I shook my head. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll tell you the sordid details when you get back from your honeymoon. Hugh’s not the man I thought he was.”
Mrs. Landon opened the door. “Honey, it’s time.”
Chloe nodded, but before getting up, she hugged me. “Are you sure you don’t want to give him a chance?”
I shook my head. “I know you two are partners now and that’s great. But if I saw the man a million days from now, it would be too soon.”
Our conversation ended as her mom hovered, waiting.
“We will talk about this tomorrow. Our plane doesn’t leave until the afternoon. There is no way I can wait two weeks to hear what happened.”
I gave her a small smile. “Sure.” My grin widened for her benefit. “Now let’s go get you married.”
We stood and got in our places at the grand church. It was packed with their friends, family and business associates. It was almost overwhelming. Marrying a powerful man came with a few drawbacks.
I walked down the aisle and watched Chloe make her procession. She gazed at Ryan, who was glorious in a classic tux, with a starry look in her eyes. The man was GQ-worthy, but he only had eyes for her.
When she reached the altar, Ryan took her hand and in front of everyone dipped his head and kissed her. I held back the sigh in my body. It was so romantic and in that moment I knew they were made for each other.
“Not yet, son,” the reverend said.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait a second longer,” Ryan said. “When you find the woman of your dreams, it’s hard to wait.”
And everything turned out perfect until the reception, when Hugh and I went toe to toe.
Ian and I had been dancing. “Hugh is going to blow a gasket.” Ian chuckled.
“Not my problem,” I declared, even though my heart ached.
“Is that so?” Ian’s brow arched and I had to admit the man was striking. “Does that mean I have a shot?” Ian leaned in and whispered, “Watch out, love. He’s coming.”
Then I was wrenched out of Ian’s arms. “Don’t touch her,” Hugh warned.
That had gotten the attention of all those around us. I should have walked away, but I saw red. “It’s none of your business who I dance with,” I sneered.
Hugh got in my face. “It is when you’re carrying my child.”
He couldn’t know that and before I could say anything Chloe jerked me away from Hugh as Ryan pulled him aside.
“Molly, get to talking or I’ll kick your ass.”
“In that dress?” I quipped.
“Exactly.”
I sighed heavily and began my tale of the same night she’d met Ryan. “Hugh is paying me to have his baby. Or was, anyway. Until I screwed things up and got pissed off.”
Her head tilted and all of a sudden she burst out laughing. “Holy crap. This is… oh, God. Wait until I tell you.” Then she went into this long explanation about the deal she and Ryan had made. Soon I was laughing right along with her.
“Those sneaky men. And to think we both got involved with them,” she said. “Molly, you do realize our babies will be cousins?”
“I always thought of you as a sister and now we’ll kind of be related.” I threw my arms around her. “But I still haven’t solved my Hugh problem. I don’t know what to do.”
“You have to tell him.”
“True. But I’m still angry with him. And what if he doesn’t care anymore?”
“Why are you angry?”
My explanation was long and tearful. Chloe knew I had a troubled past but had never been given the complete details about my parents until now.
“Molly, why didn’t you ever tell me? You know I would’ve been there for you.”
“Yeah, but it was something I needed to keep to myself.”
“From the way I see things, Hugh did you a huge favor and now your dad has a chance of being released.”
“Wait, so you’re siding with him?”
She wore guilt like a crown. “I guess I am. It’s not that I blame you for keeping your father’s issue a secret and not telling anyone, but you can’t blame that part on Hugh. He didn’t know. Think about it. He was only trying to help you by using his connections.”
Chloe had a valid point. Was I being too hard-headed and ridiculous? Maybe. I’d kept this secret for so long, it was hard to let go. Perhaps it was time.
My head dipped up and down. “I think you might be right.”
A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. “There’s no ‘might’ about it. All you need to do is kiss and make up.”
“He might not want me anymore.”
“Then you’ll live a wonderful, fulfilling life without him. Just you and your child. But I have a feeling that won’t happen. Why don’t you go find him and tell him now?”