Chapter Thirteen
Jessica
Jessica spent a sleepless night tossing and turning, thinking over all her bountiful lack of options. It would be cruel to hide it from Brent, and she’d have to quit in a couple months anyway. She’d wanted to by the time school started, but Cara had begged her to help her adjust through middle school starting up, a new whole wing of her academy, and Jessica couldn’t say no. But by five months with twins, it’d be obvious what was going on with her. To everyone. She wasn’t sure which she hated more – the chance of a snide comment from Donald Sanderson when he figured it out or her dad’s disappointment. It was a close. Her dad would eventually forgive her, no matter what, but Donald Sanderson was a snake with a total talent for making her feel two feet tall.
The next day, she’d tried to make due with a caffeine-free tea and make it through her class before heading over to Brent’s estate. She was blinking pretty hard and realizing that going at least six months without coffee was probably going to drive her insane.
No, scratch that.
It would definitely drive her insane.
However, once she and Cara started going over her new homework assignment for earth science class, things fell into the right rhythm. She wasn’t sure she’d feel that way when Brent arrived, as if she were somehow putting out pregnant vibes now and he’d know on sight that she was with child. Correction. Children, his children.
“I had a good day today, actually,” Cara said.
“Did you?”
“Yes, Dad and the senator talked last year, but I think Grandpa might have said something too.”
“How can you tell?” Jessica asked, reading through Cara’s answers.
“His fundraising for his re-election is way down. I Googled lately, and it seems like really big donors are avoiding him. Also, now that we’re on the middle school side, I don’t have classes with all of those girls. They’re not that smart, so I have at least one girl in my class who’s really nice to me and likes marine biology, too.”
Jessica blinked. It was a cold reminder that Donald Sanderson went the extra mile to make people who crossed him or his family extra sorry. “What? You’re kidding about the senator, right?”
“I don’t think so. Everyone says her dad’s gonna lose.” Care shrugged. After four months, her bob had grown out to be shoulder length. Today she had it pulled back with a headband colored black and white like soccer balls. “I’m not really mad Grandpa did that.”
Jessica sighed. “It’s a little scary, but I’ll let you in on a secret.”
“What?”
“I’m glad those girls are leaving you alone, too. As long as you don’t, uh, have your grandfather threaten everyone. That’s probably a bad habit to get into.”
Cara took her worksheet back and started making any corrections Jess had pointed out. “I know, but those girls were awful.”
“Yeah, they were. If they find a way to give you trouble again, you need to tell me or your dad first, you know? We’re here for you, too.”
“Okay!” Cara said, finishing her work and putting it away in her binder. “So, do you want to go outside? I have a new soccer net out back, and we could kick around some.”
“Great, and I found a new killer whale documentary on Netflix we can watch till your dad gets back.” She stood up and grabbed her jacket. There was an unseasonable cold spell today. It was almost sixty, and to a “So Cal” girl like her, that was just too low. “Hey. Cara,” she started as they headed down the rat’s maze of hallways to the backyard. “Did you ever want any brothers or sisters?”
She had no idea why she’d started this suicidal line of conversation. After all, she wasn’t even sure that she could tell Brent. But maybe this was part of figuring everything out. If this were going to hurt Cara in any way, after all the poor girl had been through, the last thing Jessica would do then would reveal it.
Her whole point in being hired was to help Cara. Besides, she’d come to love Cara too much to put her through extra pain, if she could avoid it.
If only she hadn’t been so dumb about birth control…
Cara quirked her head at her as they kept walking. “I really always wanted a brother or a sister. Maybe both. I just… I think if Mom hadn’t died, eventually I would have had tons. Mom was such a good mom – what I can remember. Dad’s pretty awesome, and I know he works hard, but he makes time for zoo trips and the aquarium and everything else. He really is good.”
“I know, and if he didn’t care about you, he wouldn’t have hired you the best babysitter ever.”
Cara winked. “I could just say ‘And who’s that again,’ but you’ve been super fun all summer, and I’m glad you’re here. I did always want tons of siblings, but then Dad was so sad after Mom died. We just… How can you expect anything like that? Now he’s kind of old, so I’m used to being an only child. Why?”
Ooh, caught.
Jessica sighed and shrugged as they reached the backyard (which was as big as three or four lots put together). “Just curious. My mom and dad… I think my mom grew apart from my dad pretty fast after I was born. There was this guy, and she cheated.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” Jessica said, setting the ball on the ground and kicking it a bit. “But I was always an only child, and it was pretty obvious it was going to be that way. I wish I had a sister, you know? Someone I could always tell my secrets too. I have good friends, but I thought… you know, slumber parties and braiding our hair… that sort of stuff would have been really fun.”
“Yeah, but we have soccer!” Cara said, running after the ball.
Jessica laughed and ran after her.
***
“She’s all tuckered out,” Brent said after checking on Cara in her room.
“Yeah, Cecile made sure she ate, and you were running late, so Cara passed out. We played soccer pretty hard outside till sunset.”
Brent sat down beside her on the sofa and ran his thumb over her cheek. “I can tell. You have a bit of a grass stain there.”
She sighed and wanted to lean up and kiss him. But she had other stuff she needed to say. He had to know about the babies, and he needed to know now. Maybe there was a shot this could be okay… somehow… if Cara at least was open to the idea of brothers or sisters.
“Not when Cara’s here,” she said quietly, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek. “I think we need to talk.”
His smile brightened, and he rushed off the couch before she could continue and went back toward the entranceway to the salon before she could stop him. Reaching beyond her line of sight, he pulled out a box wrapped brightly in gold, green, and vibrant violet paper.
“The reason I ran late wasn’t a meeting. I had to pick something up for you.”
Frowning, Jessica let him set the package on her lap. She could always get to the earth-shaking news after the present. He seemed so pleased with whatever he’d come up with. She wanted to give him one last happy moment before she maybe drove him off forever. It was all so hard to tell.
“Wait, so what is it?”
“Part of the surprise,” Brent said, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously at her. “Go on, take a peek.”
Curious, she opened the box and sent the paper scattering everywhere as she tore through it. “Oh wow!”
The mask before her was one that would cover most of her face, fine porcelain like something out of The Phantom of the Opera, but also hand painted with bright gold and purple harlequin diamonds. Huge feathers were mounted to the top, creating a wild look for anyone. “What’s all this for?”
“There’s a ball. My father insisted on a masked charity bazaar this Friday for the charity we have that funnels research money into new antibiotics test trials. I want you to be my date.”
She set the mask down gently in the box and then placed it all beside her on the sofa. “Brent, this is an incredibly sweet gesture, but you know I can’t. We’ve worked so hard to keep what’s between us a secret. How can I go to a ball?”
“It’s a masquerade. I have an outfit for you, and I’ll send a makeup and hair stylist from one of our production teams out to see you – get the right wig for the look. No one will even know.”
It was tempting. All their dates had to be out of the city of San Diego or completely clandestine at his separate high-rise by the bay. It was always sneaking and never a public moment between them. She knew the kind of wizardry the hair and makeup department could do for her dad’s movies. If they made her up, no one would recognize her. Not Donald Sanderson, not even her own father.
Well, probably.
She frowned and shook her head. “Dad would know me if I had a bedsheet over my head. There’s no way I can fool him.”
“You don’t have to,” Brent replied. “I’ve been thinking about this a long time. I want to show you off as best as I can, while still respecting your wishes. Allen will be in New York scouting locations, and we’ll be three thousand miles away. You’ll be the mystery girl on my arm, and once the makeup queen is done with you, no one will know who you are.”
Jessica’s heart fluttered. It was like Cinderella, like a chance to finally be with him and let people see where her heart lay. Her hand fell unbidden to her stomach, and she cupped her belly, as if trying to get even closer to her children. Their children. If everything blew up, then it could blow up on Saturday. She was going to tell him on the long weekend after the ball. Maybe he’d be happy; she just couldn’t be sure. Maybe she was presuming too much to think he’d ever be able to get over his late wife and her tragic loss.
Maybe a million things.
But she could have Friday, and if that – the necklace and her twins – were all she ever had left of Brent, then she’d have to make it last a lifetime’s worth.
Smiling up at him, Jessica nodded. “I’d love to.”
Brent kissed her, his tongue teasing her with everything they’d have this Friday and, of course, with everything she might never have again after that.