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“My brother told me nothing till years later when he asked me to hold that deed. He trusted Leo and me the most. Since Leo was already helping him with the business…”
Desree seemed to shiver on her end of the sofa she shared with Grae during the meal. “It wasn’t until after Faro said he’d overheard that conversation that I wondered. Ken was a smart man. He had to pick up on Faro’s ways. I think the child only got worse after he heard. I think that’s why Kent gave me the deed. He knew I’d never let it go, never use it as a bargaining chip the way Faro…” She dissolved into tears. “I’m sorry. I never should’ve let him guilt me into doing what I knew I shouldn’t.” She turned tear-filled eyes to Grae.
He moved closer, kissed her cheek. “You did exactly what my father wanted—to protect the family. The way he protected me from any lowlife who may’ve come snooping around in hopes of any advantages being my biological father might grant him. You protected the family from any known or unknown threats later.”
“Ken told me you weren’t his when he came to me about the deed. Faro was the oldest, so it was logical that he’d be the one to lead, but Ken saw there was a chance Faro wasn’t meant to be the one.” Des used the corner of the napkin to dab at her eye.
“He wanted someone outside the company to be able to step in if that wasn’t the case.” She smiled over at Tielle, who sat across from them. “Ken knew I loved this little rug rat from the day he popped out.”
She inclined her head toward Grae. “He knew I loved him just like he did, and with a love like that, he knew I’d protect what could one day be his.”
“You did.”
Des smiled at Grae’s words. “Not very well.” She looked his way. “I never wanted you to know about any of this. Besides me and Leo, the only others who knew were Barry, Frank and Asia’s mother, Clara, who’s been dead many years. We all loved you like you were our own, and you made that very easy each day you continued to grow into such an incredible man.”
She looked toward her lap. “I’m sorry for not telling you. We denied you that right, and we’re sorry. We hoped Ken would tell you before he died, and when he didn’t we…we just didn’t think about how to handle it. We never meant to deceive you. We just didn’t know what to do.”
“Shh…” Grae shook his head and brushed a rolling tear from Desree’s cheek. “There’s only one thing to do, you know?”
Desree blinked, waiting.
“We forget it.” Grae gave his aunt a wink that encouraged her to smile.
Not only did Desree smile, she laughed and cried in unison, throwing herself against Grae and clutching him in a suffocating embrace.
From her chair opposite the sofa, Tielle laughed and cried as well.
Vancouver—One Week Later…
“You’re about to surpass me as Brunch and Memories’s best customer, you know? What’d you have to buy to secure a private dining room?”
Grae demolished the last morsel of apple cobbler from his dessert bowl. “I told them we had a special occasion to celebrate.”
Tielle sipped her wine. “So how long are we gonna milk this celebration thing?”
Following the late supper with Des, which had ended on a delightful note, the Cleggs had launched into a weeklong joyfest. Grae had dined out, barbecued and cocktailed with virtually every member of his family. Everyone wanted the chance to make amends for the awful events of recent weeks.
“We can still milk it a little longer. Still got some things to celebrate.”
Tielle laughed, but she stopped when Grae set a tiny white saucer in the middle of the small candlelit table they shared in the dim, elegant room. In the center of the saucer was a brilliant silver hand that supported a blinding square-cut diamond.
Her jaw dropped, and, after what seemed an eternity, her eyes lifted to his face.
Grae propped his fingers to his brow and studied her knowingly. “I hoped the retreat would give me the chance to prove I wasn’t the same man who forced you to change who you are or lose me. I know that who you are is who I fell in love with, and she means everything to me.”
