Page 61 of The Bargain

“Studying?” I asked, actually impressed at her attempt to better her life.

She nodded as she ducked under my arm to reach Timothy.

I turned around and watched her taking him out of his seat. She rocked him gently.

“Jeremy is bringing forward the surgery. He thinks we should do it in two months. I agreed.”

She nodded, brushing her lips against Timothy’s forehead. “Of course, yes. I understand.” She smiled sadly at him and I knew she was worried.

I took a step toward her. “Jeremy Hunt is the best there is, Opal,” I said, trying to reassure her. “I would never put the life of my nephew, my heir, in any hands other than the best.”

She finally met my eyes and the gratefulness there took my breath away. “I know that. Thank you, Mr. Beaumont, truly.”

Now she was making me uncomfortable. This was not necessary. This was the least I could do. She didn’t have to feel grateful.

“Lea also wants to talk to you about something. I took the liberty of giving her your number.”

“Okay.” She walked to the fridge, her high ponytail moving with each movement. “I like Lea. She’s nice,” as she prepared Timothy a bottle.

“Ah, there is a Beaumont you like.”

“I liked Edward too,” she replied softly. I received the message loud and clear. She was not a fan of me.

“Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. Have a good day, Opal.”

She nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Beaumont...and thank you for telling me about Timmy’s condition. I appreciate it.”

I stopped at the door. Turning around, I watched her feed Timothy, her back at me.

This scene did something to me, to my stomach, my soul, my heart. A peaceful warmth settled in me that I didn't want to analyze or understand because I knew that one way or another, regardless of whether I won this bet or not, she’d leave, and then what?

Can you actually win anymore, Dean Beaumont?It started to feel like any outcome that involved her leaving would be a loss.

I looked at my calendar on the wall. I couldn’t believe I only had six weeks left here with Timmy and that we would be able to go back to Philly soon. A part of me would miss this place and the angry man living in it.

Rejecting him and forcing a distance had been harder than I'd thought, but every time I thought about forgiving him, I remembered how he'd treated me, how all those men had treated Opal. I would not let him do the same to me.

I looked out of the window of my room and noticed all the vans and people rushing around to prepare for the gala happening here tonight. It felt so foreign to me, being here for a gala and watching everyone running around as they rushed to make the old ballroom into a reception hall. I'd spied on them yesterday as they'd started to set up. It had looked so majestic already. I couldn’t comprehend how a party could take two days to set up, but Mrs. James had told me that that was not rare at all.

I looked at my phone before getting dressed in leggings and a tee-shirt.

Lea had called me, asking if I wanted to spend a girl day out with her before attending the gala. I liked her. I wanted Timmy to have a link to Eddy's family and I doubted that that connection would be made through Dean's cold, dead heart.

Despite having accepted Lea’s offer, I'd been reconsidering it for the past week. What did I have in common with this highly intelligent, overly qualified rich woman? I was going to feel so inadequate with my high school degree and wallet full of food stamps.

I sighed, shaking my head. And what about tonight’s fancy party? I turned to look at the little black dress I’d worn at the dinner party a couple of months ago. That was my dress for tonight and after the dinner party fiasco… I didn’t belong here. Why on earth had I said yes?

I grabbed my phone to text her that I’d changed my mind, but my phone vibrated as a text from Lea came through. She’d texted to tell me she was waiting for me in the car.

I sighed. It was too late now to bail on her.

I went to the nursery and gave Timmy a kiss.

“You’ll be nice for Mrs. James, won’t you, sweet boy?” I smiled, stroking his soft peach-colored cheek. “I’ll be back soon. I love you to the moon and back.”

Heading down the corridor, I rushed past Dean’s office. I didn’t think I would be strong enough if he tried any harder, which would end up with me hating myself and him a little more.

“I’d expected you to cancel on me,” Lea chimed with good humor as I opened the passenger door.

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