Page 71 of His Secret Virgin
Chapter 29
Christopher
The entire drive back home, Emma looked worried. Nothing I said took that look off her face. So I’d stopped talking altogether.
My lake house loomed ahead in the early morning sunlight. We’d stayed one night at the hotel then decided to head back to face reality. Dealing with my daughters wasn’t something I looked forward to, but it had to be done.
“Don’t make them leave, Christopher,” Emma said as I pulled into the garage.
“I want you to make this place your home, baby. You won’t be able to do that with them around making life as miserable for you.” I parked the car then we got out.
Emma clung to my arm as we walked inside. “Just promise me that you’ll talk to them as nicely as you possibly can. It was never my intention to run them out of their home.”
“And you’re not doing that.” I kissed the top of her head. “I am.”
Finding the cook in the kitchen as I’d expected, she greeted us. “Good morning.” Her eyes went to Emma. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Gretchen.”
Emma looked up at me with wild eyes as if she had no idea what to say. So I did it for her. “This is Emma.” I looked my cook straight in the eyes. “My wife.”
She looked thoroughly shocked. “Your wife? When did this happen?”
“Yesterday.” I ran my arm around Emma, a huge grin on my face. “And we’ve got more news, too. We’re having a baby.”
Gretchen’s eyes went even wider. “Really?”
I nodded. “Really. Have my daughters come down yet?”
“They’re in the breakfast nook.” She smiled at Emma. “Please come and visit with me when you can. I want to get to know what kinds of things you like to eat so I can add them into the rotation. I’m very happy for you two. I have to say, I’ve never seen Mr. Taylor look this happy since I’ve come to work for him.”
Finally, a smile pulled Emma’s lips up, and her eyes didn’t hold any fear in them. “Thank you, Gretchen. I will come to talk to you once I get settled in.”
Whispering in her ear as I led her to the breakfast nook, I said, “See, I told you being my wife will be fine—some old-fashioned prudes think a different kind of respect comes with being a wife.” I rolled my eyes at that, though I knew those attitudes would work in our favor.
“You were right.” She laughed. “How cool.”
“Yeah, how cool.” I chuckled. “Now, onto the hard part: my kids.”
She nodded knowingly. “Please, just try to be as kind as you can be.”
“I will try.” I knew my daughters wouldn’t make it easy though, especially if it came to asking them to move out.
Pushing the door open, I spotted my girls as they sat at the small table. Their eyes popped as Lauren asked, “Where have you been, Daddy? We’ve been worried sick about you.”
Ashley added, “You didn’t answer any of our calls. You just disappeared on us yesterday morning.”
“I overheard you two talking to your mother.” I pulled out a chair and made Emma sit down in it. I could feel the tension in her body. The last thing she wanted to do was sit down with my daughters, but we had to put ourselves in the position of authority.
Lauren looked down at the table. “You did?”
“Yes.” I took a seat next to my wife. “You know, I get it. I understand why you don’t want me to have anyone else in my life.”
Ashley looked at me with surprise. “You do?”
“Sure.” I put my arm around Emma. “You don’t want things to change around here. You don’t want your lives to vary one little bit. But guess what?”
“What?” Lauren asked.
“Change is inevitable.” I held up Emma’s left hand. “This woman is your stepmother now.”
