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I smile before starting to swipe through the documents on my tablet I downloaded to review.
We’re a few hours into the flight when the stewardess appears to serve lunch. She distributes each meal and then comes around with drinks. My father’s cognac gets refilled. Then it’s Candace’s turn. She rejects the offered alcohol with, “I can’t drink that. I’m pregnant.”
Total silence fills the cabin. Even my father looks up from the paper he was reading. “What did you say?”
“I’m pregnant, Arthur. Isn’t that exciting?”
Candace sounds bubbly and happy. My father looks shocked. Scarlett looks to me, wide-eyed. It’s the same announcement we were planning to make on this trip. Thunder stolen. But I realize why she looks so shocked when she glances at Oliver. His complexion has turned gray.
And all of a sudden, I realize…I’m not certain the baby is my father’s.
As soon as I have a chance to, I corner Oliver. We end up in the living room of the chalet, right between the elaborately decorated Christmas tree and a stunning view of the snow-capped mountains.
“Tell me there’s no chance it’s yours.”
He looks away. “I’ll talk to her.”
I swear. “Oliver, I swear to God, if you—”
“I know I fucked up, Crew. I don’t need the perfect son rubbing it in.”
“If perfect isnotfucking ourstepmother, then it’s a damn low bar,” I snap. “You need to handle this. Immediately. If Dad suspects… If Candace talks… This could be a total disaster. And it’s the last thing I need right now. I’ve got enough going on, with—”
“With what?”
I glance around to make sure we’re still alone. “Scarlettis pregnant.”
“Whoa.” Oliver blinks. “Are you sure…” My glare cuts him off. He clears his throat. “Right. Congrats.”
“Thank you. But between that and the Sullivan acquisition that’s supposed to go through right before then, this mess is the last thing I need to be worrying about.”
“The Sullivan acquisition is set to go through in April.”
“I know.”
Oliver counts backward, coming to the same conclusion I did when Scarlett’s doctor shared the conception date during our first visit—I knocked her up one of our first times. “Damn. Impressive work, little bro.”
I roll my eyes. “Keep it to yourself. I haven’t told Dad yet.”
“He’ll be fucking thrilled. More future CEOs.”
“I know.” And that’s why I haven’t told him, because some part of me wants him to be excited about becoming a grandfather, nothing else. I know that’s why Scarlett hasn’t told her parents either. “Deal with Candace, okay?”
Oliver nods. “Yeah, yeah. I will.”
Everyone else is already at the table in the formal dining room when Oliver and I walk into the room. I take a seat next to Scarlett, grabbing her thigh and giving it a quick squeeze. Her eyes are filled with questions she can’t ask and I can’t answer. Not here.
The servers bring out the first course.
My father appears to be in good spirits, which I’m surprised by. I’ve never gotten the impression he wanted more kids. He and Candace have only been married for a year, and I was surprised he chose to get married again at all. I didn’t think the news Candace is expecting would be welcome. And it complicates the possibility it’s not even his kid a whole lot.
Dinner is filled with forced pleasantries and discussions of the itinerary for the coming week.
“Can you ski?” I ask Scarlett, while my father presses Oliver about something involving golf. I’ve never made much of an attempt to understand the sport.
“Like a penguin,” she replies.
“So, you waddle?”
