Jack watched Lila walk to his couch and pick up a sleek, expensive purse.
Then her eyes went to the painting over the couch. A painting that had been moved from his old office to this office three years ago upon his father’s death. A painting Jack had owned for twelve years. It was the first painting Jack had ever invested that kind of significant money in. His own money. Money that he’d earned.
Her painting.
“You know, Belle told me you owned one of my pieces and I gotta say, it goads me you have it but I’ll let it be,” she said to the painting and then looked at him, eyes unfriendly, face unhappy. “We walk out of this room, you cease to exist. And good riddance,” she finished as her daughter walked up beside her and grabbed a square, battered, woven, tan, leather handbag with a long strap from the couch.
They both walked toward him but he didn’t move.
When they were forced to stop in front of him, he still didn’t move.
“We’re leaving now,” Lila announced.
“I’ll want to speak to Belle,” Jack returned and he watched with some surprise as both women grew pale. Therefore he knew without asking that not only had Belle told them not to come there, she didn’t know they were there.
Lila rallied first. “That’s not going to happen.”
“She’s carrying my child. I’ll want to speak to her,” Jack retorted.
“Well, since we don’t know if it’s your child, that’s unnecessary,” Lila shot back.
“It’s mine,” Jack said with soft meaning and watched the women exchange nervous glances.
“We thought,” Rachel started but when Jack’s eyes cut to her, she stopped. He watched her swallow then she pressed on, “We thought it was only fair you knew. Belle doesn’t want anything, not your money or anything. She didn’t even want you to know she was carrying your child. But she’s keeping it and it’s yours too and we thought it was only fair,” she finished but when Jack didn’t speak she continued. “Please don’t make us regret this gesture.”
Belle, Jack noted, was very like her mother.
This did not make him waiver mainly because Belle was pregnant with his child and fully intended to keep it from him.
And that was not going to happen.
“I’ll want to speak to her,” he repeated.
“Damn it, man!” Lila burst out.
“Either you arrange it or my solicitors will,” Jack warned. “And I don’t think you want solicitors involved.”
Lila made an angry noise but it was again Rachel who captured Jack’s attention.
“Why?” Rachel asked softly, her voice trembling with an emotion he couldn’t quite read. Hurt or anger, he wasn’t sure. “She doesn’t want to see you. Why put her through this?”
“It’s my child,” was all Jack said to explain which he thought was quite enough.
“I beg to differ. It’s Belle’s child too, not just yours,” Lila snapped.
“Then Belle and I, as the child’s mother and father, will speak like civilised people about what will happen during its gestation, birth and continued existence.”
“Oh lordy,” Rachel muttered.
“It’s gestation?” Lila breathed in a furious whisper.
“I’ll choose the obstetrician, the best, who will see to Belle’s care while the baby’s developing. I’ll choose the hospital, the best, so I can be assured of a successful outcome during delivery. And Belle and I’ll discuss what arrangements will be made after its birth.”
“Belle’s already got an obstetrician,” Rachel noted.
Jack’s eyes cut to Rachel. “Unless he’s the best, Belle will have another one.”
“She is lovely and Belle likes her,” Lila informed him.