The same idea was unfolding in his mind as well. “We contact the people she’s interviewed,” Duke mused aloud.
“That’s a great idea,” Betzy said.
Zander set his elbows on the table. “We’ll help.”
“We’ve just got to think about the best format,” Mom said, getting in on the action.
“It’s got to be soon,” Duke said. “Before she forgets how perfect we are for each other.”
Betzy grinned at him. “You twoareperfect together.”
“Do you guys remember what James did when things between us went south?” Camila asked.
Loraine locked eyes with Camila across the kitchen. “That’s it.” She walked back over to the table and turned her gaze to Duke.
“Oh yeah,” he breathed. “You laid it all out there on that talk show.”
“Exactly,” Grandma Lo said. “On Monday, the gala will be a hot topic on every morning show.”
“True,” Betzy said. “So it’s a matter of picking the best one.”
“I know the best one,” Duke said, recalling one of Vivi’s first interviews. A morning show host who’d lost her job. The very job she regained after the article came out. It was also the very host who’d interviewed James.
“Samantha Pingley,” Michael blurted.
Duke nodded.
“That’s whoItalked to,” James said.
Claudia perked up. “I forgot all about the scandal Samantha had back then.”
“I did too until I was catching up on Vivi’s articles,” Duke said. “But thanks toVeritå, she got a second chance. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to help out.”
“Wait,” Betzy said, lifting a hand. “The last thing we want to do is make this any bigger. Let’s watch what happens with the story today, contact the morning show and get something in the works, but do it only if it’s necessary.”
Nods moved in a wave around the table. “Good plan.”
“Either way, let’s gather what we need from those who can vouch for her,” Grandma said. “We’ll take it from there.”
She caught eyes with Duke once more. “I really think Vivia belongs in our family. We’re going to do what we can to help her see that too.”
Duke felt the truth of those words deep in his gut. It was one thing to know when a woman was right for you. But having his family alongside him, that felt like an added gift. He only hoped Vivi would see for herself that, despite what had happened, despite the potential issues that might arise, they were meant to be together.
Chapter 23
Viv pulled the blanket over her head as a knock came to the door. She recognized the sound. It was the same round of knocks Mom did before coming inside. But just why would she be coming to the house so early on a Monday morning?
“Vivia?” came her voice from the front room.
She sounded way too cheery for there to be an emergency. And also way too cheery to be in Viv’s house. She was in mourning right now. Deeply grieving her lost relationship with Duke.
The remainder of the weekend had gone by, and they hadn’t said so much as a word to each other. Sure, Viv had asked him to respect the fact that she needed time, but when he actually allowed every minute of every hour to pass by without so much as a text, Viv started to wonder if he ever loved her at all.
By eight a.m. she was dying to text him and see what he thought of her note.
By nine she tapped the text out, then erased it and forced herself to shut down her phone.
By ten—the time she and the boys arrived at Mom’s for brunch—Viv was cursing herself for writing the stupid note and was desperate to drive out to Duke’s right then and tell him that perhaps she’d made a big mistake.
