Page 14 of Matrimonial Merger (Lakeshore Empire #2)

Daphne

As we arrived in the drawing room, Mum stood, dumbfounded.

“What are you doing here?” She gasped.

“We thought we’d come over,” I said. “We got back this morning.”

“You’re so tan,” Dahlia said, giving me a tight hug, then pulling back. “And really pregnant.”

“Let me tell you, I was a little nervous wearing a bathing suit, but I got over it,” I said. “It is what it is.”

“Not a single person complained,” Cal assured.

“And they wouldn’t. Your tits are… fab. I’m jealous,” Delanie giggled.

“Thank you?” I asked. “Why are you like this?”

“Because you know it’s true.”

“Well, sit,” Mum said. “Cal, do you want a drink?”

“I’m good,” Cal said.

To his credit, he hadn’t really tied one on in ages.

Cal wasn’t much for getting particularly tipsy.

When he was in public, he kept himself on a short leash like the good boy he usually was.

But now that I couldn’t drink at all, he was acutely aware he should not rub it in my face.

I was desperate for a sip of whiskey from my mother’s stocked bar cart, but I behaved myself.

We sat down across from Davey.

“I told you to relax,” Davey said.

“And I did, brother. Promise. I appreciate you covering for me.”

“I got used to it. Now, we are desperate to have you back, but it was a good tester for when you go on leave.”

“Please tell me you’re actually taking leave,” Delanie said.

“Yes, of course,” I said.

“She’s taking three months. So she says,” Davey said. “But I suspect she’s going to try to come back.”

“Are you taking any leave, Cal?” Mum asked.

“Oh, sure,” Cal said. “I am sure a bunch of assholes will grumble about how I am not doing my job by parenting my child and supporting my wife, but… they can bitch all they want. I’m going to take a straight month, then we will see.

I probably will go back part-time. We’ll make it work, but I’m not giving up that precious time. ”

I beamed at him. This is why I loved him—even when it was politically dicey, he chose us. He always chose our family first. I never expected it, but always loved him for it.

“Good. Your father always made time.”

“David cared,” Cal said. “And he stood by his family.”

“Well, if you have six kids, you better show up,” Davey said. “That’s not normal.”

“It was perfect. You shush!” Mum chastised. “And you loved having siblings.”

“Sometimes,” Davey said.

“You always doted on the girls,” I snickered. “You hush. Just you wait!”

“You’d have to find a woman willing to marry him, Daphne. Good luck!”

“Lanie!” Mum admonished. “Be nice.”

“We’re not planning on having six, for the record,” I clarified. “Two is good. But we figure we will get this one here first.”

“I cannot wait,” Mum brimmed.

I looked at Cal, signaling I wanted to drop the big news. He nodded.

“What?” Delanie asked. “What now?”

“We wanted to say we found out what we’re having,” I said. “The sex of the baby.”

“Oh yes?” Mum asked. “Oh good! You’re not those people.”

“It’s okay not to say the sex of the baby, Mum,” I groaned. “But no, I wanted to know. So we could give the baby a name. And I think we have one.”

Cal smiled. “We do.”

“We’re naming the baby Cordelia Alma,” I said. “After great-grandma and great-aunt Alma.”

“A girl?” Delanie screeched, hopping up to nearly take me out with a hug. “Oh my God! Yes!”

“That’s a lovely name,” Mum said, fighting tears. “Two strong, independent woman for what will likely be a willful, opinionated child from the two of you.”

Cal chuckled. “With her mother’s stubbornness and my unwillingness to listen to reason, I bet you’re right.”

“It’s for the best,” Davey said. “I feel like you need a girl.”

“Need one?” I snickered. “Why, Davey?”

“Because Dad always said you’re not a real parent until you have to out-argue an articulate teenage girl.”

Cal laughed. “Oh my God. What?”

“The girls boxed his ears in verbally—mostly this one!” She elbowed Delanie who rolled her eyes.

“God, I cannot help if your rules were always a joke!”

“It seems fitting. David loved them, though,” Cal said. “Nah. I was raised by a strong, stubborn woman. I prefer women when it comes to accountability. They will always call me out on my bullshit—Daphne, Jo, Chloe, even Kristy. Sometimes I just need a smack upside the head.”

“I prefer it, honestly,” Davey admitted.

“This is why you will never find a woman. She shouldn’t be your mother, David,” Delanie said.

“Nah. Just someone willing to hold me accountable. Look, I’m not the brains of the family. I need a brainy woman.”

“One will never choose you!”

“You two are in a mood,” I giggled. “God. I missed this. It’s been too chaotic.”

“They are feeling competitive,” Mum said. “We were discussing Cordelia’s future prospects with a favorite aunt or uncle. Or, rather, they are getting competitive over something so ridiculous.”

“There is space for everyone,” I said. “She will be so blessed with people to dote she’ll be spoiled rotten.”

“Impossible,” Cal said. “You cannot spoil a baby. I firmly believe that.”

Mum rolled her eyes. “You and David. It drove me mad. Don’t always make your wife play bad cop.”

“Look, I cannot help if I’ve waited nearly fifty years to spoil a kid. I might be crazy, but the kid will be loved and have everything I didn’t have.”

I squeezed his knee. “And she will be so lucky to have all of this family.”

“You must tell your mother,” Mum said. “She will lose her mind.”

“Oh, she and Chloe,” Cal agreed. “Chloe was on Team Girl.”

“I know,” Lanie snickered. “She’s already stockpiling clothes—even without knowing—and searching for ponies online.”

“She’s ridiculous,” Davey said. “Keep this kid far from horses, Daph. Horse girls are the worst.”

Delanie leaned across Mum to slap him. “You’re an ass. Horses are good for kids. Every kid should have a pony. Even Cal agrees.”

“No comment,” Cal sighed. “But it’s proof I love Daphne and Chloe to even entertain the idea.”

I smiled. “If her aunt wants to buy her a pony, I will not stop her.”

“That’s just playing dirty,” Davey said. “No one can top a pony. Derrick will have planes. I’m out of it.”

“Just show up,” Cal said. “She’ll love you for it, Davey. We all will.”

Cal squeezed my shoulders. I leaned my head on his shoulder, knowing it was the best part.

He wanted them in our lives—even if it was messy sometimes.

Even if there was sometimes drama and a lot of complication, even if there was Catholic guilt afoot.

He wanted to be a part of our family and he wanted them to be a part of ours.

It was perfect. It was what Chandler never would have given me and it was everything I wanted.

“Hello!” Dahlia’s voice rang out.

“Drawing room!” Mum called back.

Dahlia came around the corner, her face erupting in a beaming smile.

“Oh my God, Daphne and Cal are here!”

She swooped in to hug us both. “Sorry I am late. I had to make sure nothing was going to fall apart before I left.”

“It’s okay,” Mum agreed. “I told the cook we’d be late to dinner. Daphne, do you want to tell her the news?”

“Shit! Yes,” I said. “Cal and I are having a girl named Cordelia Alma.”

“Oh my God!” Dahlia said. “So perfect!”

It was. And as we took our places around the dinner table, Cal to my right, I couldn’t help but brim with all the oxytocin in the world. This was my forever. This was what we always deserved—love, acceptance, and joy.

As we returned home, Cal made us some tea while I looked out over the city from the living room window. It glittered. As we’d started that night in a conference room, it was the endless backdrop to us .

“Here you are, baby,” Cal said, setting a mug down on the coffee table.

I turned, giving him a smile. Dropping to the couch, I stopped to appreciate the baby moving within me. The kicks had only just begun.

“She’s moving?” Cal read my expression.

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m still sad I cannot feel her,” Cal said.

“Soon enough,” I agreed, quietly sipping my tea. As the hot liquid hit my stomach, she picked up speed in protest.

“What are you thinking?” Cal asked.

“That I am forever grateful for this city. And I’m glad I stopped fighting my ties to it,” I said. “That I just got over being a Delphine and stopped running from it.”

He tucked a strand of hair between my ear. “You’re always going to be a Delphine. And Cordelia will be, too.”

“I know.”

“You’re David’s daughter. There is no denying it, Daphne. You defend your family and legacy fiercely—with your whole heart. When you heard the call and when the time was right, you came home. And I am so glad it worked out.”

I met his gaze. “When the timing was right and you believed in me. When I didn’t, you did, Cal.”

“Maybe, but it took your determination and persistence. Daphne, never doubt your own will to thrive. It makes me so proud. I am so happy to be your husband.”

His words brought tears to my eyes.

“No, no, don’t cry,” he snickered. “God, I’m sorry.”

“I just… I’d cry at a commercial right now,” I said. “But it’s beautiful. It all is.”

“It’s the best,” Cal said. “It’s our chaotic, beautiful happily-ever-after, Daphne.”