Catia (Starkis Family #6) (23 page)

The girls stood in front of her, looking nervous. Emily bit her lip while Elsie clasped her hands in front of her and rolled forward on her toes.

“We’re sorry,” they said in unison.

My heart swelled with pride. I knew they were nervous about Catia’s reaction, just as I was, but they were determined to power through the apology they’d rehearsed.

“We ‘ere mean to you,” Elsie said.

“And dat wasn’t fair,” Emily added.

Catia smiled as she clasped their little hands again. “It’s okay. I understand.”

“We ‘ere upset when we found out about de baby ‘cause we thought Daddy would love it more an us,” Emily said with a sidelong glance in my direction.

“Your daddy could never love anyone or anything more than he loves you girls,” Catia said with quiet conviction.

The fact that she understood that only made me love her more. She didn’t feel the need to compete with my kids for my love and affection. She knew I could love them all…in vastly different but equally important ways.

“We know dat now,” Emily said, looking solemn. “He told us.”

Catia smiled, blinking back tears. “Good. I’m glad you understand.”

“And we’re excited ‘bout a new baby like Venia.” Emily reached for the package Catia had set on the table. “That’s why we asked Nana to help us make this.”

Catia opened the package carefully, in deference to the pretty wrapping they’d carefully selected and applied to the red box tucked inside. She peeled back the layers of tissue to reveal the ornament woven with pearls and holding a silver plaque that read “Baby’s First Christmas.”

“Wow,” Catia whispered.

“Daddy said we should wait ‘til the baby’s born a give it to you, but we didn’t wanna wait,” Elsie said, bouncing. “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” Catia whispered, touching it reverently. “Did you really help make this?”

They twisted up their faces in unison before they stole glances at each other. “We just watched and handed Nana the beads and crystals she asked for ‘cause we don’t know how to do that yet.”

My mother had been making jewelry for years, and we had two ornaments that she had lovingly crafted, one for each of the girls’ first Christmases, hanging on our tree at home.

“Well, it’s beautiful,” Catia said, setting it back in the box carefully. Placing the box back on the table, she opened her arms to the girls. “Thank you so much. I love it.”

“You’re welcome,” they said as they hugged her back.

I watched the three people I loved most sharing what I hoped would be the first of many special moments, and I knew I’d never tire of watching them together. No one would ever replace their mother, nor would I have wanted that, but I hoped the girls would forge a strong bond with Catia that would span the rest of our lives.

“Can we ask somethin’?” Emily asked, suddenly shy as she pulled back to look Catia in the eye.

“Sure,” Catia said, squeezing her hand. “You can ask me anything, honey.”

“Are you gonna have a boy or a girl?”

I held my breath, waiting for her response. I’d wondered about that too, though I suspected it might be too soon to tell. According to my calculations, she wasn’t three months pregnant yet. With any luck, we could find out together, unless she chose to wait until the baby was born.

“I don’t know yet,” Catia admitted. “Would you like a little brother or sister?”

“Brother.” Emily giggled. In a stage whisper, she added, “We think Daddy’d like a boy too.”

The thought of a baby boy flashed through my mind. Football games, coaching Little League, fishing trips, all the things I’d done with my father growing up… “It makes no difference to me. As long as the baby’s healthy, that’s all I care about.”

Catia and I shared a brief smile before she said, “I feel the same way.”

A knock on the door drew our attention before Catia’s father poked his head in.

“Merry Christmas, sir,” I said, stepping forward to offer my hand. “Thank you for having us.”

His eyes drifted to his daughter, as though he was looking for some sign. Eventually he nodded, a slight smile tipping his lips. “My pleasure. Glad you could make it.”

“Why don’t we head out and see what that cute little puppy of yours is up to?” Catia suggested, hustling the girls out of the room.

I closed the door behind them before turning to face my prospective father-in-law. “I was wondering if I might have a word with you, sir.” His gaze drifted to the open ring box on the desk before I explained, “It’s a family ring. A stone to represent each of our birthstones, including the baby’s. Because that’s what I want more than anything, for us to be a real family.”

He sighed heavily before rounding the desk to claim the tufted leather swivel chair. “You could’ve fooled me.”

I wasn’t surprised he was annoyed with me. I would have been angry too if someone had treated my daughters the way I’d treated his. When he inclined his head, I claimed the chair across from him. “I feel like I need to start at the beginning to make you understand.”

He folded his hands over his stomach as he stared at me intently. “I’m listening.”

“I never believed in love at first sight until I met your daughter.” I’d been in lust with Karen at first sight, but we were kids then, and like any teenage boy, I’d been guided by my libido. “The first time I saw her, I just knew.”

“You knew what?” he asked skeptically.

I was dealing with a pragmatic man who’d built an empire on the basis of good sense and calculated risks. He wouldn’t be swayed by claims I couldn’t back up with facts. “That Catia was special. I guess that’s why I worked so hard to try to make inroads with her, because I wasn’t willing to let her return to Chicago without her knowing how I felt about her.”

“Yet you let her go. You never came after her.” He shook his head. “I never understood that. Had my wife pulled a stunt like that when we were dating, I would have hunted her down.” He chuckled, shaking her head. “Ah, but I guess times have changed, haven’t they?”

“Not that much,” I said ruefully. “I thought about hopping on a plane dozens of times, but I knew she had to come back to me because she wanted to, not because I wanted her to.”

“Makes sense, I guess.”

“The more time passed, the more bitter I became. I wanted to believe she’d realize inside of a month that we were meant to be together. Hell, it hadn’t even taken me that long.”

“My girl is stubborn,” he said, looking amused. “She hates to admit when she’s wrong.”

“We have that in common then,” I said, sharing his smile. “Maybe that’s why it took us so long to admit we’d made a mistake.”

“Seems to me you’ve made your fair share of mistakes, son.”

We were finally getting down to it.

“Yes, sir. I have.” I glanced at a photo of Catia with her parents and siblings. I wanted to fill our home with the same kind of photos, marking every year of our journey together as a family. “I was young when I married Karen. I thought I knew what it took to make a marriage work, but I didn’t. Neither of us did.”

“It’s a lot harder than anyone thinks,” he agreed. “But it’s worth it when you find the right person.”

I couldn’t have agreed more. That was why I was willing to work harder than I ever had to salvage my relationship with Catia. She was the right person for me. I had no doubt about that. “It took me a while, but I finally figured that out.”

“Just in the nick of time, I’d say.” He raised an eyebrow. “All things considered.”

“I know you can’t be pleased that Catia is expecting my baby—”

“I didn’t say that,” he said, raising a finger. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“Sorry.”

“Had this happened a year and a half ago, I would have said my daughter couldn’t have found a better man. While you were building my restaurant, you proved yourself to be a competent professional, but more importantly, you proved you were an upstanding man.”

“I appreciate that.” But obviously his opinion had changed since he felt the need to qualify the compliment.

“I could tell you were a good father just by watching you with your girls. That’s why I was so surprised by your reaction to the news that Catia was expecting.”

I swiped a hand over my face, wishing it were possible to hide from the truth, to erase the ugly things I’d said from everyone’s memory. “I won’t sit here and defend myself, Mr. Starkis. My actions were inexcusable. All I can tell you is that I’m human and I make mistakes. Granted, that was one hell of a mistake that could cost me the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” he said quietly. “Though my daughter may not be willing to admit it yet, I believe she needs you just as much as you seem to need her.”

I was humbled that he seemed willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. That was more than I felt I’d earned. “If I had it to do all over again, I would do things so differently. But I can’t. All I can promise you moving forward is that I will be the best father I can to your grandbaby and the best husband your daughter could ask for… if she’ll have me.” I held my breath, waiting for his response. When none was forthcoming, I said, “Sir, if Catia agrees to marry me, I’m hoping that we have your blessing.”

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead before a slow smile spread across his face. He pushed forward, standing as he offered his hand. “You have my blessing. All I ask is that you make my baby girl happy and love her the way she deserves to be loved… for the rest of her life.”

“That I can promise you.”

Catia

When Doreen called to ask me to share Christmas dinner with her family after having brunch with my own, I told her I couldn’t make any promises. She said she understood, but I could tell she was disappointed.

I hadn’t made my decision until Christmas morning after I opened the gifts Chase and the girls had selected for me. They’d proven to me, beyond a doubt, that he not only knew me but he’d listened to everything I’d ever told him and he wanted to make me happy.

They gave me a cashmere sweater in my favorite shade of blue. Leather gloves and slippers because I always complained my hands and feet were cold. A book from my favorite author. A new journal because I’d once told him I liked to start the New Year with a new one. There was a journal to document every stage of my pregnancy and a hand-carved frame his father had made to display the baby’s picture. Everything I’d never told him I wanted yet he’d somehow known. Because he knew me…

As I stood on his parents’ doorstep, clutching the pecan pie I’d baked, I took a deep breath, praying this day could mark a new beginning for all of us.

When I finally worked up the courage to ring the bell, I expected Doreen to answer. Instead, a beautiful blonde with familiar blue eyes greeted me. She had to be Karen.

“Oh, um, hi,” I said.

She smiled at me. “Hi, you must be Catia. Doreen said you might be stopping by, but we didn’t say anything to Chase. No sense getting his hopes up, right?” She winked.

I didn’t want to be rude, but I was curious why she was sharing Christmas with her former in-laws. Of course, it had to be for the kids. I was sure they wanted to spend the holiday with both of their parents.

“Please come in,” Karen said, stepping back so I could enter. She seemed so at home there, but of course she would. She had been with Chase for half her life by the time they separated. “Chase called to say they’re running a little late. Apparently they were on their way and forgot the puppy’s favorite chew toy. He didn’t want to risk the dog substituting with the leg of one of his mom’s antique tables.” She laughed as she took the pie and set it on a console table while I removed my coat. “I can’t say I blame him. Doreen would never forgive that.”

My eyes must have betrayed the fact that forgiveness was weighing heavily on my mind because she gave me another warm smile. “Do you think we could talk for a minute before you go into the kitchen to see Chase’s parents?”

“Uh, sure.” I didn’t know what we might have to discuss since we’d never even met, but I tried to remain open-minded. Chase was trying to form a friendship with her, and I could at least try to do the same for the sake of the kids.

She led me into a spacious living room dominated by a baby grand piano and pictures of Doreen’s children and grandchildren. This was a real family home with handmade throws and cushions and an old dog bed in the corner. The fire was blazing, highlighting the warm glow of the real Christmas tree.

“Mmm,” I said and breathed deeply. “I love the smell of a real Christmas tree. We never had one when I was growing up. We were always traveling over the holidays, so my mother said it wasn’t practical.”

Karen smiled as she gestured to a worn recliner with a perfect view of the flat screen TV nestled in the corner of the room. “Have a seat. Chase always insisted on a real tree. He said it wasn’t Christmas without one.”

It irked me a little that this woman knew the man I loved so intimately, but I couldn’t hold that against her. “Chase strikes me as the kind of guy who’s big on tradition.”

“He is,” Karen said, nodding. “He had a great example growing up. His parents are both wonderful people.”

I smiled in agreement. Though I’d only met Chase’s father a few times when he’d dropped his wife off at my house for our lessons, I could tell he was a big part of the reason Chase had grown into an honorable man.

“I think that’s also why he’s such a great father.” Karen’s lingering gaze told me that was the reason she’d pulled me aside, to let me know I’d be crazy to try to prevent Chase from being a part of our child’s life.

“I’m sure it is,” I said, running my hands over my long black flared skirt. “We learn by example, right?”

“That’s my point,” Karen said, eyeing me cautiously. “I’m the first to admit this is none of my business, but when Chase said he was worried he may never get to raise the child you’re carrying, I knew I had to say something.”

After their contentious divorce, I was surprised that Karen was someone he confided in, but I supposed the issue could have come up during one of their joint therapy sessions.