Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(57)

She smiled at Lillith. “I’m glad you like it.”

“You know, if things turn out like we expect, you could receive one of these one day.” Lillith beamed.

Bryn opened her mouth to object, vehemently and with great gusto and many obscenities, at the idea of giving birth to Jaxon’s children. It was bad enough she’d thought about marrying him, but having his kids deserved a whole other level of freaking out. Then she realized every woman in the room was staring at her. She swallowed her, over-my-dead-body response, and said, “It is a possibility.”

Her grandmother nodded, but Bryn didn’t know whether it was a response to how Bryn had handled the situation or if she was nodding in agreement. She ate two more pieces of pie to quell the instinct to run screaming from the room.

After the last present was opened, the guests said their good-byes. Bryn found herself drafted into the role of hostess as she thanked everyone for coming. Lillith glowed, and her grandmother beamed almost as much. Valmont stood off to the side, with his lips set in a thin line. She didn’t think it was the baby shower that annoyed him. Ever since Lillith had made the remark about Bryn receiving a rattle with Westgate engraved on it, Valmont’s expression had seemed frozen, like he was trying not to show emotion.

She wouldn’t be too happy about listening to him talk about marrying someone else and having children. Once the last person was gone, Bryn started to pack up the gifts.

“Don’t worry about that,” her grandmother said. “We’ll have everything packed and shipped to Westgate Estates.”

Lillith clutched a small blue robe embroidered with snowflakes to her chest. “I’m holding on to this one.” She held it out. “It’s so cute.”

And here came the tears. Lillith wiped her face. “Sorry.”

“I’m surprised you managed to hold out this long,” Bryn teased, in a good-natured way.

The sound of someone clearing her throat caught Bryn’s attention. Valmont’s grandmother stood in the doorway, looking as cuddly as a porcupine. She nodded at Bryn’s grandmother and then spoke to Valmont in Italian and held her arms out like she was waiting for a hug.

His features softened. “I’ve missed you, too.” He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around his grandmother.

Guilt hit Bryn between the eyes. She was the reason Valmont saw his family so infrequently.

“Come outside, Valmont, your grandfather wishes to see you.”

Valmont had been given special consideration by being allowed into the back room. He’d had to swear never to divulge the secret that there was a second, more peaceful room in the establishment. He could’ve met his grandfather in the floral farce room, but being outside would probably be nicer.

Valmont glanced back at Bryn, his expression conflicted.

“Go visit. I’ll be fine in here for a while.” Bryn made shooing motions with her hands.

“Mrs. Sinclair?” Valmont said. “Do you mind?”

“Bryn and I will wait for you here,” her grandmother said.

“Thank you.” Valmont headed out the door with his grandmother.

Watching him ask her grandmother for permission to do something struck a nerve. It placed him in the employee position, which he wasn’t. Actually an employee would be paid. He was volunteering. Crap. That idea made her feel worse.

“What’s wrong?” her grandmother asked.

Bryn shrugged. “I know he doesn’t mind, but I feel bad about taking Valmont away from his family.”

“He is devoted to you, isn’t he?” Lillith said. “After you marry, I guess he’ll go back to his real life.”

If anyone else had uttered those words, Bryn would have had the mother of all hissy fits. Since it was Lillith, and her intentions were never suspect, Bryn took a deep breath and pushed down the flames trying to crawl up the back of her throat. “That’s one way to look at it.”

Her grandmother raised an eyebrow in challenge. “How else would you look at it?”

Bryn sighed. She’d walked right into that one. “I don’t like to think about a time when Valmont won’t be there for me. Right now he’s such a comfort.”

“Once you’re married to Jaxon, you won’t need anyone else to look out for you,” Lillith said.

“You have no idea how much those words make my head hurt,” Bryn blurted out.

Both of her grandmother’s eyebrows shot up.

“Please. It’s just us. I can be honest. Neither of you are delusional enough to believe I find Jaxon’s presence comforting.”

“Reassuring might be a better description,” her grandmother said.

“He would protect you from all threats,” Lillith objected. “And that should be comforting.”

She couldn’t argue with a pregnant woman, especially one who might burst into tears at any moment so she said, “I never thought of it that way.” There. She had finally found a use for the social double-speak her grandmother taught her to use when you couldn’t disagree with someone.

On the ride back to school, Valmont was oddly quiet.

“How are your grandparents?” Bryn asked.

A sad smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “They’re fine.”

Guilt rained down on her. “You could ask them to come visit you on campus,” Bryn said.