Chapter 18

Damian

Robyn pokes her head into my office. "Someone's here to see you. She says if you don't see her, she'll threaten to tell your mother that you're a terrible human being."

I sigh. "Let Brooke in."

My sister pushes in past her. "How'd you know it was me?" she demands. "You're not clever enough to know that."

"Because you're the only one to think that Mom cares about what I do."

Brooke rolls her eyes and drapes herself across the sofa in Amelia's office. "I hate this office. Reminds me of Victor."

"It's Amelia's. Not Victor's."

"Well, if it's Amelia's, she needs to redecorate it." I flash her a look, but that seemed to remind Brooke of something. "How is Amelia? Are you still being a fucking pervert and sticking your finger in her mouth?"

"Not my finger, no," I mutter, distracted by my email from Ernest, the lawyer. "I have far better body parts to put in her mouth. We just do that one in private."

Brooke makes the sound of someone vomiting. "About her being pregnant… Mom says it's Jackson's. Is she right, or is that just what you're telling everyone?"

I snap to attention. "It's definitely Jackson's. She's about three months more along than possible if it was mine. Come on, Brooke, do the math."

She gives me a frosty glare. "Apparently, you've wanted to get in her pants for longer than I thought. I didn't know how far back you managed to succeed."

I sigh and give Brooke my full attention. "Look, what Amelia and I have now is nothing to do with you until we decide to say something. Which we haven't. Things are complicated with the baby on the way, and we're both trying to work out what we're doing, okay? Is that shooting straight enough for you? We have good sex—great sex—and she's gorgeous, and considerate, and hands down, better than any of my ex-wives, so there's that."

Brooke's eyebrow quirks up her forehead. "You love her. You're in love with her."

"Brooke…"

"I can't believe you love Jackson's widow. What a plot twist."

I exhale a laugh. "Mom doesn't know. She'll either have a heart attack or think I'm winning at this arbitrary game we're playing."

"Mm…" She stands up. "See you around, wife-stealer."

"I didn't steal anyone's wife!" I scowl at her. "Wait, what did you even come here for?"

"To ask if you're about to become a daddy. Why else?"

She's almost at the door, when I suddenly stop her. "Speaking of, Brooke…"

She frowns. "What?"

"I realized the other day that Amelia's supposed to have a baby shower, right? How does one do that? She doesn't have a mom. Is that something moms do?"

Brooke's look softens, and she gives me a sad smile. "I'll help out."

"Thank you. Thank you. Speak to Robyn and get Mila's sister's number. Maybe Eleanor, too. Those three are your best bet. Just… I don't know, run everything by me so I know what's going on."

"Mila?" Brooke whispers.

I wave my hand. "Amelia."

Robyn sticks her head in the door, nearly hitting Brooke with it.

"Call from Ernest."

I give her a stressed smile and turn to Brooke. "I have to get that. Robyn, can you work with Brooke on Amelia's baby shower?"

Robyn looks absolutely delighted. "Of course!"

Brooke looks less excited, but I kick them both out of the office so I can finish as much MVM work as I can before I have to then do work for the restaurant. I take a second to breathe before getting started.

"Where are we going?" Amelia says suspiciously, finishing up her make-up in the bathroom.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you." I check my watch and raise my eyebrows at her. "Don't want to be late."

"You said I had to be comfortable, stunning, and feel good about myself. That takes time."

"It shouldn't. You have most of them down naturally." I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her cheek. "You're gorgeous. Now, let's go so I can show off your beauty."

Edgar gives me a conspiratorial wink as I help her in the car, and she narrows her eyes at him before turning the suspicion onto me.

"I'm not sure I like you two working together. Maybe you can work together to figure out which one of you I'm going to fire."

I chuckle as Edgar drives us in the direction of The Secretary. Amelia sighs when we pull up out the front of it.

"We're just going to your work? Wow, Damian. You sure know how to treat your women."

I give her a placid smile and help her out of the car. "You deserve the world, sweetheart, but this is what I could do."

I hold her hand until we get to the steps leading up to the doors before giving her an encouraging squeeze and letting her go on in front of me.

We're immediately bombarded with balloons, flowers, and sparkling diamonds. The details Brooke went to are insane. There's a portrait of Jackson on the table, a photo booth, and enough decorations to last until the baby turns eighteen. All the women in her life are scattered around the room, beaming at her.

"Surprise," I murmur in her ear. "Go enjoy yourself. I'll be in the kitchen." I disappear before anyone questions my being here.

I catch her smile, her eyes bright with tears, as I push my way into the kitchen.

Gabby is standing there with a smirk on her face. "This is a lot of effort to go to for a benefactor."

"Turns out… my benefactor has a nice ass and a great personality."

"And is pregnant."

"That too."

Gabby raises her eyebrows. "Is it… yours?"

"No. My cousin's." I put my hand on my hip and try to glance out into the restaurant. "He's dead. I fell in love with his widow." I turn to her with a scowl. "Get back to work, and stop making me tell you things about my private life."

Gabby snorts. "I don't think that's what they mean when they say keep it in the family."

I wave her away and move out to stand behind the bar, watching as Amelia glitters in the attention of her friends and family.

My mother slides up to the bar, eyeing me suspiciously. "Why is your restaurant hosting a baby shower for a Garrett?"

"Brooke planned it, Mom. I agreed. That's it." I point back to the party. "You should be celebrating with the glowing mother-to-be, not with the owner of the venue."

Mom twists to have a look at Amelia, her eyes darting across my girl's young face. "You're right," she says slowly. "She is glowing. Why?"

"Why? Because she's—"

"She's grieving and carrying the baby of her dead husband. She should not be glowing and looking that… that radiant."

It's true, as I look at Amelia. She is glowing. She looks incredible. Her gaze lands on mine, as if looking for me and her smile brightens for a fraction of a second before turning back to Olivia.

She doesn't seem to notice my mother standing next to me or Eleanor in between us, who is suddenly aware of the interaction.

My mom's mouth drops open, and she stands up slowly. "Damian," she whispers. "Are you… are you sleeping with Amelia Garrett?"

I turn back to Mom in a scowl, but Eleanor has already put two and two together in the same way Mom did. Eleanor storms towards me, her gaze fierce. "What did you just say?"

"I didn't say anything." I force a smile on my face. "I also have work to do. Enjoy the party."

I've just turned around in the hopes that I can make a speedy exit when Eleanor's voice stops me dead in my tracks. It's not directed at me, though. It's directed at Amelia.

"Is that really Jackson's baby, or have you moved on to the next available Garrett in the hopes that you can get the job you wanted?" Her voice is ice cold, and I spin to see Amelia immediately burst into tears, all joy from a few moments ago gone. A horrified hush comes over the party, and Amelia stares at me, a look of helplessness on her stricken face.

I hurry towards her, hell-bent on getting Amelia the fuck out of here, but Olivia is there already, her arm around Amelia to keep her upright. All I can do is stand there awkwardly, glaring at my mother and my aunt.

"It is definitely Jackson's baby," I growl. "How dare you accuse her of that!"

Amelia lets out a shaky sob. "I promise," she says weakly. "I'm six months pregnant today. It can only be Jackson's. I've never had—"

"Jackson had fertility issues," Eleanor hisses. "You told me about it."

"Yes," Amelia sobs. "I know. I-I can't explain it, but it's true."

Mom steps forward. "And… what? You're sleeping with Damian for what? You need a father for your child?" She turns to me. "Did she dupe you? Tell you it was—"

"Oh, for fuck's sake," I snap. "No. It was…" I glance at Amelia, but she is too busy looking at the floor to notice. "It just happened. I fell in love with her the same way anyone falls in love. Slowly, yet without warning. And somehow, we're here, and she's having someone else's baby, but that doesn't mean I love her any less. It doesn't matter to me if she's managing MVM or stuck in my bed on bed rest. She's still—"

"Your bed," Eleanor interrupts. "I thought you were at Olivia's."

Olivia looks surprised. "Mine?" She glances at me, unsure of what to say next.

I rub my head and sigh. "She's been staying at mine, yes. Livvy doesn't have the room."

The whole room interrupts with noise as people start arguing and yelling, and I'm suddenly nervous of a riot of what was supposed to be a nice thing for my girlfriend.

Robyn makes her way to my side. "Get Amelia out of here. There's too much stress. Go let her lie down somewhere."

"I'll do it," Olivia says forcefully. "You two stay here and sort this out." She leaves Amelia with me for a moment to bundle up a whole plateful of food.

I turn to Amelia and take her hand. "It's okay. I'm sorry your party was ruined, but we knew this was going to happen eventually, right?" I give her a reassuring smile and pat her cheek. "You go lie down, okay? Rest up. I'll see you soon. Don't worry about what's happening here. You've got Olivia."

"You're okay?" she whispers.

"Of course. Besides, have you met my sister? She'll have sorted this out in no time."

Amelia gulps as Olivia makes her way back towards us. "Damian, I'm… I'm not with you because you're—"

I smile and tilt her face to mine, forcing everyone out of our little bubble. With her eyes staring into mine, looking for reassurance, everyone else doesn't exist. She's listening to me and me alone.

"I know," I murmur. "You think I'm going to believe anyone else over you?"

She nods and falls further into my arms, pressing her face to my shoulder. "I love you too," she whispers.

I close my eyes, but know our bubble is about to pop. "I'll call you when this is all over. Go rest somewhere."

Olivia takes her hand, and Amelia extracts herself from my arms. She's about to walk to the door when she turns back, clasps my face with both of her hands and kisses me fiercely in front of everyone—including her former husband's family.

When she pulls away, I grin at her. "Go. Don't give birth, please. Still have three more months." I lean closer to her ear. "I'll have more of that when I get you alone next."

"Looking forward to it," she murmurs back before looping her arm with Olivia's and walking to the door.

I watch them walk out the door before squaring my shoulders and turning back to the warring women. It'll be a challenge, but I'm about to win it.

Somehow, I did. Or at least, Brooke did. She handles everyone leaving, either in confusion, a fiery anger, or eyes wide with the gossip, but they all leave. Except for Brooke, Mom, and Eleanor. Eleanor is still bright with fire, her eyes blazing.

"I can't believe you would stoop this low, Audrey," she hisses. Mom's eyes pop out of her head.

"Me? You think I did this? Why would I want Damian trapped to some wh—"

"Enough," I yell, loud enough that they both shut up instantly. "None of this is either of your business. Eleanor, it was not intended for any reason other than love. Mom, whatever scheme you are planning, stop it. Now. Amelia and I are in love, and she's going to be having Jackson's baby in a few months. I refuse to sit back and let the pair of you stomp all over her just so you can get your fix. You're as bad as each other." My eyes narrow as Eleanor looks even more horrified if that's even possible. "I don't think there's any reason either of you should still be here unless you're here to help us pack up as a consequence for your behavior."

Mom lifts her chin and narrows her eyes. "You're making a mistake, Damian," she says coldly. "You're tying yourself to a Garrett when that's the last thing you should be doing." She holds her hands out to the sides. "Look at what you do with your decisions?" I don't know if she means The Secretary and the work I do here or the failed remnants of a baby shower, but either is effective.

She stands up when I don't say anything and stalks out, refusing to say a word to anyone on the way.

Eleanor straightens her shoulders and stands up, too, her hands shaking as she grasps her jacket and purse. "Jackson loved her, you know?" she says fiercely, blinking away tears. "So much. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. And now, you're here, taking his place as if you think you have the right to it."

My shoulders slump as she walks out of The Secretary, the door slamming behind her.

Brooke sighs and sits in her vacated seat as I pour us both a drink.

"You did a good thing today, Damian," she says softly.

"What part? Accidentally ruining my girlfriend's baby shower or causing yet another problem in the Garrett family politics? I swear, we can never make it through one family event without something going wrong. It's fucked up that I'm usually the one causing it."

Brooke smiles. "I meant hosting the party in the first place. Standing up for her in front of everyone. Putting her first. She needs that. She never had that with Jackson."

I swirl my drink around the glass miserably. "I think maybe if Victor was still alive, I wouldn't be able to stand up to him either. I've learned more about Jackson in the last few weeks."

"So have I." She leans on the bar before placing her hand on my arm. "No matter what Mom or Aunt Eleanor or anyone else says… you've got what it takes to be a good father. A good partner to Amelia. Don't let anyone get in your head."

"You were the first to say that this is—"

"I know what I said, and I'm sorry. I was… shocked. Completely shocked. It was never a thought that crossed my mind at any point that Amelia Garrett would be interested in you. Of all people. So many people!"

"Okay," I scowl. "I get it."

"But, Amelia told me about the trip to the hospital and how great you've been in the last few weeks. How you've stepped up when she couldn't." She squints. "At first, I thought she was talking about someone else, because I've never heard of you going out of your way for a woman you've dated before, but…" She gives me a smile and pats my arm. "Then I realized that maybe this is just what you're like when you've found someone that you really, truly, honestly have opened your heart to."

I stare at her, unsure how to respond, before turning to look at the remains of the ruined party, but we're interrupted by my phone ringing.

"Speaking of," I murmur.

Brooke squeezes my arm. "Talk to your love. I'll go. I'll come back tomorrow to fix all this up before opening tomorrow night."

"Thanks."

I watch her leave before hitting answer on Amelia's call.