Follow Your Heart (Catalina Cove #4) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,94
between you and Victoria Madaris. I figure when they see me at that press conference with you, giving you my full support, they’ll know all you shared with that woman was a meaningless fling and that you and I are back together. That should dispel the talk and salvage your reputation.”
Roman shook his head, knowing Audria had it all wrong if she thought for one minute that all Victoria had meant to him was a meaningless fling, or that he needed her by his side for anything. But whether she knew it or not, her words had made him suspicious of something. Namely her. “Like I said, Audria. I got this. Goodbye.”
* * *
VICTORIA WASN’T SURPRISED upon reaching Whispering Pines to find her brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, grand-uncles and grand-aunts, there in the yard waiting for her. Nearly the entire Madaris clan. Although she appreciated the support, she figured they would be worse than the press with all their questions.
Uncle Jake reached over and touched her hand. “You don’t have to tell anyone anything you don’t want to. I think they’re mainly surprised that you and Roman are involved. They assumed the guy you would fall in love with was Tanner.”
She nodded. “I thought so, too, but evidently that’s not the case. I talked to Tanner after we landed while you were getting the car. He’s also met someone and fallen in love. She read the tabloid and it has caused problems between them. Problems he hopes they can work out. I hope they can, too.”
Uncle Jake released a deep sigh. “Mom is enjoying herself somewhere on her cruise, not knowing the two people she thought would be perfect for each other have fallen in love with other people.” He shook his head. “She’s going to be in for a big surprise when she gets back. Maybe this will shock her into realizing her matchmaking days might be over.”
Victoria smiled at her grand-uncle. It was the first smile she’d allowed herself since reading that tabloid. “Do you really think that, Uncle Jake?”
He shook his head, grinning. “No. She is determined to make sure all of you are married off before she takes her last breath. Honestly, I think she will be able to accept she’s made a mistake this one time, as long as the person you end up with is someone you love and who makes you happy.”
When Uncle Jake parked the car, she wasn’t surprised when all her brothers and cousins stood back, and it was her oldest brother, Nolan, who approached. Nolan, who’d always been her protector. Nolan, who’d been the last one to be caught in their great-grandmother’s matchmaking shenanigans. And it was Nolan who’d called to warn her she was next. At the time, she hadn’t cared and had been so accepting of whatever Mama Laverne did and whomever she selected. Funny, how things had turned out. Now all she wanted to do was what Uncle Jake had suggested—follow her heart. And her heart was leading straight to Roman.
Instead of saying anything, Nolan pulled her into his arms and held her for a long while before he whispered, “It will be all right, Vic. Finding out about you and RJ threw all of us for a loop, but we want you to be happy. Your happiness means everything to us.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes, nodded and said, “Thank you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
VICTORIA HEARD A knock on the guest room door. She had lied down for a nap after talking with her brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, and assured them she was okay. She’d also told them the same thing she’d told Uncle Jake. She loved Roman and not Tanner.
Opening the door, she saw it was Diamond. “Jake told me to tell you that Roman is about to hold a press conference. Do you want to watch it?”
“Yes.”
Victoria followed Diamond downstairs, where their huge television was located in the family room. All her relatives, the ones who hadn’t left once they’d seen she was okay, were seated around the set. At some point when she’d been napping, Christy and Alex had arrived. When Christy saw her, she crossed the room and gave her a hug.
“You okay, Victoria?” Christy asked with concern in her eyes.
Victoria nodded. “Yes, I’m fine now. I needed to rest and make a few decisions.”
Christy nodded. “Do you want to watch the press conference with us or do you prefer watching it in private? There’s another television in Uncle Jake’s study.”