Big Daddy Sinatra: There Was a Ruthless Man(81)

“You know it’s true,” Jenay agreed. “But that wasn’t all he wanted to tell me. He also wanted to know if I would allow him to manage the Inn.”

Charles frowned. “You’re managing the Inn.”

“I told him that. But he seems to think I’m doing it because I can’t find anybody else to do it for me. I told him that wasn’t the case. I enjoy working.”

“What happened when you turned him down? He took it like a man?”

“He became angry, as usual, and hung up in my face.”

Charles tightened his grip on the wheel.

“Don’t confront him, Charlie,” Jenay said. “It’s not worth it.”

“I won’t,” Charles responded. “But he will be apologizing to my wife.”

Jenay smiled. She was still getting used to that lovely phrase. His wife. Mrs. Charles Sinatra. “I do think, however,” she said, “that I will need some additional help soon.”

Charles looked at her. “You want more help?”

“I’ll probably need it, yes. Especially when I go on maternity leave.”

Charles stared at her. Then he stared at the river in front of him. Then he literally turned off the engine right where the boat stood. And he looked at her again. “What did you just say to me?” he asked her.

She smiled. “We’re having a baby, Charlie.”

Charles couldn’t believe it. He smiled. Then his heart began to soar. “But I thought you couldn’t . . . I thought you weren’t able---”

“I did too,” she said. “I tried for years and years with Quince. But it’s been confirmed. I am pregnant with our child. My first child.”

Charles hurried to her and wrapped her in his arms. He was so happy that he nearly squeezed the life out of her. When he stopped embracing her, he looked at her again. “Oh, Jenay,” he said. “I don’t know if my heart can take such wonderful news!”

She laughed and placed her hand on the side of his handsome face. “And they claim you don’t have a heart!”

He laughed too. And wrapped her in his arms again. He never dreamed, at this late date, that life could be more meaningful now than it had ever been in the entirety of his years on this earth. All because of this woman, this marvelous woman, he held in his arms.

And he continued to hold her.

He was not going to let her go.