Epilogue

One year later

Gemma

“Gemma you can’t be serious. I thought things were going well for the two of you?”

“They are, but I want to know. You have put it in my head long enough and I can’t take it anymore. I have to know what his price is. You know that I know about Raphael and I don’t forgive you for it still, but I want you to do the same to Keenan. I have to know what his answer will be.”

“And what if he gives me a price?”

“Then give it to him. It will mean what I have feared all of this time since I saw Raphael again.”

“He ran out of money that was why he was back. So why do you want to do this now Gemma? It has been a year.”

“I know, but I am pregnant now and I want to make sure that the father of my child is with me for the right reasons. You caused this to be a doubt in my mind, so I want you to fix it and find out if he is like all of the rest.”

Dad didn’t know what to say. I could tell that he was searching for the right way to say this, but there was none. It was a bad situation all the way around and I wanted to know what was real and what wasn’t. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to live with that doubt anymore. I had to know, no matter how hard it was going to be if it turned out that feeling in the pit of my stomach was right.

“I will do this Gemma, but I think you are messing with fire. What happens if this all blows up in your face?”

I didn’t want to think about it because even just a sideways thought made my chest tighten up and a lump in my throat forms. I didn’t want to think that this could happen, but now I had to know. I had thought Raphael loved me as well, but I was so wrong that I didn’t even really trust myself anymore. I had to know one way or another how everything was going to be. Then I could move on.

Dad left Keenan’s house. He had a meeting with him later. The look on his face when I had suggested it told me that he wasn’t really sure or not if Keenan would go for it. I think in a way also, he didn’t want to lose his son-in-law. He had always wanted a son, different than my brother and now he had found someone like him, where nothing was ever enough.

“Call me when you know something.”

“I will Gemma.” That was the last thing that he had said to me and I knew that he wanted to tell me no. But how could he after he had done so much to get rid of Raphael? He really couldn’t and even though now I know it was a favor, I hoped that this time would be different.

I paced most of the time and even though I knew that I should stop worrying about it because nothing was going to change with my worry, there was no part of me that could think of anything else. I couldn’t see our future in my mind anymore, not until I knew the truth.

It was almost an hour before dad called me and it sounded like he was out of breath.

“I did what you asked Gemma.”

“And?” He was killing me, he really was. Did he know how much I wanted to yell at him?

“He refused me in a very rude and vulgar way if you must know. I think he hates me. He stormed out of here like a bat out of hell. I wish you wouldn’t have made me do it Gemma.”

I felt bad, a little bit, but I knew that it had to be done. Whether it was crazy or not, I had to know and now that I did, I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it. Now dad was upset about Keenan’s reaction, but I wouldn’t have been any happier with any other scenario, not that I could think of anyways.

“Thanks dad. I will try to smooth it over.”

He wasn’t sure I could. “You don’t understand Gemma. I thought he was going to lose it.”

“How much did you offer him?”

“Enough.” Ronald didn’t say anymore and I had a feeling that his enough was more than I could imagine. It meant that there was nothing more to say or think. Keenan really did love me and I felt bad for going through all of this to find that out. I should have known, even if it was hard to imagine after being so wrong before.

About the time I got off of the phone with dad, I could hear Keenan coming through the front door. It was hard to miss it because he slammed it on the way in so hard that I thought he was going to break something.

“What’s the matter baby?”

Keenan looked at me and I could see he was still steaming from the conversation with my father. I was starting to think that telling him that I had him do it was not the best thing to do. I had to, but I certainly wanted to feel this out first and if nothing else, I had some surprise news that I would throw in if I had to.

“I don’t want to talk about it Gemma. I am so upset right now.”

“Do you want a glass of wine?”

“Whiskey and you have a deal.”

I grinned at him and told him that I would get him some. It didn’t take him but a sip to act like he was feeling a little better, but then he realized that I wasn’t drinking with him.

“Oh, I guess I am just not really feeling like it right now. You go on though. It looks like you have had a long day. Was it work?” I hated lying to him, or what felt like lying to him, but I wasn’t ready to tell him what part I had played in his bad day.

“No it was your father. Gemma, I know he is your dad, but I can’t work with him anymore. I don’t want to even be around him anymore and I think that we should rethink our holiday plans.”

He really was mad and soon he was going to have us moved away. Was he that mad at the mere suggestion of it or was it something else.

“You are going to have to tell me what happened before we change plans Keenan.’

“But I am your husband, who would you choose?”

He was looking at me earnestly and I was floored at the fear that was in his eyes. What in the world did he have to be afraid of?

“What are you talking about?”

“I need to know that if something happens between me and Ronald that you will choose us.”

“Of course I would Keenan. You are my husband and I love you.”

“I love you too, but I just want you to know that not everything is as it appears. Your father…”

I stopped him with a hand up and told him that I knew.

“You know?”

His eyes squinted at me and I felt the guilt wash over me again. “Yeah, I kind of had him do it.”

“What do you mean?”

I felt like he was never going to talk to me again if I didn’t get it all out. I wanted him to see that I had to and that meant that I had to tell him about Raphael.

“Because I found out that Raphael isn’t dead at all. He was paid off by my father to disappear and he did.”

“So, wait, what?”

It was hard to hear. I knew that it had hit me hard.

“Yeah.”

“So when did you find this out? You never told me about it?”

I bit my lower lip and looked down. I didn’t want him to know that I had kept that from him for so long.

“For a while. And then I started to think about it and…”

“And you had your father do the same thing?”

I shook my head and I still couldn’t meet his gaze. I knew that he was mad at me and I knew that he had every reason to be mad. I had done something that was stupid. I would be the first to admit to it. I had messed up, but I didn’t want him to be mad. I wanted him to understand that I had to or I was always going to wonder.

“I just had to know Keenan. I mean, you did marry me to make more money.”

He started to say something, but stopped. “That was before we were us.”

My heart melted a little and I told him that I knew that, but I just had to know. It was for my own peace of mind.

“I wish you wouldn’t have done that Gemma. That was low. I thought you knew me better than that.”

“I just had to know.”

“Why?”

“Because we are having a child and I don’t want you to be with me for any other reason than that you love me. I had to know before I decided anything.”

“Wait, you’re pregnant?”

I stopped and smiled at the look on his face. He was awestruck and I was even more smitten. He smiled so big and picked me up suddenly and twirled me around.

“I should have known when you turned down a drink.”

“That is why I had to know. Please don’t be mad at dad. It was my fault and I am sorry for doing it.”

“I can’t even think about that right now. All I can think about is the fact that we are going to have a baby.”

“Are you happy?”

I knew the answer, but I wanted to hear him say it. He really did have a way with words.

“I am happier than I ever thought possible Gemma and it is all because of you. And if you have to do these kinds of things until you realize it, that’s okay. I will always love you Gemma, forever.”

He bent down to kiss me and all of the worries washed over me and were gone. It was going to be okay, as long as I had him with me. Now we were going to start a family together and I knew that it was going to be just what I always imagined and more.

THE END