“Really? For sure?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why she looks like me?”
How long had she suspected? “Yes. What do you think about this? Are you upset?”
She shook her head. “I’m happy. I have two mommies. One who chose me and one who made me. Daddy, we have to go get Julie and bring her back.”
“Sweet pea, you know she’s moving to Paris soon.”
“No, she won’t. She loves me. She left me this.” Abby pulled out the necklace hidden under her top. “It’s my birthstone. She said this was her most special thing. She said moms never leave their little kids if they can help it. Please, Daddy, you have to find her.”
“I don’t know where she went.”
“Miss DiDi will know.”
Julie’s friend. She’d mentioned her several times. “Right. Do you know her last name?” Abby shook her head. “Did Julie tell you where she was going when she went to visit her family?” Another shake with a puckered lip. “Okay, I’ll see what I can find out. Maybe Stephanie or Nancy will know.”
Two hours and a dozen phone calls later, Gil knocked on the door of a charming ranch home in Brandon, Mississippi. He was winging it. He hadn’t wanted to risk calling ahead and having Julie’s friend stonewall him. Showing up in person had shock value, which could work in his favor.
A tall, slender woman with brown skin and long black hair opened the door. Her dark eyes widened as she scanned him up and down. “DiDi Simmons? I’m—”
“Gil Montgomery. Julie described you to perfection. What are you doing here?”
“I need to find her.”
DiDi crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head. “Why?”
A simple question with no simple answer. “Because, I told Abby the truth about Julie, and she wants her back. She’s happy that she’s her real mother.”
“Smart kid. Well, I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you where she is. I don’t betray a friend’s trust.”
“I need to talk to her.” DiDi looked into his eyes, searching for something. It took only a moment for him to realize what she was looking for. The truth. “I love her. And I need to tell her.”
She considered his words, then stepped back and started to close the door. Gil reached out and placed his hand on the wood surface. “Please.”
“All I know is that she went home to her parents.”
“Where do they live? Do you have an address?”
“Sorry. I won’t tell you. She’s been through too much.” She started to close the door. Defeated, Gil pivoted and started striding down the sidewalk. He’d have to find another way.
“Mr. Montgomery. Have you ever seen the Blue Angels perform?”
Gil stopped and turned around. “What?”
“You know they’re based on the coast someplace. You should check them out. If you need directions, when you get there my friend Mike could help you out.” She smiled and shut the door.
What was wrong with the woman? He’d come here for her help and all she did was tell him to watch the Navy Demonstration Team. Back in the car, he started to turn the ignition key. Pensacola. The Blue Angels were in Pensacola. Is that where Julie was? A quick search on his cell phone pulled up a dozen Bishops living in the Pensacola area. Only one was named Michael.
First thing tomorrow he was heading to Florida.
* * *
Julie’s fingers shook as she selected Gil’s cell phone number from her contact list and waited for him to answer. She’d taken her mother’s advice and returned to Dover to face Gil and tell him everything. If he was willing to listen. She had little hope that anything would change, but her mother was right. She couldn’t simply not participate in this issue and walk away the way she had from her sister’s constant challenges. This was too important. She loved Gil. She wanted a future with him, and she was willing to step up and fight if necessary.
“Julie? Is that you?”
The sound of Gil’s deep voice saying her name shattered her courage. This was a bad idea. “Yes. It’s me.”
“Where are you? Are you in Pensacola?”
How did he know that? Had DiDi broken her promise? “No. I’m here. In Dover.”
“I was going to come to see you this morning, but something came up at work. Are you okay? I was sorry to hear about your sister. Why didn’t you let me know?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to hear from me.”
He exhaled a sigh. “Yeah. Of course. Julie, I want to see you. We have to talk. Meet me at the house.”
He sounded relieved to hear from her. Did that mean he cared, or was she reading too much into his tone because she wanted him to have feelings for her? “No.” She couldn’t go back there. She’d never be able to say what she needed to in his home. Too many memories. “Not there.”
“All right. Some place neutral. The gazebo in the square.”
That was a very public place. But maybe that was best. Neither of them would get too emotional in the park. “All right. When?”
“Give me half an hour. And Julie, don’t run off. Please.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to believe the affection, the urgency in his voice. She went immediately to the town square, passing the time strolling through the courthouse park. Spring was in full force now, the azaleas exploded in a variety of bold colors all over the square. Irises bobbed their full blooms around the base of the gazebo and planters scattered along the walkways overflowed with daffodils. The vibrant spring helped ease some of her anxiety, though she’d missed Palm Sunday and Easter, special days she’d anticipated spending with Gil and Abby.
She whirled at the sound of her name being called. Gil walked toward her from the middle of the park. Her heart reached out to him. He looked wonderful, his dark hair stirred by the spring breeze, his long, purposeful stride emphasizing his lean strength. She wanted to run to him, to feel his arms around her and rest her head against his solid chest.
As he drew near, she could see his cobalt eyes were troubled. Her hope began to fade.
He stopped a few feet away, searching her face. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
“I came back to see you. I need to explain.”
He glanced around, then took her arm and led her up into the historic gazebo, taking a seat in the back corner. “I need to talk to you, too.”
Julie held up her hands. If she didn’t say it now she never would. “Gil, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you or Abby. I know it was wrong of me, but I had to know if Abby was happy.” Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she swiped them away, hating her weakness. “Please try to understand. I didn’t expect to become so involved in your life. I should have left sooner. But I wanted to make sure you and Abby were close, that your relationship was sound before I left. Please forgive me.”
“No.”
Her heart chilled. Her hopes crushed. She started to rise, but he took her hand.
“I should be asking for your forgiveness.” Gently he brushed tears from her cheeks. “I didn’t even try to understand. I was blindsided. I should have taken time to listen. It wasn’t until you were gone that I realized—” he squeezed her hand “—how important you were to me. To us.”
Hot disappointment shot through her veins. Important. As the necessary caregiver. The nanny who took care of his child and fixed his meals. He hadn’t said the word love. She pulled her hand away. “How’s Abby?”
“She’s fine. She misses you. I told her who you are.”
Julie gasped. “Does she hate me?”
“No. She was happy. I think on some level she suspected.”
She rested her hand at her throat. At least her greatest fear had been put to rest. “I’m glad. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy. It was the only thing I worried about from the momen
t I gave her up. When I decided to move overseas, I knew I couldn’t leave until I was sure she was all right. That’s the only reason I took the job with you.”
“How did you know I was the one who adopted her?”
“DiDi found out somehow. I never asked. I didn’t want to complicate my baby’s life. But I did. I messed it up horribly.”
“No, you didn’t. You were exactly what we needed. You were our blessing. The person who brought light and joy back to both of us.”
She stood. “I’m glad. And I’m glad Abby isn’t angry with me. Maybe you’ll allow me to see her or at least stay in touch with her.”
Gil reached for her hand again. “Julie, of course you can see her. Whenever you want, but I hope we don’t have to schedule appointments.” He stood and took her arms in his hands. “Don’t you understand how much you mean to me?”
She couldn’t meet his gaze. “I do. I’m a very good nanny.”
He tilted her chin up. “I guess I’m not making myself clear. I love you. I want you to stay here with me and Abby.”
Julie searched his eyes, looking for the truth. “I don’t understand.”
He laid his hand against her face, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. “I love you. I want to marry you. I want you to be in my life forever. Abby wants you to be her mom.”
Tears sprung into her eyes, clouding her vision and making it hard to speak. “I don’t know.”
“Do you love me, Julie?”
All she could do was nod. Through her tears she saw the happy smile soften his features and his blue eyes brighten. He drew her close, slipping his arms around her waist.
“I knew it.” He captured her lips, kissing her with an intensity that left her light-headed and dizzy. He held her upright against his chest, deepening the kiss until all she knew was the joy of being in his embrace.
He broke the kiss and inhaled a quick breath. “I knew meeting in a public place was a good idea.” He smoothed her hair from her face, then traced her lower lip with one finger. “Will you stay here, give us time to work this all out? I know there’s a lot we both have to sort through.”
“Are you sure? What about Abby?”
He grinned, pulled out his phone and touched the screen.
“What are you doing?”
He smiled and drew her close again, then nodded in the direction of the park. She looked along the walkway and saw someone running. Abby. And Ruffles.
“Miss Julie!”
Gil leaned close. “She’s been waiting with my mom at the coffee shop.”
Abby charged up the steps and into her arms. Ruffles barked and danced around her feet for attention. Julie held her daughter tightly, thanking the Lord for giving her a blessing she didn’t deserve.
Abby released her and smiled. “You’re my real mom. That is so cool.”
Julie looked into her eyes. “You’re not upset with me?”
“No.” She pulled the necklace out of her pocket and handed it back to her. “This is yours. I want you to have it back so you can wear it all the time.”
“I don’t need it now. I have the real thing.”
“But if you wear it, we’ll always remember how we found each other again.”
Gil took the necklace from her hand and fastened it around her throat, his fingers brushing lightly against her neck. “This will remind us all that we nearly lost something special.”
Wrapping an arm about Julie’s waist, he held her close. “I think we should pay a visit to Scott’s Fine Jewelry soon.”
Abby nodded. “And I have to be the flower girl again. I’m pretty good at it now.”
Julie snuggled against Gil’s side, drawing her daughter into the embrace. A couple passed by the gazebo and smiled at them.
“Y’all make a handsome family.”
“This is my mom and dad.” Abby leaned against them, smiling.
Julie’s heart took flight. Finally, she could be the mother she’d longed to be and give her baby the ideal family she’d always dreamed of. She pressed a little closer to Gil, her pulse skipping at the solid strength of him. “I thought my secret would keep us apart.”
Gil tilted her chin upward and kissed her tenderly. “I guess the Lord had other ideas. He sent me and Abby the only woman who would love us and bring us together.”
She smiled, basking in the warmth of his nearness. “And He gave me back my daughter.”
“Our daughter. We’re a family now.”
“I love the sound of that.”
With Abby on one side and her on the other, Gil took their hands and started down the gazebo steps toward home and the promise of a beautiful future together.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from FALLING FOR THE MILLIONAIRE by Merrillee Whren.
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Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Dover. Gil and Julie’s story is one I’ve been looking forward to writing for a long time. I wanted to explore how secrets and hidden truths can damage lives and relationships.
Julie Bishop craves reassurance that the child she gave up is happy, so she takes a job as the family’s nanny. But things quickly become complicated. As the threat of exposure grows, so does the potential heartbreak for those she cares about.
Gil Montgomery has regained custody of his daughter and has brought her home to Dover but struggles to reconnect with her emotionally after so many years apart. He’s also grappling with his feelings of failure as a father and husband. His wife’s deception has left him bitter and angry.
Julie never intended to hurt anyone, but as she discovers, the longer secrets stay buried, the worse the corrosion becomes.
Julie and Gil must forgive those who have hurt them and forgive themselves for poor past choices. Only then will they be able to forgive each other and find the happiness they both long for. The Lord shows them that truth is the cure, not the poison, and His grace will cover all their mistakes and losses.
I hope you enjoy Gil and Julie’s love story and this trip back to Dover. I love to hear from readers, and I appreciate you choosing to read Gil and Julie’s story. You can reach me through my website: lorrainebeatty.com or write me through the Harlequin Reader Service.
God Bless.
Lorraine Beatty
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Fa
lling for the Millionaire
by Merrillee Whren
Chapter One
Blind dates mimicked test-driving cars. Tonight Melody Hammond had another one to deal with. What would it bring? Her friends kept sending her fancy sports cars when all she wanted was a nice simple sedan.
The doorbell rang. She peered through the peephole in the front door of her small brick ranch house in her suburban Atlanta neighborhood. She couldn’t tell much from the distorted image except that the man was tall and had dark hair.
This was one date that carried some consequences. Tonight’s fund-raiser for The Village of Hope Ministries was an event intended to raise money for Melody’s pet project—building more housing for abused and troubled women. Too often the ministry had difficulty finding space for all the women who needed help and had to turn many away. She planned to do everything within her power to see this project funded.
People had paid a lot of money to attend this formal dinner dance, including her date. She hoped it would go well, so she could represent The Village properly. She wanted to believe anyone who had an interest in helping a charity was a decent person. Unfortunately, she’d learned over the years that not all donors to good causes were good people. Some had ulterior motives.
Melody took a deep breath, then tried to produce a genuine smile as she opened the door. That breath caught in her throat as she stared up at Hudson Paine Conrick, the Fourth. In his black tuxedo he was handsome beyond description. His dark hair curled and waved in a rumpled kind of way. The five-o’clock shadow he sported gave him a dangerous look—at least where a woman’s heart was concerned.
A Ferrari.
No doubt.
He gave her a lazy grin. “Ms. Hammond, Hudson Conrick. Nice to meet you.”
Melody nodded, hoping her brain would engage her tongue. “Please come in while I get my wrap, Mr. Conrick.”
The Nanny's Secret Child Page 18