Page 31 of Second Chance at Love (Chance At Love Duet 1)

“Probably because you are too smart for your own good,” I retorted, unable to help myself and gave him a big innocent smile.

“Mom,” Sienna jumped in and proceeded to show me some images on her phone. “Look, they are all dressing up and going to a party.”

I glanced at her phone and then looked at my daughter. “We are going to a party too,” I smiled gently. “We could have stayed in and watchedThe Hobbit.”

Sienna found nothing amusing in it, and instantly rolled her eyes. “I swear, Mom… sometimes you act like you are a hundred years old.”

“Well, thank you,” I answered. “I think I will take that as a compliment.”

Sienna threw herself back into her seat and turned her head around to look out the window.

I gave an apologetic smile to Kristoff and shrugged. Rest of the ride, Kristoff and the little ones mainly did all the talking, yammering away in gibberish. He had an easy way with kids, and I wondered how come he had no children himself. He was actually amazing with them.

We pulled into a gated community, somewhere in Bethesda, and drove pretty much through it. The gated community was full of beautiful large estates. I couldn’t even imagine the price tag of these homes. At the opposite side of the community, stood the biggest estate with a huge beautiful Southern plantation style home, and I could see it was right on Patapsco River. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn this home was fromGone with the Wind, one of my favorite movies.

Kristoff pulled up front, and we all climbed out of his Land Rover.

“Now, this is a beautiful home,” I said to nobody in particular. An older gentleman opened the door and welcomed us all in.

Then he addressed Kristoff. “Your mom and the party group are in the back.”

“Thank you, Thomas.”

My little ones were unimpressed with the house, and I was completely terrified they’d break something on our way through it.

“Saoirse,” I said. “...please don’t touch anything.” Even with the salary that Kristoff was paying me, I had a suspicion I would not be able to repay the damage. Saoirse grabbed Kristoff’s hand, and I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from telling her to drop it and take Sienna’s hand.

Sienna was walking next to me, slightly awed at the grand house as well, and Sierra on my opposite side, holding my hand.

We got to the oversized terrace with an enormous backyard, overlooking the gorgeous Patapsco River. Lena was having a small garden birthday party with about thirty people. I felt my usual uneasiness from big gatherings come over me.

“Kristoff,” I heard an older man cheer happily and spotted him as he made his way over to us. He was smiling broadly with Lena on his arm. I tried to remember if she’d said she was married and failed. Maybe that was Kristoff’s father?

“Hey, Albert.” Kristoff smiled back. They shook hands, so I assumed it was not his father.

“Is this your family?” the man asked, looking at us all happily. Definitely not his father.

“Hi, I’m Saoirse,” my little one jumped in, never letting go of Kristoff’s hand.

“Gemma, I am so happy you came,” Lena said as she gave me a kiss on my cheek. “I was so worried you’d bail last minute.”

“Ah, hello, Lena,” I mumbled blushing because that was exactly what I wanted to do. “Happy birthday, again.” I smiled and handed her a wrapped gift.

“Ah, honey… I’m too old for gifts. I just have a party because it is a good excuse to see all my friends.” She went to Kristoff and kissed her son on the cheek just as she did me.

“I see nobody is going to introduce me to this gorgeous young lady,” Albert complained. “So I will do it myself. Hello, my dear. I am Albert, and I am Lena’s very old friend from way, way back. Are you the one that captured Kristoff’s heart? I have to say when I saw you coming in, it was like a vision of a perfect family from a magazine.”

“Hello, Albert,” I answered. I was a bit uncomfortable with the man’s directness. “No, we are not together, we just came together. I’m actually Kristoff’s admin assistant. These are my daughters… Sienna, Saoirse, and Sierra.”

Albert looked at Kristoff, then me, and then exclaimed, “That is even better. I can steal you just for myself. Tell me, dear. Are you married?” He pulled me away, guiding me towards a small group gathered across the way. Sierra let go of my hand, probably aware she’d have a better time staying with Saoirse and Kristoff and ran to the two of them.

“Sienna,” I called out as I turned back to scan the group I arrived at, an uncomfortable look on my face. “I’ll be right back, stay with your sisters.”

On her nod, I answered Albert. “Ah, I’m a widow.”

“Me too,” he said thrilled.

What the heck,I thought.These old people are crazy.

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