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He sighed, and it felt as though it was a sigh of relief. I recognized his body language loud and clear. “You will probably never know how much I needed to hear those words from you right now, baby.” Yep. I was right. “And I don’t want you to be a different person—ever. You are just how you should be, and there is nothing to be sorry for.”
“None of this mess changes the fact you are a remarkable man. I cannot even begin to understand why you aren’t running away from me at a fast clip, but you
aren’t. You stay with me and tell me you love me and say you will make your home here—with me—and it feels like I’m in a waking dream. This couldn’t possibly be real—”
“It’s real, Brooke. It’s real.”
After a few more minutes of silence he asked, “Ready to go?”
“I’m ready,” I lied.
As I drove us to the helipad, I ruminated over everything. I knew it would be hard for me to see stories and pictures of me in the gossip magazines, and I made a vow not to read them. The thought of things being written about my personal life made me physically ill. This paparazzi issue would be a tough nut for me to crack. I would do my best and I didn’t want to let Caleb down, but I couldn’t deny the worry now settled in my heart.
I didn’t know if I was strong enough to make it through unscathed—and I guess I was about to find out.
The closer we got to the helipad at Lucas’s place, the more I realized the many concessions Caleb had made in order to spend his weekends with me on the island. He was doing his best to accommodate my wishes, except for where the ferry was concerned. He told me Blackstone Island Ferry wasn’t going to cut it for his commute, and he didn’t want me taking it, either. He cited the time delay was unacceptable for him when his helicopter could make the trip in a quarter of the time. I didn’t complain. I’d miss seeing Will, but it was wonderful to make the journey to the mainland in mere minutes, instead of an hour or more depending on the sea conditions.
Caleb’s pilot was a huge ex-soldier named Spence. He didn’t say much, but Spence was reliable. He was always waiting for us when we pulled up to the helipad, just as he was now. The helicopter was fired up and ready to go when I parked and locked up Woody. Caleb helped me navigate through the extreme wind blasting down off the rotors, and got me settled into my seat and our bags securely stowed.
As he buckled me in, I watched his hands working determinedly in securing the straps, which would make this journey a safe one for me. A kind of a metaphor for what he was trying to do for me in his life. I trusted him completely.
He gave me a quick kiss before strapping himself into his own seat. Caleb didn’t seem to have any doubts, and I liked that he was so confident about having me in his life. His confidence would have to do for the both of us right now, because I didn’t have mine down yet.
The time to face my new life in the spotlight had come, no matter how much I despised the idea. I was with Caleb now. Everything else could be sorted out with time and patience.
The time to ponder my new situation was very brief.
Because just a short fifteen minutes later, Spence set us down on top of the Blackstone Global Enterprises building in the middle of downtown, corporate Boston.
Caleb
Caleb, you cannot be serious about this girl. She’s the illegitimate grandchild of our former housekeeping staff, for Christ’s sake.” My mother stood in my office, in her Prada and Gucci armor, somehow under the impression her disapproval of Brooke would influence me to break up with her. Delusional was about the only thing that came close to explaining the state of my mother’s mental health right now.
“I assure you I am totally serious about Brooke, and for the record, she is the grandchild of your sister-in-law, who is married to my very rich uncle. And here’s another news flash for you, Mom, we’re not in the fifties anymore when people cared about pedigrees. The illegitimacy aspect doesn’t pull much weight when there’s money to factor into it—mine and Herman’s should be enough to smooth over any offended sensibilities.” It was a challenge to keep my cool with her attitude. She’d waited three days since the news hit, before descending upon me to throw in her two cents about Brooke. Like I needed her up my ass right now, in addition to fending off the relentless press, who fought for scraps like hyenas over a carcass. It was exhausting.
“Your father would be devastated by this,” she said, shaking her head at me.
“Seriously, Mom? You believe that Dad would disapprove of Brooke if he were alive?”
“Yes, Caleb, I know he would.”
“I disagree. You’re wrong about this. One hundred percent wrong. He told me to hold on to the things that make me happy with all of my heart. Since Brooke is the only woman who can ever make me happy, I’m holding on to her.”
“He told you that, son?” she asked, her tone much more diffused than when she’d first started in.
“From his deathbed, yes, he did.”
A look of pain came over her face, and I could see she was still grieving. “He had some regrets at the end of his life, but he would not condone your relationship with Brooke. The Blackstone name was too important to him.” She shook her head slowly. “No, he wouldn’t approve, Caleb, not after all he did to make certain you were given the best of everything life had to offer.”
“But isn’t that what any parent does for their child? Want them to be happy and try to give them the best of everything?”
She was frustrated with my logic, I could tell.
“It will never last. Your relationship with Brooke will not stand the pressures of society. She won’t be able to rise above her scandalous past—”
“She doesn’t have a scandalous past, Mom!”
“Brooke will never be accepted as one of the tribe,” she said tightly.
