Henry couldn’t believe it. All this time he’d been wondering what she’d been doing, if she went from one bed to the next. If she was fine. He’d been wishing to see her again. He’d had dreams about them cocooned in a cabin somewhere having a marvelous time. She’d even penetrated his mind while he’d been making love with Stacey. He’d spent so many nights staring at the ceiling, thinking about her, reliving their nights together and worrying that she was getting abused or being used miserably. And now this?
I got her pregnant? Jesus Christ! What is this? Twilight Zone?
Fuck! She’d told him she was on the pill. Henry raked his hair with his fingers. Had she lied on purpose so she would get pregnant and trap him into marriage? But what the fuck was this contract bullshit? Un-fucking-believable.
“She didn’t come with her parents?”
“No. It was her parents’ idea that you and June marry.”
“Darling, June didn’t even want you to know that she’s carrying your baby.”
My baby? Henry stared at his mother. “Mom, the baby could be someone else’s.”
“Oh, Henry. You’ve always been an advocate of those who are less fortunate than we are. Talk to the Greenwalds first, dear, before you judge.”
Henry noticed his mom avoided looking at his dad while she spoke.
Fuckin’ A. June’s pregnant.
How did anyone take this kind of news? He’d skipped using a rubber when he was with June because she said it was safe.
Juniper Ivy Greenwald.
Remembering the woman he had spent three wonderful nights with, he couldn’t imagine her doing something like this. She seemed straightforward, real, easy to be with and down to earth. He’d seen sadness in her, too, when she shared her wish of knowing what her future would be. And dreams… She spoke of dreams every girl dreamed of—a house with a picket fence, a husband who would love her to death and she him and of children.
If getting pregnant was her idea of how to make her dream come true, then she must be a stupid woman. He’d told her his plans, including his plan to get married after his business was already stable. Damn it.
He’d been wondering why a sweet woman like her would give herself to a stranger. Now, it seemed, he just found the answer. She’d wanted a smooth ride. Damn fuck! She’d tricked him.
“I have to go.”
“Not until you have agreed to this contract. We have only until the end of the day to decide.”
“Then what? They’ll go to the police?” June hadn’t been a virgin when he took her. Maybe she’d slept with someone else. It could be that she was already pregnant when he’d slept with her. “Did you tell the parents you want a DNA test?
“Greenwald threatened to have a DNA test run to make me believe that the baby is yours. They even asked for the documents to be notarized. They are not afraid to prove that you are the father, Henry. Like I said, they don’t want money. It would have been easier to handle them if they’d just demanded that. But no, they want a man to stand beside their daughter at the altar.”
“Until the baby is born. Then I can divorce her,” Henry repeated. “But what am I going to do while I’m married to her?”
“Go fuck someone else if that’s what you want. I don’t give a damn,” Richard said bluntly. “They don’t want anything from you except your name. So, I highly doubt the Greenwalds will care whether you fuck someone else either.”
“Did you say June doesn’t know her parents came here?”
Richard snorted. “That’s what they said. Who knows what those dirtbags are really thinking. Well, you fell for June’s tricks. Just marry her. Divorce her after the baby’s born. Then leave her. No communication afterward is part of the contract. We’ll agree to that condition.”
“No communication.”
“Yes. They don’t want us to be involved with the baby. Just as well. I hate the Greenwalds, and I don’t want to have anything else to do with them.”
“Richard, please. Think about this.”
Henry looked at his mother. For some reason, she only showed any reactions when they mentioned the word divorce and baby. She wanted the baby.
“Dad, this is beyond ridiculous. Let me try talking to the Greenwalds. Maybe—”
“I already tried. Look, Henry. The Greenwalds are trying to protect their daughter and the baby. I am trying to protect our name, which you are bent on ruining. This is the result of your callousness. You face it.”
“What made them think that marriage with me would save their daughter’s reputation?”
“Of course it would. She’s pregnant and there is a father. You.”
“I’m not even sure about that.”
“You know what? Who the fuck cares? All you have to do is wait six months. That’s not bad. We’ll have a press release stating that you two got swept away or some crap, got married right away but it didn’t work and you will remain friends.”
Henry ran his fingers through his hair. Damn. “This is fucked up. Let me talk to June. Do you have their address?”
“Goddamn you. You will marry this girl and you will abide by the contract. The Greenwalds are not asking for eternal marriage. Once the marriage is over, it’ll be as if it never happened. It’ll be dissolved. Period.”
“Let me get this straight. The Greenwalds wants me to marry their daughter. That’s it. They don’t want anything else.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you find that strange, Dad? What kind of a demand is that?”
“A kind that only morons would ask for.”
“If I marry June, they’ll get what they want—whatever it is they think they’ll get from this. What about me?”
Richard stared at Henry. Muscles in his jaw moved as if he was grinding his teeth. With his piercing gaze, Richard snapped at Henry, “Agree with the contract. Marry Juniper then divorce her. You’ll have half of your inheritance now. You can start your ridiculous idea of building your own shipping company. After the divorce, you get the other half. Break the contract and you’ll wish you were never born. I’ll make sure no sane person will want to be associated with you and your company. I hate the Greenwalds for coming here and wiping shit on my table. For six months, the chit can carry your name. After that, they had better not cross our paths again.”
Inheritance in exchange for his signature. Fuck, he’d bet Dad would give him everything if he told him he’d run for a city office. Anything that would give his name exposure. “You’ll give me half of my inheritance now?”
“Yes. Just don’t fuck up this world that I’ve built for you and your mother.”
Henry leaned back in his chair. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing—marriage to a woman he’d been dreaming about and who had deceived him in exchange for his inheritance? Man, he didn’t know whether this was luck or some weird fate shit.
“How is this marriage supposed keep our name in pristine condition? Everyone knows I’m dating Stacey. Have you forgotten? There is even a gossip swirling around that I’ll propose soon.”
“Let me handle the publicity. I’ll make sure it’ll make you look like a saint. You fell in love with a simple woman because that’s the kind of man you are. You love the little people. I’m sure a lot of people will think you’re having a Cinderella wedding, except she won’t have a happy ending, because when the marriage is over, I’ll make sure it’s not our name that will hit the shithole. Believe me, Henry. No one can come here and threaten me without facing the consequences. The Greenwalds will pay. It sickens me that I have to wait six months, but I will. When I’m done with the Greenwalds, they won’t have a roof over their heads or food to eat. I fucking hate them.”
“They are just trying to protect their daughter the same way you’re trying to protect this family.”
“Now you’re changing your tune. When did you become a liberal?”
When did you become such an asshole?
“I’ll marry June, but I need my inheritance now.”
“Yo
u’ll get it on your wedding day.”
God damn it.
“Henry, Richard. Are you forgetting something? An innocent life is involved. Your baby, Henry.”
Henry looked at his mom. She was practically wringing her fan. He’d never seen her without it. “Mom, there is a possibility that I’m not even the father.”
“Did you use protection?” Colchester asked.
“No, but—”
“Jesus Christ!” Colchester yelled. “What are you, sixteen?”
“Dad, she told me it was safe.” Even to his own ears, he sounded like an idiot.
“She could have already been pregnant. But she wanted you to believe that it was you who had gotten her pregnant.”
“I’ve thought of that.”
“But June’s parents wouldn’t threaten us with the DNA if she isn’t sure you are the father.”
Henry looked at his mother. She had a point too. Fuck. There were so many holes in this story, so many parts that didn’t make any sense. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“You do that. But you are still signing that contract. What is six months? You can still do whatever it is you like to do. And don’t worry about Stacey. I’ll talk to her. She’ll understand. She’s smart. If you want, marry her after you divorce the Greenwald chit. We can make it look like you realized whom you truly care for. That’ll be a good story. Yes!” Richard smacked the table with his hands. “This contract would actually benefit us.”
“Do we even know if June wants to get married? You said she doesn’t know about the parents coming here.”
“She fucked you already. Of course she’ll marry you. And that bit about June not knowing about her parents coming here sounds like bullshit to me.”
“Sweetheart, talk to June. But I would also like for you to get to know June.”
I know that she’s a beautiful fucking bed partner and a liar. “Why, Mom?”
“She already walked into your life. She’ll forever be a part of your life, dear—and the baby, even after the divorce. Despite what your father says, you will never forget her.”
Richard waved his hand, dismissing his wife’s statement. “Boy, listen good. The contract is binding. You are to live with June. If you want to sleep with Stacey, do it. Just make sure your face doesn’t end up in a local newspaper. Also, the Greenwalds don’t want you humiliating their daughter. Stick to the plan, boy. When out in public, you will show how much you’re in love with June.”
The longer his dad made his speech, the deeper June’s deception went in his gut. If she were already pregnant and had used him, he could only blame himself. He’d fallen for her charm, for the sweetness of the moment. Who wouldn’t? But if he truly was the father of her baby, why lie about being safe? Shit.
What he couldn’t understand was the Greenwalds’ reason for drawing up the contract. No money and communication after the divorce? Was this contract a way for James Greenwald to get even with his dad? By using June? It didn’t make any sense at all.
Despite his simmering anger, he was actually eager to talk to June. Oh, yeah. They needed to talk. And Vivienne? Once he found her— she’d face his wrath too.
Damn fuck. “I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare.”
“Believe me, you’ll be in a real nightmare if you refuse to follow this plan.” Colchester pointed his finger at Henry. “When the news about your wedding goes out, there will be a frenzy, so be careful. Don’t think about disagreeing with us, Henry. You are marrying that woman. I actually think this would help us get more votes on the next election.”
Ah.
“One more thing.”
Damn. “Yeah?”
“The Greenwalds don’t want Juniper to know about this contract.”
Fuck! “What?”
Chapter Seven
Unexpected visitors?
June quickly brushed her hair, wincing as she snagged the tangles. After gathering it, she tied the locks in a bun. It was almost dinner time. The lasagna still had few minutes left in the oven, the garlic bread was cut and the asparagus steaming. But Mom had told her to run upstairs and change. When she argued that she didn’t need to change for dinner, Mom quickly said they were having visitors. When she asked whom, she just smiled and told her to put on her best dress.
Who in the world was coming?
She put on her short flower-print dress with a pull string just above her midriff. The dress reached the top of her knees and the billowy skirt hid her tiny bump. After applying her lip gloss, she checked herself in the mirror.
The doorbell rang. June searched for her slip-ons. She found them under the bed. They, too, were new. Her mother said falling and slipping were on the top of pregnant women’s causes of accident list and so she should avoid wearing shoes with heels. She really didn’t know the truth in that statement, but she guessed it was her mom’s roundabout way of saying she was a klutz.
Eager to see their company, she went downstairs.
At the top landing, she could see her parents talking to a couple. Whoever they were, money oozed from them. Why, just look at the woman’s handbag and shoes. She’d seen that kind at the store—in a glass case. Diamond earrings, multiple rings added shine on her already glittering ensemble. Wow. She looked like a glass left under the sun to sparkle. The man standing beside her was impeccably dressed as well. But who were… Oh, sweet Jesus. She knew that man.
Judge Richard Colchester and his wife, Minerva.
What the hell?
One of the most powerful judges in Seattle stood in their living room. With her mind reeling, she took one step down and nearly missed it. Everyone turned to look at her.
“You okay, June?”
“Yes. Yes, Dad.”
In her peripheral vision, someone moved. Her heart skipped a beat. June closed her eyes. God, she knew who it was. Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned. She froze. There, standing by the fireplace, as if he’d been waiting for hours, looking bored with his arms crossed over his chest and staring at her with a straight face, was Henry.
June shook her head. She must be dreaming. But no matter how many times she blinked, he was still there.
But why? The Colchester family in my home!
June met everyone’s gazes. They all looked at her as if she were an animal in a zoo. Her parents forced smiles and sadness registered in their eyes. The Colchester couple… June couldn’t even describe their expressions. Henry’s? Well, she could tell he wasn’t happy. But, why oh why are they here?
June squirmed under their stares.
Oh, God. Were they here to talk about the baby? But how could they have known that? June’s heart hammered against her chest, her ears buzzed and her legs almost buckled so that she had to grip the handrail. She looked questioningly at her parents. Her dad let out a long sigh while her mom wrung her hands. They’d told the Colchesters? No, no. This couldn’t be happening. She’d told her mom and dad Henry’s name, but how the hell did they find him?
My God. Only last night, she’d dreamed of Henry standing in this room, visiting, her mother offering him fried bananas and her dad laughing at their jokes. This was like a beautiful dream with a splash of nightmare. Everyone looked like someone had just died.
Henry’s blue eyes were dark and unfathomable, his lips unsmiling. He lowered his hands to his sides. Holy smokes! He looked ready to wring someone’s neck. Her neck!
June made a quick assessment. Henry’s hair was finger-brushed, the ends pointing in different directions, his blue long-sleeved shirt with a small logo of a man on a horse was partly tucked in his black pants that hung on his hipbones, and his black loafers were so highly polished she bet he could see his reflection in them. He looked marvelously handsome and he obviously hated being here.
A deafening silence filled the room. She forced a smile. Henry glared.
Breathe, June. Just breathe.
“I didn’t know you had company, Mom. Dad. I think I’ll just go back to my room.”
“J
unie!”
“Juniper.”
Her parents said their pet names for her the same time.
“No?”
Her dad shook his head.
As the atmosphere turned awkward, Henry walked toward her and stood at the bottom of the stairs. He rested his forearm on the handrail. He looked at her from head to toe.
“Are you just going to stand there so we can admire you?” There was a thin smile on his lips as he asked the mocking question.
June took two steps down then stopped. With her standing on the last step, they were almost eye to eye. Again, despite the confusion and her heart trying to get out of her chest, she smiled. “Sorry. I’m just so surprised right now.”
“Not as surprised as I am.”
“What are you doing here?”
“We were invited.”
“For what?”
Henry sneered.
His rudeness was replaced by his gentlemanly act when he offered his hand to her. June hesitated for a few seconds before taking his offer and placing her hand on his. The contact made her shiver. Henry, on the other hand, seemed unaffected. In fact, he let go of her hand as soon as she planted both her feet on the floor. He walked back to the fireplace then took the glass of wine that sat there.
Weird. She hadn’t even noticed the wineglass there. Then everything seemed to appear. The open bottle of wine on the tea cart, wineglasses, and a plate of small spinach sandwiches that she and her mother had made earlier, and a plate of Red Windsor and mascarpone cheeses with crackers. No wonder her mom hadn’t minded buying those cheeses. They were having the Colchesters for company.
Good Lord, she hadn’t seen her dad hold a wineglass since he’d retired. And the wineglasses had never left the china cabinet. Ever. Until now.
So the Colchesters were the reason why Mom had been crazily cleaning the house. She’d even bought a table runner. And here she thought her mother had wanted the house spot clean for when the baby arrived. Damn it. Why hadn’t they said anything?
“Junie, this is Judge Colchester and his wife, Mrs. Colchester,” Rebecca said, finally breaking the silence.
The Best of June Page 10