Page 10 of Nico (Members From Money Season 2, #154)

It seemed to him that everything was happening at the speed of lightning.

The lawyer had arrived promptly, and it occurred to him that money moved things right along.

Jeffry Granger was not the head of the law firm that represented the company as well as the family, but was also a personal friend.

He and his wife moved in the same circles, and Sylvie Granger was on several charitable committees along with his mother.

Nico also realized he had never seen his mother so animated. She had taken Gracie along with her mother upstairs to pick out a room.

"I think the pearl pink suite would do fine," she decided. It never dawned on her to consult with her son. Not that he had anything much to contribute anyway.

Now he was inside his father's completely masculine tan and gold den discussing the ramifications and what should be done with regard to the child.

Jeffry had his leather briefcase open and was leafing through some papers. James had poured them scotch and was behind his desk, his eyes watchful.

"You never knew about the child?"

Nico looked over at the man and frowned. "What do you think?"

"Easy, son. Jeffry is just trying to get a clear picture."

"Sorry," he muttered, tossing back the drink. "This has come as a shock to me. What's the best way forward?"

Jeffry shuffled papers. "The young woman is firm on the decision. We need it in writing, of course." He looked over at his friend. "I would recommend a DNA test."

"It will be," James nodded. "But it's also as clear as day that the little girl has our blood. She's the spitting image of my wife and of course my children." He jerked his head towards his son. "Don't you agree?"

"Yes," Nico bit off the word. He was still in shock and had no idea what he should do. He had always been so bloody careful. That was his usual way of doing things. Now he was a father, something that had been dumped on him without warning.

"There you have it. What's next?"

"I'm pleased to know the young woman is not asking for any sort of compensation."

"She would not have received a cent," James' voice was hard as flint.

"I would have advised against it." He shuffled papers again and made notes. "This document is legal and binding. It states that she's handing over the child of her own volition and without coercion from anyone in the family."

"As long as it stands up in court, if she happens to change her mind." James lifted a glass paperweight and tossed it from side to side. "I've done some checking on the husband. Julian Thorpe is an art dealer and comes from money. He is several years older than she is."

Nico felt as if he was suffocating. It was as if they were discussing a business transaction. Lives were involved here, a little girl who was going to be torn from her mother, the only family she ever knew. And no one seemed to care.

"Nico?"

"What?" He lifted his head and stared at his father.

"Any thoughts?"

"Why should I have any?" He knew it was unfair for him to dump his anger on the men inside the room, but that's what he was. Angry and helpless. As if his life was being ordered for him. "You and Mom have more or less taken care of all the details. It seems to me that I'm inconsequential."

"Nico-"

James held up a hand to cut off his friend's response and gave his son a cool look. "What we're trying to do is make the best of an unusual situation. You were the one who slept with the woman without ensuring that you were careful. We drummed it into your head enough times for it to stick."

"Yeah." Shoving to his feet, he felt self-loathing coursing through his body. "You're right. It's my bloody problem, isn't it? I was the one who was careless, and now there's a child involved." He waved a hand. "Please go ahead without me. I need some air."

"Son-"

James bit off a sigh when the door slammed shut behind him.

"This has to be a great shock to him," Jeffry murmured.

"He's involved with someone."

His friend nodded. "I saw the young woman at the function. The photos in the papers had them looking happy. The speculations were also rife."

"He's going to have to find a way to tell her about this latest development."

"Were they heading towards an engagement? The paparazzi seem to think so."

James barked out a laugh. "Those damn nuisances. They would suck blood out of a rock. He happens to be very private and has not even had the young woman over for dinner. Said she needs time." Sitting forward, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Linda is in her element."

Jeffry nodded. "She seems quite taken with the child."

"She's been hounding Nico to settle down and start a family." He shook his head. "It's not the way we would have wanted it, but here we are." He gestured to the document. "I'd like to take a read."

*****

He went into the gardens and sat by the stream.

The peace did not mirror his mood. His mind was in chaos.

He was not accustomed to the uncertainties and anger flooding through him.

He was used to calm and peace. It was what his work did for him.

Now he was turned around. And he just could not settle.

His phone had messages from her, from the woman who had come to mean the world to him. He owed her an explanation, but what the hell was he supposed to say? "Oh honey, guess what? A woman I had been involved with two years or more ago got pregnant. I now have a daughter. Pass the salt."

They had never discussed children. He knew he was heading to marriage and long term, but that had never been discussed. All because he had been waiting for a sign from her.

He had asked her to move in with him and she had hedged, told him she wasn't ready.

He knew she cared. But was that it? Was it just intense attraction for her?

And if that was the case, how could he ask her to be involved with a daughter he only just met?

A little girl who looked so much like them, it was uncanny.

A little girl who would be losing her mother. Was it fair to have another woman thrown into her life? No, he could not see it happening.

His heart wrenched as he realized he was going to have to step back.

His mother was taking full responsibility of the little girl.

Gracie. Her name was Gracie. She was going to be Gracie Coulter, his own flesh and blood.

And one of the many things that had been drummed into him since he was a child was a sense of responsibility.

He heard footfalls and stifled a sigh, his frown not wavering when he saw his sister.

"Thought I would find you here." Her eyes searched his face as she took a seat next to him.

She had come straight from the research facility as soon as she heard the news.

And gotten a look at the toddler. And fell headlong in love with her.

She was a Coulter all right, undoubtedly.

"We used to come out here to think, or you used to sit right here and paint or sketch. I thought you were a nerd."

"Still am. I want to be alone."

She placed a hand over his, tightened her grip when he would have shifted. "It's a lot to take in."

"That's the understatement of the century." His expression was harsh and cold as ice. She had never seen him like this before. She was used to her brother being easygoing and genial. And she knew him enough to know the internal struggle he was facing.

"She's yours, darling."

"I have no doubt. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?"

She rubbed her hand over his. "Be her daddy. We're here for you and for her. Mother is planning on taking her shopping, and she's running around the room, touching everything. I'm going to spoil her."

"I have to be in her life. She's losing her mother."

Her eyes darkened. "She's suffering."

"Is she?" His tone had a cynical twist that had her staring at him.

"I do believe she is."

"She never contacted me." And that stung like hell. "I had a right to know."

"You did," she agreed. "She claimed she was afraid we would take the child away from her."

"And now she's giving her away."

"Yes." Nadine sighed. "I don't pretend to understand the why of it. But I'm not in her shoes."

"I have to tell Sadie." He felt his heart contracting and his palms sweating. "I'm going to lose her."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do," he nodded grimly.

"If she loves you-"

"It's not a matter of loving me. I would be asking her to take care of another woman's child.

I cannot do that to her." A butterfly, pretty colors taking on the light from the sun, flitted from one rosebud to the next.

This morning, he had woken up with the woman in his arms after making love to her last night and this morning.

If he had known it would be the last time, would he have stayed longer? Been gentler? Now he would never know.

"Darling, are you in love with her?"

He turned his head to stare at her. And saw his daughter. Yes, she was his daughter, no doubt about it. "I think I was heading that way." A smile curved his lips. "She's the most fascinating woman I've ever met, certainly the most beautiful."

"And you don't think there's a way to make it work?"

He shook his head. "I'm going to have to concentrate on her, on Gracie.

I cannot pass on all the responsibilities to you and Mother.

" Lifting his free hand, he dragged it through his hair.

"I'm not fit to be a father." It suddenly struck him how ill-equipped he really was.

"I don't remember to buy groceries, and the house is always a mess.

When I am working, I forget everything else. "

"Which is why she's staying here with us. You could always move back."

"No." That much he was decisive about. He needed his space, which was the only way he could see himself doing his work.

"She'll be well looked after here. There are household staff to tend to her needs. She needs stability."