Secret Son, Convenient Wife(46)

“That’s not true,” she whispered in disbelief, trying to accept that they could hurt her even more than they already had. “They’ve twisted it all around.” She’d left home at twenty because of them. And they’d asked her to leave when they learned she was pregnant.#p#分页标题#e#

“It’s a sob story, that’s all,” Tate growled.

And everyone would believe it.

Then they said how they hadn’t been invited to their own daughter’s wedding, and when they’d come to see Gemma and their grandson, they’d been asked to leave.

“But they didn’t even ask to see Nathan,” she cried.

Tate’s eyes were hard. “I was there, Gemma. I saw what they were like.”

“I never thought they’d do something like this. I know they had to save face, but this—”

“You’re being too generous, as usual.”

Her mind swirled with confusion. “Why now? It’s been nearly two weeks since we saw them.”

“My guess is it’s about the awards dinner on Friday. They’re probably trying to put a stop to my family getting the award because they’re jealous that you and Nathan are Chandlers now.”

“But they didn’t want me…or Nathan,” she choked, jumping to her feet, trying to shake off the anguish.

Tate stood up and pulled her into his arms. “I know, sweetheart.”

She buried her face against his chest, the endearment warming her before another thought kicked in. She jerked her head back to look up at him. “Your family won’t be happy about this, Tate.”

He didn’t hesitate. “They won’t hold this against you.” His jaw clenched as he looked past her to the television. “Your family will be retracting this, I promise.”

“But it’ll be too late for the award. They’ve already done a lot of damage.”

“No, they’re wrong. It’s related to the award but it won’t affect it at all. If the board was going to withdraw the honor, they would have done it before now.”

She supposed that was true. Part of the reason they’d married in a hurry was to protect the family name.

He put one hand under her chin. “You’d better stay home tomorrow. And don’t answer the telephone. I’ll beef up security.”

She hadn’t planned on anything but a lovely, relaxing day with her son, but now… “They’re not nice people, are they?” she said on a ragged breath.

Tate gave her a soft kiss. “No, they’re not. And you’re not like them at all,” he said, meaning it.



Gemma didn’t sleep well, and she knew Tate hadn’t either. He offered to stay home with her the next morning, but she thanked him and told him no. She was in danger of throwing herself a “pity party,” and she needed to do it alone.

Of course, once their son was up and about, Nathan’s smiling face put things into perspective. How could she mope about when she could be with her child? Every moment with him was precious.

As was every moment with Tate, she thought, as he kissed her goodbye on his way to the office. And a tender kiss it was, too. Loving him might be one-sided, but having this man in her life was more important than anything her family could do to her.

Her head was in a better place, but she was still startled when Peggy showed her mother-in-law into the sunroom just after lunch. Had Darlene been sent to find out more about Gemma’s parents? Or was she here to take Gemma to task for bringing further disrepute on the Chandler name?

Gemma gestured for Darlene to sit on the sofa, then she sat, too. “It’s nice to see you, Darlene,” she said warily, once Peggy went off to get them refreshments.

“It’s always lovely to see you, Gemma, but I thought you might need my support today.”

Gemma’s heart warmed. “That’s very sweet of you.”#p#分页标题#e#

Darlene looked around the bright and airy sunroom. “Where’s my grandson? Asleep?”

“Yes, I’m trying to get him to nap after lunch instead of in the late morning.”

As if by silent agreement, they spoke about general things until Peggy brought refreshments and left them to it.

“Tate dropped by the house this morning to explain about your parents,” Darlene said, once they were alone again. Sympathy filled her expression. “I can’t believe what they did to you, not just now, but in the past. It must have been devastating when they turned their backs on you.”

Gemma swallowed. Her mother-in-law was a kind person, but Gemma hadn’t expected actual compassion. “It was,” she murmured with a catch in her throat. Then, in case Darlene couldn’t say what she might need to say, Gemma took the bull by the horns. “I’m really sorry to bring your family into this.”