Chapter Eleven
Cassie
Walking down the staircase, toward our families, was daunting. My palms were sweaty, my hands were shaking, and I felt like my heart was in my throat. Although the sweaty palms could have been from what I almost did with Declan in my room.
What had I been thinking? We did not need to complicate things with sex. It was just…well, it had been a long time since I wanted someone to touch me. And Dec touching me? Felt so damn perfect. His every touch, every kiss, every thrust had sent me teetering toward the edge. Being with him was even better than I remembered.
Dec placed his hand on the small of my back and whispered in my ear, “Calm down, Cass. Everything is going to be just fine. I’m right here.” I didn’t deserve his kindness, but I was oh so grateful for it.
Everyone was gathered in the kitchen. Wyllie was sitting on the island, surrounded by all his grandparents. When he saw us walk in, he reached his chubby little hands out to me.
“Momma.” I picked him up and buried my face in his hair, gathering strength from my sweet boy. I doubted they’d kill me if I was holding their grandchild.
The moment Declan came up next to us Wyllie lunged for him. Well, there went that plan.
Dec grabbed his son and threw him up in the air, causing him to squeal in delight. “Hey, Wild Man, did you have fun with Gigi and Papa? Did you slide?” He cradled Wyllie back to his chest and then hugged each of his parents in turn.
Mrs. Preston rubbed a hand over Wyllie’s hair. “When did you get into town, Declan? I thought you were coming straight to the house?”
Declan nodded. “I was, but I ran into Cassie at the airport.”
I knew both our families probably assumed we’d both just flown into town today. Declan’s parents came over and hugged me as well. “It’s so good to see you, Cassie. Wyllie has gotten so big over the last month.”
I chuckled. “I know. I swear he gets bigger every day. And he’s learning so much. If you blink, you just might miss something.” Declan cleared his throat and shot me a loaded look. Oh, right. Declan had missed it all up until this point. Because of me and my lies. I took a cleansing breath. “Actually we have something that we need to talk to y’all about.”
My mom looked concerned. “Okay, darling, why don’t we go into the sitting room?”
En masse, we moved down the hall. Declan and I stood in the front of the room, by the fireplace. The mantle was overflowing with beautifully framed pictures of Wyllie and was decorated with more lighted garland that had ornate glass deer ornaments placed throughout. The breakables stayed high out of Wyllie’s reach.
Declan’s parents sat on one couch, mine on the other. I looked over at the gorgeous man beside me, holding our son, who was reaching for the decorations he knew he couldn’t play with. Dec nodded, urging me to get it all out.
“I don’t really know how to tell you guys this. I should have said something so long ago.” Declan put his arm around me and Wyllie played with my hair. These two men next to me, I loved them both, so fiercely. “Declan is Wyllie’s father.”
Declan’s parents rose to their feet. His mom looked at me, so much hurt in her eyes. “I knew it. I knew he looked like Declan. Cassie, how could you?”
My own mom was shaking her head in disappointment. “Cassandra, darling, why lie? Why keep this a secret for so long?”
“I don’t have a good answer for you, for any of you. All I can say is that I thought I was doing what was best for me and Wyllie. I always planned on telling Declan. I never wanted to keep them apart. I never wanted to deny anyone the chance to know him, to love him. I was scared. I thought I was guarding us both from heartache.” That all came out in a rush, and I needed to take a deep breath. “But I was wrong, and I will never be able to apologize enough. I’m so sorry.”
No one said anything. All eyes turned to Dec, waiting for his reaction.
“I ran into Cassie at the airport yesterday, I met Wyllie. She told me I was his father, and we spent last night talking.” Declan kissed Wyllie’s cheek. “I am so in love with my son. I understand why Cassie did what she did. I don’t like it, but I understand it.” He pulled me close to him. “I won’t hold it against her, and I don’t want anyone else to either. It’s time to do what’s best for Wyllie, and what’s best for Wyllie is to move forward. To be a real family now.”
Mrs. Preston came over to her son, and placed a sweet kiss on her grandson’s head. “I’m a grandma.” Tears filled her eyes and she wiped them away, smiling. “Connor, get over here and meet your grandson.”
Mr. Preston rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face gave away his happiness. “Gale, I’ve known Wyllie since he was a month old. And I’ve known he was my grandson from the first picture I saw of him.” Mrs. Preston’s eyes widened. “Declan told me he had dinner with Cassie in Florida before he left for London. I did the math. How the rest of you couldn’t put two and two together, I’ll never know.” He reached up and took Wyllie from Declan. “Isn’t that right, my little Wild Man?” Mr. Preston looked over at me and winked. “I figured you had your reasons, sweetheart.”
Growing up, Declan’s father had been quiet, reserved, and stoic even. When I was younger, I was almost afraid to bother him. But now, as an adult I saw him differently. He was watching us, always observing, taking it all in.
I kissed Mr. Preston’s cheek then grabbed Declan’s phone out of his pocket. “Let me get a picture, three generations of Preston men.” I ignored my mom and Mrs. Preston, who had both started to cry. All three boys looked over at me, grinning from ear to ear.
I took a step back, trying to get them all in the frame. My dad placed his arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. “I’m so sorry, Dad.”
“We’re all at fault here to some degree, darling. Connor could have mentioned Wylder to Declan. Your mother and I could have pushed you to tell us who the father was. In the end, things happen for a reason. You can’t go back. No use trying.”
Everyone spent the next hour gathered around Wyllie. I was overwhelmed by everyone’s reaction. I’d done a selfish thing, and I didn’t deserve their forgiveness or acceptance. Declan was being so understanding, so calm. Which made me feel even worse for what I’d done.
“Cassandra, darling, are you going to Nicole’s annual Christmas Cookie soiree? The invitation got sent here. We can watch Wylder; you and Declan should go. Go see some of your old friends.” Leave it to my mother; Wyllie has two more grandparents vying for his time, so let’s get rid of his parents for the evening.
I glanced over at Dec. His nose was wrinkled and he was shaking his head. “I take it you don’t want to go to Nicole’s annual Christmas Cookie soiree?”
He made a disgusted face. “Is Nicole the one who—”
I held up my hand to stop whatever inappropriate thing he was about to ask. “Yes.”
“Why would we want to go to that? I don’t like your friends and neither do you for that matter. Plus, I’d rather stay home and hang out with Wyllie.” Declan reached for his son but his mother spun away from him like she played offense for the Cowboys.
“No, honey, you should go.” Mrs. Preston looked at my mom for backup. Good choice, my mother was much better at manipulation. “And you really shouldn’t talk about your friends that way. It’s in bad taste.”
“You kids go, call a car service. Dance, drink.” My mother turned to Declan’s and mumbled, “Make us another grandbaby.” Both women startled to giggle.
Declan looked at me, puzzled. “Did she just say what I think she said?”
My dad let out a deep laugh, “You two do make a beautiful baby.” He came up and kissed my forehead. “Go have some fun, sweetheart.”
***
Our parents all but forced us to go to this party. Declan and I were both upstairs in my room getting ready. My parents also insisted that we share a room. When we tried to explain to them that we weren’t together, that we weren’t dating, they ignored us. My mom made some excuse about it just being easier that way in case Wyllie needed something. Liar. My mother has never come to me in the middle of the night to ask for help with Wyllie.
“I really don’t want to go to this party, Cass. Coke whores, liars, incestual weirdos. Your friends are the worst.”
I threw a pillow at his head. “Call Brice and ask if he’s going. Maybe some of your friends will be there too.” Not that his and Brice’s friends were any better in the whore department.
He picked up his phone, dialed Brice and put the phone on speaker.
“Yellllllow?”
“Hey, man, what are you doing tonight?” Dec fastened the necklace I was holding around my neck.
“Oh, the usual. Drinks, sex…why?”
Dec rolled his eyes. “I think Cass and I are going to stop by Nicole’s party for a while, come with us.”
“That does not sound like a good time, bro.”
Declan cocked his head to the side. “Remember that time your sister gave birth to my child and you didn’t tell me?”
Brice groaned on the other end of the line. “How long are you going to hold that against me?”
“Until Wyllie’s eighteenth birthday.”
“Fine, I’ll go. Douche.”
Dec smiled in victory. “We’re getting a car service, we’ll pick you up in an hour.”