made the offer to Shelly. It must have been the night he’d asked him to take Emma up to see her surprise room with Marti. He wasn’t surprised by George’s gesture. He was always trying to protect Cameron. He was a good father, Cameron realized, not for the first time. It felt good to think of him that way.
“You really screwed that one up,” he said to Shelly. “I guess the fifty million I got from his death must have looked real tempting. It must really burn you I’d give it all to Marti if she’d take me back.”
“She doesn’t need it. She’s rich.”
“She doesn’t care about it, because for her, life isn’t about the money. It’s about being honest. She truly wants to be a mother to my children, and I thank God she’s the one having my baby and not you. I’d have never let you keep the baby.”
They all walked out of the bathroom and Cameron grabbed Shelly’s arm and propelled her into her own room. He didn’t want her in Marti’s space anymore.
“You have five minutes to pack your stuff.”
“Cameron, why are you being so mean?”
“I spent the night Marti was in the hospital consoling you over a baby who doesn’t exist. She was lying in a hospital bed alone, terrified she’d lose our baby. There’s no end to the number of things I’ve done wrong, but that one thing will haunt me the rest of my life. I wasn’t there for her when she needed me most.”
“You left her on the stairs after Shelly shoved her down them.”
Cameron turned on Sam. “Is that what really happened? Shelly pushed her down the stairs?”
“No, I didn’t.” Shelly didn’t want Sam arresting her for pushing Marti, and Cameron was mad enough to make him do it.
Emma stopped in her tracks in the center of the hallway and shouted, “Yes, she did. She stole my necklace from my room and yelled at me and wouldn’t give it back. Marti came up the stairs and told her to give it back. She wouldn’t. Marti took it, and Shelly pushed her down the stairs. Marti fell and hit her back and fell over backward. I thought she was dead.” Emma’s bottom lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. “Shelly said if I told, I’d never see you again, Daddy. I hid under my bed and cried.” She cried harder now.
Cameron scooped up his daughter and held her close. He turned on Shelly.
“You stole a little girl’s necklace and you pushed Marti down the stairs, knowing she was pregnant.”
“I couldn’t let her ruin everything.”
He had never wanted to hit someone so much in his life. Her being a woman barely kept the reins on his control. “Your five minutes is running out.”
“Cameron, the jeweler is here,” Jenna announced from behind everyone.
“The jeweler. You got me a ring, finally?” Shelly’s eyes lit up.
“No. Funny, I never got around to getting you a ring. Then I just didn’t want to. I had my assistant call everyone this morning and cancel the wedding, including your parents, who were surprised to find out you were getting married. I guess you figured you better make sure it happened before you told them. She canceled the flowers and the food and everything else. My next call was to Harrison Jewelers. I asked them to bring over a selection of their most expensive and unique engagement rings.”
“Harrison’s is the most exclusive jeweler in town. You have to have an appointment to get into the back room to see the best pieces,” Shelly rambled.
“Yes, or you have to be really rich, like me, and they’ll bring the goods to you.” He gave her a snide smile. He hoped she realized just how much she was losing. He was a nice enough guy to pay her off and make her go away. She’d gone too far, and even his need to be nice didn’t exceed his need to get her out of his and Marti’s house with nothing.
“Emma, want to pick out a nice ring for Marti with me.”
“I hate you, Cameron,” Shelly shrieked and stomped her foot.
“The feeling is mutual. Pack your bag. If I was you, I’d be real careful about what I take. Marti won’t be happy if she finds something of hers missing.”
“I think we should get Marti a really sparkly ring,” Emma said with a huge grin.
“Great idea. Sam, please see Shelly out. Shoot her if she takes more than five minutes.”