Secret Son, Convenient Wife(54)
“Tell me,” he said, his tone firm, allowing no argument.
“He telephoned here about two weeks ago and spoke to Gemma,” she said, sending shock through him. “It was the time we were moving her things into your room.”
“Go on.”
“I heard Gemma tell him that he was never a friend of yours and that one day you’d see him for what he was.” She grimaced. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chandler. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything, but I really like Gemma and I didn’t like how upset Mr. Fulton made her. I know this is presumptuous of me, but I have to say it even if I lose my job. I think Gemma’s right to be wary of your friend.”
Tate felt like his eyes were being pried open. Wide open. Wasn’t it around that time Gemma had seemed distracted? It must have been because of Drake’s phone call. His blood boiled as he thought about Drake saying something to upset her or, worse, doing something.
“I appreciate you telling me, Peggy. And no, you’re not going to lose your job for speaking your mind.”
Relief swept over her face. “Thank you.”
His grip tightened on the newspaper in his hand. “I’ll take this upstairs. I don’t want Gemma seeing it.”
Peggy’s eyes softened. “She’s lucky to have you looking out for her, Mr. Chandler.”
An odd sensation flowed through his chest. “I’m beginning to think I’m the lucky one, Peggy.”
And he meant it.
He left the kitchen and went back upstairs. Gemma was on their bed in her nightgown looking gorgeous, playfully tickling Nathan’s tummy. He watched the pair of them, loving the moment and the sound of their giggling. His throat squeezed with a deep tenderness.
She looked up and an unusual warmth entered her eyes. “Tate, I didn’t see you there.”
“You two are having fun. I didn’t want to disturb you.” He wanted to extend this moment. Nathan saw him then and tried to get down off the bed. Tate strode forward and swung his son off the mattress and up into his arms. “Hey, buddy,” he murmured, cuddling him close. He smelled so…his.
Tate’s eyes met Gemma’s.
Theirs.
In danger of becoming too emotive, he was thankful that Nathan squirmed to get down on the floor. He placed the baby on the carpet just as Gemma said, “You’ve brought the newspaper.”#p#分页标题#e#
His head snapped up, not realizing he’d thrown the paper on the bed when he’d picked up Nathan.
She was unfolding it. Her eyes casually flicked over the front page…then went wide. “What’s this?”
There was no easy way to say it. “You made the papers last night.”
The blood drained from her face as she began to read more. “They’re suggesting I’m pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“But I’m not. I’m on the pill. And I didn’t faint because of—”
He didn’t want her saying Drake’s name. “Would being pregnant again be the end of the world for you?”
“Of course not!” she exclaimed, falling for the diversion. “I’d love another baby someday.” A blush spread across her cheeks even as she lifted her chin with a sort of dignity. “But I want it to be something private.”
He more than identified with what she was saying. “We’re in the public eye now, so we’ll be news whatever we do, I’m afraid.”
She let out a breath and threw the paper aside as she got out of bed. “I know.”
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t remain private people at home,” he said, sharing what his grandfather had once told him. “They don’t, and can’t, know everything.”
She considered the words. “That’s true.”
“So don’t let it—”
“Tate! He’s walking!”
“What?” He felt his son grab hold of his leg.
“Nathan walked! It was only a couple of steps from that chair to you, but he did it.”
Tate looked down at his son, who was now standing pressed against his trouser leg. A lump rose in his throat.
Gemma crouched down a few feet away and spoke to Nathan. “Darling, walk to Mommy.”
Nathan looked across at his mother and hesitated.
“Come on. You can do it, darling. Come to Mommy.”
Nathan let go of Tate’s leg, wobbled and then took three steps in a rush to his mother, who scooped him up, tears in her eyes, sheer pride written across her face. Tate could feel that lump rise farther in his throat and choke him up. At that moment he knew he’d never give up Gemma or his son. He’d fight to the death for them.