Page 11 of Nico (Members From Money Season 2, #154)

"You don't think I know that?" His temper erupted and had him shoving upwards and pacing away and back. His clothes were rumpled as usual, his hair badly needed cutting. "I don't know what the hell to do. I often forget to eat. A little girl needs fuel."

"Yes, she does," she responded quietly. "And she will get it." She rose and stepped towards him. "We're here and we'll help to navigate this journey with you." She slid her hand through his arm as he stopped and stared at the stream. "You'll get it. It will be difficult, but we'll get it."

He shrugged. "I suppose I'd better go and see her."

"Let's go together. She's a beautiful child."

*****

Sadie decided she wasn't going to call him again.

She had called twice and left a message.

She certainly did not want him thinking that she was desperate or a stalker.

He might be working, and she knew when he was deep in the work, he ignored everything and everyone.

She was going to leave him alone. It's not like they were joined at the hips.

She could go several hours without hearing from him.

It's his own damn fault, she thought angrily as she stared at the screen. He had spoiled her. Texting, calling, showing up and making her feel as if she was the only one in his life. It was her fault for getting used to the attention.

But dammit, if she didn't miss him. And wanted to hear his voice. He had grown on her so much that she could not go a day... No! She shook her head. She would not go there.

He was busy. She was busy. She had inventory and paperwork.

Mrs. Heckles had ordered the Jackson Colby painting, the horribly expensive one that reminded her of a violent thunderstorm.

The commission would be off the chart. And she was the one who was going to profit, as well as Jackson Colby of course and the gallery.

She had met the man and had become a kind of friend, since he and Nico were friends. She liked his style. He and his brother Jason had an enormous amount of talent and yet they never put on airs. Nico was the same way, and he had been born with money, immense wealth.

Shaking her head, she recalled the first time she had gone to his place. The man had all that money and preferred to live in a pool house. Albeit a very elegant one, but still. And his clothes. They mostly looked as if he had slept in them for several nights.

"All right, girl," she muttered. "Enough." Taking a deep breath, she called up the invoice and focused.

*****

He stood just inside the doorway of the lovely pale pearl room and watched as his mother and the little girl bonded. The papers were drawn up and signed, and now Brigette was saying goodbye to her daughter. He found himself wondering how on earth she could leave the little girl.

Gracie clung to her mother and started crying. He also saw that it was not easy for the mother. She was holding back tears and trying to be brave. Taking the child over to Linda, she kissed those wet cheeks and stroked the wild blonde curls.

To his surprise, Gracie turned her face into Linda's silk blouse and clung to her.

"I'll see you out." Nico leaned off the jamb as Brigette crossed to the door.

"Thanks." Taking a last look at her daughter, she followed him out. They descended the stairs without speaking. A maid came forward with Brigette's jacket and he held it for her to shrug into.

She had taken an Uber and had called another one to take her to the airport.

"You hate me."

He looked at her in surprise. They had stepped onto the porch to wait for the pick-up. "Why would I?"

"I made a mistake in not telling you about Gracie. She's really yours, you know." Tears clouded her eyes. "I wanted you to come back, hoped you would."

He shook his head. "It was never that way between us."

"I know. In my heart, I knew that, but I still hoped.

I thought fleetingly about using Gracie as leverage to get you to come back to me.

You treated me well, Nico, more than well.

" She touched his arm lightly. "I loved that, loved the way you took care with me.

" Her eyes welled. "I love Julian, you know.

You might think I'm foolish or greedy and it's all about the money, but it's not. "

"You would have gone through life without telling me about her. I have no doubt she's mine. It's pretty obvious."

"And I'm sorry for that." She pressed her lips together. "Please take care of her. Your mother and sister already love her." She watched the car sweep into the long circular driveway. "Do you think that when she gets older, you would allow her to speak to me?"

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know. Her life's pretty turned around right now. My sister says she deserves stability, and she's right. I don't know how to be a father."

"You'll learn, and you'll come to love her. That's the kind of man you are." She turned to walk down the steps. "Goodbye, Nico."

He stood there watching her get into the car and drive away. Standing there for a few more minutes, he went back inside.

*****

"She's finally sleeping." Linda watched as her son went to pour himself a drink. "We'll take her to a pediatrician and have her checked out thoroughly. And take her shopping. Her mother brought some toys with her, but I want her to have more. We should also consider hiring a nanny for her."

"The several dozen maids employed here not enough?"

He knew he was being nasty and ill-tempered, but he could not seem to help himself.

"She'll need someone completely dedicated to seeing to her care." Linda ignored the temper and tried for patience. He was out of his depth, and it showed. "We'll also research preschool-"

"Good God, Mother, she's only just arrived. Give her some time before you start planning her high school prom."

She lifted her chin and gave him an icy look that had him mentally backing down.

"I'm going to remind myself that you're confused and angry. But I will not have you taking that tone with me."

He relented and went to sit next to her. "I apologize," he told her wearily. "I'm being a jerk, but that does not mean I should take it out on you." He reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips.

Her smile came, expression softening. "I know, darling.

" She rubbed his hand. "But we need to think of that little girl.

We'll never make up for her losing her mother, but we can embrace her as a family.

Oh darling, I'm already in love with her.

" She shook her head. "Listen to me." She laughed a little breathlessly.

"You have been yearning for a grandchild."

"Oh, I have been." She patted his hand and turned to face him. "It's going to be all right, darling, you'll see."

*****

He hesitated just inside the doorway of her bedroom.

It was one of the smallest suites in the manor and he had to admit, one of the loveliest. His mother had chosen well.

The bed was a white antique four poster, which was much too big for the tiny child.

He suspected his mother would order something more appropriate for her age and frame.

The carpet hushed his footsteps as he approached the bed.

He had no intention of waking her. He just wanted to have a closer look. Sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed, he waited with bated breath to see if she was disturbed. But she continued to sleep. He stared and felt a jolt at the child's uncanny resemblance to his sister at that age.

It was the same peaches and cream skin, the tumble of blonde curls.

Her lashes were long and made shadows on her plump cheeks.

She slept on her left side, with her tiny hands folded under her cheek.

Small rosebud mouth was pursed, and her breathing was soft and quiet.

She was a stunningly beautiful child, he thought achingly.

There was no doubt that she was his. He had made her, he thought in wonder.

It might have been out of an attraction he never remembered having, one that had sizzled and then died, but she was a person.

He had made a whole person. And here she was.

He had missed her being born and could resent that now, but here she was.

He had no idea how to feel or what to do. He did not know the first thing about being a father. All he knew was his work.

Reaching out a hand, he touched one fat curl and pushed it away from her forehead.

He was so intent on his study of her that when his sister came and stood beside him, he realized she was there.

"I thought you'd left."

"I had to make some phone calls," she whispered. "I'm taking the rest of the day off. Mother and I want to be here when she wakes up. She's going to want her mother."

He nodded. "She looks so much like you."

Placing a hand on his shoulder, she squeezed. "I thought so too. She's utterly adorable."

"I'm going to have to figure out what to do with her."

"That's easy."

Turning his head, he looked at her. "It's not. I'm a single guy with a history of forgetting to put socks on." He rose, forcing her to drop her hand. "But I suppose I'll have to figure it out."

Sliding her hand through his arm, she stood with him as they both stared at the little girl.

"Mother and I will be ordering a bed for her in the morning."

"I thought you would. Let's go before we wake her."