He kissed her neck and she melted a little into his arms. “You promise after whoever is gone we can come back here?”
“Yes. Let’s go.” He zipped up her dress, and she fixed her hair as best she could.
They rushed through the hall and returned to the living area. The maid had already let his guests inside. Galen took her hand and led her forward as he addressed all of them. “Mom. Mitch. Tess. Axel. Peter. Belle. Isabelle. We weren’t expecting company…”
Peter met Galen’s gaze. “Belle wanted to talk to Natalie about what happened with Jennifer.”
Natalie studied the other woman she’d never met. Her dark eyes had circles under them, her skin wan. What would she do if their positions were reversed?
Galen held her hand firmly. “Now is not a good time.”
No. Natalie tapped Galen’s shoulder and he turned toward her. She’d never hurt anyone, not on purpose. “Galen, let’s get that dessert your chef made and order tea or coffee. It’s fine.”
Galen whispered like they needed to talk privately. “Are you sure?”
She nodded and tried to smile but it was an awkward situation. She then turned back and forced a smile at their guests. “If I was Belle, then I’d want to talk to me too. It sounds like her life was thrown off balance.”
Galen let her hand go and again he asked her, “Are you sure?”
“Should I be afraid?” Empathy for Belle had already taken hold. If she was married to Galen and wanted to have his child and something random happened at a clinic, all because another woman wanted her husband, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.
Galen glanced at his family. “No. But you’ve already been through a lot today.”
Fiona, Galen’s mother, said, “We heard about the plane and how Rafe is working on the case to find who is behind the fire. We’re so sorry.”
Natalie took the seat next to Belle as she told Galen, “See. It’s fine. Order the dessert we skipped to have it set up for everyone to share.”
“This is kind of you,” Belle said, in obvious agitation.
Galen held his phone and spoke quietly with his brother Mitch. She assumed he’d ordered the cake.
Natalie folded her hands in her lap and tried to find the right words to soothe the woman. “Belle, I want to assure you that I’m not trying to hurt you by refusing to sign a contract. I was dragged into this situation…”
Belle took a deep breath. “If on the off chance you are pregnant-”
“I’m not.” Natalie refused to explain the science of it all again.
Belle patted her hand, met her husband’s gaze and asked, “If you are though, and it turns out that it’s Peter’s, will you allow him to raise it?”
This wasn’t a good way to meet new people or impress Galen’s family. She met Fiona’s steady regard and hoped she was an ally, but Natalie couldn’t be sure. Galen was too far away to intercede, so she lifted her chin and decided to be definite. “If I was pregnant with my own child, then I would raise my baby.”
Galen returned and said, “The cake is coming now. I support Natalie’s decisions entirely. She’s a good person who doesn’t deserve to be dragged into a fight. She’s not Jennifer.”
Natalie glanced up at him. Galen on her side was all she needed. She took a calming breath.
Belle, voice shaking, persisted, “Can we come to terms where Peter would be a part of the child’s life?”
Isabelle Morgan, the other older woman and Peter’s mother asked, “Are you sure you’re okay with that Belle, dear?”
“Yes.” Belle glanced over Natalie and toward Isabelle and then returned her full attention to Natalie for her answer.
The last thing she needed was to argue with anyone in the House of Morgan, but she’d never leave her own child, ever. She felt a stir and wondered what she’d do if some woman tried to steal her own chance at having a family with Galen. She wasn’t sure, but either way, she wasn’t their enemy. She lowered her head. “I’m not signing contracts today or anything like that, but yes, we can work out what’s best for any potential child.”
The maid brought out a coffee container and tea pot. She set them up on the table near the left stairs, like it was a buffet.
Belle’s shoulders slumped in relief. “That’s all we ask.”
The cake was placed on the table and another maid finished with the dishes and silverware. Natalie stood, brushed any wrinkles out of her dress and said, “Then we’re good. Let’s enjoy dessert.”
