Her phone oinked, and the screen showed a message from her stepsister, Norah. I’m ready.
Dropping the device, along with some peppermints, into her clutch, she shut the lights down and locked up the cabin. Only when she was inside the cab of her truck, bouncing her way to pick up her stepsister, did Tabby revisit Eli and his unpredictable response.
How did she feel about it?
“Relieved?”
That spoken thought bounced around the cab and blew out the window on an evening mountain breeze.
She should feel relieved. It was everything she’d hoped for and never thought would occur. But the truth. The truth, deep down in her heart, tucked away with dreams of a night spent in the barn. The truth was she was disappointed. The non-practical, Cinderella-and-the-ball type of girl no one probably knew existed wanted Eli and his take-charge attitude to scoop her up and share this burden by her side.
“Well, honey, you got the cleaning-out-the-fireplace-all-on-her-own Cinderella instead.”
And with a firm nod, she decided tonight was the first night of many she would shoulder on her own.
…
Eli paced the library, waiting for Tabby and her family to arrive at The Lodge. He was aged both physically and emotionally, but the emotional blockage was his own doing. He needed to be outdoors, in the open air, filming an animal, laying in grass, sleeping on the side of a cliff. Anywhere but in his family home, waiting on the woman who was carrying the next generation of both of their families.
The wall behind him showed the line of family pictures marching along one row of bookcases. Years of them growing, changing. The year after losing Mamma, the faces different, the lines deeper. He saw himself apart from them, evidenced to anyone who looked close enough at the photos documenting their legacy.
He’d always felt apart. It wasn’t that he couldn’t have a role in Ellis Industries that allowed him freedom from boardrooms and stuffy offices. It was that he wanted something separate from being an “Ellis.” He wanted to prove he could do something without his name opening doors.
He shook his head. This was too much and not enough. He wasn’t being active enough. He needed to dictate, put things in motion. Only what things? And with who? If he controlled the plan, that meant chaos couldn’t creep in.
Headlights swept up the drive as dusk settled on the surrounding mountains. Eli moved aside the heavy curtain. Tabby and her stepsister, Norah, exited her truck. As she slid to the ground, Eli grunted. A truck and a pregnant woman were an accident waiting to happen.
Lydia pulled up behind them a moment later, with her son, Malcolm. Together, the Brodie clan walked up to The Lodge.
The curtain fell, and Eli hurried to the foyer, catching Tabby just as she was helped out of her coat. Her eyes met his, and a little bit of the frantic urge rumbling around in him quieted. She looked good. No sign of sickness at the moment, cheeks flushed with some pink, eyes bright. She wrinkled her nose at him, and he realized he’d been staring far longer than he should have and without having said a word to the other people. Thankfully, Sam entered from the other hallway, and the Brodies turned to him, except for Tabby. She came to his side.
“I’m fine. Stop expecting me to crumble.”
“As someone who has witnessed just how lovely those little buggers have been treating you, I’ll be the judge of just how fine you are.”
She huffed and crossed over to Sam, giving him a bright smile and tight hug. Eli crossed his arms. Silly to be jealous of his twin, but Tabby never gave him half the welcome Sam or any of his other siblings seemed to receive.
Sam whispered something to Tabby, and she stiffened and nodded and followed him down the hall.
Eli quickly took care of welcoming Norah, Lydia, and Malcolm and sent them on to the living room. He went after Sam and Tabby and found them in his father’s, or rather Sam’s, office.
They both looked up at his abrupt entrance. Tabby frowned.
“Can you give us a few minutes, Eli? We’ll join everyone soon.”
“No.”
Tabby widened her gaze, pleading with him. The vein in Sam’s neck bulged, and it was obvious he was ticked but trying hard not to show Tabby just how ticked he was.
Sam stood. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“If it concerns her, it concerns me.”
“Tabby?”
Tabby bounced her gaze between the twins, and she gave up, knowing him well enough to see he wasn’t budging.
“He can stay.”
Sam grunted and grumbled some more but consented to sit. Eli leaned against the wall and waited for whatever ball Sam wanted to drop.
“I was working through piles of bills and documents, and I came across this.” He handed a sheet over to Tabby. “I didn’t know if you knew anything about it. If Maisie had talked to you.”
Tabby’s hand trembled, the paper rattling. Eli crossed over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He could see the bill from Dr. Kitt’s office.
Tabby handed it back. “Yes. I know about it. It’s why I asked for all of us to be here tonight.”
Sam sat back in his chair, his gaze pinned on Eli. Eli met it and waited for Tabby. She’d asked to handle tonight, and he would let her, at least for now. One sign of it affecting her, or their families handling anything the wrong way, and he’d be in the lead role and neither Brodie nor Ellis would escape unscathed, regardless of family ties.
“So you know who to contact about this? Who Maisie and Isaiah were working with?” No sooner had Sam finished speaking than his brain caught up with the facts that had been right under his nose. Eli almost laughed, but the hopeful look on his twin’s face wiped away the moment.
“It’s you.” Sam flew around the desk and picked up Tabby. “You. They used you, didn’t they?”
Tabby cried again, and Eli waited for the moment to end. Sam released her and looked to Eli. “You don’t appear lost, so I’m gathering you know about this.”
Eli folded his arms and nodded.
Sam moved closer. “I hope to God you didn’t browbeat her to confess.”
Tabby stepped between them. “There was no browbeating.” She patted both their chests. “I think it’s time we go tell the rest of the family and then you can hear everything.”
Chapter Nine
Tabby walked down the hall, Eli’s hand in hers. She should yank it free and demand he stand aloof, but the support just the simple gesture provided overrode any lingering concern over what either of their families might read into it. And she wanted it, plain and simple. Did it make her weak? She didn’t know, but she bet it made her human.
Sam wasn’t happy with Eli, and not just because he thought Eli had forced her to tell him. She would have to figure that out later, but for now, she hoped to be providing a little hope and happiness to a family still sloshing through their grief.
They came into the room together, Sam leading the way, and all talking stopped, gazes focused on her.
Eli left her side, a loss she told herself was stupid to feel, but then he was back, shoving a club soda into her hand, and she took the welcomed drink.
“Thank you all for coming. I know I was cryptic, but I had some news to share that I hope will be the start of something happy for our families.”
Becky’s eyes widened as Lydia clasped a hand to her throat, their gazes bouncing between her and Eli. If only it were true.
“About a year ago, I agreed to be the surrogate for Isaiah and Maisie. A little over three months ago, the transfer occurred, and this morning I saw the faces of the next generation of Brodies and Ellises.”
The room erupted in exclamations, and Tabby was instantly engulfed with womanly hugs, while the men stood shifting from side to side, smiles wreathing their faces but uncertainty in the form of a pregnancy holding them immobile.
When all the happiness
settled to a subdued level, questions launched in rapid fire, and Eli helped her to the sofa, sitting beside her and keeping an eagle eye on her. She could tell him ’til she was blue that she was fine, but he would need to see it, and now that the secret was out, she felt fine. Sure, she’d been sick just an hour before coming, but even that would eventually fade.
The dinner that followed, while still subdued, carried an air of lightness. The families, while not forgetful of all they’d lost, instead chose to focus on the gifts left behind. Leave it to the youngest of the group, Malcolm, to ask the loaded question.
“So are the babies technically yours?”
Forks clattered, and Tabby swallowed the spoon of mousse already in her mouth. Its consistency changed as it worked its way down her throat, leaving her cotton-mouthed.
She dabbed the napkin and smiled at her stepbrother, whose pinkened cheeks told her he’d realized his faux pas far too late.
“Yes, I’m the listed guardian.” She glanced to her right to see Eli casually draped back in his chair, glass of wine at his lips. “Along with Eli.”
More commotion but it was Sam she’d trained her eye on. Sam who abruptly rose from the table and left the room. She moved to get up, but Eli stopped her.
“I’ll deal with whatever bee’s in his bonnet.”
Grateful beyond belief, especially since she had no idea about the source of the bee, Tabby nodded and continued answering the myriad of questions. Where would she live? What would she name them? Would they be Brodies or Ellises? What about her job?
…
Eli chased down Sam on the back deck. His twin gripped the railing and leaned over it.
“What the hell’s your problem?”
Sam whirled around. “My problem?”
Eli crossed his arms. “What has you so pissed at me? Just last week you seemed happy I was sticking around for a bit.”
Sam’s shoulders slumped. “I’m not pissed, Eli. I’m concerned. For the family and most especially for Tabby.”
Eli growled. “Tabby’s fine. I’ll make sure of that.”
Sam threw up his hands. “Exactly!”
“Dammit, Sam. What is it? Do you love her?” He had to know. Sam had been funny since Eli’s return, and although it would definitely create problems between him and his twin, he at least needed to know where this hostility came from.
Sam laughed. “Love her? Yeah, as a sister. Someone to look out for and protect, even more so now.”
“That’s what I’m doing.”
“For how long? You don’t stick around, Eli. You leave, and I get that. I get that you need to go away and do your own thing. But don’t you see? Tabby’s situation is different now. She’s the head of the company and responsible for her family and now for two new lives. She’s strong and capable, but emotionally, her life’s a roller coaster.”
Advancing on his twin, Eli pointed a finger at him. “Don’t tell me what Tabby is. I’ve known her my whole life, and I know what kind of woman she is. And I told you I was staying for a while. I told you that the other day.”
Sam shook his head. “A while. That’s not permanent. It won’t last, and the fact is you’re part of Tabby’s emotional problem.”
He searched Sam’s face for a clue, a hint at what the hell his brother was saying.
“Eli, she loves you. She has for probably longer than she’s realized. We all see it. Why do you think she’s not married? Why she has never had a serious relationship? She is a wonderful, smart, beautiful woman. Men around here are waiting for their shot. One sign from her. Only she isn’t giving it. And you’re the reason.” Sam ran his hand through his hair. “And now you’re named co-guardian with her. It’s too much. The best thing you can do is leave now. Let her manage this with the rest of us. Come and go and keep things as they were. Staying only gives her more trouble, more to overcome when you do leave.”
Eli moved into his brother’s space, fists clenched. He waited for Sam to meet his gaze, so many arguments fighting to come out. But in the end, he went with simplicity. “You’re wrong.” He turned on his heel and left.
The dinner had broken up, and Eli found Tabby in the kitchen, staring at a fully stocked fridge.
“I suppose eating for three wasn’t taken into consideration with tonight’s menu.”
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. The sight was a blow to his already tense body. She glowed. He hadn’t noticed it the past week, too concerned with whatever else was burdening her, but now with the secret off her shoulders, she’d changed. She was ready for this challenge. He could see it in the straight back and raised head.
“I’m hungry for something, but I don’t know what I want.”
“Salty or sweet?”
“Sweet,” she answered without hesitation.
“Come on.”
She shut the fridge and met him at the doorway. Five minutes later, he was driving them down the mountain, the lights of Gatlinburg blinking here and there between the heavy forest. The closer to the strip they got, the heavier the traffic.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Somewhere that’s bound to satisfy whatever craving those little ones are giving you.”
She placed her hands on her stomach, and Eli fought the urge to place his on top of hers. His brother’s words were still raw on his skin. Was he doing Tabby a disservice by staying? Would it be better for her and the babies if he left now rather than later on? Was Sam right? Was he the reason Tabby wasn’t married or dating? And most important, and the one he feared the answer to the most, did she really love him? And if she did, did that change things?
It took twenty minutes to find a parking spot downtown, the summer tourists clogging the street. They entered Sugar Grins with ten minutes to spare. Tabby clapped her hands in glee and went to the first glass case on her right, eyes taking in what was left of the day’s goodies.
Eli grabbed a chair as Tabby essentially bought the remaining candies and cakes out. Four purple swirled boxes later, they walked back down Main Street, a caramel apple slowly devoured bite by bite by the moaning pregnant woman beside him.
“I forgot how rich and buttery their caramel is,” Tabby groaned as another swirl of caramel disappeared behind her luscious lips.
Eli’s plans had been to satisfy her craving. He hadn’t anticipated creating cravings of his own. Cravings that he would not satisfy. Somewhere during the drive downtown, he’d made the decision to keep things strictly platonic until he figured out his way forward with Tabby. Suddenly, that seemed really stupid and shortsighted on his part.
“Thank you,” she mumbled. “Exactly what I needed.”
Eli smiled, content with her happiness for now. He knew Tabby probably better than he knew himself. He knew what made her tick. What motivated her. What her favorite sweets were, her favorite music. He could tell anyone her favorite hikes, the way the sight of anything with fur softened her face into a Madonna-like glow. He knew when she was lying and when she was mad. And more recently, he’d discovered what made her sigh in pleasure and what it was like when she gave herself wholly to a man.
How could any of that not be exactly what she needed at this time? He snuck another quick glance at Tabby. Her face was upturned, the bright lights of the strip highlighting her big smile and rosy cheeks. He would do everything in his power to keep that smile on her face for as long as he was in town.
And if staying permanently was the right answer, he would make it work. Tabby deserved commitment and support, and she would get it one way or another.
Chapter Ten
Tabby stared at the report in front of her, but the numbers blurred together into some damn Rorschach resembling Eli’s chin. She’d thought once the secret was out, once the families knew, that her stress level, while not entirely disappearing, would at least lower. And in respect to the pregnancy and raising childr
en on her own, it had. Only she hadn’t figured Eli and his co-guardianship into the equation. Stupid move for a woman who planned everything. A woman who knew where every little thing in her realm of the distillery came from. But now her realm encompassed so much more, and with failing not being an option, she wasn’t so sure of her plan and each step needed to accomplish it.
She could no longer hide with the barley and run through the grounds covered in peat moss and smelling of charred barrels. She had weekly meetings and emails and business trips she was supposed to take, and she wanted none of it. Hell, it took her thirty minutes to compose an email sometimes when she knew for a fact Maisie could fire off ten of them in the same amount of time.
And was responsible for all of it.
Heels hurt her feet, and sleek pant suits didn’t fit her body right. Silly things to focus on, but when one was on the verge of a meltdown with pregnancy hormones rushing through her system, sartorial complaints ranked high.
She wasn’t Maisie.
You’ll do it in your own way.
Eli had sounded convinced.
Now if only she could figure out her own way and make sure it didn’t make the company crumble to the ground…
A knock sounded.
The door opened, and a moment later, Mateo peeked around and smiled. She motioned him in and set aside the stupid report for later.
“I think the Select 32 is ready.”
Tabby grinned. The 32 was her first foray into adding fruit to the whiskey. It would be a trial run, limited bottling of only a hundred and sent as samples to some of their best clients. Her father had learned early on that keeping things select meant rich people would pay a premium just to have something their neighbor might not get.
“First taste belongs to the master.”
She was up and around the desk before reality piped up and yanked her by the collar. Mateo had his hand on the door and turned to question her sudden lack of enthusiasm. Not only had Tabby kept the secret from family, but she’d obviously kept it from her workers as well.
His Reason to Stay Page 8