“No.” Tessa’s reply was emphatic. “Jordan and I have never had any sort of intimate relationship or even dated. The first time I met Jordan, in fact, was when I was in the hospital for emergency surgery. And I was already involved with Ian by then, already living with him. And once I met Ian, well, there was never going to be another man for me. Not even a hot doctor who flirted with almost every woman who crossed his path. And to answer the next question I’m sure you’re dying to ask - no, I was never even tempted. Oh, like I told Jordan over lunch yesterday, it was certainly flattering to know that a man like him found me attractive. But Ian will always and forever be the only man for me. And I’m very sure that the moment Jordan met you, Aubrey, he forgot all about his silly little crush on me. He’s crazy about you, I believe that very strongly.”
Aubrey couldn’t help smiling a little at Tessa’s last words. “I thought you said you weren’t going to go to bat for him,” she reminded.
“I’m not,” assured Tessa. “Just stating the facts is all. If Jordan has any chance of making this all up to you, he needs to do it on his own.”
“Okay. And I couldn’t agree more.” Aubrey paused for a second to collect her thoughts. “So, where do you and I go from here?”
“You need to speak with your parents before anything else happens,” reminded Tessa. “And if you decide after that you’d rather just drop all of this, forget you ever met me, I promise I’ll understand, Aubrey. I won’t bother you again.”
“No, I guarantee you it won’t come to that,” Aubrey stated. “I can’t imagine my parents not being supportive of this. I suppose I just want to give them some advance warning, the courtesy of knowing what’s going on. Besides, I don’t think I could ever forget meeting you, Tessa. Not to mention the fact that I’ve been interviewing for a position at your husband’s company. Though the likelihood of returning to San Francisco is going to depend on whether or not I ever speak to Jordan again. And if I had to give you an answer to that question right now, it would probably be not in this lifetime, that’s how mad I am at him.”
“Give it some time,” advised Tessa quietly. “And ask yourself what your life would be like without him in it. In the meanwhile, let me know what you decide after you speak with your parents. Not to put any pressure on you, but I’m more than willing to fly down to San Diego to meet you face to face. At a moment’s notice, in fact.”
“You sound rather anxious,” teased Aubrey. “And I promise not to keep you hanging, Tessa. In fact, I’m going to call my parents right now. Let me write your contact info down and I’ll get back to you before the end of the day.”
Tessa sounded almost pathetically grateful as she gave Aubrey her home and cell numbers, and then thanked her yet again for her time.
Aubrey stared at her own phone for almost five minutes after ending the call with Tessa, trying to mentally rehearse what she was going to say to her parents. But given how easy it had always been to discuss almost anything with them, this time proved to be no exception.
Lorena didn’t seem in the least surprised to learn about Tessa’s existence. “We knew, of course, your father and I, that your birth mother had another child. Now, I’m not saying,” she added hastily, “that you and Tessa are half-sisters. It’s way too premature to make those sort of assumptions. And the social worker who was handling your case couldn’t legally tell us anything about your biological mother - not even her name. She probably shouldn’t have let it slip out that your mother had another child, and we never learned if that child was a boy or a girl. We did express interest in adopting this other child, though, even without knowing its age or gender. After all, this was your half-sibling, Aubrey, and we would have been more than happy to keep the two of you together.”
“I’ll assume that my - my birth mother didn’t give her consent to that, though,” remarked Aubrey, trying to absorb the startling information that somewhere out there she had a biological half-brother or sister.
“No,” confirmed her father without hesitation. Aubrey had put the call on speaker phone so that both of her parents could join in the conversation. “According to the social worker, your mother wouldn’t even consider the matter, adamantly refused to give up her other child. As it was, she kept changing her mind about whether or not to give you up for adoption, Aubrey, went back and forth on the decision several times. It wasn’t until we took you home from the hospital, with all the papers legally signed, that your mother and I could breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you were actually ours.”
Aubrey massaged her aching forehead. “All this time, all these years, I never even considered the possibility that I might have other siblings. Biological siblings, that is. My fault entirely, since I stubbornly never wanted to know anything about my birth mother. And if I hadn’t accidently met Tessa last night, I probably would have gone my whole life without ever knowing.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have much more information to share with you, honey,” apologized Lorena. “We never met your birth mother face to face, and all we really know is that she was living in a shelter for homeless mothers and families in Albuquerque when she was pregnant with you. But if you’re finally ready to learn more about her, I can put you in touch with the social worker who handled the case. Fortunately, I know just how to get in touch with her, too. You remember my friend Ramona? She and her family came out to San Diego on vacation when you were in high school, and we all went to the zoo together.”
“I remember her, yes. But I thought she was a nurse.”
“She is, back in Albuquerque, and her husband is a doctor at the same hospital. It’s Ramona’s younger sister Ines who’s the social worker. Ramona was the one who told her sister about us, how we had already adopted two little boys, and what wonderful parents we were. That’s how we came to adopt you, Aubrey, through our connection with Ramona. The luckiest day of our lives, baby.”
Aubrey brushed away the tears that trickled down her cheeks, overwhelmed with the love she felt for these two amazing people who had been the absolute best parents any child could have ever wished for. “Mine, too,” she whispered tearfully. “I love you, Mom and Dad. And no matter what I might find out from Ines about my birth mother, the two of you will always be my real parents in my mind. But speaking of Ines - will she be willing to talk to me? Or legally able to give me any information?”
“I don’t think that will be a problem, honey,” assured Kurt. “For one thing, you’re legally an adult now and worst case you could petition the courts to open those files. But given that your birth mother died almost fifteen years ago, I’m fairly certain any concerns about confidentiality and privacy would have ceased to exist.”
“I’ll give Ramona a call right now,” declared Lorena. “It’s been ages since I’ve talked to her anyway. And she can put us in touch with Ines. I’ll call you back as soon as I can, baby, okay?”
Aubrey sniffled loudly. “Okay. And - and thanks, Mom. You, too, Dad. For being so supportive and understanding about all of this. I probably shouldn’t have been so stubborn for all these years, and taken you up on your offer a long time ago. I just - well, didn’t want to accept the fact that my real parents didn’t want me.”
“You don’t know that, Aubrey,” corrected Kurt gently. “You have no idea what the real circumstances behind her decision were. And if it turns out that you do share a mother with this Tessa, a mother who was suffering from a severe mental illness, then I’d be willing to bet that she was pressured to give you up. Convinced by her social worker and doctor that she wouldn’t be able to cope with raising an infant and a young child at the same time. So wait until you hear the whole story from Ines, hmm? It might not be what you think.”
Aubrey smiled through her tears. “You’re right, Dad. You’re always right, come to think of it. And the two of you have always made everything better even when I was feeling the worst. I knew talking to you both would help to put things in perspective.”
“So does
this mean that you’re ready to tell us why you broke up with your doctor?” asked Lorena slyly. “Why you were so angry with him you just picked up and flew home?”
Aubrey’s smile faded rapidly, to be replaced with a dark scowl. “No,” she grumbled. “And as mad as I still am with him, I might never be ready to talk about it.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Darling, you’re going to wear a hole in the carpet if you don’t stop pacing back and forth. And considering that’s an antique Aubusson it would be almost impossible to replace it. So please, Tessa. For your sake and for the carpet’s future well being, why don’t you sit down for a few minutes, hmm?”
Tessa stopped in her tracks, giving her husband a rueful smile. “Sorry. I guess I’m just a little apprehensive about meeting Aubrey face to face. And a little afraid of what I might learn in the process.”
Ian took his wife in his arms, rubbing her back comfortingly. “That’s understandable, love. As much as you’ve always wanted to learn more about your past, and any family you might have, up until now it’s been difficult to find any solid information. But from the little you’ve learned so far about Aubrey, she might very well be the key to unlocking some of those facts. But you don’t have to be worried or afraid, Tessa. You should know by now that I’d never let anything hurt or upset you. Which is why I’m still furious at that bastard Jordan for his part in all of this.”
“Shh.” Tessa pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’re a fine one for telling me to calm down, when you’re just as agitated.”
“Yes, but for a very different reason,” retorted Ian. “You’re feeling anxious over this meeting with Aubrey because you may or may not learn anything about your past. Or find out if the two of you are related in some way. I, on the other hand, merely want to slug the idiot responsible for this whole fiasco. Or throttle him until I can shake some sense into that brain of us. I wonder at times how in the world he managed to get through medical school, given that he’s got no common sense at all.”
“Jordan feels very badly about how this unfolded,” assured Tessa. “I think he was afraid of how Aubrey would react, given that their relationship was still developing. For a man who flirts as much as Jordan always has, he actually seems very insecure in certain ways. And he admitted to me during our lunch that he’d never really had a serious relationship with a woman, which is why he managed to screw things up so badly.”
“I’m not in the least surprised,” drawled Ian sardonically. “And don’t start feeling sorry for him, Tessa. He’s brought all of this on himself, as you’re well aware. And needless to say, don’t try defending him to Aubrey, or trying to assume the role of peacemaker between them. If it was meant to be for Jordan and Aubrey, they’ll have to work their way back to each other without anyone’s help.”
“I know.” She made a slight adjustment to his perfectly knotted silk tie, then smoothed down the lapels of his charcoal gray suit. She liked to fuss over her handsome husband in little ways like this, and knew how much her attentions pleased him. “And I promise not to butt in. I suppose I feel a little sorry for Jordan is all.”
Ian rolled his hazel eyes heavenward. “Of course you do,” he replied drolly. “Because my wife is the most kind hearted, sentimental woman in the world. You want everyone to be as happy as the two of us are. Unfortunately, fate doesn’t always cooperate, darling.” He pulled back the cuff of his pristine white dress shirt to check his watch. “I’d better go. They’re expecting me for lunch in less than ten minutes. And your guest will be here in five. So give me a kiss good-bye, and I’ll see you in a few hours, hmm?”
Tessa never needed extra encouragement to kiss her husband, and this time was no exception. She clasped her arms around his neck, meeting his lips eagerly. As the kiss deepened and took fire, she wondered faintly if it would always be like this between them - the passion, the seemingly unquenchable hunger, neither of which had faded even the slightest bit in the five years they had been together, more than four of those as a married couple.
“Witch,” Ian murmured huskily against her ear. “Kissing me like that when you know there’s no time to do anything about it. Especially since we have an audience close at hand.”
He indicated his head slightly to where their two-year-old daughter Gilly was contentedly playing tea party with several of her dolls and stuffed toys. As though aware of her father’s gaze, she glanced up at that moment and beamed at him happily. Moments later she was squealing in delight as Ian scooped her up into his arms, and twirled her around in a circle.
“Daddy has to go out for a little while, sweetheart,” he said regretfully. “You stay here with Mummy and have some lunch, all right? Mummy’s, er, friend will be here in just a few minutes, too, and she’s going to have lunch with you. Now, do you have a kiss for your Daddy?”
Gilly wound her tiny arms around his neck and puckered up her little rosebud mouth, giggling as Ian made a loud smacking sound as their lips met. Tenderly, he set her back down amidst her toys, grinning as he noted that the plush white teddy bear was nearly as large as Gilly.
“Good thing we flew down here on the company plane,” he joked to Tessa. “I’m not sure how we would have fit this fine fellow in our luggage.” He gave the bear a pat on the head, then blew her a kiss. “Enjoy your visit with Aubrey, darling. I doubt that my lunch date will be quite as enjoyable, but duty calls after all.”
“Ian?” At the sound of her voice, Ian paused at the door of their suite, raising a brow to her inquiringly.
Tessa gave him a warm smile. “I just wanted to thank you for coming with me on this trip, especially since it was all so last minute. And since I know you must have had to rearrange your schedule, and you’re so busy. I appreciate it so much, appreciate you so much.”
Ian returned her smile, his hazel eyes aglow with tenderness. “It’s the least I can do, Tessa, and I’m more than happy to be here with you. Besides, I was due to visit the hotel here in San Diego soon anyway, just moved the date up by a few months and rearranged some other meetings. And there’s no possible way I would have wanted you to do this by yourself. Depending on what you and Aubrey discover - well, you might need some emotional support. But let’s not jump to conclusions just yet, all right? Now, I’d better go. See you soon, love.”
Tessa was half-tempted to call him back, to beg him to cancel his lunch and stay with her during Aubrey’s visit. But given that Aubrey already sounded uncertain about this meeting, having Ian in the room would only make her more uncomfortable. No, it had to be this way, realized Tessa as she fussed with the table settings, even though they were already perfect. Just her and Aubrey, without Ian or Jordan or Aubrey’s adoptive parents in the room. They could get to know each other a little better, find out more about the other’s life, and most importantly figure out the next steps to determine what sort of familial connection - if any - existed between them.
She started anxiously when the knock on the front door sounded, and forced herself to take a deep breath as she went to answer it. As expected, Trevor, the butler assigned to the suite, stood on the other side of the door, Aubrey directly behind him.
“Your guest has arrived, Mrs. Gregson,” announced Trevor in his very precise, very prim British accent. He swept his arm towards the open doorway, standing aside to let Aubrey enter. “Enjoy your lunch, Miss Larson. Mrs. Gregson, if there’s anything else you need, please be sure to let me know at once.”
Tessa smiled gratefully, wondering if she would ever get completely used to the idea of having a personal butler at her disposal every time they stayed at one of the company hotels. “Thank you very much, Trevor. I think we have everything we need, but I’ll text you if that changes.”
Trevor gave her a brief nod before closing the door behind him. Aubrey, meanwhile, was gazing around her in wide-eyed wonder, clearly as dazzled by the luxurious surroundings as Tessa had been during her first few visits to the Gregson properties.
“Wow,” br
eathed Aubrey as she noticed the panoramic view of downtown San Diego from the floor to ceiling windows for the first time. “And here I thought the hotel in Maui was the fanciest place I’d ever been in. This is - spectacular, for lack of a better word.”
Tessa nodded. “All of our hotels in Hawaii are definitely elegant, but have more of a tropical resort décor. Whereas our big city properties tend to be more sophisticated. You should see some of the European hotels. The one in Paris reminds me of a palace.”
Aubrey ran a hand carefully over a high-backed leather armchair. “I think this room is bigger than the entire house I shared with two roommates in Maui. Is this like the Presidential Suite or something?”
Tessa laughed softly. “It’s actually called the Owners Suite. They’re the largest and most lavish of all the rooms and suites in each hotel. There’s one such suite in each of our properties around the world, and typically they’re solely for the use of the extended family. Exceptions are made from time to time for celebrities or heads of state. I believe the Prime Minister of Canada and his family stayed in this particular suite a few months ago, in fact.”
Aubrey regarded her curiously. “You keep saying “our”. Do you work for the company, Tessa?”
“Not any longer. Though I do still help Ian out with some projects from time to time as my schedule allows. As for referring to the hotels as “ours”, ever since we got married Ian has insisted that I consider myself one of the family, that I consider myself one of the owners of the company. It admittedly took me awhile to think along those lines, but now I suppose I just take it somewhat for granted. Now, I’m not being a very good hostess, am I? Can I offer you a drink, Aubrey? There’s a fully stocked bar, as well as a variety of soft drinks and juices and waters. And hot tea and coffee, of course.”
“It’s a little early for alcohol, plus I’m driving, so just a sparkling water for me, thanks,” said Aubrey. She paused in her perusal of the room as her gaze fell upon Gilly, her face lighting up with pleasure at the sight of the little girl. “Oh, this must be your daughter. Isn’t she the most precious little darling?”
The Girl of His Dreams (Bachelor Book 1) Page 27