London Falling (Falling #2)(28)

“Quite the opposite actually,” Aspen said, taking a slow calming breath.

“Oh?” Mother’s eyebrow pointed to the sky.

“Hank’s asked me to marry him and I’ve agreed.” Mother’s hand shook. The teacup clacked against the tiny saucer. It was the only indication she felt anything. Her face stayed stoic, unmoved, still pinched in her usual reserved pout. I was practically bouncing out of my seat with joy as the wall of angry emotions flooded my way from the woman sitting opposite us.

“Is that so?” Mother’s voice was tight and held no emotion.

“Yes. We’ll be married next month at Hank’s ranch in Texas. I’d love for you and Daddy to come.”

“A month?” The first hint of stress entered Mother’s tone. “Why so soon? Shouldn’t you spend more time getting to know one another?”

I had to give it to her. Mother pretended to be concerned for her daughter’s well-being but both Aspen and I knew she had other reasons. More time, meant she had longer to meddle and attempt to break off the engagement.

Aspen reached for my hand and I held it tight. Sister solidarity.

Our Father took that moment to enter the room. His dark suit jacket flapped as he bounded in. William Reynolds was a force of nature. His dark, good looks, salt and pepper hair, accompanied with our same gray-blue eyes were dominant traits that had women everywhere falling at his feet, though he stayed true to the she-bitch. Never could understand why. Tripp was convinced she had a golden *. No man could handle such a stuck up bitch unless she was a tiger in the sack, he’d said.

“Girls! Sorry I’m late. Business. You know how it is.” He leaned down and clasped my cheek and kissed the opposite then did the same with Aspen. “Stunning beauties. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit,” Daddy said happily.

The way daddy just sat heavily next to mother and put his hand high on her thigh, much higher than her social graces would normally allow, made me think Tripp could be right. Blech.

“Aspen’s getting married, William,” Mother answered before my sister could. The tone that slipped from Mother’s lips was dead-cold, clearly showing her true feelings about the pending nuptials.

Our father hopped up out of his seat and pulled Aspen into a big hug. “Pen, my darling. Congrats are in order. We should have champagne!” Daddy and Aspen’s happiness filled the room as they hugged, essentially putting a blanket over mother’s negative vibes. Point two goes to Daddy.

“Tell him how quickly you’re marrying, dear,” Mother encouraged.

“Next month, at Hank’s ranch in Texas. Really small affair. Just close friends and family. I want you to walk me down the aisle,” Pen said, tears in her blue eyes.

He swiped them off her cheeks. “I’d love nothing more to give your hand to Hank Jensen. He’s good man. Solid. Hard-working.”

Aspen’s smile glowed so bright it was blinding and infectious. I could feel my own cheeks splitting the seams with my wide smile, watching my sister and our father embrace. Not to mention how disgusted and angry mother was. She hadn’t even told them the best part. I could hardly contain my excitement. I tugged on Aspen’s white blazer.

“Pen, you forgetting something?”

She wiped her eyes then took another breath. “There’s more.” Her voice was a little choked. Daddy went back to his seat and put an arm over mother. He gripped her to him, a huge smile on his face.

“What more?” he asked happily. Clearly our father approved of Aspen’s decision to marry the hot cowboy.

“You’re going to be grandparents!” Aspen’s tears fell down her cheeks and I stood and gripped her shoulder, comforting her while our parent’s took this information in.

Dad’s smile went from happy to utterly ecstatic. Mother’s eyes were so wide, I worried they’d pop right out of her head. Her mouth was open in what could only be shock.

“You’re pregnant!” Dad jumped up and put a hand over Pen’s waist to feel. If anything, she only had a tiny miniscule bump. I’d know. Every chance I’d had, my hand was feeling that belly, measuring its elasticity. Hank was convinced he could feel his baby growing. I was bound and determined to not be left out. This was probably the only time in my life I’d experience a pregnancy, not ever planning to go that route myself.

I’d wanted children with James. We talked about it all the time, how they were going to have his green eyes, my black hair and be the most precious things in the world. One girl, one boy. James William Jr. after him and my father. Collette Aspen after his mother and my sister. Now, it was another thing I threw into the never-to-be box of unfulfilled dreams.

“Isn’t it amazing? We’re going to have a baby running around the mansion!” I squealed, throwing my arms around Dad and Pen. Mother sat stewing, trying desperately to find a way to make this information untrue.

“Are you sure it isn’t Grant’s child?” Mother asked, hope tinting her tone.

All three of us looked at Mother as if she’d just lost her mind. Which she had. Sick bitch.

“You were together almost a year. How would I know you weren’t still seeing him when that cowboy fella was off gallivanting back in Texas with his ex-girlfriend? I heard the story. Very uncivilized if you ask me.”

“I didn’t. It’s obvious you didn’t hear much of the real story,” Pen said, biting back her anger. “Hank pined over me the entire time we were separated. His ex made a play for him that I misinterpreted. Almost lost the man of my dreams over it!”