Be My Babies

SIMON LOOKED OVER at Gil from his desk as he read a spreadsheet, a copy of the one Gil held in his hand. Gil said, “This is good, don’t you think?”

“Yes. Though I wish we could widen the market in Gainesville.”

“Let’s talk about how to do that.”

Simon glanced at the door, thinking of Lily and how pretty she looked in the peach linen slacks and long-sleeved shirt she was wearing tonight. Her hair was soft and shiny, too, and curled a bit from the rain. “They’ll be okay?”

“We were in the way. Jenna was dying to get Lily up to her room. I heard some rumblings about makeup.”

“She’s a little young for war paint.” And Lily certainly didn’t need any.

“I hate to break it to you, Simon, but girls start with all that at about eleven.”

“God forbid.”

Leaning back in his chair, Simon watched the man he’d come to think of as a second father. Patrick McCarthy could never be replaced, but there was a unique spot in his heart for Gil. To ease this particular burden, he asked, “Lily hasn’t said anything about what happened to Cameron?”

“Just the bare bones. I asked her to elaborate a few weeks ago, and gave her another opportunity just now, but she didn’t take it. I’m guessing it was bad. I almost don’t want to know how Cameron lived. Or how Lily grew up.”

“Sometimes knowing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” Simon was sure of that.

Gil cocked his head. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“You didn’t like her at first. Why?”

“Because I was worried she was using you. I was afraid she was out to get whatever she could from you.”

“That’s about the last thing that’s happening.”

“I see that now. She seems to want to stand on her own two feet.”

“She told you about Wakefield, didn’t she?”

“Uh-huh. I felt bad for her. I hope he agrees to the separation.”

“Mac is worried about his family. They’re powerful people in New York. What changed your mind about her, Simon?”

“Seeing her interact with people on a daily basis. She’s formed a bond with Jenna that can’t be faked. Mr. Martini and Mrs. Billings and Miss Jameson come in just to see her.” He smiled fondly at Gil. “And there’s a spring in your step that I haven’t seen in a long time.”

“I’m happy, Simon.”

“Good to see.” He waited a beat. “Jenna was right. Eddie sniffs around her.” Not that he blamed the guy.

“With good reason, don’t you think?”

Simon smiled. “I’m male and healthy. Who wouldn’t think that? She’s very pretty.”

“And she has an inner beauty.”

“Does she?” He was reserving judgment on that.

“I want you to be friends.” Gil waited a minute. “You know she’ll never replace you or Jenna in my heart, Simon.”

“Hell, I hope I’m not thinking that way.”

“Probably not. I just wanted to say it out loud.”

He nodded. “Let’s get back to how we can increase circulation.”

“All right. Just let me say thanks for accepting Lily as much as you have. It means a lot to me.”

“I know.”

JOHANNA WAKEFIELD stared at the legal document Derek had received earlier this week. As usual, her white hair was exquisitely styled, and her taupe pantsuit showed off her slender form. At sixty-three, she was still an attractive woman. “Well, she didn’t waste a lot of time.”

“No. She must really want to get away from me. With good reason.”

His mother’s blue eyes turned cold. “It’s Liliana’s style. She’s not to be counted on.”

“Father likes her.”

“He has a soft side where people are concerned. It doesn’t always serve him well.”

“I gave her cause, Mother.”

“A woman should not leave her husband in the dark of night. She’s never been good for you. Why, we never even found out about her background. God knows where she came from.”

“I wonder if she went back there.”

“Where?”

“Where she came from. Wherever that—” he waved his drink at the papers “—came from.”

“A law firm from upstate.”

Derek slugged back his scotch and stretched out his legs. “Should I sign them?” The thought turned his stomach. He didn’t want Liliana to leave him, but he was remembering things he’d done to her, and in his sober moments—few though they were—he knew she was better off away from him and his addictions. Some of which she didn’t even know about.

His mother studied her drink and said casually, “We could find her through the lawyer.”

“I guess.” But what good would it do? He’d only hurt her again.

“Do you want her back, Derek?”

“No. For her sake.”

“Then I have a better idea.” She stood, went to the phone and punched in a number. “Hello, Susan, this is Johanna Wakefield. My son and I would like to see Marcus today.”