Bailey had been nervous as a tick all day. Last night had been so incredible she wanted to freeze it in time. She had told Zack he was invited to the dinner, halfway hoping he’d decline. Of course, when she told him about the senior partnership, he told her no way in hell would he not be there. Then she wondered if she should have said anything. But she’d been bubbling over about it and needed someone to share it with. Michael was out of town, and here was Zack, back in her life after all these years, even if only for a short time.
She’d kept it together during the morning sessions and lunch. She knew Zack would come looking for her, since she’d blurted out that the afternoon was free time, but she wasn’t ready for more alone time with him. Not yet. So she treated herself to the spa again, getting her hair done and a mani-pedi. She’d told him she had things to do, making sure everything was set up for cocktails and dinner, and so he should meet her in the small banquet room at seven.
Despite the relaxing atmosphere of the spa and the pampering the staff provided, she’d found it impossible to relax. At least a hundred times, she thought of getting a message to Zack that she’d changed her mind about tonight. What if someone noticed his resemblance to Michael and said something? The past two nights had been beyond wonderful and convinced her she needed to tell him everything. Did she want another chance with him? More than anything. But, first, she had to tell him the truth and hope he didn’t walk away from her.
She didn’t want the whole thing blowing up in her face before she had that chance.
But by the time she left the spa, she’d decided to chance it and cross her fingers. She hadn’t had anyone besides Michael to celebrate things like this with in what seemed forever. Maybe this could be the start of a new beginning for them, if he didn’t hate her when he found out the truth.
By the time she arrived at the room where the dinner was being held, she was a ball of jangled nerves. Only years of learning to wear a professional mask allowed her to play her role for the evening. The senior partners made it their business to greet everyone, and she added her welcome as the retreat coordinator. She managed to down a glass of wine, and, by the time Zack arrived, she had her attack of nerves pretty much under control.
She was standing at the door when Zack entered the room and, lordy, didn’t he just look way too tempting. She’d told him casual dress, so he’d worn slacks and a tailored shirt the exact color of his eyes. With his tan and his black hair, he looked like a magazine model. Or one for the cover of a romance novel.
“I gather this is your friend, Bailey?” Warren Blake had walked up to them. He held out his hand and introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you. Zack Wallace.”
The men shook hands, but Warren studied Zack for a moment.
“Have we met? You look like someone I know.”
Zack shook his head. “I’m sure I’d remember.”
Yes, he would. And I am nuts parading him around this group when Michael looks so much like him. Thank the lord my son is out of town until tomorrow. Because Sunday is going to be my day of reckoning.
“Of course.” Warren smiled at them both. “I’m sure Bailey has told you about her change in situation. We’re extremely fortunate to have her in our firm, and we wanted to be sure to keep her.”
Zack nodded. “Bailey and I were friends a long time ago, so I’m aware of how special she is.”
Warren raised his eyebrows at that, but, fortunately, Neil Rothbart walked up at that moment and interrupted them.
“How about getting everyone seated for dinner?” He looked from Warren to Bailey and back. “And are we making the announcement before, or after, with dessert?”
“I’d like to do it right away,” Warren told him. “I’ll take care of it.”
Neil nodded and walked away.
“Very glad to meet you, Zack. Come on, Bailey. Let’s get your big show on the road.”
The tables had been set in rounds of ten. Warren guided Bailey and Zack to the table where he’d left his notes and introduced Zack to his wife, Elyse.
“Big night, Bailey.” Elyse hugged her. “You definitely deserve it.”
Bailey was very aware of Zack beside her when Warren made the announcement. Of the pride on his face when she rose to the applause. And of the kiss he placed on her cheek. She was also aware that many pairs of eyes were trained on the two of them, and she could almost hear the questions circling around the room. She wasn’t even sure how she got through the rest of the dinner. She listened to Zack on one side of her tactfully fielding questions about how long he and Bailey had known each other and was he the secret man in her life.
By the time dinner was over, she had finally begun to relax.
“Why don’t you and Zack go have a drink in the bar,” Warren suggested. “You have a lot to celebrate tonight.” He winked at them.
Heat crept up her cheeks. “Thanks, Warren, We might just do that.”
Yes. One last night together before she dropped the bombshell on him. And maybe lost him for good. He stood by her patiently as people leaving the room paused to congratulate her. Everyone wanted to buy her a drink in the bar, even some of the junior partners who couldn’t conceal the envy on their faces.
And then, at last, everyone had filtered away. They had stopped in the hallway so Zack could pop into the men’s room when the last person she wanted to see right at this moment came jogging up to her.
“Hey, Mom.” Michael’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “Did I miss it? I drove back as fast as I could.”
“Uh…” She was stunned speechless.
“Mr. Blake called me on my cell to tell me what was happening and ask if I could get back here tonight instead of tomorrow. That way I could celebrate with you. I guess I missed dinner.”
Breathe, Bailey.
“I thought you were doing something for Clay?”
“All taken care of, and I just touched base with him.” He gave her a huge hug. “Let’s go into the bar and have a drink to celebrate. I’m buying.”
“I, um…”
As she was searching for the right words to say, the door to the men’s room opened, Zack walked out, and he and Michael stared at each other.
“Mom?” Michael’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Who is this guy? And why does he look like me?”
“Yes, Bailey.” Zack’s voice was hard and edged with barely controlled anger. “Who am I? And who is this?”
Bailey wished the floor would open up and she could disappear. This was not at all the way she had planned for this to happen.
People were walking in the little hallway, staring at them. And then Warren Blake came back to see where she was and what was holding her up.
“Everything okay, Bailey? I was looking for you two in the bar.” He looked from Michael to Zack and back again. “Michael, I see you got here okay. That’s great. Sorry you missed dinner.”
“Yeah, thanks for telling me about it.” But his words were laced with resentment.
“Can I help you with anything, Bailey?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. We’re fine. I’ll try to come along in a while.”
“Good, because you’re the star of the show. Now you have two good-looking men to help you celebrate.”
“Yes, I understand.” But she had no intention of taking this to a public venue.
Warren let his gaze travel over everyone again, shrugged, and headed back toward the lobby and the bar.
“Can we take this someplace out of the spotlight?” Bailey asked. “Someplace private, where we can talk?”
“That’s a good idea.” Fury flashed in Michaela’s eyes, as well as hurt. “Talking is something we really need to do because, apparently, we haven’t done it before.”
“Yes, Bailey.” Anger just as strong flashed in Zack’s eyes. “I’d say you’ve definitely got some talking to do.”
“I think the villa is the best place for this.” She looked at Michael. “Lacey gave me one of the villas to use for the weekend. It’s private and quiet, and I will do my best to answer all of your questions.”
If I don’t throw up and pass out first.
The walk back to the villa seemed like the longest one in the world, with no one saying a word and the anger from the two men in her life so thick it was palpable. She wanted to run someplace and hide. Change her name. Anything to avoid the mess she’d made. The last thing she’d ever expected was for Zack Elliott to show up in her little corner of the world.
Just goes to show, you can’t hide things forever.
When she unlocked the door to the villa they followed her inside. She went at once to the bar, found a bottle of bourbon—wine was definitely not strong enough for tonight—poured some into a glass, and added some ice cubes. She swirled the dark liquid in the glass, giving herself some extra time, then took a healthy sip. When she turned around, both men were glaring at her.
“Would either of you like something to drink?”
“I’ll take three fingers of truth,” Zack said, “and don’t add the bullshit.”
“Same for me,” Michael echoed.
When Bailey looked from one to the other she almost laughed. Almost. They were facing her, standing in identical positions, legs spread apart, arms folded over their chest. Two identical chins jutted out, and duplicate frowns creased their foreheads.
Except this was no laughing matter. And flashing equally strong in both pairs of eyes was a world of hurt and pain.
Well, Bailey. In some secret part of your brain, you knew this day would come eventually. The ball is in your court.
She carried her drink to one of the big armchairs and sat down, hoping her shaking hands didn’t spill everything all over her.
“How about if you both sit down?” She forced a smile.
“How about if you quit beating around the bush and tell me why I’m just now finding out I have a son?” Each word sounded as if Zack had bitten it off.
“Or maybe why all the times I asked you about my father, you told me it would be a problem having me in his life.” Michael glowered at her. “All these years I wondered what was so wrong with me that my father wouldn’t want to be involved with me. What the hell, Mom?”
“Yeah. What the hell, Bailey?”
She took another slug of her drink. “It would help if you would both sit down so I don’t get a crick in my neck looking up. If you do, I will tell you whatever you want to know.”
They sat side by side on the couch.
“Thank you,” she said. “First of all, Zack, I was going to tell you on Sunday, and hoped you would understand. And, Michael, then I was going to call you to come out here and meet your father. I’m sorry it blew up this way, and I’m sure you both have a lot to say. But I’d like to explain my reasons to you.”
“Reasons?” Zack nearly shouted the word. “What reason could you have for not telling me about the baby? You had to know you were pregnant when I left for Alaska.” He snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute. The night I came home and told you about my uncle and his offer, you had the table set for something special. Is that when you were going to tell me?”
“And that’s why I didn’t tell you,” she cried. “You were off to your dream job, doing the thing you loved better than anything in the world. You didn’t need a wife and baby complicating things for you. I wanted you to have your dream.”
“And you thought you could make that decision for me?” She heard the pain in his voice. “Didn’t I get a chance to decide?” He rested his elbows on his knees and looked down. “You must not have thought very much of me if you thought I’d rather have any job in the world instead of you and our child.”
“I was young,” she cried, desperate to make him understand. “I just wanted you to be happy. Zack, all you talked about was flying. All the time. What was I supposed to think?”
“Maybe that I loved you and we could discuss the situation?”
“And what about me?” Michael interjected. “What about what I might have wanted?”
Bailey was beginning to understand how people felt when she took depositions and hammered at them until she got what she wanted. She tried over and over to make them both understand that she thought she was doing the best thing for everyone. To make Zack understand it was her love for him that dictated her decision. To make Michael understand the circumstances prevented her from contacting his father.
But, in the end, all she saw was what a terrible mistake she’d made and how it had impacted everyone’s life. Eventually, she ran out of words. Her throat was raw from pleading, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She stood up from the couch and carried her empty glass to the bar.
“I’m sure the two of you have plenty to talk about, so why don’t I leave you alone. I’ll go back up to the bar and join the people from the law firm.”
“No.” Zack stood up. “I’ll go.” He looked at his son. “Michael, I’d really like it if you came along so we could talk. I have twenty-four years of information to catch up on.”
Her son nodded eagerly and jumped to his feet.
Bailey watched them go without even a good-bye for her. Well, she’d dug her own grave with them. What did she expect?
She repaired her makeup as best she could and headed to meet everyone in the bar. If she didn’t show up, it might be considered one of the seven sins. Somehow, she’d get through it. Then she would come back here, climb into bed, and indulge in a good cry, although nothing would ease the pain of her breaking heart.