happening or mind-reading.”
“Agreed. Shall we kiss on it?”
She snickered. “I was hoping for more.”
“That can be arranged.”
Hours later we emerged from her room and went downstairs for a snack.
“I have lots of cookies.”
“Do you have whipped cream?”
“Of course.”
We ate cookies, milk, and whipped cream and it took me back to my youth. I reminisced out loud. “I had a shitty childhood. We all went to boarding school because my mother didn’t want to raise us. But before we went, we were at home, each raised by nannies. Mine was so-so, but my older brother’s was great. She would sneak us cookies and milk and those were the best times I remember. My dad traveled a lot for business so we were stuck at home with my mother, who never wanted kids.”
English’s hand covered her chest. “That’s awful. Why did your mother have any kids at all?”
“My dad wanted them. He knew how she was before they married and promised her we would go to boarding school when we were ten and that the nannies would do all the work.”
“Still makes me sad. I love my daughter so much. I can’t imagine.”
“I don’t have any kids of my own, but I would never in a million years do that. Easton is such a joy and I see how much you love her.”
Her smile warmed me and so did her next words.
“I see how you are with Easton. You’re great with kids and will make a great dad someday.”
Then she frowned, which sent ants crawling in my gut. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you prepared to take on the responsibility of becoming an insta-dad?”
The ants vanished. “Oh, that. She’s amazing, and yes. We already have a bond. I’m looking forward to it. I might spoil her though.”
“I’ve noticed. One thing I ask is that you never undermine my authority and that we discuss things with each other before approving them.”
“Agreed.”
“One other thing. That little girl is smart and can be manipulative, like she is with that dog. Don’t let her be. She’ll have you agreeing to things you’d never thought you’d do.”
“I can see that. She’s very hard to resist. With that missing tooth, all she has to do is ask and she’ll receive.”
“See? She knows it too. Other than that, I’m sure we can work through everything.”
“One question. What about a wedding?” Women usually wanted one, but I didn’t care either way. I would love to see the look on my mother’s face if we got married in Vegas and came home and told her.
“Why that grin?”
A hearty chuckle rose out of me as I explained.
“I’m all for that. We can always have a renewal of our vows later.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“No, it’s what my parents did. Then they had another wedding and honeymoon later.”
We began planning that night. The following Monday, we met with my attorney so the contract could be drawn up. It was relatively straightforward. English wasn’t asking for anything except Easton’s college tuition. My attorney suggested something like a prenup. English would walk away with a substantial amount, but couldn’t access any of the family’s assets. We also arranged for adoption proceedings for Easton to begin. We decided not to tell her until everything was final.
Then we planned our trip to Vegas. That evening, we broke the news to Beck and Sheridan.
“Uh, haven’t you forgotten something?” Beck asked.
“What’s that?”
“Our trip to Vietnam. We’re scheduled to leave in three days.”
Chapter Thirty-One
English
My heart crashed to my stomach. “Vietnam? When did you decide this? I thought you canceled?”
“We didn’t cancel, munch. We postponed. With Stuart in jail, I figured it was okay for us to go.”
“Fine,” I answered tightly.
Dad put his hands on my shoulders, but I brushed them aside. “Obviously it’s not,” he said.
“You didn’t even consult me, or Tristian for that matter.”
“You’re right. I didn’t and I apologize. I meant to tell you and it slipped my mind.”
“Slipped your mind. So now what? Our adoption proceedings have begun and we have to be married by then.” I rubbed my temples.
Rather than answering, Dad opened his phone and scrolled through only God knew what. I looked toward the ceiling and blew out a long, noisy breath.
“Give me a sec, English, I’m checking to see if I can rearrange something.”
My toe-tapping was annoying even me, so I stopped. Tristian rubbed my back but I shrugged his hand off. The only thing that would help now was Dad saying he’d push the trip back.
“I’ve got it. You two go to Vegas. I’ll fly to Vietnam