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It took Yevgeny a moment to realize that she’d taken him literally. “I didn’t cause my brother’s sterility,” he said broodingly. “But apparently I caused him to be ashamed of his lack of manhood.”
Ella stared at him without responding.
He laughed without humor. “So it would appear you are right. I am the big-brother bully. My brother didn’t want anyone to know because he feared I would be angry—while I thought he didn’t want anyone to know because he would feel...awkward.”
“You were trying to protect him.”
Yevgeny shrugged. “Except he doesn’t see it that way.”
“Of course he doesn’t. He only sees it from his side—because that’s what you’ve allowed him to do all his life. You’ve allowed him to be selfish. You created a monster.”
He opened his mouth to object to the attack on his brother.
But Ella was already speaking. “Don’t worry—I’ve done the same thing.” She lifted her hands and shrugged. “I’ve indulged Keira so much that she doesn’t need to take responsibility for anything. She simply needs to dump it on me and swan off secure in the knowledge that I will take care of it.” Ella hitched her purse up. “Whatever ‘it’ happens to be at the moment.”
“And right now it is Holly.”
“Exactly.”
It took a minute of silence for that to sink in. Yevgeny found himself smiling at her as a newfound sense of truce surrounded them. “We’re a fine pair, aren’t we?”
Ella glanced at her watch. “Good grief, the meeting. I need to fly.”
“I am coming with you—don’t even try to keep me away.”
* * *
Ella was relieved that today was over.
Jo Wells had dropped her home. Ella had been extremely grateful. She had a headache and it had taken all her energy to persuade Yevgeny that she didn’t want him taking her home. She needed nothing more than to sleep—which she’d done, while Deb had tended to Holly.
Now she sat curled up in the rocking chair in Holly’s nursery, watching the baby sleep in her cot while the night nurse took a coffee break in the kitchen.
This morning’s meeting had been unspeakably difficult, despite the fact that Yevgeny had behaved like a saint. And, to make things worse, Jo Wells had been right.
The family was delightful—everything Ella had once wanted for Holly.
Holly. It was all about Holly.
Only Holly.
Too soon Holly would be gone....
Ella knew she shouldn’t be thinking about herself. About how she was going to feel once Holly had gone. But she couldn’t help herself.
She’d taken all possible precautions to stop this from happening yet still it had happened. She’d grown attached to the baby lying in the cot only feet away.
One thing had become clear to Ella—Yevgeny wanted to adopt the baby with his whole heart. He might not be listed on the birth certificate as Holly’s father, but she didn’t need to have blood tests run to confirm his paternity claim. She believed him—even though the lawyerly side of her would force her to cross the t’s. His desire to keep Holly wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment whim driven by impulse. He loved Holly—he was her father. Holly was his daughter, a part of him.
An ache filled Ella. Holly was a part of her, too. Her daughter.
Their daughter.
Her heart was telling her Holly belonged with the father who already loved her...even though he was far from perfect.
Could she forget about the plans—dreams—she’d had for Holly to go to the perfect family? And give Yevgeny what all his billions would never buy him?
That way there would be no messy, turbulent court battles...no legacy of bitterness.
Ella rose to her feet and went to stand by the cot. Inside Holly slept peacefully.
“What do you want, my angel?” she asked the baby.
* * *
It was Christmas Eve.
Using the excuse that his brother and her sister were both away in Africa, Ella had invited Yevgeny around for dinner. She hadn’t been surprised when he’d leaped at the opportunity to spend time with Holly.
Ella had decorated the table with cheery green-and-red place settings for her and Yevgeny. There was a place for Holly, too, and Ella planned to draw her stroller up to the table for dinner to participate in the event.
This Christmas Eve was special.
It was Holly’s first Christmas Eve. And, Ella knew, it would be the only Christmas she would ever spend with the baby. At the moment the baby was lying on her back on the carpet wearing a cute Santa’s elf outfit.
She looked absolutely adorable.
Ella had spent the afternoon since returning from work taking photos. One day Holly would be able to look back through the album that Ella would put together for this day. In fact, Ella had decided to keep a duplicate copy of the album for herself...to form an invisible bond between her and Holly.
