“That’s good.” Tatiana’s voice breaks a little as she wipes Noah’s curls from his forehead to study his face. “I’ll never leave you. You know that, right?”
She’s confirming what I already know. She’ll honor the terms of our prenuptial agreement. She’ll stay in my house, married to me, because she’ll never abandon her son. Yes, it was underhanded of me to slip in that clause, but I’ll do whatever I must to ensure she stays where she belongs, no matter how dirty I have to play.
Noah bobs his head up and down. “You’ll always come back, just like Dante.”
She looks at me, searching my eyes with fear and concern sparking in hers as she lets that statement and its meaning sink in—one, that I’m going nowhere, and two, that I made sure my son understood that exactly as she’s reassuring him now.
Noah wiggles out of her arms. “What’s the surprise, Dante? You said you’ll tell me when you get here.”
I take Tatiana’s hands and help her up, trying to ignore how she immediately pulls away and how much that bothers me.
Instead, I give Noah my full attention. “The surprise is that your mother and I are getting married.”
Tatiana cuts me an accusing look. She appears hurt and betrayed, not hiding her disapproval of the direct way in which I shared the news, but the sooner Noah knows the truth, the better.
Jasper doesn’t take the announcement well. She pales, shock painted over her face.
Noah gasps. His eyes grow wide and hopeful. “Does that mean you’re going to be my daddy?”
“Yes.” Emotions nearly strangle the words before they can leave my lips. “I am.”
He drags in a long, loud breath, his chest puffing out with the effort. “As for real?”
“As real as it gets, buddy.”
He wraps his arms around my knees and hugs me like only he can do, putting every ounce of his strength into the effort.
Tipping back his head, he stares up at me. “Can I call you Daddy?”
I smile through the knot that forms in my throat. “I’d like that.”
“Cool!” He lets me go and swings his arms through the air. “This is the best day of my life.”
Jasper clears her throat. “Congratulations.”
“That’s why we’re having a special dinner.” I take Noah’s hand. “Did you meet the chef?”
Noah grins. “He made me a milkshake, and I haven’t even eaten my food yet.” He adds with enthusiasm, “He’s nice.”
“Exceptions are allowed when you’re celebrating.” I motion for Tatiana to go ahead of me. “Let’s go through. I’m sure Jasper knows the way.”
Jasper avoids my gaze as she turns to lead our small group to the dining room. The table is set with crystal, silver, and candles. As I don’t have a housekeeper here, I hired a chef to prepare a special meal. As usual, Penelope took care of the arrangements. She would’ve stocked the fridge and the cupboards as I’d instructed. I trust her to always do a good job. My assistant is yet to disappoint me.
There are only four of us, so the chef serves the courses himself. When I approved the menu, I opted for fish dishes and exotic salads that are to both Tatiana and Jasper’s tastes. Noah gets a crumbed fish fillet to eliminate the danger of him swallowing a fishbone. The desert is crème brûlée.
Noah is the only person at the table who’s excited. I won’t call the satisfied feeling in my gut excitement, at least not in Noah’s innocent way. My sentiment is more of a dark anticipation.
Whereas Noah babbles non-stop, Tatiana and Jasper are quiet. Noah and I keep the conversation going. Tatiana only answers the questions Noah asks her with that forced smile I want to kiss off her perfect face. I want to sink my teeth into her bottom lip until she gives me an honest sound or a truthful look, anything but that fake tranquility she wears like battle armor.
Ulysses and Kent kept an eye on Jasper and Noah while I was absent, but they don’t join us for dinner because the occasion is too personal. They’re hanging out in the back when the chef takes his leave after tidying the kitchen. I tell them to get some shut eye and instruct Jasper to pick any of the guest rooms and make herself at home. Penelope prepared a room for Noah next to the master suite.
Tatiana puts him to bed after helping him with his bath and to brush his teeth. He lies in the big bed with his arms on top of the covers and his dinosaur tucked in next to him, looking impossibly small and half asleep already. He’s been through a lot of changes and excitement in one day.
When I kiss him goodnight, he wraps those sturdy little arms around my neck and mutters in a sleepy voice, “Goodnight, Daddy.”
Daddy.
That little word sinks deep into my chest, burrowing in my flesh and making a permanent place for itself there.
