They moved into the enormous, double height living area. Abby’s gaze swept the room, taking in the exquisite designer detailing. “I can’t imagine a toddler living here,” she said.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” he surprised her by admitting. “It was fine when it was just me, but long term, we’re probably better moving out of the city.”
“I didn’t mean that,” she rushed, trying to imagine leaving the city she’d grown up in and lived in all her life. But the idea breathed into her skin at the same time, because she wondered how much of that commitment to Manhattan life was because she hadn’t ever known another option. Grayson wasn’t even an American. “But white leather, a grand piano, glass coffee tables,” she winced. “Charlotte’s a very well-behaved toddler but she’s still a toddler. It’s going to take about three days before there are crayon marks on the keys.”
He laughed, surprising her, needling her with that lovely, rich sound.
She turned towards the view, chasing the skyline of highrise after highrise, seeking solace in the beauty.
“The decorator can address that.”
Abby frowned. “Just like that?”
“I know my wealth makes you uncomfortable.”
Her breath hitched in surprise at his perceptiveness.
“It’s not that. It’s more –,”
He waited, watching her for several seconds before moving into the kitchen and flicking a switch on his fancy coffee machine.
“This is all happening so fast. Don’t you need time to adjust?”
He withdrew two coffee cups and placed them beside the machine. “If you’re thrown into the middle of the ocean from the deck of a boat, you don’t take a day to work out that you need to start paddling.”
“So you’re seeing this as a sink or swim situation?”
“This is my life now. I’m Charlotte’s father.” His voice cracked a little. “I will do whatever is necessary to make this work.”
Her heart strangled tight.
What would it have been like if she’d had Gray by her side this whole time? Easier in some ways, harder in others.
“I’ve had my office draft up a press release about our situation.”
It took a few seconds for the words to filter through. “Wow. Okay. Can I see it?”
He pulled his phone from the back pocket of his pants, handing it over to her. She took it, glad her fingers weren’t shaking.
FORTESCUE INCORPORATED : ANNOUNCEMENT.
GRAYSON FORTESCUE – PERSONAL.
* * *
Grayson Fortescue, co-founder of Fortsecue Inc, is delighted to announce his impending marriage to long-term girlfriend and mother of their toddler, Abigail Brenna. Abigail is a native New Yorker and they will be living together in Manhattan.
The happy couple thanks you for your well wishes but appreciates your respect of their privacy at this special time for their family.
Abby read it twice,wondering how such a short paragraph could gloss over the enormously deep well of angst and pain. “It sounds so normal,” she said finally, the words a little brittle.
“That’s the point.”
She nodded jerkily.
“No one needs to know the details of our situation.”
Guilt flushed Abby’s skin, and she shook her head quickly, her dark hair flicking around her bare shoulders.