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I subside, somewhat mollified. Imelda’s a tough cookie, but she has a way of playing peacemaker and interpreting Arthur’s words for the rest of us so that they appear less offensive. She helps to soften his edges and make him appear almost human.
My grandfather cuts in, "And now that you have a reliable nanny…"
"How do you know that?" I ask, my hackles rising.
He waves a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. The point is, I know that Priscilla Whittington is Serene's nanny now. So, that frees up your time to find a wife."
I'm momentarily stunned into silence when Imelda cuts in, “The fact is, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard, Tyler. If you had someone to share the weight?—”
“I’m not going to marry someone just so I have help with Serene,” I snap. "That's why I have a nanny." And yes, I'm aware that nannies come and go. But I definitely willnotmarry Priscilla just to ensure she'll stay. She deserves better than that. Never mind the fact that Ihaven’t stopped thinking about how quickly Serene bonded with her, and how she'd make a perfect mother for her.
“No one’s suggesting you tie the knot just to get a live-in caregiver,” Imelda says gently. “What your grandfather means is?—”
“If you’re not married in four weeks, you’re out of the will,” Arthur cuts in, plain and direct.
Imelda sighs. She seems like she’s about to contradict him, then sighs.
Tiny raises his head and whines. "It’s okay, boy." I pat his head. "Gramps needed to get that out of his system." I rub under his jaw until Tiny finally sinks back with his head between his paws.
"Thank you for being honest." I lean back in my seat. "I will not be coerced into marriage." I narrow my gaze on Arthur.
"That’s what your brothers said, too. Now look how happy they are." Arthur coughs. "I’m getting on, boy. I won’t be around much longer. And I fully intend to see you lot settled before I depart."
The man’s health seems to improve with every passing day. I’m also aware he likes to play the victim card, if it means he can get his way. Though, hearing him cough again, I have to give him the benefit of doubt.
Imelda rises to her feet and pours him a glass of water. As he drinks it, she plumps the cushion at his back.
"Enough, woman. Stop fussing," Arthur says gruffly, but his eyes tell me he loves the attention. He proves it when he grabs her hand and kisses it before letting go. "Thanks, Im."
Imelda smiles, her face lighting up in a way that makes the decades drop away. "You’re very welcome."
She begins to move away, but he pats the couch next to him. "Sit with me."
Imelda sinks down, and they hold hands. They look into each other’s eyes, and it feels like a tender, very personal moment. And suddenly, I feel like I’m intruding.
"Guess I’ll be off." I rise to my feet, but Arthur turns to me.
"I’m not done."
I sink back with a sigh. "You’ve said your piece, what else is left?"
"I'm lucky I found Imelda. And thankful she drilled some sense into my stubborn head, so I didn't let my ego stand in the way of confessing my feelings for her."
I look between them, the way she looks at him adoringly, and something like envy squeezes my chest. I admit, there have been times in the past few months when I wished there were someone else—okay, Priscilla—who could share the load of childrearing with me. It goes against every reason why I pushed her to walk out of my life. But she kept returning. Not once, but twice. And this time… It feels right. The way Serene has taken to her confirms it. But thinking of her in the same breath as my wife, simply because Arthur has demanded I marry?
Fact is, I can’t see anyone else in that position. From the moment I met her, I knew she was my future. I pushed her away so I could focus on my daughter because I was sure I couldn’t give her the kind of attention she deserved. I wanted her to be free of the responsibility that came with having Serene in my life. Then, I was hurt because she agreed to marry Knox. But as far as I'm concerned, she’s always been the one. Now, Arthur is pushing me to marry, and I can’t conceive of being with anyone else.
Only… Is it fair to Priscilla? And why would she marry me now, after how I pushed her away in the first place?
The old man’s ramblings are confusing me and twisting around my thoughts.
"I understand why it might feel scary to open up your life to someone else, especially now that you have a little girl to take care of… But it’s because of her that I’m pushing this. She needs a mother,” Arthur says in a firm voice.
All of which is true and mirrors sentiments I've felt over the last few months. Longer than that, if I'm being honest. Especially when Serene would look at women in storybooks, point to them and say, "Mama." And she's stopped doing that since Priscilla arrived. Is it a coincidence she called Priscilla by that name?
She's never said that to anyone else. She seemed too confident, like her instinct told her Priscilla is the mother she's been looking for. And I can't deny, she's the only woman I want in my life.
I made a mistake, asking Priscilla to leave that day. Of that, I have no doubt. The problem is, how do I convince Priscilla she can trust me now?