Page 146 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 3

This Is Love - Chapter 13

Tuesday -Penny

Scarlett clung to me even tighter as Susan approached us.

“Hi, darling,” Susan said. She put her hands on her knees and leaned down slightly. She looked stiff and uncertain and definitely didn’t seem to know how to interact with children. And then she put out her hand. Like she was waiting for Scarlett to take it and kiss the back of it.

I tried to ignore Susan’s oddities. I was on my knees with my arms wrapped around Scarlett, who refused to let go of me. “This is your grandma,” I whispered in Scarlett’s ear. “There’s no reason to be afraid.”

“I already have a grandma.” She looked up at me with her eyes full of questions.

“Yeah. But you know how you have two grandpas? My dad and Daddy’s dad?”

“Yes. I have two grandpas and only one grandma.”

“Well, that’s the thing, Scar. You have two grandmas too. This is Daddy's mother.”

“No.” She got really close to my ear and whispered, “It’s the bad Dalmatian lady.”

I stifled a laugh. Honestly Susan didn’t look anything like Cruella de Vil. She didn’t have half black hair and half white. Shewasn’t wearing any fur. I think it was probably more the air that Susan gave off. One of snobby sophistication. And maybe a slight tinge of murderiness. It was hard for me to like her too. But I was trying. For James’ sake, we both had to try.

“Is she shy?” Susan asked. “That’s a rather unfavorable characteristic. Come here child. I want to meet you.”

“Actually Scarlett isn’t shy at all. Are you, Scar?” I had been terribly shy growing up. I still was around new people. But my closest friends knew that I was quite talkative around anyone I was comfortable with. I tried to ignore Susan’s snub. This wasn’t about me. This was about our family being put back together. And this was part of that.

“I don’t know what shy is,” she whispered into my ear.

My sweet baby girl. I hugged her tightly and kissed the side of her forehead. “It’s okay, go say hi to your other grandma.” I reluctantly let go of her.

Susan put her hand back out for a friendly shake of some sort.

But Scarlett ducked under it and hugged her leg.

For a moment Susan looked like she didn’t know what to do. And I watched in horror as she lifted her hand like she was going to pat my child on the head. Like a dog. But at the last minute she got down onto her knees, in her expensive dress and nylons and hugged my daughter back.

“Nice to meet you, Grandma,” Scarlett said. “Do you want to see my room? I have lots of stuffies to play with.”

“Stuffies?”

“Pandas and monkeys and all the zoo animals.”

Susan looked up at me for help.

“Stuffed animals,” I mouthed silently at her.

“Right. Stuffies. I’d love to see your collection,” Susan said.

“Okay.” Scarlett slipped her hand into Susan’s and pulled her to the stairs.

“And you’ll be good for your grandma, Uncle Rob, Aunt Daphne, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Josh, and Ellen?” I called after Scarlett.

“Yes.” She said it as more of a question than a statement.

I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her with just James’ mother. Not yet. Maybe one day in the future, but that day wasn’t today. James had insisted that Scarlett stay here in the city. Something about our apartment in Newark not being suitable for children. He did have a point. It was more of a sexy bachelor pad than a nice family home. Tons of sharp corners. Nothing was toddler-proof in the slightest.

So we had brought in reinforcements. Ellen was already here, which was a relief because Scarlett already viewed her as a grandmother. Rob, Daphne, and Sophie were on their way here to help. Melissa and Josh were exhausted from taking care of her last night. And I was pretty sure Melissa was still scrubbing the makeup off her face that Scarlett had applied. Besides, Rob wanted to introduce Daphne to her mother-in-law anyway. AndSophie to her new grandma. They could have a little reunion while we were away.

“You all set?” James asked.