CHAPTER ELEVEN
BY FRIDAY ZOE was a nervous wreck. An unscheduled audit had kept her too busy to think about the results of the job interview. Any other week this happened she would have spent Friday going over any deficiencies noted and coming up with an after-action plan in anticipation of any concerns. Luckily, the deficiencies were minor, but she still didn’t feel right about not being there to handle any follow-up questions that may come up.
Lilah, on the other hand, was beyond excited to be going to Jackson Falls to finally meet Byron. Once Zoe had given her his name, her daughter had become an excellent internet sleuth and pulled up anything she could find on Byron and his family. The entire way up she talked about how impressive it was that the Robidoux family had taken a small tobacco farm and turned it into a multimillion-dollar company with various holdings across multiple sectors.
Hearing the pride in Lilah’s voice only made Zoe remind Lilah that Byron’s family wasn’t their family. To which Lilah would just roll her eyes and say “I know, Mom” before going on another tangent about how interesting the family was. Zoe didn’t know how to stop Lilah’s growing hero worship without pulling out of this deal completely, but thoughts of the email she’d gotten and the “recruiter” asking questions about Lilah kept her foot steady on the gas.
They arrived at the Robidoux Estate early and in the middle of activity. Zoe and Lilah were quickly ushered into the downstairs family room where Byron, his family and his campaign manager were located. There was a buzz of multiple conversations as the group went through the details for the press conference.
She and Lilah walked through the door and her eyes scanned the room. Byron looked up just as she spotted him sitting next to Yolanda. When their eyes met, flutters went through her stomach. Nerves, it had to be nerves.
He stopped talking and stood. His gaze went from her to Lilah and then back to her. In a second he crossed the room to them.
“Good, you made it,” he said, his deep voice warm and welcoming.
She held out her hand to shake his. Byron opened his arms to hug her. They both paused, laughed awkwardly, then Zoe leaned in for the hug. His body was solid and warm beneath the expensive white dress shirt he wore. More flutters overtook her midsection. She quickly pulled back.
“Right on time,” she said brightly. Maybe too brightly. Her face heated and she turned to Lilah. “This is my daughter, Lilah.”
“Our daughter,” Byron said, his voice steady and insistent.
She fought back the warm and fuzzy feelings his words elicited. He was doing this to help his campaign. He’d only said that to remind her to stay on script from here on out. That was all.
“Right. Lilah, this is Byron Robidoux. Your f-father.” The word nearly stuck in her throat. Not because she didn’t want to say them, but because if she could turn back time, she would have made so many different decisions.
None of that mattered now. They were here. She had Lilah and wouldn’t trade her for anything. All that mattered was the future.
Lilah stared at Byron with wide, uncertain eyes. “Um...hi.” She shifted closer to Zoe and stared at Byron then over his shoulder to the roomful of people watching them.
Zoe put a reassuring hand on her back. “Lilah was just wondering if she’ll have to say anything today.”
Byron shook his head. “Not at all. We sent out a statement this morning. The phones have been ringing constantly ever since. The press conference will just be me talking, you’ll say a few words and then Roy will shut things down. We won’t take any questions and will get right back in the car and return here.”
Zoe’s body froze. “I need to talk?” She hadn’t expected to talk, but she guessed that made sense.
Yolanda came up on Byron’s left. “Byron, don’t overwhelm them. They just got here.” She was beautiful in a dark green skirt suit. Her hair fell in a smooth sheet to her shoulders. Her makeup understated but flawless. Her eyes flickered across Zoe’s slim-fit jeans and Valtec T-shirt.
“Give her and—” Yolanda glanced at Lilah “—Lilah, right?” When Lilah nodded quickly, Yolanda gave her a reassuring smile. “Give them a minute to rest. Roy can go over Zoe’s statement with her after they get a moment.”
“We do need to change,” Zoe said. She had a pair of navy pants and a light blue blouse and Lilah’s cream-colored dress from Easter.
“We’ve set up two bedrooms upstairs for you and Lilah to use,” Byron said. “If you need anything else don’t hesitate to ask.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Zoe said, then remembered his promise to have rooms ready for her and Lilah whenever they came up. Again, she fought back any pleasure about his making the offer.
He’s only trying to make things go smoothly.
“Whatever you need just let me know. I’ll do what I can to get it for you.” Byron’s eyes never left hers. Though he’d spoken a generic offer of assistance, all of the tension and worry that had Zoe’s stomach in knots released. The fervent tone and direct stare added more to his words. Turned them into a vow that resonated deep in her chest. Yes, he was doing this to help his campaign, but the Byron she’d known in college would do anything for her. That part of him wasn’t completely gone. The realization both warmed her and made her stomach clench. She didn’t know what to do with that type of loyalty.
Yolanda shifted closer to Byron and placed a manicured hand on his forearm. “Byron, we need to go ahead and leave for the press conference.”
Byron blinked then frowned at Yolanda. “Shouldn’t we all arrive together?”
Yolanda shook her head. “There’s so much we need to check beforehand. We should make sure everything is set and ready. Let Zoe get prepped while we get things together.” Yolanda turned back to them. Her smile was wide and made her go from beautiful to radiant. “Lilah, I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
“You’re his fiancée?” Lilah asked, sounding a little awestruck by Yolanda’s warm welcome.
“I am. Soon I’ll be your stepmother.” She reached over and placed a hand on Lilah’s arm. “I know we’ll eventually become friends.” She patted Lilah’s arm.
Zoe shifted closer to Lilah and wrapped her arms around her daughter’s shoulders. Yolanda pulled her hand back. Elaina’s warning rang in her head. Yolanda may have given Zoe the passive-aggressive “back off” treatment when it came to Byron, but Zoe was going to be direct with laying down her boundaries.
She met Yolanda’s gaze dead on. “I’m sure we’ll all become good friends, and I’ll be here to make sure Lilah gets through this unscathed.”
Yolanda’s chin rose along with one brow. Her gaze sharpened as if seeing Zoe for the first time. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way.” She turned to Byron. “Are you ready?”
Byron gave Zoe a questioning glance. Zoe knew if she asked him to stay, he would. She wanted him to stay. Wanted him to sit with her as Roy prepped her and Lilah. Wanted to know his thoughts about how the day would go. Wanted him to strategize with her the way they used to back in college on projects.
Yolanda wiped a piece of lint off Byron’s shoulder. Zoe hated the tightening in her midsection every time Yolanda touched Byron. She dropped her eyes to her daughter. She was here to protect Lilah, not rekindle her friendship with Byron or act like the jealous ex-girlfriend.
“I’m good,” Zoe said. “Go ahead. It’ll give me and Lilah a chance to catch our breath after the drive.”
Byron’s eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth probably to insist on staying when Yolanda spoke. “See. All set. Let’s go so we can make sure everything is okay.”
“Fine.” Byron eyes met Zoe’s. “We’ll talk more later.”
Byron left and Zoe and Lilah were ushered upstairs to change before meeting the rest of the family. She wasn’t sure how Byron’s family would react to Lilah, but to her surprise they all wrapped her in like one of their
own. Byron’s younger sister India introduced herself and immediately got Lilah in a discussion of her archery lessons while Roy went over Zoe’s statement. Zoe listened to his strategy but kept an eye on Lilah and the rest of the family.
Not long after that they were piled into a limo and driven to the location for the press conference. Zoe noticed Elaina insisted on driving herself instead of riding in the car with the rest of the family, but once they reached the location of the press conference, which was right outside Byron’s campaign headquarters, she and the rest of the family were nothing but smiles and goodwill.
Years of looking for real emotions behind false smiles gave Zoe the truth. Grant’s fiancée, Patricia, and India didn’t talk to each other. Elaina spoke with India and Travis, but she was stiff and kept her answers brief. Byron and Grant avoided eye contact for too long. Yolanda flowed between each of the family members with a smile and gracious word, but when Zoe caught Elaina’s gaze after Yolanda walked away, Elaina rolled her eyes and shook her head. Zoe didn’t want to, but she chuckled and glanced away quickly before getting caught. There was a lot at play beneath the surface with this family. She hoped she could shield herself and Lilah from most of the dysfunction.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” Zoe asked right before they were to go out and address the crowd of reporters.
Lilah took a shaky breath and nodded. “I am.”
“We can leave. I’ll get up there and tell the truth and we can walk away.” Doing so would mean moving away from Greenville to make it harder for Kendell to find her. But she’d do it if Lilah was really upset about this.
“I want to do this.” Lilah leaned into Zoe. “They’re so...polished. You know. Sophisticated and put together. Are you sure they want me?”
Zoe wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and pulled her in close. Lilah didn’t look beneath the surface for the truth. She just saw a glamorous family that was taking her in. I will not let them hurt her.
“We wouldn’t be here if they didn’t.”
Lilah smiled and Zoe squeezed her closer. Roy called them all together for a last-minute briefing and then they were outside in front of the cameras. So many cameras. Some from national news channels. Zoe swallowed hard.
Elaina slid up next to Zoe and whispered, “Welcome to the jungle.”
Zoe’s head whipped toward her. Elaina’s smile was calm and plastic, but her eyes held a touch of warmth. Zoe’s heart beat faster with every flash and click of a camera. In what felt like slow motion she turned toward Byron at the podium. Her life was about to change forever.
Byron glanced over his shoulder at her and smiled a reassuring smile. He winked as if everything would be okay. The movement so Byron-like that Zoe chuckled, breathed and relaxed. They’d get through this. Together.
Byron faced the crowd. “Thank you for coming today for this important and exciting announcement.”
* * *
BYRON NEEDED A few minutes of quiet and possibly a drink. The press conference had gone better than he expected. Most of the reporters there had accepted the story they’d presented of young love and rash decisions that ended in a reunion story everyone was happy with. They’d already gotten calls from the major networks asking for an on-screen interview to talk about how their family was reacting to the news. Byron turned them all down. Claiming the family needed time to get to know each other before bringing in the media.
He’d spent the entire day answering calls, doing phone interviews and planning his next campaign stops. From now until the end of the campaign he would barely get a moment alone or time to breathe. He would have typically gone home and enjoyed the quiet. Instead, he roamed the halls of his family’s estate in search of Zoe. He hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to her except for the brief moment that morning. He knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until he’d spoken to her and made sure she was okay.
He checked all the common rooms downstairs and hadn’t found her. The house was unusually quiet for so much to have happened today. He expected Zoe and the rest of his family to be all together in the downstairs sitting area discussing the topics of today.
When he checked the upstairs family room, typically reserved for close family and not outside visitors, he found Lilah sitting alone on a couch scrolling through her telephone. Surprised, Byron looked around then down the hall to see if Zoe was close by. She’d stuck by her daughter’s side for the entire day. Byron wouldn’t have expected her to be alone.
“Hey, where’s your mom?” Byron asked as he came into the room.
Lilah dropped her phone in her lap and sat up straight. “A-aunt Elaina wanted to show her something in her room. They should be right back.”
Byron raised a brow but didn’t voice his question aloud. Elaina had hovered around Zoe a lot more than he’d anticipated. He’d have to figure out what Elaina’s motives were with linking up with Zoe.
“No one decided to keep you company?” Byron walked over to the minibar on the side of the room.
“I actually enjoyed the quiet. It’s been kind of a crazy day.” Lilah was still in the cream dress she’d worn for the press conference. Her braids were pulled back from her face in a tight ponytail. Though excitement still brightened her voice, she rubbed her eyes and muffled a yawn.
“I can’t argue with that. Soda or juice?” He held up a can of cola and a bottle of apple juice.
“Juice, please.”
Byron grabbed the bottle, put ice in a glass and took it over to Lilah. “So how are you doing?”
Lilah twisted off the cap and poured juice over the ice. “I’m good.”
Byron sat on the couch and faced her. “No, really. How are you? This is a lot. Your mom told me you know the real story, but if you have any questions, or if things feel weird let me know. We kind of went into this to protect you. That doesn’t mean you’re okay with the changes.”
Lilah took a sip of her drink. Her brows knitted together as if trying to figure out the right thing to say. Byron waited patiently for her to speak.
“I am okay. More than okay. I mean, this is kind of fantastic,” she said in a rush.
He blinked, surprised by her enthusiasm. “Fantastic? Really?”
“Yeah, when Mom told me what you did for her, she didn’t tell me your name. I wanted to know who you were. I wanted to thank you. For saving my mom.” Lilah raised a shoulder and glanced away after speaking.
Byron was blown away. He’d expected her to be overwhelmed, maybe annoyed by the interruption in her life. He wasn’t prepared for gratitude for upending her life. “You don’t have to thank me. Your mom was in a bad spot. I was happy to help her.”
“But no one just does something like that for a friend. I don’t care what anyone says. What you did was amazing. I wished you were my real dad. Now you kinda are.” She lifted her shoulder again and smiled shyly.
Byron didn’t know what to do with that. The trust shining from her eyes. He didn’t deserve all of that. He added the weight of her expectations to the ones he’d taken on the night he’d won the primary. Lilah had gifted him with her trust. He wouldn’t take it for granted or do anything to kill the light in her eyes. This is what it felt like to have a family, a child who looked up to you. He’d never thought about fatherhood except in the abstract. Something that would happen one day. That day was here. He couldn’t screw this up.
“Not kinda,” he said. “After today I am. If you ever need anything don’t hesitate to call me.”
Her face lit up and she grinned. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. This isn’t just for the press conference or until the end of my campaign. You’re a part of the Robidoux clan now, and we always look out for family.”
There was a knock on the door. Byron looked over his shoulder. Patricia stood at the door. “Lilah, your mom is down at the pool house with Elaina. They asked if you’d join them.”
/> Lilah’s eyes widened. “There’s a pool house?”
Byron chuckled. “There is. Down the stairs out back and to the right.”
She jumped up, then hesitated and glanced at him. “Are you coming?”
“I’ll be down in a minute.”
She grinned, downed the rest of the juice, put the glass on the table and hurried out the door. Byron chuckled as she left. They hadn’t had that kind of enthusiasm in the family in years.
“She’s going to bring a lot of joy into the house,” Patricia said.
“I agree.” Byron stood and went back to the minibar. “Drink?”
Patricia wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, thank you.”
She’d changed after the press conference earlier into a yellow linen suit. Her salt-and-pepper hair was pulled up in a soft twist. She looked regal and striking. Nothing like the woman who’d started working for their family as the head cook twenty years ago. Back then she’d worn a chef’s suit, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, and even though she’d smiled she also held herself stiff and away from the family.
His dad started seeing Patricia around the time his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Byron didn’t know if the affair started before or after the sickness. What he did know was his mom had quietly condoned the relationship.
Love is fleeting and not what dynasties are built on. If you remember that, your heart will never be broken. His mom’s words when he’d confronted her about Grant’s affair.
“Where is Dad?” Byron asked as he mixed together an old fashioned.
“He’s in our room on the phone. Some problem with one of the holdings. I told him to let Elaina handle it, but...”
Grant and Elaina were in the middle of a shaky truce right now. Byron chose to stay out of that. “Let him handle it, then.” He finished mixing his drink. “I think I’ll see what’s happening at the pool house.” He was tired and needed time to relax, but he wanted to see Zoe.
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