Page 24 of Nico
But dammit, if she didn't miss him. And wanted to hear his voice. He had grown on her so much that she could not go a day... No! She shook her head. She would not go there.
He was busy. She was busy. She had inventory and paperwork. Mrs. Heckles had ordered the Jackson Colby painting, the horribly expensive one that reminded her of a violent thunderstorm. The commission would be off the chart. And she was the one who was going to profit, as well as Jackson Colby of course and the gallery.
She had met the man and had become a kind of friend, since he and Nico were friends. She liked his style. He and his brother Jason had an enormous amount of talent and yet they never put on airs. Nico was the same way, and he had been born with money, immense wealth.
Shaking her head, she recalled the first time she had gone to his place. The man had all that money and preferred to live in a pool house. Albeit a very elegant one, but still. And his clothes. They mostly looked as if he had slept in them for several nights.
"All right, girl," she muttered. "Enough." Taking a deep breath, she called up the invoice and focused.
*****
He stood just inside the doorway of the lovely pale pearl room and watched as his mother and the little girl bonded. The papers were drawn up and signed, and now Brigette was saying goodbye to her daughter. He found himself wondering how on earth she could leave the little girl.
Gracie clung to her mother and started crying. He also saw that it was not easy for the mother. She was holding back tears and trying to be brave. Taking the child over to Linda, she kissed those wet cheeks and stroked the wild blonde curls.
To his surprise, Gracie turned her face into Linda's silk blouse and clung to her.
"I'll see you out." Nico leaned off the jamb as Brigette crossed to the door.
"Thanks." Taking a last look at her daughter, she followed him out. They descended the stairs without speaking. A maid came forward with Brigette's jacket and he held it for her to shrug into.
She had taken an Uber and had called another one to take her to the airport.
"You hate me."
He looked at her in surprise. They had stepped onto the porch to wait for the pick-up. "Why would I?"
"I made a mistake in not telling you about Gracie. She's really yours, you know." Tears clouded her eyes. "I wanted you to come back, hoped you would."
He shook his head. "It was never that way between us."
"I know. In my heart, I knew that, but I still hoped. I thought fleetingly about using Gracie as leverage to get you to come back to me. You treated me well, Nico, more than well." She touched his arm lightly. "I loved that, loved the way you took care with me." Her eyes welled. "I love Julian, you know. You might think I'm foolish or greedy and it's all about the money, but it's not."
"You would have gone through life without telling me about her. I have no doubt she's mine. It's pretty obvious."
"And I'm sorry for that." She pressed her lips together. "Please take care of her. Your mother and sister already love her." She watched the car sweep into the long circular driveway. "Do you think that when she gets older, you would allow her to speak to me?"
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know. Her life's pretty turned around right now. My sister says she deserves stability, and she's right. I don't know how to be a father."
"You'll learn, and you'll come to love her. That's the kind of man you are." She turned to walk down the steps. "Goodbye, Nico."
He stood there watching her get into the car and drive away. Standing there for a few more minutes, he went back inside.
*****
"She's finally sleeping." Linda watched as her son went to pour himself a drink. "We'll take her to a pediatrician and have her checked out thoroughly. And take her shopping. Her mother brought some toys with her, but I want her to have more. We should also consider hiring a nanny for her."
"The several dozen maids employed here not enough?"
He knew he was being nasty and ill-tempered, but he could not seem to help himself.
"She'll need someone completely dedicated to seeing to her care." Linda ignored the temper and tried for patience. He was out of his depth, and it showed. "We'll also research preschool-"
"Good God, Mother, she's only just arrived. Give her some time before you start planning her high school prom."
She lifted her chin and gave him an icy look that had him mentally backing down.
"I'm going to remind myself that you're confused and angry. But I will not have you taking that tone with me."
