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“I may be back to work then, but we’ll figure something out.”
A whisper of fear slid through her. Was he already going to push them aside in an attempt to keep this movie? Would he really postpone their family time so he could spend his days worrying over the set, the script and the actors?
She couldn’t think negatively. If she wanted to keep this marriage strong, she had to think positively. But in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but worry how this would all play out once he started working again.
Anthony tugged her closer to settle in the crook of his arm. “What do you have going on under here?”
His touch sidetracked her thoughts. “Enjoy it now. This is probably the last time this will be on me for a while. It’s a little tight around my waist.”
His hand cupped her satin-covered belly. “You’ll always look amazing, and now that you’re carrying my child you’re even more beautiful.” He sounded so eager, excited for another baby.
“I’m so scared, Anthony. I’ve been cramping and I just can’t lose this child.”
His gaze jerked back up to hers. “Did you call the doctor? Why haven’t you told me?”
“I didn’t want you to worry,” she confessed. “The doctor said my uterus is stretching and that’s normal, but I just know last time—”
“No.” He put a finger over her lips. “This isn’t last time.”
The tenderness she saw in his eyes, felt in his touch in recent weeks, gave her new hope.
She grabbed his hands, lacing her fingers through his. “I know. And the doctor said to take it easy and not lift a lot. He’s confident I’ll be fine.”
“Then we won’t borrow trouble,” he told her, kissing her slightly on the lips. “We’re moving forward, Charlie, and this baby inside you is part of our future.”
Oh, she hoped so. There was so much she wanted from her life. She wanted her marriage to work more than anything. Wanted her children to have a stable home life, unlike the one she came from. And, selfishly, she wanted her marriage to last forever. She wanted that love she’d seen so many times in the movies her husband directed.
Too bad he’d had difficulties directing his own marriage.
But now he seemed devoted, changed and the family man she needed him to be. Of course, he was also getting ready to start the biggest project of his life. Only time would tell how he reacted and worked everything out.
“Sorry I interrupted you with my scare. I don’t want you to think I’m selfish,” she told him, toying with the beading on the comforter. “I don’t want you to feel that this family is taking you from your job or that you’re sacrificing anything.”
“I don’t feel that way at all, Charlie.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “I want to go to the new-wing dedication next week, if that’s okay. Olivia could watch Lily for us.”
Charlotte couldn’t suppress the grin, the swift intake of breath that held so much hope. “Really? You’ve always been so busy in the past.”
“I’ll never be too busy for you or our children. Never. I didn’t realize how important this was to you before. I’m sorry, Charlotte. You’re worth everything to me.” He tipped her chin and looked into her eyes. “Every bit of fear I had when you walked out that door, every second I didn’t have you with me, made me realize that even if you did decide on the divorce, I had to try. I had to give every bit of my heart to you and take the chance. I can’t give up the memories we still have to make.”
There were no words. Nothing could make this moment any more perfect. Here was the man she’d needed, wanted, loved. Here was the man she’d married, knowing he would be everything she’d ever wanted—strong yet gentle, powerful yet vulnerable.
“I love you, Charlotte.”
She turned to face him fully. “I know you do. I see it when you look at me, talk to me. Make love to me.”
Leaning toward her, he captured her lips in a soft, loving way that shot hope and joy straight to her heart.
He eased back, cupping her cheek in one strong hand. “Since we’re starting new here, I do have something to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“Olivia approached me earlier with the job I’ve been waiting on.”
Charlotte smiled. “To direct the movie depicting her life?”
“You know I’ve wanted to do this since the whole discovery of her being my mother and finding out they were going to make this film, but I won’t if you think we’re not at a good point in our marriage to handle this.”
And what kind of selfish woman would deny her husband the project of a lifetime, especially when that project involved his birth mother and brother?
Added to that, this was the first time he’d asked her opinion before signing on to a movie. In the past he’d simply made the decision himself and told her his upcoming schedule.
“Anthony, I wouldn’t expect you to give up this dream.” She settled a hand on his bare chest. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you discussed this with me first. You know you’ve never mentioned movies or projects before you start working on them. You’ve never made it part of our lives. Always before it was Anthony the husband or Anthony the director. It’s nice having both sides of you in bed with me.”
He reached for her once again, pressing her back against the pillows as he came to lie over her. “Is that so? Well, which side of me do you want to see now?”
She curled her arms around his neck. “All of them.”
Seventeen
“I can’t get over how tiny she is.”
Anthony stood in the corner of Bronson and Mia’s living room as all the women—Charlotte, Victoria and Olivia—hovered around the sofa, oohing and aahing over Bella.
“And look at all this black hair,” Charlotte went on. “Lily seems so big compared to Bella.”
Mia laughed. “Well, Lily is, what…nine months old now? Bella is only two.”
Anthony glanced at Bronson. At one time the two men could barely stand being on the same movie set and now, only months after discovering they were brothers, here they were sharing baby stories.
“If she weren’t already pregnant, I’m sure this would convince her we needed one of our own,” Anthony murmured to Bronson, trying to break the ice of the awkward silence on their side of the room.
His brother laughed. “Babies are amazing creatures. She’s been here for two months and my life is so different. I’d do anything for her.”
Anthony met Charlotte’s gaze, a beautiful smile beaming from her. “I know what you mean.”
Bronson turned to Anthony. “Since the women are occupied, I’d like to discuss a project with you.”
“Olivia’s biography?” Now, this would certainly keep a conversation going and hopefully not be strained. “She spoke with me a couple days ago when she was at the house. If you’re still in need of a director, I’d be honored to team up with you.”
Bronson nodded. “That’s a relief. Mom was really adamant about having you and I wanted the best.”
Anthony laughed. “That hurt you to say, didn’t it?”
“Maybe just a little.” Bronson laughed. “But the film just needs that touch that only you can bring to it.”
Humbled by the honest words, Anthony shrugged. “I love my work just as you do. It comes through on the screen.”
“Let’s have a seat.” Bronson motioned to the sofa off to the side. “I don’t think they’ll mind if we talk shop for a few minutes.”
“Not for very long, boys,” Olivia scolded without turning her eyes from the baby. “We’re here to see Bella and enjoy family time.”
Anthony shook his head and took a seat next to Bronson. “How soon are you looking to start shooting?”
“I’d like to meet with the actors in the next month or so.”
Anthony jerked back. “Do they already have the script? Seems fast.”
“Their agents received it last week, but they’d all committed before reading it,” Bronson confirmed. “I think they all knew this was going to be a big project. And I’m pulling out all the stops with the budget, the locations. No limits on this one. This has to be the best project either of us have ever committed to.”
Anthony nodded. “I couldn’t agree more. Who is reading the scripts?”
Bronson rattled off an impressive roster of A-list actors who would certainly rake in fans of all ages. Images of scenes from various points in Olivia’s personal and public life filtered through his head. This would no doubt be the most important project of his career and he intended to devote his full attention to it.
With Charlotte by his side.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Mia said from the sofa. “No more talk of movies. You can do that later.”
“I’ll call you with the meeting details once I nail down all the agents and times,” Bronson muttered. “We’d better go over there before the women get angry. That’s never pretty.”
Anthony came to his feet and joined Charlotte, who had passed a sleeping Bella off to Victoria.
“Do you want a little brother or sister?” Olivia asked Lily as she bounced her on her hip. “You’re going to be the best big sister and cousin. Yes, you are.”
Bronson rolled his eyes. “I hope you all don’t expect me to use that silly voice when talking to the kids.”
Anthony laughed. “Want me to tell you about a couple weeks ago when I pranced through the house in Tahoe wearing only my boxers and singing ‘The Wheels on the Bus,’ ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’ to Lily so she’d stop crying? Charlotte was trying to draw some of the scenery with her new charcoals and Lily really wasn’t my biggest fan at first. I tried it all. Believe me, you’ll do that silly voice and so much more.”
Victoria tapped the tip of her finger on Bella’s tiny nose. “You are so precious. If your daddy isn’t nice, you come find me or Uncle Anthony. We’ll make him play nice.”
Bronson sat on the edge of the couch. “I can see I’m going to be outnumbered.”
Charlotte smiled, wrapping an arm around Anthony’s waist. “Only until you give in and come to the baby side.”
“I imagine these two little girls,” Anthony said, looking from Lily to Bella, “will team up and have us all wrapped around their manicured fingers in no time.”
“Oh, manicures,” Olivia gushed. “I can’t wait until these girls get older and I can introduce them to the spa. What fun times.”
Anthony patted her arm. “Let’s slow down and let them be babies first. Don’t go scheduling any chemical peels just yet.”
Olivia sent him a smirk and Anthony knew he’d have to keep a close eye on his children so they weren’t overly spoiled. At the same time, he also wanted Olivia to enjoy her grandchildren.
“At least wait until they’re teenagers,” he begged.
“We’ll see.”
“Feel free to spoil me and Mia with manicures and chemical peels,” Charlotte piped up with a laugh. “Right, Mia?”
“Oh, yeah,” Mia agreed. “I could so use some spa time after the last two months of little sleep.”
Olivia slid her phone from her designer handbag. “I’ll make appointments for us for next week.”
Anthony shook his head as Olivia slipped out the door. This family was a gift, a second chance. He had no doubt that, as the family grew, there would never be a dull moment.
And Charlotte laughed and talked with his family as if she’d been with them for years. That thrilled him. This was the love and life Charlotte needed to keep that brightness in her beautiful eyes. He was just glad he realized it before it was too late.
* * *
Anthony stared at the image on the glossy photo…or rather the series of photos that the ultrasound tech had given them earlier.
“Can you believe it? Another girl.” Charlotte beamed as she held the pictures in her hand. “I can’t wait to tell everyone.”
“I’m surprised you hadn’t called them all already,” he told her, kissing the top of her head.
She leaned back against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, settling his hands on her baby bump.
“I didn’t want to say it over the phone. Let’s have everyone over for a family dinner.”
“Really?”
She turned in his arms. “Is that okay? I mean, I just assumed it would be.”
He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight. “I think that’s an excellent idea. I love that you want to get to know my new family. It’s still hard to believe that Rachel’s gone, and sometimes I feel as if I’m just moving on and replacing her, but…”
