Chapter 6

WELLS

Jonas is getting married in five months and you would think we're flying over the pond to meet the Pope the way my parents are preparing. This woman is coming to family dinner tonight and they want it to be extra special since she and Jonas have some important news to tell us.

I swear if they tell us they're calling it off after everything our mom has done so far, I will strangle my brother with his own testicles. Apparently, Drew is tagging along as well, so it could potentially be something about the merger. They're due to arrive any minute now, so we'll find out soon.

"Wells, baby, can you help me carry this all out to the dining room?" my mother calls from the kitchen, balancing two dishes in her hands.

"Yeah, Mom." I hurry to grab the dishes from her, setting them on the table. One is holding the prettiest prime rib I think I've ever seen, and the other is a green bean casserole of some sort.

"Behind you, Wells," she calls as she returns to the table, this time with a bowl of mashed potatoes and a boat of gravy. "That should do it, minus the wine, and I have strawberry rhubarb cobbler for dessert."

"You overdid it, Mom. We could have just ordered in Italian or something. Hired a chef."

"Nonsense. You know I always enjoy cooking and feeding my future daughter-in-law and her father is a special treat." She smiles, patting my cheek.

The doorbell rings and her smile grows as she turns to head toward the door. "Roy! They're here."

I follow behind and lean against the entryway to the dining room, wondering why in the world Jonas rang the bell. My mom opens the door to reveal only Claudia and Drew, her father.

"Drew, Claudia. I'm so glad you could both make it. Where is Jonas?" I ask, looking around for my brother.

"Wells," my mom warns. "Don't be rude."

She grabs Claudia's hands pulling her inside. "You're family now, Claudia; no need to ring the bell."

I grab their coats and hold the door so they can enter. I look at this woman who has apparently captured my brother's heart… and wallet. She's strangely familiar, but I don't know where I know her from. Maybe I've just seen pictures of her from Jonas since they had a fling when they were younger. He might have had her over a time or two and I just don't recall.

"Jonas is grabbing a few things from the trunk. I didn't know if we should just come in or not, so I rang. Thank you though, Rhonda," Claudia replies softly.

"Well, come in. Come in. Dinner is ready, so we can get right to eating and spend more time visiting afterward." Mom ushers them further into the house.

I'm left to hang their coats on the rack as she passes and leads them to the table.

We take our seats and wait for my dad and Jonas. Jonas enters first with his hands full of what looks like gifts. He sets them on the buffet behind the table and takes a seat next to Claudia. My dad strolls in a few seconds later and sits at his normal place at the head of the table.

"Drew, Claudia. Sorry for my tardiness, I was finishing up a last-minute email," he tells them.

"No problem, Roy. We know business is important. After all, it's why we're all here, isn't it?" Drew chuckles and slaps a hand down on the table.

"Daddy! You know Jonas and I are in love," Claudia admonishes him.

"Yes. Sorry, Cupcake. I lost myself." Drew smiles, rubbing a hand on Claudia's back.

I'm not totally sure what the deal is, but Jonas did tell me during a phone call earlier this week that Claudia has never held a job and doesn't help with her father's company. So I can only guess she does what he asks, and he lets her keep her lifestyle.

We eat in comfortable silence, making chit-chat here and there about the stocks or trips. When everyone is almost done, my mother stands from her chair, catching everyone's attention. "I'm going to grab the cobbler. Then you two can share whatever this news is you have to tell us."

My mom returns minutes later with a baking dish and little dessert plates. She sets it on the table and passes everyone a plate with some cobbler on it as she scoops it from the pan. "So, let's hear what's going on. You're not canceling the wedding, are you?"

"Oh Lord, no! We are very much in love and still getting married. Actually, Jonas wanted us to all be together when we tell you," she pauses and looks around the table at all of us.

"We're moving in together," Claudia murmurs, her eyes focused on her hands in her lap.

"Go on, Cupcake," Drew pushes. "I don't need anything coming out later in the wash. Everything needs to be out on the table."

I look at my dad, quirking a brow.

What in the hell could she be talking about? Does she have a criminal record? Is she dying?

"Soooo, Jonas has told me how badly you want grandchildren, and well—that's not in the cards for us." Claudia's voice cracks and I see a tear roll down her cheek.

My mom gasps but quickly collects herself.

"I know you two are older, but there is always foster or adoption," she encourages her sweetly.

"No. There will be no children from us."

The clatter of a fork hitting a plate echoes through the dining room and I look over and see my mom slack-jawed, staring at Claudia like she has two heads.

"And what about heirs?" my father asks gruffly, his eyes narrowing at Drew.

"I have no interest in being a mom. I'm sorry," Claudia whispers then like a well-trained… or more like a B-rated actress, she starts to wail as she buries her face in her hand.

"I'm so sorry! Oh god, I'm sorry!" she cries and Jonas sits back in his chair, arms crossed, looking at her like he's pissed but also like he wants to protect her from whatever anyone is about to say.

And just like that, the house erupts into utter fucking chaos. My dad might pull the plug on this marriage if he's upset enough about what we just heard. Calling off the wedding would be a scandal, something Covington Hotels doesn't need. Our company has never had a scandal and this will not be our first one. My mom is crying into her napkin hysterically while my dad is on his feet, pointing a finger and shouting at Drew.

I get up and move around the table to my mom, wrapping my arms around her and rubbing her back with one hand as she cries. Claudia is sniveling into Jonas' shoulder.

"Quiet!" I shout and the room falls silent as all eyes land on me. "Did you know?" I look at my brother.

"No. I only found out on our second date," he tells us and my mom cries harder.

"Why would you keep this a secret?" my dad asks.

"Claudia is too old to carry a child and adoption just doesn't interest her. You have another son, Roy. No need to get all worked up," Drew pats Claudia on the back as she sniffles and hiccups.

"Why have you ruled this totally out? Maybe things will change after you marry," my mom pipes up.

"I'm firm on this. I have no interest in raising someone else's child. There is enough on my plate without adding a child," Claudia tells us.

"I'm in agreement with my fiancé. Children are not a deal breaker for me, so this decision is hers and hers alone," Jonas tells us firmly. I'm annoyed right now, but I respect him for protecting her.

I release my mom from my tight embrace, annoyed with how they dropped this on my poor parents. Jonas knows how badly Mom wants to be a grandmother and he was like me always telling her he just needed to find the right woman. So I'm sure knowing he's engaged to someone he had a thing for in the past gave Mom hope that her grandma dreams were coming true.

If they didn't want to have kids that's fine. I know not every man and woman want that for their lives, but to make a fucking production out of it? I'm pissed.

Jonas and Claudia could have simply come over alone and told her or hell Jonas could have told her over the phone or at one of our private dinners.

Storming from the room to go home, I stop in the dining room threshold and turn around. "You're right, Jonas. It is her choice, but to drop it on Mom in front of everyone like this when you know how much she wanted grandbabies is cruel. It was a bastard thing to do."

"Wells!" my mother cries.

I don't wait to hear another word from anyone, especially the wailing from Claudia. The gifts are still left on the buffet unopened and I can only guess they were Claudia's consolation prize for blowing up my mom's dreams tonight.

At least my mom still has me. I'd like to have kids someday and I don't think I'm too old to have them at thirty-eight. I do, however, need to find a woman to settle down with because the whole baby mama thing is not of interest to me. I didn't have a dad for a good part of my childhood so I want to be involved with any child I father, and be there every step of the way.