The Widow and the Orphan

by J. Thomas-Like

  When the pictures were finished, Aiden brought them to the head table and made them sit down, along with Will and Vivienne, so they could enjoy the delicious food prepared by the expert chefs at the Stafford Inn.

  “Oh my gawd, have you tried these crab puffs?” Vivienne said through a mouthful, bits of pastry clinging to the corners of her lips.

  “Oh, yeah.” Pepper plucked one off the platter in the center of the table, savoring how the flakiness melted in her mouth. “Have some of the fried mac and cheese.” Pepper didn’t think she’d ever tasted anything so heavenly. It was just the right combination of crunchy and smooth and sharp cheddar cheese. Even Gabe was able to nibble on a few things, and when the main course was served, he put away more than half of his salmon and asparagus.

  Pepper stopped to look around at all the people who had come to celebrate their wedding. Most of them were from EJR or Gabe’s acquaintances from years gone by. Of course, Pepper and Vivienne had invited a few of the people they had become friends with through the Foundation, but it was a small, intimate gathering and it felt good. Pepper was able to shake hands and make small talk with everyone at some point. Too many times she’d heard brides complain after the fact that everything happened too fast or that they couldn’t remember anything from their special day. Even if she hadn’t been one of those girls who’d dreamt of her wedding day since birth, she appreciated the specialness of the event and was grateful they had kept it small.

  As she sipped champagne and held hands with Gabe, Pepper realized that nothing bad had happened. Except for her outburst before the ceremony, everything else had gone off without a hitch. She closed her eyes and relived the moment they said “I do” and shivered with the thrill of it. That’s it, they were married now, for better or worse, in sickness and in health. And she was good with it. I can’t wait for the wedding night!

  Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes to find Gabe watching her. “What?” she whispered.

  “Nothing, love. Just admiring your beauty.”

  Pepper felt her cheeks grow warm and she gave him her quintessential eyelash bat and smile. “You’re pretty damn handsome yourself.”

  “Are you happy?” He leaned in to press his forehead to hers.

  “Yes. Are you?”

  “Indeed.”

  * * * * *

  Vivienne and Will strolled hand in hand through the gardens on the east side of the house, admiring the flowers and grateful for the full trees and the privacy they provided.

  “It was such a beautiful wedding. Walking her down the aisle was so sweet.” Vivienne smiled up at her husband, her eyes filled with love for him. “When did that idea come to you?”

  Will shrugged. “Actually, right then. When I saw her all alone, I didn’t think it was right. You had Gabe to walk you down. Pep needed to have someone do it for her.”

  Vivienne felt a tiny lump in her throat and swallowed it, reveling in the fact that she had the sweetest husband on earth. Pepper could have the second sweetest, but Viv knew she had the one.

  She was going to tell him that when he stopped walking and pulled her into his arms, smothering her with a deep, passionate kiss. Curling her arms around his neck, she returned it full measure. She prayed that the spark between them would never go out. She wanted to be a hundred years old and still get tingly inside when he looked at her.

  “‘Scuse me!”

  Will and Viv pulled their lips apart, shocked at the interruption of a very loud voice. She frowned when she saw an old woman and a young boy standing a few feet away. Where did they come from?

  “Can I help you?” Vivienne asked, her tone wary but full of polite firmness.

  “You ain’t Gabriel Seigal.” The old woman flipped her chin toward Will, glaring at him with disdain.

  Stepping away from Will, Vivienne slipped her hand into his and they walked forward together. “No, I’m not.” Will said.

  “Who are you?” Vivienne returned the woman’s hostility point for point. A danger light in her brain was flashing bright red. This cannot be good.

  “I’m lookin’ for Gabriel Seigal. Where’s he at?”

  Will and Viv looked at one another, stark confusion all over their faces.

  “Who are you?” Will asked.

  “Never mind who I am. You just tell me where I can find Seigal.” The woman pointed a finger at both of them and that sent Viv over the edge. No one points at me but my mother.

  “How did you get in here?” Vivienne let go of Will and took a forceful step in the strangers’ direction. “This is a private party. If you don’t have an invitation, I suggest you leave.”

  Will was right behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, giving her the confidence she needed to confront the intruders.

  “I ain’t goin’ nowhere till I see Gabriel Seigal. And since you ain’t got no idea of how I managed to get in, you ain’t gettin’ me out.”

  Vivienne glared at the woman and was about to say something even nastier, when she noticed the frightened look on the boy’s face. He was standing as far away from her as he could, but she had a firm grip on his hand, tugging on him every couple of seconds.

  Vivienne was stunned and couldn’t figure out what to do. It was her best friend’s wedding day and she would be damned if anything ruined it. But how was she going to get rid of this crackpot? “What is this about? Maybe if you tell me what’s going on, I can figure out something for you.”

  “You can’t do jack shit, missy.”

  Vivienne stood up straight and bit her tongue. She was not going to get into a verbal sparring match with this woman. Viv put her in her late sixties, maybe older, judging by the wrinkled and worn skin on her face and the gray hair that was pulled back into a messy ponytail. Her plain, brown dress buttoned from hem to neck and was wrinkled and riddled with old stains.

  “Let me try.” Will leaned down to murmur into her ear. Vivienne pressed a hand to his chest and then nodded. He stepped forward and put his hands into the pockets of his tuxedo in that casual, laid back way that Vivienne loved so much. It always seemed to put people at ease and it had just the desired effect on the old lady. Her body relaxed the tiniest bit and her face lost some of the hostility. “My name is Will Foster. This is my wife, Vivienne. Won’t you at least tell us your name?”

  She started to purse her lips, then rolled her eyes and sighed. “My name’s Gladys.”

  “Is this your son?” Will nodded in the child’s direction.

  “No, he ain’t. He’s my grandson.”

  “Okay, cool.” Will smiled and rocked back on his heels a little while nodding his head. “What’s your name, kiddo?”

  When he didn’t speak, Gladys tugged on his arm. “He’s Gavin. He don’t like to talk.”

  Vivienne could see Will struggling to keep from frowning. “Well, it’s really good to meet you both. We happen to be very close friends of Gabe’s. But you need to understand, this is his wedding day and the reception is going on right now. If you could just give us some idea of what’s so important to drag him away from the celebration, we could probably make it happen.”

  “Yes,” Vivienne agreed hastily. She stepped up to link her arm with Will’s.

  Gladys scrutinized them and let go of the little boy. Putting her hands on her hips, she raised an eyebrow. “Hold on to your hats.”

  * * * * *

  “Come with me. Quickly.”

  Vivienne hoped she didn’t look too upset as she tugged on Pepper’s hand, pulling her away from a conversation with Gabe and one of his partners.

  “What’s up?” Pepper left her empty glass on a nearby table and hiked her dress so she could keep up.

  “We have a situation, but you have to promise me you’ll keep quiet and calm.” Don’t go all Pepper.

  Pepper frowned and stopped walking, her hands immediately going to her waist in that defiant way Viv was so used to. “What is going on?”

  “Sh-h!” Vivienne looked around to make sure no one was payin
g attention to them. It didn’t seem like it. “There’s a woman near the back garden who’s demanding to see Gabe. She has a kid with her.”

  Pepper rolled her eyes. “Is that all? Probably some con artist or something. Just get security to show them out.”

  Viv stepped closer to her friend and spoke with a lower voice. “With where she is now, she’d have to be taken right through the reception. And you definitely do not want that to happen.”

  Pepper’s face blanched. “What is going on Viv?”

  “Just smile and come with me.”

  The women hurried around the side of the main house, through the east garden. Pepper tried to question her along the way, but Vivienne couldn’t bring herself to say anything. It was something Pepper needed to hear firsthand. When they rounded the path through the east garden, it was like no one had moved from their assigned spot since she left, and Viv was glad.

  “Pepper, this is Gladys.”

  Vivienne walked her best friend toward the older woman.

  “Hi! How do you do?”

  Vivienne watched as her best friend and bride flounced over to the interlopers. The easy glide of her steps and the disarming smile on her face was just the way she would approach anyone she was trying to charm. She extended a hand toward them.

  “I know who you are. And you ain’t Gabriel Seigal.”

  The old woman’s voice cut right through Pepper’s affable countenance. She kept her smile firmly in place, but her arm dropped to her side.

  “Well, I don’t have the pleasure of knowing who you are.”

  “I’m Gladys Mercer. This here’s Gavin.”

  “And why exactly do you want to see my husband?”

  Gladys smirked and raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell her?”

  Pepper glanced back at Vivienne.

  “What’s going on?”

  Gabe appeared from behind, surprising them all.

  Shit, shit, shit. Vivienne twisted her fingers together with regret. I should have sent Will to watch him.

  “Finally!” Gladys huffed, pushing past Pepper and Vivienne.

  “How can I help–” Gabe tried to smile, but the woman shut him down.

  “This kid is yours. Take him.”

  Chapter 32

  Of all the scenarios Pepper had been wrestling with about how their wedding day could go sideways, a long lost love child was not one of them. Her chin practically hit her chest and she squeezed Gabe’s arm hard.

  The woman groaned with exasperation and grabbed the little boy’s arm. She shoved him forward before anyone could stop her and he skidded and almost tripped before righting himself to stand in front of Gabe. Pepper gasped.

  “This is Gavin Mercer. His mother was Tanya, the slut you lived with in England? She died and I don’t want him.” Her voice was thick with a southern accent. Pepper thought she might be from Kentucky or Tennessee, but couldn’t be sure. The woman turned to leave, and probably would have gotten away without another word because everyone stood stock still, in shock.

  “Wait a second!” Pepper shouted, trying to take Gladys’s arm. The old woman twisted and hissed like a snake. The little boy scurried to stand behind her.

  “Leggo a me!”

  Pepper hopped back and put her hands up in front of her. “Whoa, hold on. Just calm down.”

  “Everyone just stop!” Gabe raised his hands to try and gain control. He reached toward Gladys, his movement slow and gentle. “Please, madam, give us just a moment of your time.”

  Whether it was his genial tone or the British accent that always seemed to send women into a dither, Pepper didn’t know. Something must have reached her, though, because the older woman stopped moving away and crossed her arms against her chest.

  “What?”

  Gabe smiled and nodded his head. “It’s obvious you’re upset. But it’s our wedding day.” He gestured to Pepper who put her own smile back on because he seemed to be making progress with the old biddy.

  “So glad to meet you.”

  The words left Pepper’s mouth with more sarcasm than she wanted and Gabe shot her a withering glance.

  “Why would you choose today of all days to show up with a child you claim is mine?”

  Gladys snarled her exasperation. “I’ve been tryin’ to get in touch with you people for weeks. I ran up my phone bill makin’ long distance calls and what did I get? Nothin’ but answerin’ machines and no return phone calls. I even spent damn near twelve dollars to send a FedEx letter. A woman could go to the poorhouse tryin’ to get a hold of y’all.”

  The memory of an envelope in Aiden’s office bloomed in Pepper’s brain.

  Gabe ran a hand through his hair and looked around at everyone except the little boy who was half hiding behind his grandmother. Pepper didn’t think it was all really sinking in with him exactly what was happening. Gabe was in crisis control mode. “I hardly think this is the time or place to sort this out. Where are you staying?”

  “Stayin’?” Gladys snorted. “We rode a train for the last five days. We rolled into town this mornin’. We ain’t got no place to stay.”

  Every word this woman said just opened up another can of worms Pepper wasn’t prepared for. She couldn’t believe how calm Gabe was being. There was a kid standing there in front of him that could be his! Questions exploded in her brain like corn popping in the microwave.

  “How did you get into the wedding?” Pepper demanded. She couldn’t stand there and watch anymore without getting a few answers. “We had very tight security.”

  “Not tight enough.” Gladys flipped her head in a pert nod. “There’s holes everywhere in the bushes surroundin’ this place. I just picked the one where there wasn’t any people.”

  Pepper’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. Oh, some heads were gonna roll at the Stafford Inn if this woman turned out to be a wacko. Holes in the bushes? Fuck!

  “Mrs. Mercer, was it?” Gabe took a step closer to the woman. “Our reception is almost over. I don’t suppose I could convince you to give us another thirty minutes to conclude the celebration and then we could discuss this somewhere more comfortable?”

  Gladys’s pissy face got even pissier, if that was possible, but she gave a curt nod. “Fine.” The fire in Pepper’s gut was at a full boil and she was losing control fast.

  Turning to Pepper, Gabe’s eyes were full of pleading. “Darling, why don’t we go back and make our excuses to the guests. I’m sure that Will and Vivienne can escort Mrs. Mercer and Gavin somewhere quiet to wait for us.”

  “Of course.” Vivienne stepped right in and Pepper blew out a yielding breath. “You two go on back. We’ll see you in the kitchen in about a half hour.”

  Pepper grabbed Vivienne into a tight hug and whispered a quick thank you into her ear.

  Gabe then hooked her arm into his and escorted her away from the altercation.

  Pepper clenched her new husband’s arm, fury spreading through her body like lava from a volcano. I knew something was going to happen today. I just knew it. When they were out of earshot, but not yet close enough to the reception, Gabe stopped walking. He closed his eyes and then gave a violent shiver.

  “She said that boy is my son.” His voice cracked and he took in a trembling breath.

  “Yes, babe, she did.” He’s getting it now.

  Opening his eyes, Gabe stared down at her. “Oh my God, Pepper.”

  “To put it mildly.”

  “What are we doing to do?”

  Gabe turned to go back, but Pepper stopped him.

  “No. Put your game face back on.” Pepper’s mind whirled with ideas. “You can say I’m exhausted, or we can say we’re leaving early for the honeymoon.”

  Gabe shook his head. “No, we’ll play the cancer card.”

  Pepper shook her head in horror. “No, babe, we can’t–”

  “Yes, we can. It’s the only thing that will seem reasonable.” Gabe took several deep breaths and then straightened his back. Shaking his shoulders, he
turned to her. “How do I look? Is my tie straight?”

  Pepper stared at him for a second and then reached up to align it, tugging on one side and then the other. “Perfect.” She ran her fingers through his hair and then she leaned up to kiss him. “Handsome as ever.”

  “All right, let’s do this.”

  Gabe patted her arm as they returned to the main reception area where guests were still mingling and enjoying the food and drink. There was even some dancing to the mellow sounds coming from the pianist in the corner of the patio. As they approached, Pepper gauged that probably only half of the guests were still in attendance. The sound of flatware striking glasses began gently and then rose to a crescendo and Pepper tried not to cringe. This was the last moment in time she wanted to put on a show and mash with Gabe, but she did it anyway, laughing and smiling through it all. Who says I couldn’t win an Oscar?

  “Where have you two been?” That came from a woman in Gabe’s office, one of the people in development.

  “And wouldn’t you like to know?” Pepper gave an exaggerated wink and laugh. “Is everyone having a good time?”

  A chorus of yesses came back and then much clapping and cheering.

  Gabe raised his hands in the air to gain their attention and then cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, Pepper and I would like to sincerely thank you for sharing our special day with us. It meant a great deal to see all of you and spend the time in celebration. However, I find that I am growing a bit tired. I hope you will all forgive us, if we decide to retire somewhat early.”

  Pepper bit her bottom lip and then chewed on the inside of her cheek again to keep from screaming. How dare that bitch show up and ruin this for us? If not for the appearance of Gladys and Gavin, they would be dancing and eating cake and drinking more champagne. They would be in their wedding suite enjoying an intimate and passionate wedding night. Gabe wouldn’t have had to use his fucking cancer as an excuse to end the reception.

  Pepper accepted the clasped hands of the people they passed by on their way into the main house. Smiling and saying her thank yous for the congratulatory wishes, Pepper prayed she would be able to keep her hands from circling Gladys Mercer’s throat.