Page 19 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
As they left, she was conscious of his height, his body so close to hers and his hand on her arm. He had gotten everything he wanted, yet he had sounded reasonable in his requests. Time would tell. She prayed she had no regrets.
Nick kept the conversation light, but worries were already besieging her when they drove back to her office. He got out quickly and came around to open her door. “Thanks for lunch, I think,” she added, emerging from the car.
“How’s two o’clock Thursday afternoon?”
“That will be fine. Michael may fall asleep, but that’s all right.”
“I’ll pick both of you up at your place. Thanks for this. You’ll see, after you have this first visit with my dad, you won’t be sorry about your decision.”
“We’ll see, Nick. Thanks for lunch.” She turned to walk briskly away, her back tingling because she guessed Nick stood and watched her. She dreaded meeting Eli Rafford, suspecting her trepidation would only grow. Inside her office, she turned to watch Nick drive away. She hoped she was doing the right thing.
Thursday seemed eons away and then it was upon her. She left work early to get Michael ready only to find Clara had already bathed him and laid out clothes.
“He’s been fed and I think he’ll fall asleep soon,” Clara said.
“If you’ll watch him a few more minutes, I’m going to change clothes,” Grace said, hugging Michael and giving him a kiss before handing him to Clara.
“Sure. Take your time. I’ll get Michael dressed in his sailor suit.”
Grace changed to tan slacks and a matching silk shirt, then brushed her hair and clipped it at the back of her neck. She returned to Michel’s room to find him seated on a blanket, playing with his toys and cooing.
“He looks adorable,” Grace said, her worries returning.
“I know this meeting was probably inevitable, but I just pray your legal rights are binding. Once this man sees his grandson, he’ll want him more than ever.”
“Nick insists that his dad simply wants to see Michael and hold him. Clara, I hope I’m not making the mistake of my life.”
Clara frowned and looked at Michael, who was playing with a rattle and happily babbling unintelligible words. “Me, too, Grace. I know Nick Rafford has pressured you into this meeting. A visit sounds harmless, but once Eli Rafford sees his grandchild, I hope the resemblance to Nick doesn’t reinforce his goal to give Michael the Rafford name. Or more. Eli Rafford may be frail, but he has the money for nannies and all kinds of help. He could try to take Michael and pay people to care for him round-the-clock.” Nannies and staff would raise Michael instead of relatives. Clara shuddered while Grace’s chill deepened.
“That’s what I fear,” Grace said. “They have the money to do as they please. I made an appointment to talk to my attorney in the morning.”
“Thank heavens,” Clara declared. “You can’t fight the Rafford money, Grace. I’m afraid Nick Rafford is showering his attention on you for a reason.”
“Hopefully, this afternoon will be only what Nick said, simply letting the grandfather see his grandson. That doesn’t give Eli any rights, no matter how much he wants them.”
“Just remember Alicia, what she went through and how she tried to cut them out of Michael’s life. The man’s son was selfish and dreadful.”
“I know. It’s pointless to tell you to not worry. I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”
As she glanced at her watch the doorbell rang. “Come meet Nick,” she said, picking up Michael.
It was time.
Nick stood immobilized, one of the few times in his life he was consumed by shock. He forgot people, surroundings, his purpose in coming. His total attention was on the baby in Grace’s arms—a baby who was a mirror of his own baby pictures.
Stunned, he stared into big, dark brown eyes with black lashes, a thick head of baby hair as jet-black as his own, the same shaped ears.
“Oh, my God,” he whispered. “He could be mine.”
Grace spoke, but her words didn’t register with him.
“Bart never saw his son, did he?” Nick asked finally.
“No, he didn’t, but that was his choice,” Grace replied. “Nick, come inside and meet my aunt.”
Nick inhaled deeply, stepping inside, unable to take his gaze from the baby, realizing instantly his father was in for a shock. It occurred to him that his father would never give up the battle now to get Michael legally into the Rafford family with the Rafford name.
“Aunt Clara, this is Nick Rafford. Nick, my aunt, Clara Wayland.”
