Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Zach

I nervously pace around my house for hours until Mac says, "Dude, go for a run or something. You're stressing me out."

"I can't leave until this thing with Yolanda is settled."

"When is that going to be? Because if it's not soon then I'm leaving."

Looking at my phone, my heart starts to beat like a drum in a heavy metal rock anthem. I read Ellie's latest text out loud. "Melinda Star is at my house now. Yolanda will arrive in thirty minutes."

"Thank God," Mac says.

Picking up the television remote off the coffee table, I turn on the TV. Keeping it on mute, I tell my brother, "Melinda's segment airs live at three our time."

"You know this could go spectacularly wrong, don't you?" he asks.

I glare at him. "Of course I do." Then I walk out of the room.

Once I'm in my bedroom, I call Ellie. "How's it going?"

"I've been nervous sweating all day," she says. "But Melinda is nice. Way nicer than Yolanda. "

"What did you say to get Yolanda there?" I want to know.

"I told her you'd be here at two and that she needed to arrive before then. She has no idea what's about to happen."

"I could have never done this without you, Ellie."

"It's not done yet, Zach. Shoot … Yolanda's here. I've got to go. Just make sure you're watching Melinda's segment." She hangs up without saying goodbye.

Walking back into my living room, I plop down on the sofa to wait. I try to read a book. I try to close my eyes and meditate. I even try counting, but I only get to twenty before I forget what number I'm on. I've never excelled at waiting.

Finally, when I don't think I can take it anymore, the opening music for American Wrap starts to play. The anchor, Angus Johns, stares into the camera and announces, "We've all eagerly been watching the drama brew between reporter Yolanda Simms and billionaire Zachary Hart."

He turns to look into another camera before adding, "And folks, things are heating up. Our very own Melinda Star is reporting live from Maple Falls, Washington."

The image on the screen shifts from the studio to the front of the cottage I'm renting from Ellie. Melinda turns to the camera and says, "Good evening, this is Melinda Star reporting from Maple Falls, Washington, with an update to a story that's captivated us all." She knocks on the door before stepping out of the focus of the camera.

When the door opens, Yolanda is standing there wearing nothing more than a towel. What in the world is she doing?

"Yolanda Simms?" Melinda asks unnecessarily. We can all see it's Yolanda.

"Melinda?" Yolanda is clearly caught off guard. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to ask some questions about Zachary Hart. I hope this is a good time."

A variety of expressions cross Yolanda's face. There's shock, panic, and then finally a look of pure satisfaction. "Will you give me a minute to put on a robe?"

"Of course," Melinda says.

Yolanda is gone for less than ten seconds before she's back, tying the sash on a red satin robe that looks like it's more for seduction than coverage. Stepping out onto the front porch, Yolanda says, "Zach is inside napping."

Melinda's eyes open wide. "Are you saying that you and Zach are staying here together? I thought things had gone south between the two of you."

Yolanda doesn't even try to hide the look of delight on her face. "Zach and I were waiting to make this announcement, but being that you're here, I might as well tell you that he and I are expecting a baby. We couldn't be more excited."

"You and Zachary Hart are having a child together?" She's clearly shocked.

Yolanda runs her hand over her still-flat stomach and smiles. "We are."

Looking at a pad of paper in her hand, Melinda asks, "And you used the Beverly Hills Fertility Clinic to help?"

Yolanda's knees appear to be on the verge of giving way, which forces her to lean against the door jamb for support. "Why would you think that?"

"Didn't Dr. Felicity Saipan perform in vitro fertilization on you?"

Yolanda is caught so completely off guard I nearly laugh. "It's nobody's business how Zach and I created our child. A lot of women have trouble conceiving."

"They do," Melinda agrees before sharing, "My husband and I went through quite an ordeal to have our children."

Sighing sympathetically, Yolanda says, "So you know how tough it can be."

"I do. But I also know that you can't have in vitro without a form clearly signed by both parents unless you're using a sperm donor. "

Yolanda is starting to see the writing on the wall. "Those forms are confidential."

"Of course," Melinda tells her. "But you've already told us that Zachary Hart is the father so I'm sure you won't mind making your form public."

"I … well … I mean …" Yolanda is stuttering like she has lost the ability to speak English.

"I'd love a chance to ask Zach himself." Melinda points into the cottage. "You said he's taking a nap? Would you mind waking him up?"

"I did say that …" Yolanda begins. "But what I meant is that he's just gone out to get supper for us."

"I'll wait," Melinda tells her.

That's clearly not what Yolanda wants to hear. "Why don't I have him call you when he gets back? He might be awhile."

Melinda momentarily glances at the camera before saying, "But he was just here, right?"

"We were taking a nap only thirty minutes ago," Yolanda answers. Her emphasis on the word "nap" clearly suggests anything but sleeping was going on.

Turning fully toward the camera, the reporter from American Wrap intones, "That's interesting, Yolanda, because I have it on good authority that Mr. Hart is currently at his beach house in Malibu."

Yolanda's eyes shift from side-to-side nervously. "I assure you Zach is here in Maple Falls."

A knock at my front door causes me to practically hit the ceiling in surprise. Looking at my brother, I tell him, "Our food has arrived."

"I didn't order it yet."

Getting up, I hurry to open the door only to be met by a camera. A local reporter named Henry Hanks is standing there as well. Shoving a microphone in my face, he announces, "Hello, Mr. Hart. I'm just here to prove that you're not in Maple Falls, Washington, right now. "

Holy heck. Tony didn't give me any indication this was going to happen. "As you can see, I'm not," I tell him.

"Then I'm guessing you didn't just take a nap with Yolanda Simms?"

"Yolanda and I are not a couple. We've never been a couple."

"I think you're telling the truth, Zach," Henry says. "As such, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you're not her baby daddy."

Pretending I have no idea what he's talking about, I ask, "What baby?"

Henry faces the camera. "And there you have it, folks. It looks like Yolanda Simms has been lying about her relationship with Zachary Hart." He turns to me and asks, "Is there anything you'd like to say to America, Zach?"

Leaning toward his microphone, I tell him, "Only that I've never lied about what's occurred between Yolanda and me. We went out on three dates, but that's all."

"Are you dating anyone else?" Henry wants to know.

I can't stop the grin from forming on my mouth. "I've recently met a very special woman. We've been on one date, but I hope there will be many more to come."

Henry looks startled by my answer, but he still manages to ask. "Would you like to tell us who that person is?"

"Her name is Ellie Butler," I say. "She's a skating instructor in Maple Falls and she's the loveliest woman in the world." I have no idea how Ellie is going to feel about such a public announcement, but I hope she's good with it. These big romantic gestures always seem to work well in the movies.

Henry nods his head. "Thanks for talking to us, Zach. We're happy to finally have the record set straight."

Even though I'm equally pleased, I feel the need to add, "I'm glad the press has finally seen fit to hear both sides of the story."

Henry's face flushes slightly before he tells the camera, "This has been a good lesson for us all. Back to you, Melinda …"

I walk back into my living room to see Mac still watching the TV. "You looked a bit pale," he says, "But I think your problems with Yolanda are over."

"Thank goodness for that." Picking up my phone, I call Ellie.

Her first words are, "You told everyone about me!"

"Are you mad?" I suddenly worry I might have done the wrong thing.

"No," she says. "I thought it was sweet. Do you mean it? You know, about hoping we're going to become a couple."

"Of course I mean it. Isn't that what you want too?"

"It is," she says quietly. "But I don't know how it's going to work. I still live in Maple Falls and you live in California."

"One day at a time, Ellie. I promise there is no obstacle so big we can't work it out." Then I tell her, "I'm going to be back in town tomorrow. Do you want to have our first official date out in public?"

She surprises me by answering, "I'm not really an out-on-the-town kind of girl. How about if I cook for you tomorrow?"

As if I didn't already know that Ellie wasn't like the other women I've gone out with. Everyone else wants to be photographed with me, and Ellie wants a quiet night in. "That sounds like a great idea," I tell her. "Plus, that way there won't be any prying eyes when I kiss you."

"Or when I kiss you," she practically purrs.

I know without question that Ellie Butler is my future, and I can't wait to experience life with her at my side.