Now she wasn’t tired. She yawned, and listed in her head her possible options on what to do next.
Tonight, Sean had gone home to his son.
She swallowed and told herself she’d see him tomorrow.
And the quietness of home helped her think.
She fixed her dinner, showered, and changed into a pair of sweats. Then she sat down with her newspaper and let her body sink into her couch.
A knock at the door interrupted her.
She found a bathrobe and rushed downstairs. Then she peeked out the door. Relief washed through her and she swung it open. “Mrs. Collins, I hadn’t expected you.”
“Margaret. You remember.” The woman nodded at her but she held a few things tight in her arms.
“Margaret, yes. I didn’t want to be rude.” Gigi hesitated, unsure of what to say. “Can I help?”
“Let me in.” Margaret held up her packages and shivered from the nip in the air. “We have a few things to talk about, dear.”
Gigi stepped to the side and offered her home. “Does Sean know you’re here?”
“No, and he doesn’t know what we’re going to talk about. I’m here about your mother. And it’s something we should have talked about the day you moved back home.” Margaret stepped inside, deposited the packages on the table near the door, and took off her jacket. “I became sidetracked but should have shown up sooner.”
“My mother?” Intrigued, Gigi hung up the woman’s coat on the hanger. “Would you like tea? Anything to drink?”
“I want to show you a few things I brought.” Margaret clutched her packages again.
Gigi’s eyes went to the notebook again. “What do you have there?”
“I should have come here the minute you moved home. Waiting this long had been wrong of me. I misplaced the notebook and planned on getting to this much sooner. Things in my life kept getting in the way, and in time, I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Already done.” Gigi directed her to sit on her couch and waited for Margaret to get comfortable. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything? Is this because of Sean?”
“I’m here about your family, not mine.” Shaking her head, Margaret asked, “Do you know your mother’s name, Gigi?”
“Lillian Bradshaw Dumont Murphy. Oh wait, somehow the Patterson name before my name.”
“No. Lillian was your stepmother. Your father married her weeks after you were born. Did she ever tell you, or did she enjoy torturing you to the day she died?” Margaret asked.
Gigi stared at her with her mouth open. “What did you just say, Margaret?”
“This has to be a shock. I forced the confession out of Lillian. Your mother, Amelie Dumont, was your father’s first wife and your mother. She’s from Quebec City, and she died in childbirth. Your dad was devastated, and Lillian pretended to want to be your mother for his money.”
“Lillian thought money warmed her.” Gigi blinked automatically. Her mind refused to process anything, and she sat in silence.
Margaret handed her the notebook.
Gigi accepted the paper, but blankly stared at it. “What is this?”
“Your father’s journal. She gave it to me when I came here to find you,” Margaret said. “Lillian must have known her façade kept cracking before his untimely death. She went too far with you.”
Gigi stared at the paper, and memories floated in her head. “Lillian told me every day of my life I was her blood, and our family slept with rich men like your son.”
“Don’t repeat Lillian. My sons are Collinses. They will fall head over heels in love, never looking at another woman,” Margaret said. “Lillian’s dead and gone. You don’t have to be afraid of her anymore.”
“Margaret, I spent my life wanting to please her and never knowing how.” Gigi shook her head firmly. “You taught me to survive. I learned how to cook, clean, and manage from you, the richest woman in town. Margaret, you were supposed to be eating bon-bons while servants took care of you.”
“Eat too many bon-boons, and my husband won’t be visiting my bed. I’d rather get my hands into something. Sitting around doing nothing sounds worse than death.” Margaret paused, then asked, “Why are you sitting with blank papers around you, Geegs?”
Gigi’s mind hadn’t focused on the news yet. She couldn’t. She spoke about what she understood. “My mother, I mean, Lillian, wanted your luxury and life. How do you know what you say or this notebook is real?”
“Gigi, I confronted Lillian when I learned what she did to you. Then when she sold you . . .” Margaret sighed. “Nothing happened to you then, but I had been too late to get to your house to get you out. I intended to move you into my house. We all know you had Sean’s heart.”
Tears formed in her eyes. Fear had forced her to run. Sean and his entire family had looked out for her. “I left because I hadn’t wanted her to tell you. I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Margaret snorted. “Lillian admitted everything that day, but she never did tell me where you went.”
The words sank into Gigi’s heart. Lillian hated her because she’d never be her. “Are you sure she was not my mother? This isn’t a joke?”
“Your mother gave her life for you to be happy, Gigi. Giovanna was the name she chose.” Margaret smiled. “Lillian was not sophisticated enough to choose a name like yours.”
Gigi twirled off the couch and gazed out the window. The night sky and stars hadn’t changed, but they now gave her a new focus. She stared up to find the patterns in the sky. For a few minutes, she said nothing. “The papers you asked about. I’m sitting here, alone, making a list of things I can do to win Sean’s love. I stupidly thought no one should love me. Lillian convinced me I was worthless. Sean’s been the only man in my heart, and I don’t know how to help him.”
Margaret stood up and brushed her hand on Gigi’s arm. “Don’t you know the best thing about Collins men?”
“What?”
“My boys and my husband’s family, we fight hard for what we want. We’re dead determined when our minds are made up. Conall stalked me until I admitted Daniel was his son, then he wouldn’t take no for an answer. And I thought my no was final until he convinced me otherwise. Gigi, you’re worse. And you’re not Irish, so you don’t have our stubbornness. You’ve been the woman in Sean’s heart since you were practically still a baby. Your part of the relationship is to love and support him.”
Gigi had no words. She’d never expected such a colossal change. Being free of her burdens sent a warmness through her body. “I’ll want to read what my dad had to say.”
“Of course, child,” Margaret said. “Then I’ll need you to go to my son. He’s cranky. Once you kiss and make up, I’ll plan the wedding.”
“We’re not fighting. I kept my distance to think,” Gigi answered. “It’s only for tonight.”
“Then come back to him after you finish reading,” Margaret said then let her go to put on her jacket. “Moving Sean here is fine. We’ll renovate this house to modernize everything, including the security.”
Gigi stared after her, unsure what to say.
She’d dreamed to believe in a fairy tale. Sean had always starred as the handsome prince. But Lillian had tried to steal her happy-ever-after, and Gigi saw that now. She needed to sort this out then run to him. But first, she needed to read.
Chapter 44
Gigi woke up and went to work on empty. She had spent half the night reading. Her entire life had been a lie. Lillian’s mantra to Gigi of never deserving love because she’d killed her father, then later on her baby, had all been lies.
Gigi understood now that she had never done anything to her father at age two, but Lillian repeating it so often had somehow forced guilt to sink into her skull and became a truth.
After work she needed to find Sean and apologize for her stupidity.
Love didn’t require constantly proving oneself worthy. Love was both a give and take of acceptance. Gigi saw clearly now.
The coff
ee in her hand had done little to change her exhaustion. She assigned a project for the students to work on and finished her day.
Gigi cheered with the students at the announcement that Mattie was now principal.
Sean had kept his word. A true hero.
The bell rang, and students bounced out of her room and returned home. Gigi stretched. For the first time in years, her heart leapt for joy at the bell. She raced to her car.
She needed to find Sean.
A few minutes later, the gates to his parents’ place opened. She parked her car in the visitors’ section and knocked on the door. A young maid answered. She hadn’t known her. “Is Sean in?”
“Mr. Collins is at work, Miss. Do you want to leave a message?”
Gigi had intended to pitch a tent at the front gate and wait for Sean. Instead, she asked, “Is Margaret here?”
The maid directed her into the lobby, held out her finger, and asked, “What’s your name, Miss?”
“Gigi Dumont.”
A moment later, Margaret called out on the speaker, “Gigi, I’m in the kitchen. Come in.”
The house had newer decorations, but the Collinses hadn’t changed much else. She wandered into the kitchen and saw Margaret mixing something in a bowl. “What are you making?”
“Finishing my batter for tomorrow’s bread, then I’m about to start on adding seasonings to the chicken. Can you get the eggs and flour in two separate bowls for me?”
Washing her hands, Gigi remembered being in this kitchen many times before to help Margaret. She cleaned up the powder on the counter then found the bowls and the ingredients.
Margaret called out, “Sean will be home around six. Today was his first day in the office. How was your day, sweetie?”
Cracking an egg, Gigi blinked, then answered, “He doesn’t know I’m here. Maybe I should go and come back later.”
“Are you serious? You’re staying put. Now wash your hands and start mixing the Italian spices.”
Gigi grinned and followed orders. “Sean moved back in your home because he became sick. Has he talked about moving out?”
“You’ll have to ask him, but I will tell you this. I want my boys living in the area. Gerard owns the house and acres of land on one side of the estate. He has an empty home, and we’ll find him some woman to warm that place up. Daniel is looking at property nearby. Liam has threatened to move to New Zealand, but I’m working on him.”
“And Sean?”
“Sean never moved far. With Jennifer, he stayed an hour north of here, but to me he moved much too far. He needs to be closer. Your house is the best location, but you’ll need an upgrade to get rid of the stink of Lillian.”
A young boy ran to the refrigerator, opened it up, and took out a cheese stick.
Margaret said, “Hey, now.” She hugged the boy’s shoulders and directed him to Gigi. “Say hi to my guest who’s helping me cook dinner.”
“Are you Gigi?” The boy’s big blue eyes stared up at her.
“Yes.” Gigi put the basil down. “We met once before. You’re Patrick?”
“Good.” The boy smiled. “You remembered me? Did Dad tell you about me?”
“He spoke about you every day in Paris. Do you mind me being here?”
Patrick shook his head no. “You’re cooking with Grandma.”
“Yep. First I help your grandma, and second, I plan to help make your dad have some fun,” Gigi promised. “Can you help me?”
“Okay. Fun. I’m in.” The boy turned to his grandmother. “Can I go now?”
Margaret let the boy go and soon footsteps echoed from the kitchen. Gigi retook her seat next to the basil. Then her hand shook and her heart thundered.
The boy rushed past her and knocked against her in his rush to squeal, “Dad!”
Almost dropping the basil, Gigi twirled around, heart pounding. “Sean, we weren’t expecting you this soon.”
“You don’t answer your phone.” He kissed her cheek. “Are you visiting my mom?”
“Yes,” Margaret supplied. “She’s helping me cook dinner. Go change. You can talk to Gigi after you’ve cleaned up.”
“Mom, I’m an adult. This is a suit and tie.”
Gigi laughed. Lightness settled into her heart. “Be happy you have a mom like Margaret, Sean.”
“You’re staying?” His gaze roamed her body then he met her eyes.
She nodded at him. “I’ll finish helping.”
“She’s staying for dinner,” Margaret said. “Gigi and I are talking real estate and business. Her house needs renovations. I won’t let your girl here leave.”
With a turn of her head, Margaret dismissed her almost thirty-year-old son.
Gigi walked beside her, then finished with the basil. “How in the world do you do it?”
“I promised you’d stay,” Margaret told her. “Good. Now finish the preparations for the chicken spices. My son won’t leave you alone soon enough.”
Gigi followed her orders.
Patrick’s excited booming voice recounted his adventurous day.
The smell of apples, lemon cleanser, and spices filled her nostrils, and reminded her of her younger years with Sean. Because he loved her, her childhood had not been horrible. In this house, she’d laughed.
Ten minutes later, the chicken went into the oven. Then Gigi stole away to the bathroom to fix herself up. Sean had looked handsome earlier.
Finished, she washed her hands. Then she left and stole away to the enclosed porch. The swings outside held lots of memories. She walked closer and decided to swing.
High in the air, again, she dreamt of flying. She’d wait for Sean, and not interrupt his reunion with his boy.
A giggle burst inside her. The wind rushed through her hair and she kicked higher and higher. Soon, she forgot everything else.
“You didn’t have to wash up before dinner and I did?” Sean asked her in jest.
“Boys get dirtier.”
“Says the girl with her feet in the sand.”
She took in the sight of him and stopped kicking up in the swing. Blue jeans and a green T-shirt etched his hard body, and despite the breeze, her body heated up.
Stepping behind her, Sean pushed her back, and caused her to swing. His hands on her back created far more fireworks inside her. “Sean, I came over here to see you.”
“No. Not yet, Gigi. Wait until Saturday.”
She blinked rapidly.
“We’re working on my schedule, and for once, you are going to follow my orders. I have plans for us.”
“Your schedule includes us? Together?” she asked for assurance, but her heart knew the answer.
“Yes, and we do need to talk about everything, in private.”
“Why Saturday?”
“Don’t get ahead of me.” He rocketed her back up, sounding affable. “We have a real date, just you and me. No teenagers, no mom, no children. Will you go?”
Biting her lip, she agreed. “Saturday, it is.”
“Chin up, Geegs. It’s in two days, and you have to work tomorrow. Be ready at ten A.M.” He stopped her swing and held her with her ear next to his mouth. “I won’t take no for an answer.”
“I love you even more than I did when I was a girl. So yes to Saturday and everyday.” She stepped off the swing and stared at him. He had wide grin on his face and his lips had parted. The warmth in his gaze sent a thrill inside her. “You’re easy to love, handsome.”
“Getting ahead of me again.” Sean ran his hand through his hair. “Dinner’s ready, Geegs. Let’s go in.”
Chapter 45
Gigi kicked her heels at work the next day. Waiting till Saturday would be entirely too long. Margaret texted her this morning that all her sons were flying into Boston today, and that Sean might be home late.
She’d like to see him every day. She’d tell him tomorrow, on his schedule, if she survived the next fourteen hours. She closed her eyes and sighed.
The bell at school rang, and students rushed
home for a Friday. Erica and Kendra hedged in class. Gigi filed her paperwork, then asked, “Can I help you?”
Kendra smiled widely. “We have a gift certificate for you, Ms. Dumont. From the students from the trip. You have an appointment today after school.”
Chaperoning Paris (Collins Brothers) Page 22