The Wedding Belle (Colorado Billionaires Book 4)

by Regina Duke

  Polly followed the two of them inside, Uly trailing slowly in the rear.

  Polly waved her hands. “Not the baby! My baby!” She pushed past them into the kitchen where her chihuahua puppy was in obvious distress. Little Charlie was pawing at his mouth and gagging, staggering across the floor.

  “Oh, dear,” said Belle. “I’m not a vet, but let’s see what we can do. Uly?”

  Uly picked the puppy up off the floor. Charlie almost disappeared in Uly’s big hands. Belle opened his little mouth and saw a flash of white, covered with foam. She reached in to grasp the edge with two fingers. She waited a second until the puppy tried to throw up again, and when he did, she pulled gently. Out came a small rawhide chew toy, thoroughly soggy from being gnawed on for a while, but still solid enough to get stuck in the pup’s throat when he tried to swallow it.

  “There’s the culprit,” said Belle.

  Charlie was still wobbly but he was breathing, and he let out a little howl of protest.

  Uly stroked him gently, but only for a second, because Polly swooped in and lifted the pup out of his hands.

  “Oh, my little angel,” she cried. “You poor little guy. Come to mama.” Almost as an afterthought, she said, “Thank you, Belle.” She glanced at Uly and looked him up and down. “Where’s your cast? Your crutches? Your wheelchair?”

  Thor stopped her. “Mom? Where’s Ashley?”

  “Oh. She’s upstairs. I’m going to put this baby in his crate, then I’ll start dinner.”

  Thor headed up the stairs. He stopped on the first landing and said, “Let me see how she’s doing.”

  Uly nodded. “Good idea.”

  Belle leaned close and asked quietly, “What’s all this about being afraid the baby will die in his sleep? Polly doesn’t look worried about anything but the puppy.”

  Uly shrugged. “With my mother, sometimes you only find out about things when she’s darn good and ready to explain them. Oh, good. Here comes Ashley.”

  Ashley Garrison was very thin and had dark circles under her eyes, but not even that could erase her natural beauty. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a clasp at the base of her neck. She smiled at Uly and darted a questioning glance in Belle’s direction.

  “Ulysses, it’s so good to see you again.” Ashley’s voice was warm with affection. She gave her brother-in-law a hug. “Your ankle is healed, I see. And this is…? Your nurse?”

  Uly reached for Belle and she gave him her hand. “She started out as my nurse. We got a wild hair in Vegas and got married.”

  Ashley’s eyes grew big. “No kidding! Oh, congratulations!” She came up to Belle and gave her a dainty hug. “You must be a very special person for Uly to fall in love so quickly.”

  Belle felt a bit uncomfortable and wasn’t sure exactly how much to reveal. She decided to deflect the attention somewhere else. “That’s very nice of you. We rushed back because Polly was afraid the baby was sick.”

  A momentary flash of irritation crossed Ashley’s features, but it moved so fast, Belle wasn’t sure she really saw it.

  “Odin is fine. Here he comes now.”

  Thor came down the stairs with baby Odin in his arms. He looked much more relaxed now that he was home with his wife and baby. He was nuzzling the baby and making silly noises. “Odie, Odie, Odie, Daddy’s home, little man.” Thor walked up to Uly. “This is your uncle Uly. Now listen carefully. You can admire uncle Uly. You can even love uncle Uly. But you can never compare your daddy to uncle Uly. Okay?” He caught Belle’s eye. “Because I never come out well in those comparisons.”

  Belle smiled because he seemed to expect it.

  “Want to hold him?”

  Belle was startled. “Oh, I didn’t specialize in pediatrics.”

  Thor laughed. “That’s a strange thing to say.” He looked puzzled. “I thought all women loved to hold babies.”

  Belle looked to Uly for a hint about what to do. Now she really felt awkward. “I think Uly should hold him. After all, he’s related by blood.” More and more awkward. “I think I need some air,” she said. “I’ll just step outside for a few minutes.” Without waiting for objections, she moved quickly to the front door and out onto the porch.

  She breathed deeply of the fresh, pine-scented air. The cabin was extensive and the grounds were dramatic. She shook her head slowly, marveling at the mindset that would call this place a cabin. And Uly said it was crowded with three other people in it. On the other hand, maybe he wouldn’t be too horrified when she asked if they could buy a luxury home in Las Vegas. What the heck? He could always say no. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.

  She took another deep breath, and then a third. She thought she’d worked through all these feelings with her counselor. But her therapy hadn’t included actually holding a baby. She rubbed her arms and walked along the porch toward the kitchen end of the house. The porch was an extension of the deck that wrapped around the building. The forest stood thick and inviting at the edge of the clearing. What a lovely place to wake up in the morning. She wondered where Uly’s father was planning to build luxury homes. Wherever it was, she hoped it wouldn’t endanger the forest.

  She became aware that she was no longer alone a split second before Ashley spoke.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Belle turned to her and tried to smile. Her features were too tight to succeed. “Do you ever want to just walk straight into that forest?”

  “Oh, many times. Especially lately.” Then Ashley laughed softly. “It looks like we’re going to be sharing a mother-in-law and I can’t tell you how happy I am to have company in that arena.”

  Belle felt her tension falling away. Ashley was sweet and genuine. “It must be hard to have no privacy for weeks.”

  Ashley looked surprised. She glanced behind herself to make sure they were alone. “How did you know? That’s so perceptive. I haven’t told anyone.”

  Belle shrugged. “I’m a nurse. Granted, I’ve only been one for a year, but we see a lot of family situations, and we hear a lot of stories. Beyond that, if I had a new baby—” Her words caught in her throat, and she coughed softly to clear it. “—I would want some time alone, just me and my husband, to share those early weeks of bonding.”

  Ashley looked like a giant weight had been lifted from her. “At last. Someone who understands. That’s exactly what I was hoping for. But how could I tell Polly that I wanted to be alone with my husband and my baby? After all, it’s her first grandchild. And I did need some help for a while there.”

  “Polly said you were suffering from postpartum depression.”

  “Really?” Ashley tilted her head to one side and crossed her eyes in silent testimony to how crazy Polly made her feel. “Let’s just say I’m depressed. The doctor told me it was normal to feel a bit depressed after giving birth. It’s like losing a part of yourself that you’ll never get back.”

  Her words sliced through Belle’s heart. She certainly understood that feeling. But she wasn’t ready to reveal her own suffering yet. Besides, this was about Ashley.

  “Postpartum depression is a serious condition,” she said. “I think you’d know or at least suspect that something was horribly wrong.”

  “I’ve had some frank discussions with my doctor,” said Ashley. “It turned out I was lousy at producing milk, so we had to start a bottle by the fourth day. Once I stopped breast feeding, she gave me some Xanax for when the anxiety became overwhelming. But the truth is, I think I’m depressed because my husband leaves at seven a.m. and comes home after dinner, and I’m here trying to keep up the house, take care of an infant, and entertain his mother all by myself.” She leaned closer and whispered, “That’s why I checked myself into the hospital.”

  Belle nodded. “You needed a break.”

  “You can say that again.”

  They strolled across the deck and down the steps, angling off toward the forest to a cushioned swing in the shade of a wall of pines. Ashley sat and Belle joined her.

 
Ashley said, “May I ask a personal question?”

  Belle stiffened. Could Ashley sense her secret just sitting next to her? She hoped not. “I guess so.”

  Ashley laid a hand on Belle’s arm. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want,” she said. “You seem so uncomfortable. I was just wondering.” Her gaze flitted to the house. Figures were visible through the tall windows of the kitchen. She turned to Belle. “Did you and Uly marry unexpectedly because of pressure from his father?”

  It was Belle’s turn to gawk. She started to answer, then closed her mouth.

  “I’m sorry,” said Ashley. “I shouldn’t have asked. It’s just that…. Well, Thor and I sort of felt pressure to marry because Polly was trying to set him up with someone he didn’t love.”

  Belle leaned back in the swing. “You don’t say.”

  Ashley smiled a secret smile. “They’re really lovely people, Polly and Rudy. They just can’t stop meddling in the boys’ lives. Rudy was the reason Uly’s first marriage failed.”

  “Well, he’s got no room to complain this time,” said Belle dryly.

  “Oh, good,” said Ashley. “You know all about that.”

  “Well, not all about it. But I’m aware that it happened.”

  Ashley took Belle’s hand and squeezed it. “I think we’re going to be very good friends, Belle. We seem to have so much in common.”

  “You mean, the in-laws?”

  Ashley shook with silent laughter. “Exactly.”

  Polly opened the kitchen door. “Oh, there y’all are. Come on in, I’m making tacos for dinner.”

  Ashley waved. “We’re coming.”

  Belle said, “I thought rich people had their own chefs and stuff. Like Lulamae.”

  Ashley’s face lit up. “Isn’t she a treasure? I adore her.”

  “Me, too,” said Belle.

  “Let’s go eat,” said Ashley. “Polly disappears into her room with the puppy after dinner. Maybe we can chat some more then.”

  Polly said grace over dinner, and Belle had the distinct feeling it was mostly for her benefit. “Lord, we thank you for this bounty of food, and for the bounty of wives at this table.” She opened one eye to look at Uly. “And thank you for the thoughtful son who saves his mother the trouble of actually attending his wedding by doing it behind her back.” She closed both eyes again. “And thank you for letting his bride be an intelligent and friendly lady. Amen.”

  Belle cleared her throat softly and said to Uly, “I see you told your mother we got married.”

  Thor and Ashley laughed.

  Belle was surprised by dinner. Polly’s Texas tacos were delicious, and the woman had a flair for salads. The baby’s bassinette was brought into the kitchen so Ashley could keep an eye on Odin while they ate.

  Belle wondered how much of the drama was Polly and how much was real. Ashley looked very tired, but most new mothers did. The baby was only a month old. New parents didn’t get much sleep. That could account for the dark circles.

  Uly tried to satisfy his mother’s curiosity about the removal of his cast and finally ended the flow of questions by saying, “I thought you’d be happy that I am feeling better.”

  Polly fell silent.

  After that, Thor and Uly entertained them with their brotherly banter and stories of their childhood. Polly added to the mix by remembering things a bit differently and revising their stories with her own versions. Belle couldn’t remember when she’d laughed so hard.

  True to Ashley’s prediction, after dinner Polly excused herself to put her puppy to bed.

  Thor and Uly took it upon themselves to do the dishes, and Thor was expounding on his home security devices as Ashley and Belle returned to the deck. The baby was still sleeping in his bassinette. Belle didn’t see any alarming signs of postpartum depression. She felt certain that Ashley was being honest, and that her mild depression was being exacerbated by Polly’s constant presence.

  They stayed on the deck this time, because the mosquitos were out and Thor had several bug-repelling candles set about. Belle claimed a highbacked wicker chair with plush blue cushions, and Ashley sat on its twin.

  Belle finally made a suggestion that she’d been thinking about since the ride home. “Thor told us you can’t drive when you take your medication. Why don’t you hire a chauffeur? That way you can go anywhere you want and take the baby with you.”

  Ashley’s expression lit up. “I never thought of that.” Then her face fell. “But Thor has so much respect for his mother. I don’t know if he’d go for it. I mean, Polly keeps insisting on driving for me and she says we don’t need any more help.”

  Belle assumed an innocent expression. “Oh, really? She doesn’t have any hired help at home in Texas?”

  Ashley pulled her brows together. “As a matter of fact, yes, she does. She has a full-time cook, a housekeeper, a kennel master, two stable hands, and a jack-of-all-trades who drives her around whenever she doesn’t feel like doing it herself!” Her eyes opened wide. “She’s denying that I need help just so she can ride in on a white horse and save me.”

  Belle shrugged. “I wouldn’t attempt to guess at her motives, but if she needs all that help at home, why shouldn’t you have some here? You’re married to a wealthy man, right? In your position, I’d want a housekeeper and a driver, at the very least. And who keeps up the landscaping? Thor?”

  “Oh, no, he’s much too busy. He hires a local service for that.”

  Belle wagged her brows up and down. “So Thor deserves help, but you don’t?”

  Ashley sat up straighter. “That’s a very good question. I never gave it any thought before. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  Belle smiled. “Because you’re like me. Uly told me a little about you on the plane. You came from a humble background and you don’t expect such things in your life. But your circumstances are different now. And you have a baby. More importantly, you have an heir. I’ll bet if you frame your suggestions about hiring a couple of people in terms of what’s best for the baby, you won’t get any resistance at all.”

  Ashley nodded and chewed her bottom lip for a few seconds. “That’s another great idea. I am really irritated that I can’t just ask for help for myself, but on the other hand, I’m willing to do whatever works.” She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I dread the interview process, though.”

  “Go through an agency. Surely there’s some such thing around. If not here, then Denver. It isn’t that far away, you know.”

  Ashley beamed. “Oh, Belle, thank you! You may have just kept me from losing my mind. And believe me, if I go crazy, I’m taking a few people with me.”

  Belle laughed. “Shall we make a list?”

  Ashley reached out and squeezed Belle’s hand. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  Belle screwed her face up in an exaggerated mockery of thinking. “Well…. You can answer one question for me.”

  “Anything.”

  “Why did you name your baby Odin? Isn’t that the name of Garfield’s dog?”

  “No, that’s Odie.” Ashley held up a finger for each name. “Ulysses. Thor. Odin. It’s a good, strong name. Come on, girl, if your father is named Thor, you have to be Odin.”

  They laughed together.

  Uly emerged from the kitchen and joined them, his cell phone in his hands.

  “Where’s Thor?” asked Belle.

  “The baby woke up hungry. He’s warming a bottle. I came out here to make a couple of calls. I wanted to let Reese McAvoy know we’re coming back tonight.”

  “Do you always tell hotels you’re going to use the suite you’re renting?” teased Belle.

  “Only when I want VIP treatment and maid service before we arrive.” Uly grinned at her.

  “Good point. Carry on.”

  Belle and Ashley began listing questions to ask the agency when Ashley contacted them. They weren’t really paying attention to Uly’s phone call until he interrupted them.

  “Belle? Remembe
r that phone call Lulamae got about someone looking for you?”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, Reese wanted to know if you’re okay, because that guy is still asking about you. And today, he told Reese he’s your doctor.”

  Belle’s heart sank and she shrank into her chair. “I hate that man!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Ashley was alarmed. “You hate Reese McAvoy?”

  “No, no,” said Belle. She pressed a hand to her abdomen. “It’s a long story. Uly? I think it’s time to go. If you don’t mind.”

  Uly agreed. “I’ll say goodnight to Thor. And it looks like we’ll need a ride to the hotel.”

  Ashley went inside with Belle. “Is everything okay?”

  “It will be,” said Belle, relocating her inner strength. “Life has been a whirlwind since we landed in Vegas Tuesday afternoon. Forty-eight hours of go, go, go. I think I just ran out of steam. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow and explain the whole thing about the doctor at the hotel. Okay?”

  Ashley smiled. “I’d love that. I’ll hold you to it, too.” She gave Belle a hug and retrieved her purse for her.

  The ride to the hotel was animated with Thor and Uly’s conversation. Belle sat in the back, happy to listen and let her mind wander.

  When they arrived, she found herself glancing about, looking for Zivo. But it was dark and she couldn’t see very far. She wondered if this was how deer felt during hunting season.

  Uly lifted their luggage out of the car. “Thanks, buddy. Hey, we were about to go on a honeymoon when Mom called in a panic. Do you think she’s really worried the baby might …. I mean, have there been any incidents?”

  Thor shook his head. “If there were, I think Ashley would have told me, don’t you? I think Mom used that as a way to get you back here. Lord knows why. She enjoys controlling our every step. Why should this be any different?”

  Uly laughed. “Good night, brother. We’ll never figure our parents out. And thanks for giving Mom a grandchild.”

  “Oh, my pleasure.” Thor slugged his brother playfully in the arm. “I’d better go. Can’t leave poor Ashley alone with Mom for too long.”