“Fantastic,” he deadpanned but made no more comment as we left the house.
∞∞∞
“Do you mind?” Katia asked as I pushed Link’s stroller over the lip of the door.
Jealous and possessive were never the words I’d used to describe myself but I’d never had anything to be jealous and possessive over until Luc and Link came into my life. However, I was a guest and couldn’t deny Katia time with my son.
“Go ahead,” I told her, pushing the reluctance away before it could sour the words.
She dove into the stroller and picked out my wriggling boy. “Hello, handsome,” Katia said, securing him in her arms. “Mia, he’s becoming more of a heart breaker every day.”
“I know.” The pride crept into my voice. Every day, Link was becoming more his own person. Correction. Every day, Link was becoming more like Luc. There was no running from the fact that I’d birthed a clone and any hope I had that Link might take after me or inherit something from the Griffin side of the genes was quickly fading away.
“Come through,” Katia said, bouncing Link gently as he started to cry. As gorgeous as my son was, his temperament was awful at times.
Katia’s living room reminded me of something out ofThe Great Gatsby. Dark mahogany furniture and rich velvet curtains and upholstery gave the room a vintage feel. There was no doubt what era Katia wished to live in when you saw the way she had designed her home.
“I’m surprised you said to stop by the house,” I commented, taking a seat in a chair. It wasn’t often Katia entertained company at home, preferring to meet somewhere public. I think she loved the idea of being seen and the envy she could induce in others. While I felt almost embarrassed by the wealth Luc had and was still getting used to using it freely, Katia was a different breed. This was the life she’d been raised in and she loved nothing more than showing off what she had. “Is Rosalie joining us?” I asked, noting the missing member of our trio.
Katia shook her head, getting comfortable with Link. I rummaged in my bag and pulled out a rattle, passing it over to her. Link had become obsessed with everything that made sounds and flashed. After a few minutes, Link’s unwarranted tears subsided, and he became distracted by the rattle Katia shook.
“I wanted to speak to you alone,” Katia said.
“That sounds ominous.” My insides knotted uncomfortably. Nothing good followed those words and I prepared myself to go home and tell Luc whatever Katia was about to deliver.
“Nothing bad,” she assured me. “I just wanted to share the news with you first.” Katia looked up from Link, setting her blue eyes on me and momentarily stopping the shaking of the rattle. “Jonah and I found out that I’m pregnant.”
The irritation and frustration I felt towards her melted away. I pushed myself out of my seat and dropped myself beside her, hugging her tight. “Congratulations! Katia, that’s amazing news!” It’d only been a few months ago that she’d divulged that she and Jonah wanted to start a family.
“Thank you.” She beamed. “Six weeks. We found out a few days ago.”
That would explain why Katia’s champagne glass was left untouched during our wedding dress trip and gave her a partial excuse as to why she’d listened to Gabe and left when he’d turned up at the boutique. She had a lot more to protect than friendship and business deals. I would have done the same thing.
“That’s still early, Katia. You’re planning to tell people?”
“No. I’m only letting you know, and I assume Luc may find out the news from Jonah.”
“You don’t plan to tell Rosalie?”
“Not until the twelve-week mark.”
But she’d told me. Whether it was a way of apologising or, more likely, a way to gain some favour, Katia had shared her secret with me. She had let me into her circle of trust and expected to be in mine, but I was a little more hesitant about that. A little more aware that people could turn their back on you if things became difficult and Katia owed me a lot less than what Jonah owed Luc.
She handed Link back over to me for his feed and ran through a literal list of the questions she had about pregnancy. I answered her the best I could but the months I’d had before Link made his entrance into the world were a blur, and Carmen held my hand through the majority of it.
By the time we finished, I was more exhausted than when I left the house. I sagged in the backseat of the car as Franco drove us home.
“A delight as usual?” he asked me. He watched me in the rear-view mirror.
“Next time we can swap roles,” I replied.
Dom laughed. “It’s less dangerous in our role.”
Katia’s reputation was well known throughout the family and I’m sure people were surprised at how close we were. I’d rather have her close than as an enemy when I knew how sharp she could be, and she kept me close because she knew the potential I held.
Franco chuckled at Dom’s comment. Something, however miniscule it was, had eased in him. From the conversation in the hospital to his willingness to talk today, I hoped this was a small turning point in our relationship.
“Franco,” I said. “I was wondering if you’d like to come over for dinner later in the week. It’d give me a chance to say thank you properly for everything you’ve done.”
