. There was a time, though, when his mother had thrown legendary parties, and he and Chandra had enjoyed them immensely. What better reason for a party than the foundation that was started in Chandra’s honor? Plus, having the party at their mansion would ensure that more of the donations would go directly to the foundation.

  “That might be a great idea.”

  Chloe’s eyes lit up. “And I could coordinate it. It will be incredible.”

  “Maybe you could work with my mother on making it spectacular.”

  Chloe looked annoyed at this statement, but Quentin was just trying to prepare her for the inevitable. There was no way Chloe was planning a party in Estelle’s home without Estelle having the final say on every phase of the plans. The Chambers estate was Estelle’s queendom, and she was the only queen.

  “I suppose that would be a way for your mother and me to get a little bit closer. I’m not sure she likes me very much.”

  “She likes you because I like you.”

  That declaration made Chloe smile and erased any looks of concern regarding working with Estelle. And Quentin needed the peace. He was allergic to drama, and for the most part Chloe didn’t seem to come with it. She wanted to enjoy life, and he was trying to learn how to enjoy it again. It had been five years since he’d lost the love of his life, and he was still in a haze. But Chloe helped.

  “Hurry and get dressed,” Chloe admonished. “And wear something pastel, but not white. It’s not quite white season yet.”

  Chloe watched Quentin rush out of the room and then sat down on the couch with a satisfied grin on her face. Her boyfriend was nearly a billionaire. He didn’t even need to hold a fund-raiser for his foundation. She knew he did it because he wanted everyone to care about his cause. She admired him for that. At times she felt herself falling in love with him for that, but she stopped short. There was no way she was going to give her heart to Quentin when his heart wasn’t available to her. As long as his money was available, she would be okay. The Chambers family had built an empire of chemical products for the African-American woman’s hair. Chloe had never used any of their greasy gels or sprays. She giggled at the irony of how she enjoyed spending that money.

  “What’s so funny?” Deirdre asked.

  Chloe rolled her eyes. The girl had interrupted her thoughts. “Nothing. An inner musing.”

  “Whatever that means. You and my daddy going somewhere?”

  “Yes, sweetie. Your father is taking me to a dinner party on a yacht and probably to see some friends for dessert and coffee.”

  Deirdre looked Chloe up and down. Unintimidated, Chloe returned the look. The girl did not bother her one bit—or worry her. Deirdre had no idea what she was up against.

  “Did my daddy have to pay for this party?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. There’s no charge for this. A friend is having a birthday party. They love to entertain.”

  “It’s free? Wow! I’m surprised because you usually cost my daddy lots of money.”

  Chloe tossed her head back and gave a throaty laugh. “Trust and believe, I do not have any problem spending your father’s money. That is one of the perks of having a rich boyfriend.” Did she say that? Yes she did. “Remember that, honey . . . that advice was free.”

  As if Deirdre would ever have to worry about a man with money. It annoyed Chloe that this girl had no idea how fortunate she was. She’d never have to wonder if the man she was dating would ever marry her. Deirdre would have more suitors than she could count, because she was an heiress to a ridiculous fortune.

  Danielle entered the room and plopped down on the couch next to Chloe. Chloe’s lips became a thin line. She guessed it was annoy Chloe time.

  “Hello there,” Danielle said. “Do you want to play with me?”

  “Play? Play what?”

  Danielle said, “We could play dolls or Dance Revolution on my Wii.”

  “It’ll have to be some other time, honey. I’m afraid I’m all done up for a party.”

  Danielle took in Chloe’s appearance. “I think you’re pretty. I really like your makeup. Did you do it yourself?”

  “Oh, no, sweetie. This look, right here, takes an entire team,” Chloe replied, as if it was the most ridiculous question she’d ever heard.

  “Can you show me how to do it?” Danielle asked. “I want to look glamorous too.”

  “Daddy said no makeup until you’re sixteen,” Deirdre said. “You might as well forget about that.”

  “Sixteen? That’s preposterous,” Chloe said. “I’ve known how to properly apply lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow since I was twelve. A woman needs this in her arsenal.”

  “What’s an arsenal?” Danielle asked.

  “It’s all the tricks that women use to trap their husbands,” Deirdre said.

  Danielle looked confused. “You have to trap them? I thought the prince comes along and finds his one true love and marries her. Trapping them seems scary. What if they don’t want to be caught?”

  “No man wants to be caught, honey,” Chloe explained. “They’re like wild animals that want to roam free. But if a woman is beautiful enough, and skillful enough, they will give in. They don’t have the will to fight it.”

  Danielle gave Chloe a blank stare. Apparently all of this knowledge was too much for her.

  “Um . . . can we play now?” Danielle asked. “Tag! You’re it!” Danielle tapped Chloe on the shoulder and skated away from the couch. Chloe didn’t move a muscle. Was the girl lacking in cognitive skills? Didn’t she say she wasn’t going to ruin her yacht party look? After a couple of laps around the room, Danielle gave up trying to engage Chloe in her game of tag and skated out of the room, probably in search of someone else to harass. Chloe sighed with relief when the child had gone elsewhere.

  Deirdre laughed out loud. “You do know you’re going to have to play with her if you ever finally trap . . . I mean, marry my dad.”

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

  “We’re a package deal, you know,” Deirdre continued. “You’re going to have to get used to five children.”

  Chloe laughed. “I don’t have a problem at all with motherhood. As long as it includes some very expensive, very elite boarding schools.”

  “I’m going to tell my father you said that.”

  “Don’t be silly, Deirdre. You’ll find that I make a much better ally than an enemy.”

  As if on cue, Quentin returned, now ready for the yacht party in a dapper sky-blue jacket and gray slacks. Chloe rose to her feet and kissed Quentin on the cheek.

  “Look at you! Don’t you clean up nicely?”

  Quentin smiled and seemed to melt at the attention. “Thank you.”

  Chloe looked over at Deirdre stealthily and winked. Deirdre seethed and rolled her eyes.

  “Deirdre, we’re going out for a while, and we’ll probably be out late, so don’t wait up for us.”

  “Okay, Daddy, I won’t,” Deirdre said.

  Quentin leaned in and inhaled Chloe’s scent. “What is that perfume you’re wearing? I just can’t get enough of it.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing, love. Just something in my arsenal.”

  Chloe gave Deirdre another wink as she and her date left the house. She had meant what she said about being a better ally than an enemy. Deirdre would do well to get on her good side, because she intended to have Quentin and everything that belonged to him, and there wasn’t a teenager, roller-skating little girl, or sour-faced mother that could stop her.

  CHAPTER 3

  Deirdre was glad Chloe had gotten her father out of the house, because she had plans for the evening. Her grandmother had choir practice, and getting past Ms. Levy was easy, but it was dang near impossible to sneak out when their father was home. It was like he had supersonic ears or something.

  Deirdre pulled out her cell phone and sent her boyfriend, Moe, a text message. I’m ready now. Pick me up at the e
dge of our drive.

  A few minutes later, Moe replied to her text: I’m waiting for you.

  Deirdre hopped up from the couch and made a dash for the door. Of course, the snitches Morgan and Madison came into the room just as she was leaving.

  “Where are you going?” Madison asked. “Daddy didn’t say you could go out.”

  “You don’t know what Daddy told me. Why don’t you go play with your little friends on the Internet and mind your business.”

  “Pay us,” Morgan said, “or we’ll tell Daddy you snuck out.”

  “I’m not paying you anything, and I’m not sneaking. I’m just going.”

  “Really? Let’s see what Ms. Levy has to say,” Madison opened her mouth to yell, and Deirdre clasped a hand over her mouth.

  “Okay, snitches, I am going out with Moe.”

  Morgan said, “I knew it!”

  “But he is really nice, so I need y’all to cover for me.”

  Madison and Morgan looked at each other. They both turned and stuck their hands out.

  “Pay up,” they said in unison.

  Deirdre reached in her purse and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “You’ll have to split this. It’s all I have.”

  Madison said, “Twenty bucks? This is enough for us not to initiate a snitch. It’s not enough to keep us from telling if someone asks.”

  “Right,” Morgan said. “So you better get home before Daddy if you know what’s good for you.”

  Once Deirdre finally got rid of her little sisters, she quietly left the house and headed to meet Moe. This was one of the few times Deirdre regretted living on their huge estate. It would take her about ten minutes to walk to the edge of their property. Peach and magnolia trees lined both sides of the walkway, their aromatic scents filling the warm spring evening.

  Deirdre looked at her watch. It was nine o’clock. She calculated that she had about three hours to spend with her boyfriend before anyone noticed she was missing. Maybe her father would stay out all night with that gold digger Chloe.

  Deirdre wondered why no one except her seemed to notice that Chloe was after her dad’s money. She remembered Chloe showing up at her mother’s funeral in a too-tight dress with her breasts spilling everywhere. She claimed to be a friend of her mother’s from college, but no one had ever heard of her. Deirdre’s dad was clueless, and he was a mark from day one. A mark with a whole lot of cash.