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“And you’re very good at what you do and have the perfect mentor in Dad. Of all of us, you’re the closest to him. Why don’t you want to ask for his help?”
Since it was clear Samantha wasn’t going to let this go, Gabi sucked in a deep breath, then blurted, “Because I’m going to have a baby, that’s why.” She nearly choked on the sob that came with the words.
Dead silence greeted the announcement, before Samantha finally said softly, “Holy saints in heaven! A baby, Gabi? Are you sure?”
“Do you think I’d have mentioned it to my boss if I hadn’t been sure?” Gabi said dryly.
“And that’s why they let you go?” Samantha asked, clearly shocked. “Isn’t that illegal?”
“Technically they didn’t let me go. They demoted me, so I negotiated a buyout. A win-win for everyone, according to Amanda. Who knew she was a better spin master than I ever dreamed of being?” Gabi said, unable to keep a bitter note out of her voice.
“Okay, let’s forget the job for the moment. It doesn’t matter,” Samantha said. “The baby’s Paul’s.”
Gabi was grateful that there’d been no question mark at the end of her sister’s statement. “Of course.”
“How’d he take it?”
“As if I’d committed a felony. Needless to say, he’s no longer in the picture.”
“The rat,” Samantha said with feeling. “I never did like him.”
Despite the tense atmosphere, Gabi smiled. “You never even met him.”
“And that’s precisely why I didn’t like him. What kind of man doesn’t want to meet his girlfriend’s family? He never even showed his face when we were helping Grandmother after the hurricane.”
“And what a blessing that probably was. Give him a hammer and he’d probably do more harm than good.”
“Not what you need in a man,” Samantha declared. “Now Wade Johnson? He’s the kind of man to have around in a crisis.”
Gabi stiffened at the out-of-the-blue mention of the man who’d been underfoot nonstop while they were making repairs to the family restaurant, Castle’s by the Sea, after the hurricane. “Why would you bring him up?”
“Because he was around after the storm, just like Boone. And I saw the way Wade looked at you, as if he’d never seen anyone so perfect in his entire life.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Let me remind you that I said the same thing to our sister about Boone, and look at the two of them now. In a few months Emily and Boone will be married, assuming he can convince her to finally set a date. I’m good at this stuff, Gabi. I recognize heat between men and women, even when they’re both in denial.”
“Well, you’re wrong this time. Besides, don’t you think the timing is just a little off for me to be thinking about a relationship? I’m going to be having another man’s baby in a few months.”
Samantha sucked in a deep breath at the reminder. “Are you at least happy about that?” she asked hesitantly. “A baby, Gabi! That is so incredible.”
Gabi rested a hand on her belly, felt the faint stirring there. The first time she’d felt that tiny life inside her, she’d fallen in love. Being pregnant might be inconvenient. It might not have been the result of a love match. It might have cost her a job, but she already loved this baby more than anything. She’d do whatever it took to protect it and make sure it had everything it deserved...including two parents who would treasure this priceless gift when the time came.
“I’m thinking about adoption,” she admitted to Samantha, deciding to test the idea she’d mentioned to no one else.
Her words were greeted by stunned silence.
“Samantha? You still there?”
“You’d give up the baby?”
Gabi closed her eyes. “I think it’s the only way to make sure it has a good life. And, to be honest, I don’t want to be tied to Paul through this child. I don’t want to take a cent of support money from him. I don’t want anyone so selfish in this child’s life.”
“Oh, sweetie, forget Paul for the moment,” Samantha protested. “You can give this baby a good life. You can surround him or her with a whole family who’ll fall in love the instant he or she is born.”
“Babies shouldn’t start life with an out-of-work single mother,” Gabi said wearily.
“It’s not as if you’re going to be destitute. And you’ll find another job when the time comes,” Samantha insisted. “Plus, we’ll all help. Me, Emily, Grandmother, even Dad will be on board. His first grandchild? You know he’s going to be thrilled about this.”
“Is he really?” Gabi asked skeptically, sounding more like Emily than herself. Emily was the one who never gave their father credit for having deep feelings for any of them. Besides, Sam Castle had hardly noticed his own children unless they were in trouble. It seemed unlikely he’d be over the moon about a grandchild. The image of him sitting in a rocker cuddling a baby was so incongruous, it was laughable.
“Well, you don’t have to decide right this second,” Samantha said, backing off to give her breathing room. “We’ll talk about it when I see you.”
“When you see me?” Gabi asked suspiciously. “Since when are you planning a trip back down here?”
“I’m driving home tomorrow,” Samantha said, as if the trip had been scheduled for days, rather than minutes. “Meet me in Sand Castle Bay. You don’t have anything to keep you in Raleigh right now, so no arguments. You’ve already said you’re not looking for work just yet, so you might as well enjoy this unexpected time off. You need sunshine and sea breezes to put this in perspective. You know you do. You’ll see things much more clearly then.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to lay this on Grandmother just yet.”
“Be there or Emily and I will come and drag you over there bodily, if we have to,” Samantha insisted, refusing to cut her any slack.
“Emily’s there now?” Gabi asked, surprised. “I thought she was working night and day at this new job in Los Angeles.”
“She also has a wedding to plan. And she’s still after Grandmother to do a little modernizing of the decor at Castle’s. She and Boone flew in a couple of days ago. She claims she wants our opinion on the wedding plans. That’s why I called in the first place, to let you know we’ve been called into action.”
Gabi laughed. “Since when does Emily listen to anything you or I have to say when it comes to her life?”
“She says there are incredible weddings on those soaps I’ve been on, and I should know a thing or two. And we’re both her sisters, and we’re to be in the wedding party. I’d suggest if you don’t want to wind up wearing a very unflattering shade of whatever color’s in fashion in Hollywood these days, you need to be there to speak up. Listen to me. I’m the oldest. I know best.”
Gabi laughed. “Since when? I’ve always been the sensible one. Everyone knows that.”
“If that were true, how’d you land in this mess?” Samantha taunted. “See you tomorrow, sweetie. And don’t worry. This is going to work out. I promise.”
Gabi hung up and sighed. Sand Castle Bay was the very last place she wanted to go right now, but Samantha was right about one thing. It was exactly where she belonged.
* * *
Wade was sitting in the middle of his sister’s living room floor with two kids under the age of three climbing all over him. Well, one was climbing. The other was cradled against his chest, drooling.
“Unca Wade?” Chelsea whispered, crawling into his lap and snuggling close.
“What’s up, kiddo?” he said, shifting baby Jason to give her more room.
“Me wants a kitty for my birthday,” the almost three-year-old announced.
He smiled, fully aware he was being manipulated. Once either of his nieces turned their big blue eyes on him, he pretty much gave them whatever they wanted. A kitty, though? Louise would have a fit. His sister had vowed there would be no pets in her household until every last one of her children were out of diapers’and preferably out of college, if he knew Lou.
“What does your mom say?” he asked the toddler, who’d rested her head against his chest with a deep sigh.
“No,” she admitted sorrowfully.
“Then I’m afraid that’s the way it has to be. Maybe when you’re older and can take care of a kitty all by yourself.”
“But I’m going to be three,” she reminded him.
“I think you need to be a little older than that,” Wade said. “Having a kitten is a lot of responsibility.”
He glanced up to see his sister towering over him, hands on hips.
“Good answer,” she said, then frowned at her daughter. “And you. Did we not talk about you going to your dad or your uncle to try to get something I’ve already said you can’t have?”
Chelsea gave her a winning smile that could normally charm anyone whose path she crossed. “But I want a kitty really, really bad.”
“And I said no really, really firmly,” Lou told her, though the corners of her mouth were twitching. “Now, go wash your hands before dinner. Daddy will be home any minute.”
Chelsea heaved another resigned sigh, then dutifully scampered off.
“That child is going to grow up to be a sneaky politician making backroom deals,” Lou predicted.
Wade chuckled. “Or a smart lawyer like her mama,” he suggested. “A weaker man would have brought her a kitten first thing tomorrow, but I know how she operates. I’ve also heard the no-pet rule about a thousand times with the older kids.”
Lou sank down on the edge of the sofa and for an instant he could see the exhaustion on her face. He frowned and scooted closer, then handed the baby over to his sister. He gave her a sideways glance as she instinctively rubbed her knuckles over Jason’s soft-as-silk cheek and seemed to relax.
“You okay, sis?”
“Just trying to juggle too many balls in the air. What was I thinking having all these kids and trying to have a career, too?”
“You were thinking what an incredible mom you’d be, what fabulous children you and Zack would have and that you’d always have backup from me.”
She managed a weary smile at that. “You are a godsend,” she agreed. “Having you here for a couple of hours when I first get home from the office really helps me to hang on to my sanity. The kids adore you and I have some breathing room to get civilized before Zack walks in the door. Believe me, my husband appreciates that.”
“Hanging out with your kids works for me, too,” Wade said quietly. “Especially now.”
Lou reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “You’re so blasted cheerful and easygoing ninety-nine percent of the time, sometimes I forget that your life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses the past couple of years.”
“Don’t go there,” he pleaded. “Talking about Kayla and the baby... I’m just not up for it.”
“It’s been two years,” Lou said quietly, ignoring his plea. “I know losing your wife and your baby tore you up, Wade, but you’ve never talked about it. Bottling up all that pain can’t be good.”
He gave her a wry look. “I come by it naturally. Johnsons don’t talk about their feelings. Isn’t that the lesson we learned from Dad? After Mom left, he never mentioned her again. We weren’t supposed to, either.”
“And we both know how that ate him alive,” Lou said. “I won’t let you follow in his footsteps. If you don’t want to talk to me, then talk to someone else.”
“A professional? Not likely.”
“Do you plan to hold on to the pain for the rest of your life, never go on another date, never marry and have children?” she demanded. “That would be a crying shame. You’re meant to be a dad, Wade. Ask any of my kids. They’ll give you testimonials. Well, except for Jason here, but I’m sure he’ll be on board as soon as he can talk.” She smiled at the baby, who’d wound his fist in a strand of her hair. “Won’t you, buddy?”
Wade smiled at that. Seven-month-old Jason had come as an unexpected blessing, though with two older brothers and two older sisters, his arrival had been the last straw for Louise, who’d sent her husband off for a vasectomy and had her own tubes tied for good measure.
“Save the pep talk, sis. My life’s okay these days. I’m not living like a monk.”
Lou’s expression immediately brightened. “Really? Do tell.”
What could he say? That he’d finally met a woman who’d caught his attention? That she hadn’t really given him the time of day? That she lived clear over in Raleigh and hadn’t been to Sand Castle Bay in weeks? That his only contact was through her meddling grandmother’s reports? Yeah, like that would reassure his sister.
“I’ll fill you in when there’s something to tell,” he said eventually. He stood. “Now, I think I’ll take off.”
Lou regarded him with surprise. “You’re not staying for dinner?”
“Not tonight. I’ve been working on a new carving. I’d like to get back to it.”
“And you can’t put that off for an hour to have some spaghetti with your family?” she inquired skeptically. “You’re not fooling me, Wade Johnson. You’re trying to get away from my prying.”
He smiled. “Then let that be a lesson to you,” he advised. “Stop prying.”
She stood and wrapped her arms around him. “Never. You’re my brother and I love you. It’s my job to worry about you and pester you and make sure you’re happy.”
“I’m happy enough,” he assured her. “Stop worrying.”
As he drove away, he spotted his brother-in-law pulling into the parking spot he’d just vacated and gave Zack a wave. Lucky son of a gun, he thought. He wondered if Zack knew what a blessing that family of his was and how much Wade envied him.
But despite this attraction he’d felt toward Gabriella Castle, he wondered if he’d ever have the courage to risk the kind of pain he’d been through with his first marriage. Could a man even survive that kind of loss more than once in his life?
* * *
Since it was midday when Gabi arrived on the coast, she drove straight to Castle’s by the Sea. She knew that’s where she’d find her grandmother and, more than likely, Emily, who bit by bit was transforming the restaurant’s decor. Her efforts were progressing at a snail’s pace because their grandmother was resistant to change and because Emily was spending more and more time back in Los Angeles on a project near and dear to her heart.
It was close to two when Gabi arrived. Since Castle’s served only breakfast and lunch, the crowd had already thinned out, and the door had been locked to keep new customers from entering after closing. Gabi walked around to the side deck, then slipped into the kitchen.
As she’d expected, her sister was tucked in the tiny office with fabric samples. Gabi poked her head in. “Any luck on selling the idea of new upholstery for the booths?” she asked.
A frustrated look spread across Emily’s face for just an instant, but then she was on her feet, enveloping Gabi in a hug. “A baby? How exciting!”
Gabi blinked. “You know already?”
“Samantha filled us in when she called last night. She thought it might be easier if you didn’t have to break the news yourself.”
“Really?” Gabi said doubtfully. “Or was she trying to line up you and Cora Jane to be on her side?”
“I didn’t know there were sides,” Emily said, her expression a pitiful attempt at innocence. Samantha the actress could have pulled it off, but Emily failed miserably.
“I’m considering putting the baby up for adoption. Samantha disapproves. Does that ring any bells?”
“She might have mentioned it,” Emily said. “But let’s not get into that now. I’m just so glad you’re here. Boone and I have news.”
“You’ve finally set a wedding date,” Gabi guessed, knowing that had been the hot topic since before Christmas.
Emily nodded happily. “June 2. Surprisingly, I suddenly realized that I want a traditional June wedding.” She shrugged. “Or maybe that’s what Grandmother really wants. Anyway, that’s the date. I think you and Samantha will look stunning in pastel dresses. I took that into consideration, too.”
