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She just realized that Elizabeth was her little girl’s biological great-great-grandmother!
The thought caused her head to spin.
Her daughter was part of a powerful family dynasty that dated back centuries. Though, the Belmonts had the name but not the wealth until Cole’s great-grandfather founded the first Belmont Hotel, it was still an impressive background.
On her father’s side, she didn’t know how far she could even begin to trace her heritage. She was sure it was not as impressive as Cole Belmont’s.
Cole opened the back passenger side door of his black luxury SUV with its tinted windows where Mia was seated. She felt like they were celebrities climbing out of a fabulous vehicle like that.
“Wow! Look! Look!” Mia said in awe, gaping and pointing as Cole removed the harness and lifted her out of the SUV. He hugged her closely to him as she woke up. He seemed like such an expert at removing the seatbelt for her kiddie car seat as if he did this a hundred times a day. Some people fumbled at first. Hope was beyond impressed.
Mia pointed to the glorious statue of the lady at the marble fountain. “Wow!”
“You like?” Cole said.
“Yeah!”
“That’s a statue of your great-great-grandmother,” Cole said gently to Mia, warmth and pride flashed in his eyes.
Hope melted inside.
“I’d forgotten how huge this place was,” Hope commented, looking at the grand illustrious mansion that looked more like a palace with its countless multi-paned windows and whitewashed stone exterior. It was truly a work of art from the Victorian era. “The fountain is gorgeous though. I’ve always admired it.”
“Thanks. It’s a hand-carved, one-of-a-kind from Italy. I think great-granddad commissioned it after the First World War.”
“I see.” Talk about true love. His great-grandfather had wanted to have a fitting monument to his beautiful wife and the love of his life, mother of his children. Hope wondered if she’d ever have that kind of happily ever after. Would she and Cole ever be together forever like his great-grandparents were—and it was obvious his great-grandparents were so in love back then.
The feeling of warmth crept around her heart at the timeless love and affection his relatives had for each other. True love.
Just then as they approached the main doors leading into the estate, Ted, the butler, greeted them at the doorway.
“Good morning, sir. Madame,” Ted said, then turned and smiled to Mia. “Well, look who we have here. A special little one. Well, hello there.”
“Say hi, sweetie.” Hope beamed as she prompted her shy three-year-old.
“Hello.” Mia’s voice was so timid as she responded bashfully.
When they entered the foyer of the Belmont Palace, Hope’s jaw fell open. She’d been to the estate before but not the main house. Cole was living and staying at his luxury million-dollar penthouse apartment in downtown Belmont when they’d dated briefly. He’d brought her to a few of the family’s barbecues at the estate but from the west entrance into the grand garden.
“Wow!” Mia said, looking around, clutching her little teddy bear. “Look, Mama! Look!”
“Yes, it’s pretty cool, isn’t it, sweetie?” Hope said. She felt so out of place. It was huge. The place reminded her of Grand Central Station with its enormous open space and overhead celestial ceiling mural.
“Big!” Mia said, excitement bubbling over. She then ran in the foyer with her teddy clutched to her. She went up to one of the mirrored walls and looked at herself in awe, making funny faces and giggling.
“She likes it. Good,” Cole said with a proud grin.
Hope felt her heart pull. She was glad Mia loved the place so far. Of course, it was a million times better than their garage apartment.
Luckily, Cole was a cool person. But Hope just thought of the fact that she was powerless against the Belmont family if they ever decided to take Mia away from her if they ever found out about her past. And Mia, herself, seemed to enjoy her new surroundings. A huge cry from a garage. Mia loved space. She loved to run and play and feel free.
“Yes, I’m glad she likes it,” Hope said softly, her heart fluttering in her chest.
She was now in Cole’s world and Mia was Cole’s daughter.
“I need to speak with Dad, right now,” Cole said, his handsome face appearing anxious. “But Ted will take care of both of you. I need to prep him on…well, this situation.”
“I understand,” Hope said.
“Hey, little one,” Cole said cheerfully to Mia. “I’m just going to speak to your granddad, okay?”
Mia gasped surprised. “Granddad?”
“Yes, baby. You have a grandfather here and…well, Mia, I wanted to tell you this before but…” Cole looked at Hope then back to Mia after Hope nodded in approval. There was no better time to tell Mia than now. At the hospital Cole had already made some references even though Mia didn’t catch on.
“Mia, guess what?”
“What?” she said excited.
“I’ve got something very special to tell you.” Cole drew in a deep breath. “I’m your daddy.”
The little girl looked confused at first then her face lit up. “Wow! Cool!” she said, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re my real daddy? Really? Cool!”
Cole’s voice choked up with emotion and it caused Hope to tear up. She could see he was trembling with emotion. This was the first time she’d seen him like this and it overwhelmed her senses.
“Yes, sweetie. It’s a surprise that Mommy and Daddy were waiting to tell you until now.”
“Oh, thank you, Santa!” Mia said.
“Thank you, Santa?” Cole asked, obviously puzzled.
“Yeah. At daycare, I asked Santa for a daddy. Now I have a daddy. See?”
Hope couldn’t help it, her eyes were misted with tears. Did Mia really wish for a daddy this Christmas? She didn’t even let Hope know about her little wish list. Though at times she would wish she could see her daddy, just like her friend Giles Jr., Jewel’s six-year-old son, whom Mia sometimes played with.
Hope could see tears in Cole’s eyes, too, as he clenched his lips and looked into his daughter’s eyes with love. She’d never seen him overcome with so much emotion before. He’d always been the go-getter, cool-headed corporate type, the unshakeable CEO, hot shot, always in control of his emotions. But not now. He was no match for his three-year-old bundle of love.
Or three-year-old-going-on-thirteen-year-old, Hope smiled to herself.
Ted entered the foyer and cleared his throat. “Shall I show you to your room, ma’am? Or would you like to have breakfast first?” Ted said to Hope.
“Oh, we would love to eat first,” Hope said, wiping her tears. “And please, call me Hope.”
“Very good, ma’am. Hope,” Ted corrected himself. “This way,” he said, pleasantly.
Hope felt as if she was part of a TV show or movie, more than in reality.
They followed Ted into the grand conservatory with the floor-to-ceiling windows. The place looked massive and bright, letting in a lot of sunlight and a breathtaking waterfront view of the massive lake.
“Wow!” Mia said again. That seemed to be her favorite choice word of the day. When she liked a word, she’d say it over and over again. Much like the “why” question. She was always asking why this or why that. Hope knew the why questions would come flooding back again soon.
They were seated to a lovely breakfast. Mia was given a large Disney plate filled with fluffy pancakes with restaurant-styled whipped butter and maple syrup. She was also given a glass of orange juice and bread sticks.
Hope had a plate of the same, large fluffy cornmeal pancakes, topped with fresh strawberries with whipped butter and syrup in addition to scrambled eggs, two slices of buttered toast, and three juicy strips of bacon. She saw that Cole also had a place set but wondered if he’d be joining them soon.
God, she hoped so.
Her mind ran on what type of conversation he would be having with his father about now—and when she would see the rest of the family again and what they’d think about Mia.
“Wow! Thank you, Mom!” Mia said.
“You’re welcome, baby,” Hope said.
“Hope?” the voice of Cole’s aunt came loud and musically from behind her. Aunt Maya hurried into the conservatory, looking excited. “Oh, my heavens, Hope! You’re back. Cole just told me and…” she pressed her hands over her heart, tears in her eyes. “My heavens, this must be Mia! Precious, beautiful Mia!”
Aunt Maya rushed over to the chair where Mia was seated. “Look at you. You’re so beautiful. You look just like your father. Can I give you a hug, little princess?”
“Yeah!” Mia said, and she dropped her toddler fork on the plate and reached up to hug Aunt Maya. “My name is Mia. What’s your name?”
“Aww, well, aren’t you a little sweetie? My name is Auntie Maya. I’m your grand auntie, darling. I can’t wait to spend so much time with you, getting to know you, sweetie. Aww,” Aunt Maya said, pressing her cheek to Mia’s and hugging her with her eyes closed. Hope could see a tear slip down Aunt Maya’s cheek and it caused her heart to turn over inside her chest.
