Chapter 10

"I was thinking we could spend the day together. We could go on a picnic. You would not need to bring anything except perhaps a blanket. Antwan, our chef, would have no problem packing a basket for us."

"I can't." She was hurrying to get out of the house. She had missed her alarm and was running late because she did not drift off to sleep until three in the morning. She had promised Chloe to take her to the park to feed the ducks and buy ice cream.

There was a pause, and she waited while she stuffed something into her tote.

"May I ask why not?"

"I have another engagement."

"Is it work?"

She closed her eyes briefly before grabbing her keys.

"No."

"And you don't want to tell me what it is."

"I can't."

"I hope it's not another man, darling, or I will be distraught."

"It's not another man, and that's all you will get."

There was another pause again, and she used the time to rush downstairs.

"When are you going to trust me?"

"I cannot do this right now."

"It's never the right time, is it?" His resignation was not lost on her, and it almost had her blurting out the truth.

"I can't do this right now, Antwan; I am sorry."

"I see. What time will you be back?"

"Probably late."

"I had plans for us- "

"And my damned life does not revolve around you!" She snapped as she jerked the car door open and tossed her bags into the back seat.

This time, the silence stretched longer. Getting behind the wheel, she slammed the door shut and leaned her head back.

"Have a nice day, April." The dial tone sounded in her ear. Dragging the phone away, she dropped it on the seat beside her and clenched her fingers on the wheel. She could call him back and apologize.

He had been nothing but patient and kind to her and was intent on giving her pleasure. And she had repaid him by snapping his head off. What the hell was wrong with her? There was nothing wrong with her getting pregnant by a man who had never wanted her.

She was not the first na?ve girl to be taken in by lies, and she was sure she would never be the last. But his money and his status were bothering her. What if all he was saying to her were lies? How could someone like Antwan Collins be with someone like her?

He had not condemned her for being the daughter of a drug addict, had he? He had comforted her while she cried in his arms and had not brought it up again. But as soon as it was known that they were a couple, the press would dig into her life, and it would come out that she was a single parent.

It might also be brought to their attention who the father was. Not that she cared a damn about that, but it would mean opening her daughter to public scrutiny. Bowing her head on the steering wheel, she fought back the tears before pressing the start button.

*****

Andre tossed the water bottle to his brother as he walked off the court. His tennis whites were plastered to his body, and sweat was dripping from his forehead. Taking the time to wipe at the moisture before it could get into his eyes, he walked over to where Antwan was dabbing his face with the damp towels provided by the club for them.

"Thanks." Unscrewing the cap, Antwan swallowed the entire bottle without breathing.

"Need another one?"

"Yes, I suppose I do."

Taking a bottle from several on the table next to him, Andre handed it to Antwan.

"Alex and Liam are wiping the court with those associates," Antwan commented.

"Billy and Ned are wiped out, thanks to you." Lowering himself into one of the lawn chairs, Andre eyed his brother curiously. "You played as if demons were chasing you. What you lacked in sportsmanship, you made up for in enthusiasm. Not your usual style, brother."

"It's not my fault those men were determined to play a lackluster game. They should not have suggested a match if they were not up to it."

Unscrewing the top off his bottle, Andre gazed at the glossy green court where the two men were limping away. It was a lovely day, the breeze stirring the various trees. They had all gone to services before coming to the club to meet some clients for tennis and lunch.

Chandra and Andrea had luncheon with other wives, and his parents happily volunteered to spend the day with the children.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing." Tossing aside the towel, Antwan sat across from him, his gaze flickering towards the end of the court where his brother was playing.

"Try again."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"It might help," Andre suggested.

"Would it?" A grim smile touched his mouth as he leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs at that ankle. He still hurt from her words and told himself it was time to cut loose. Only the very thought of it was twisting his stomach into painful knots. He had fallen so hard and fast that he was still reeling.

"I believe so." Andre turned his head to look at his youngest brother. His instinct was to shield him from every hurt and pain as he had done when he was little. But certain things one had to face on one's own. "You are hurting, brother, and it's plain to see."

"I wanted to spend the day with her." He muttered.

"And?"

"She said she has a precious engagement."

"Another man, do you think?"

Even the idea of that was twisting him into pieces.

"I asked, and she denied. I don't think so."

"But you are not certain." His brother surmised. "Because she is not straight with you."

The statement coming from his brother was the very one he had been asking himself. What if she was lying to him?

"I don't know what to think." He admitted harshly. "She told me that her life does not revolve around me."

Andre felt the sympathy swamping him. "You are in love with her."

"Unequivocally." He admitted. "But I am going to have to take a step back. She knows how I feel and is- "His voice petered off as he stared blindly at where someone splashed in the pool.

"She is using it to twist the knife."

Antwan closed his eyes and had to swallow the lump in his throat.

"Precisely. I can have just about any woman I want. I am a Collins with vast resources to my name. I am a good lawyer, and my social skills are more than adequate. I am articulate and intelligent, and I am not a bad-looking guy, and yet, here I am, groveling at her feet and practically begging her to be with me.

I brought up the subject of marriage and told her I would love to have children with her, and all she was doing was handing me out crumbs. Just enough to keep me satisfied. I am done."

"Antwan- "

"No," he said swiftly, his face hardened with resolve. "I have given her countless opportunities to come clean, and she refused. I cannot do this anymore. Perhaps we were not meant to be."

"You don't believe that."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't." he acknowledged grimly. "But I am not doing this anymore. I am going to take a shower."

Before Andre could say anything else, he rose and walked away swiftly.

Picking up his bottle, he watched his little brother stride in the opposite path from the courts and the pool.

His eyes narrowed when he noticed Melissa Grant moving determinedly toward him and noticed that he had stopped and was encouraging the blatant flirting. A sigh escaped him as Antwan gave the woman an encouraging smile and walked off with her.

"What's that all about?"

He had been so immersed in the scenario that he had failed to notice his brother's approach.

"I suppose it's our brother's way of trying to forget that he is in pain."

"You mean from the vicious game of tennis he was playing?" Plucking a bottle of water from the pile, Alex uncapped it and swallowed half. "I thought Billy and Ned were the ones nursing wounds."

"No, you moron. I am referring to the fact that our brother is nursing a broken heart."

Alex grinned at him and took the seat Antwan had abandoned. "The young lady dumped him?"

"He asked her to spend the day with him, and she blew him off."

"So what?"

"It was the way she did it. He had planned to take her on a picnic."

"How sweet."

Andre cut him an irritated glance. "You are an ass."

"But you love me."

"I tolerate you." Andre corrected him. "She is hiding something."

"Another man, perhaps?"

Andre had to grin in wonder at how in tune they were. "That might be the case. He is a Collins, and unfortunately, women usually come at us and see dollar signs."

"I hate when you use that damn term about us being Collins," Alex growled.

"We cannot escape the fact that we are. He wanted to put an investigator on her, to try and dig up what she is hiding."

Alex gave him a disgusted look. "I bet that's your idea."

"You are damn right it is. He is our little brother- "

"He is twenty-eight goddamned years old."

"And that does not say anything. I am looking out for him."

"He can do that on his own."

"Perhaps. He says he is done."

A smile touched Alex's lips. "I remembered when I said that very thing with Andrea."

"And I intervened." Andre reminded him.

Turning his head, Alex gave him a contemplated stare. "That you did, and I am forever grateful to you for your intervention, even though I wanted to kick your ass for it at the time."

"Then you won't mind my doing so for Antwan." His brother remarked mildly.

"Andre- "

"I think lunch is about ready." He gave his younger brother a measured look and pushed to his feet toward the showers.

Hissing out a breath, Alex emptied the bottle of water and got to his feet.

*****

"Mommy, I want to go higher."

"Any higher, and you will be touching the sky," April told her wryly.

"I want to touch the sky. Look how blue and pretty it is."

April looked up and felt a sharp pain in her heart as she stared at the same shade of blue as Antwan's eyes. She had been with her daughter for three hours, and he had not called her. There had been a finality in his deep voice that told her he was fed up, and she could not blame him.

"Mommy!"

"Inside voice, sweetie." She murmured automatically as she pushed the swing as hard as she could. The park was teeming with people. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon, with the sun shining out of the sky"s brilliant blue. Mothers were pushing prams, and the fathers accompanied them.

On several benches tucked under trees, lovers enjoyed the beautiful weather by spending time with each other. She felt the sharp pain inside her chest as she noticed a couple a few feet away, sitting on a blanket with a picnic basket opened in front of them.

He had wanted to take her on a picnic.

"Don't worry about the arrangements; I will have our chef take care of the food. Just bring the blanket." And she had bitten his head off.

"Mommy, I am hungry." Chloe's voice jarred her from the painful thoughts and brought her back to the present.

"Of course you are." Bringing the swing to a halt, she helped the little girl climb.

Smiling as Chloe tucked her little hand in hers, she made her way to the towering oak tree where a blanket was spread. Aunt Sylvie had packed a basket for them with tender chicken strips, beef sandwiches, chicken fingers, and fruits. There was also a bottle of frosted cold lemonade and sliced homemade chocolate cake.

"Aunt Sylvie is determined to prevent us from starving," April murmured as she handed her daughter the plate.

"Can I get ice cream when we are done?"

April's eyebrows lifted as she put some food on her plate. "Are you certain there will be enough room?"

Chloe nodded, biting into her chicken fingers. "I eat a lot. Aunt Sylvie said so. She says I am growing, and that's why."

"We'll see."

"Mommy?"

"Yes, honey?"

"When can I come and live with you?" The wistful note in her daughter's voice had her heart turning over.

"Soon." She promised.

"Will it be before I go back to school? I love my school but would love to live with you and go somewhere else."

"It's almost the end of the school year, and I am not certain I can make it happen in time for that." Reaching over, she squeezed the little girl's hand. "But I am working on it. And I would like you to be patient. Can you do that?"

She nodded. "I wish I had a daddy like that little girl over there. He is giving her a piggyback ride."

Ignoring the sharp jab of guilt, she gave the girl a wide smile. "After we finish eating this enormous meal, we feed the ducks."

Chloe looked at her with wide golden-brown eyes. "We are not supposed to."

Putting a finger on her lips, she gave her daughter a conspiratorial wink. "We will do so without anyone seeing us, and if the park attendant happens to come this way, we will pretend that we were just talking to the ducks."

Chloe grinned, her eyes alight with mischief and anticipation. "I would love that." Tearing off chunks of bread, she shoved them into the pockets of her candy pink jumper. "There are lots of ducks," She murmured when she saw her mother's raised brows. "We don't want some of them to be hungry."

"Of course not." April would have agreed to anything. Her daughter's mind was already diverted from the man and his daughter, who were now walking hand in hand towards the swing.

Within minutes, the little girl was eating her meal and putting more chunks of bread in her pockets, the subject of having a father forgotten for the moment. But April was still thinking about it and trying to hide her intense sadness.

*****

"I have been doing all the talking," Melissa complained with a pout. "And you have hardly said two words. We are outside in the lovely gardens of this particularly trendy and elegant restaurant, and I feel you are not having any fun. Now, tell me what I can do to change that?"

"Nothing, I'm afraid." Forcing himself to pay her attention, he realized this was a mistake. He also knew that Melissa was expecting him to take her home tonight, something that would not happen.

She had not called, and he wondered if she was with another man. The tormenting thoughts were twisting him up inside, but he was determined not to make the first move. He had been doing so since he first met her and had to take back the power.

"I am starting to feel invisible."

"A woman as beautiful as you are should not be allowed to feel that way." His smile faded as he stared at her. For one insane minute at the club, he had contemplated taking her to bed so that he could forget. But commonsense had reared its head. Being with her or any other woman would not make him forget.

"That's right, darling."

"I am also not in the habit of sleeping with married women." He told her mildly, taking up his glass of wine.

He saw when she gave a start before a slow smile curved her lips. "You know."

"I do. You were married to a former actor two months ago in a civil ceremony. What happened, Melissa? Bored already?"

Picking up her glass, she sipped delicately before putting the glass down. "The bastard cheated on me with the leading lady of the play we are in together."

"And let me guess, you wanted revenge."

"That and a chance to recapture what we had years ago." Her blue eyes turned limpid. "We could just have some fun, Antwan; you look like you could use it."

"Not interested."

"You were at the club. We were practically all over each other."

"A moment of insanity. Marriage is supposed to be an honorable institution. What is this now – your third?"

Her eyes flashed. "It's my fourth, and you have no right to judge me."

"You are right, of course. My apologies." He lifted his glass to her in a mock toast. "I am afraid I must run. The bill has already been paid, and if you want dessert, please feel free to order anything on the menu." Pushing back his chair, he put down his napkin and left.

*****

"What's going on?" The maid had met him at the door and told him that his family was gathered in the blue and white salon. And they were all there, including the children.

"We have been waiting for you, brother." Andre gave him a searching look as he came into the room. "We have a bit of good news."

"Uncle Alex and Auntie Andrea are having a baby!" Marissa burst out as she raced over to hug him.

"Marissa Collins! What did we say to you?" Her exasperated father admonished.

"Sorry daddy." Her impish smile came, her eyes dancing.

"We will appoint you the news announcer in the family," Alex told her dryly.

"The family is certainly growing," Shifting Marissa in his arms, Antwan walked over to hug and kiss his sister-in-law. "How are you, darling?"

"Sick to my stomach and trying to remind your brother that I am the one carrying the baby."

"You have to forgive Alex; he likes to make people believe he is tough, but underneath, he is your typical marshmallow." He grinned at the lethal look he was getting from Alex.

"Now, you two, enough." Angeline clapped her hands in delight. "My fourth grandchild, I am over the moon."

"Where on earth is the champagne?" Anthony asked, beaming.

"Ah, just in time." Angeline gestured the main in as she wheeled in the tray.

Antwan made all the necessary noises and allowed himself to be bombarded by his niece and nephews as they plied him with questions and climbed all over him; all the while, his heart slowly broke into pieces.

It was almost ten, and he still had not heard from her; he had to take it to mean that it was officially over between them.

"I need a minute with your uncle, darlings." Angeline gently disengaged her grandchildren and sent them on their way. "And it's bedtime for all children under ten." She announced.

"We are leaving anyway," Alex announced, picking up his son. "Andrea is wilting and does not want to admit it."

"We are turning in ourselves," Andre added.

"Darling, I will see you upstairs," Anthony told his wife.

Angeline waited until the room had emptied before turning to her youngest son.

"Mother, I am tired- "

"You will sit and have another drink with me." She told him firmly, already going towards the tray where a half bottle of champagne remained. Pouring the pale gold liquid into two glasses, she handed one to him, gesturing to the blue velvet-covered chairs in front of the fireplace. "You put up a good front, but I don't think you managed to fool anyone."

"I don't know what you mean."

With a sigh, his mother leaned back in the chair and stared at him. "You are unhappy, and I think I know the source of that unhappiness."

"It's nothing."

"Darling, won't you tell me what's wrong?"

"It's over."

She gazed at him steadily. "Had it begun?"

He gave a start at her uncanny observation and painfully admitted that she was right.

"No, I suppose not."

"You fell hard and fast."

"A Collins' flaw." He said bitterly.

"Not a flaw, darling, a blessing." Reaching over, she squeezed his hand. "Take some time to recover and think. It might now be over at all."