Lie, Lie Again(113)

“It’s real, Em. We did it. You and me, babe.” He brushed the hair back from her face. “I wanted to tell you so badly when I got the audition, but I was afraid to get my own hopes up, let alone yours.” He met her eyes. “I’m really sorry I’ve been a pain in the butt the past few weeks. The pressure . . .”

“It’s okay. I get it. More than you know. We just have to remember to be honest and stick together when things get tough. We’re a team.” She exhaled, accentuating her point. Had she been holding her breath for weeks? It sure felt like it. Even with trying to be mindful and positive, she had been struggling.

He smiled. “Team Taylor. I like it.”

“Are you ready for some more good news?”

“Lay it on me. Does another pop icon want to buy some honey pops?”

“No, not that.”

“What is it?” he asked, a smile hanging on his lips.

“Team Taylor is going to be a team of five this fall.”

He gaped at her. “Five?” Shaking his head, he looked to where Gracie was sprawled on the kitchen floor. “We’re keeping the dog?”

“No.” She smiled.

“Wait a sec. You mean . . .”

She nodded and placed his hand on her belly. “Meet Baby Number Three.”

“Baby Number Three?” A tear leaked down his cheek as he cupped his hands on her shoulders. “I . . . Wow. This is the best news. Did you just find out?”

“I took a test on our anniversary. And I really wanted to tell you, but it’s been so tense and—”

“I get it.” Drawing her into a hug, he said, “I love you so much. Damn, babe. You’re amazing. How did I get so lucky?”

“We’re both lucky.”

He stole a look to the window. “We’ve made some wonderful memories here, but what do you say we start looking at some houses? We’ll finally have enough to buy something real soon.”

She shuddered in his arms. “I’m ready to move far away from this place.”

“It’s settled, then. Now, why don’t you go catch a nap, and I’ll get Carson when he wakes up.” He looked at her in awe. “A baby? You’re one hundred percent positive?”

“Yeah. We’re having another baby.” She walked slowly to her room, her mind drifting from Brandon’s beautiful smile to homes with big yards and shade trees with plenty of space for her kids to run free.





CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Sylvia had taken another sick day. She would go back tomorrow, but today was going to be a busy one. Busy, busy, busy, she thought. First on the list was meeting with Lianne, the lawyer. It was crucial she gather all the information on the potential time line for selling the place so she could inform the neighbors. With any luck, she would be able to sell within the next month. She’d already decided she would give Riki and the Taylors $15,000 each from the profits. That should help them get along until they found new places. It was what Nadine would’ve wanted. And what was $30,000 when you had millions?

There would be more, though.

Finding a simple man who would be her partner and the father of her future child had failed miserably. And Sal? Well, she had to scratch him from the list, since she was moving far from here. A nice man, indeed, but she had a new plan.

Scrolling down the open page of her laptop, she reviewed the details she’d gathered last night. It had been so easy. The idea had emerged organically with a search for a new place to live. A fresh start. Real estate websites were chock-full of interesting information. There were homes listed for $40 million! $50 million! One was even listed at $165 million. Who on earth had that kind of money?

Turns out, the answer was a click away. How fun it had been to research the people behind the FOR SALE signs! She’d never once considered finding a man through real estate, but it had proven to be quite a treasure trove.

Grant Hardcastle, owner of a lovely craftsman off the coast of Massachusetts, was the man she’d decided upon. Wikipedia had been oh so helpful in telling her exactly who he was: a developer of a new GPS technology whose net worth was $70 million. And sadly (or ideally), he was a widowed father of two young children. And soon, he would be a daddy-to-be again.

Grant was often spotted at Red Sox games. Well, that would be simple enough. She had plenty of time to learn about baseball. Of course, she would claim to be a Dodgers fan, so they could have a friendly rivalry.

He was hosting a charitable event on April seventeenth in Boston. How ironic that she would be there too. By then, she would be prepped and ready. She would enrapture him. A virtual whirlwind romance, he would tell his friends.

She would deliver the baby news over a romantic, candlelit dinner. She’d laugh, rubbing her tummy. “With my luck, this little darling will arrive late,” she’d say. And when he or she came early, they would giggle at the irony. “Already a pleaser, this one,” she’d say.

She looked at a photo of him with his son and daughter on her computer screen and smiled.

“Hi, honey,” she said. “I’ll see you soon.”





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to my agent, Beth Miller, who responded with “I’ll read whatever you send my way!” when I told her I wanted to try something different. I’m so grateful for her unwavering support, guidance, and her belief in this project from the very start.