Call You Mine (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #4) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,99
would’ve done things differently if I had been older. Marie didn’t like the idea at all, but she got onboard when she realized that she could lose custody of her son and have to move to New York. Addison wasn’t much older than me. Her dad was harsh and didn’t want Vance to grow up with a father like William. In a way, we were trapped.”
I take a couple of seconds to think about what she’s saying. It’s too much to digest. I can’t deal with any of it—or her.
“Why are you here?” I ask before I request her to leave.
“I want to make sure you’re all right.”
“Is this going to be added to your tell-all story?” My tone comes out more sarcastic than I intended.
“No. I’ll send you the book. I want you to read it to see if it’s something your grandparents would approve of. I don’t want to add you. I…I’d like to sing with you because I think it’d be good for my career, but I’m not heartless.”
“Why did you stay away for so long?”
“Your grandparents requested it so I wouldn’t confuse you. I’m undependable. That’s not great for a developing mind,” she explains.
“So, what now?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “I wish we could be closer. Like a strange aunt who comes to visit you?”
“I guess we could try that. Can I see that custody agreement?” I ask, because I want to know more. There’s a story behind it.
“Your grandpa had it,” she answers. “Since he became your guardian along with Mom, they had to have proof that they were responsible for you.”
Hayes taps his watch. “Time for you to leave.”
She nods. “I’m glad you have people who love you, Beacon. I’m sorry for not doing the right thing.”
“What was the right thing?”
“William would’ve been a good father if I had let him have you…and maybe you wouldn’t hate me. I feel responsible for what I did,” she concludes. “It’s been almost thirty years. I handled everything poorly, but there’s nothing we can do to fix it. Is there?”
I think about my life. Grace comes to mind. “I’ll always choose my fate if it takes me right next to G.”
“Still, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I repeat. “When I’m better, maybe we can share a cup of coffee.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I’d like that.” She looks at Hayes. “Keep me updated on his condition.”
She turns back to me. “Call if I can do anything for you.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“You okay?” Hayes asks after he shuts the door.
I sigh. “Can you find those custody agreements?”
“This doesn’t make sense,” he says. “But it does. I remember my parents fighting about where we were going to live. Dad wanted us to move to New York. It was weird since they were getting a divorce. Then one day he never came back.”
He gives me a long look. “Are you up for more or do you want a break?”
“Can I have G? I promise not to talk.”
He nods. “She barely left your side. You can’t see it, but there’s a bed on the other side of the room. It’s the only way to get her to sleep. I’m sure she’ll be happy to keep everyone away and be by your side.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll talk to Pierce to see what he can find about the custody.”
“Is he around?”
He shakes his head. “No. Parrish only let me stay. They had to leave two days after your accident. By the way, you were on a poorly built stage and fell.”
That explains what my mother said. Nice lie, Bradley. Fuck, he’s going to kill me when he sees me. Maybe even fire me.
Chapter Forty-Six
Beacon
Blaire goes into labor five days after I wake up; Hayes leaves immediately. My nephew, Machlan Carter Aldridge, comes into the world a day before my birthday. Jerome Parrish allows my brothers and Leyla—who is the only one who can travel—to visit me that day. A lot of things happen while I’m hospitalized.
Seth finally has the last piece to get the Bryants into jail. There was a teenager who was having a child and reached out to them. We hired her to go along with the process, promising that we’d find a good place for her child.
When we had proof, Pierce offered a deal to his mother. She accepted it at first, but then things spiraled out of control.
His own mother tried to incriminate him. Thankfully, the authorities had proof that he hired us to investigate and about everything else the firm had