Page 54 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
Grace nodded and wiped her eyes again, struggling to get her emotions under control.
“Darling, men like Nick—with so much wealth and accustomed to getting what he wants—some of those men probably can’t settle. Nick has grown up with a terrible example in his father. Plus Nick has entered this relationship without love and so did you.”
“I know. I shouldn’t have expected anything else.”
“Does Nick want to end this marriage?”
“No, but I don’t know if I want to stay in it when his heart isn’t in it.”
“If you want to move in with me for a time so you can think clearly, you know I’d love having you,” Clara offered.
“Thank you.”
Michael’s cries interrupted them and Grace stood. “I’ll get him. I’ve missed him.” She picked up Michael, who reached out to her. His crying changed to a smile as he hugged her and snuggled close in her arms. “You’re going to be a big brother, darling,” she told him, patting his back. That was one of the great things about her pregnancy. She would have a baby, Nick’s baby, and Michael would become a big brother and have a sibling close in age.
“He had a good nap,” Clara said.
“I need to take him home because I’ll have to get him changed to go see Eli tonight and share the news.”
“He will be overjoyed whether Nick is or not.”
“I know he will.”
“You will probably get showered with another priceless gift for giving him another grandchild.”
“I imagine you’re also correct on that assumption.”
“If Nick were an ordinary man, I would say, be patient, give him time. But I don’t think his attitude will change if you two stay together for the next five years.”
“That’s what worries me, too. If I stay, I will be so in love it will tear me to pieces to leave him or for him to leave me. Right now, it will hurt, but hopefully, I’ll get over it.”
“I can promise you, you’ll get over it,” Clara said. “You haven’t known Nick long enough to be truly, deeply in love with the kind of love that is devastating when it ends.”
The words stung and Grace remained silent, but she doubted that her aunt was correct. The way she felt now, she expected to love Nick the rest of her life.
She told Clara goodbye and drove home to get Michael ready for his visit to his grandfather.
As she was finishing Michael’s bath, Nick appeared in the doorway. “Let me take over,” he said, tossing his coat and tie on a chair. He returned, rolling up his sleeves to wave her away.
Watching Nick finish Michael’s bath, her insides knotted again. Nick was marvelous with Michael and before long Michael was going to love him and look to him as his father.
Nick grabbed a towel, tossing it over his shoulder. He picked up Michael to stand him on the edge of the tub and wrap the towel around him, talking and playing with him all the time he dried him. They looked like father and son to her. The black-haired man and the black-haired, brown-eyed child.
Shortly, Nick had Michael dressed and ready and they left to see Eli. As she watched Eli talk to Michael and hold him, she knew whatever happened, she would never take the babies away from Eli. While he hadn’t helped Alicia, he hadn’t been the one who turned Alicia away.
“Dad, we came by to tell you some news we have.”
“And what is that?” Eli asked, looking from Nick to her.
“Grace is expecting your second grandchild.”
Michael climbed down off Eli’s lap and crawled to get a toy while Eli’s eyes sparkled and he stood. “Congratulations! That’s the best news you could possibly bring me. I’m delighted,” he said, shaking Nick’s hand and crossing the room to Grace. She stood to hug him lightly and he embraced her in return. He smiled at her. “You’ve made me happier than you’ll ever know.”
Megan entered the room and Eli motioned to her. “Megan, come hear the news. I’m going to have a new grandchild. I will be the grandfather of two.”
“How wonderful!” Megan exclaimed, hugging Grace lightly and smiling at Nick. “Congratulations! That is really great.”
“Let’s drink a toast, if you don’t mind lemonade or tea, Grace.”
