“So, Laurent asked her out and she said no. Dad asks her and she relents, you ever think about that, Dad? Logically? I mean we’ve talked about this, but in all honesty what does a twenty-something want with a man in his sixties? This will not end well and you’re clearly invested.”
Smiling, I look at all three of my children. In their own way, they are showing me how much they care for me, at least that’s how I choose to look at this situation and their responses. I let out a sigh and shake my head.
“Tennessee has zero business wanting anything to do with me, and I have none wanting anything to do with her. The fact is, we’ve fallen for one another. I care for her deeply. I care for her son as well. I am ready to start the second half of my life,” I say.
“I never thought that the second half of my life would include a young family, but it very much does. I know that it’s hard to believe, but I wish that you would all try to get to know her before you pass serious judgment.”
I’m met with silence, and before any of them can speak, I hear a soft knock on the closed door to the room.
“Mr. Astor, your other guests have arrived,” the hostess calls out.
Flicking my gaze to my children before I stand, I hope that my message is clear with them. They’re all adults and I expect them to act accordingly, whether they choose to or not is completely up to them at this point.
The door opens and I make my way toward them. Tennessee and Holden walk in, hand-in-hand. I can tell that she’s extremely nervous, she’s trembling as she walks toward me. She’s wearing a solid black dress that flows and hits her at her knees and a pair of her mother’s loud heels, at least that’s how she describes them.
Sliding my hand around her back, and squeezing her waist, I dip my chin and touch my lips to the corner of hers.
“Hey, honey,” I murmur just loud enough for her to hear.
“Anry,” Holden whisper-shouts, interrupting us.
Chuckling, I take a step back and look down at the little blond-haired boy. “Holden,” I say with a smile.
He’s got his head tilted all the way backward, his eyes squinting as he looks up at me. “Cancakes?”
“Holden,” Tennessee begins.
Crouching down, I look into his eyes. “You’d like pancakes, for dinner?” I ask.
He looks to the table of people, all three of my children are watching us, and I’m not sure of the expressions they’re wearing, but Holden seems completely unbothered.
“Lub cancakes,” he announces.
Standing, I smile as I look at Tennessee one last time before I guide them both over to the table. I pull out a chair for Holden next to her, then a chair for her next to me. As much as I wouldn’t mind Holden sitting between us, that would probably be far too much for my children.
“Everyone, this is Tennessee,” I introduce.
Laurent smiles, thinking this is all hilarious and I want nothing more than to smack him upside the head. We take our seats, the waitress arrives and takes drink and food orders, then we stare at one another in silence.
As much as I don’t want this to be a clusterfuck, I’m pretty sure it is and there’s no way to make it anything else but just that.
Chapter Twenty-Four
TENNESSEE
Uncomfortable. Awkward. Trembling. All words that I’m feeling in this exact moment. Thankfully, Holden doesn’t quite read the room the same way that I do. He’s shifting from side to side in his seat, singing a song to himself.
“So, I thought I told you to stay away,” Lucinda sneers.
Landry growls next to me, but I reach over and wrap my fingers around his thigh, squeezing him gently. I need to stand up for myself, if I don’t, then they will never understand how much I truly care for their father.
“I have very deep feelings for your father, and I’m sorry, but nothing could keep me away.”
“Are they about three and a half inches deep and two inches wide, in the shape of a rectangle?” she asks, being a smartass.
Ignoring her words, I shake my head once, licking my lips before I lift my gaze to hers. “I know it must be shocking. Seeing me sitting here, when it wasn’t long ago you all three approached me in his office, at my desk.