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Dad blows out a breath. “I thought she was my daughter. And while I would raise anyone else’s child as my own if I’d met a single mom, these circumstances are very different. I’ve boiled with rage, and I’ve cried in despair at all that’s been stolen from me. It’s hard to decide on any one emotion right now.”
Winter enters with another bottle and an extra wine glass, pouring us all a hefty measure.
“It’ll take time,” she ventures, offering him a soft smile. “But we’re here. We’ll support you however you need.”
“Thank you. I’m lucky to have the family I do, and that includes you, Winter. You’re family.”
“I feel like family,” she replies quietly. “I feel welcomed. And—” She casts a look at Roo, me, Luca. “I love your sons. I don’t want to go anywhere.”
We know this, but it’s good to hear that she views our relationship as solidly as we do. There’s just that tricky question to get to the bottom of.
I take a long sip of wine, watching the flames flicker. Roo puts the TV on. He channel hops until he finds a news station, muting the sound.
For a while, we talk nonsense, trying to distract ourselves. When we’re all depressed by the news we watch some sport instead. Plans for the cake restaurant feature heavily in our meandering conversations. We debate names, and even though we should probably consult our marketing and PR people on this, we decide on Chateau B Gateaux, especially as Chateau B is a registered trademark, a shortening of the eponymous hotel’s nomenclature. It’s known worldwide. We’re as well known as Chateau Marmont. As Versailles.
When the second bottle is all but finished, Winter asks, “I want to know what Sienna meant about you wanting me to marry one of your sons, Balthazar.” Tucked up against Reuben’s side, she looks content if not a little tipsy.
Dad glances at her before focusing on the glass between his hands, nodding. “I don’t have any right to ask that of you. Especially not now. I wanted to strengthen the future of the hotel group and I knew that with you four,” he says motioning to each of us, “that you’d be a robust, dedicated team.”
My stomach sinks. My heart battles with my head to stay calm and wait this out.
“At the time of suggesting a marriage, Brecken hadn’t formally decided on his plans. I’m very pleased he’s decided to take it on with his brothers.”
Luca is nodding along. It’s what he and Roo always wanted, the three of us tied in all matters: business, and of the heart.
“And then I met you, Winter,” he says, smiling fondly at her. “A woman who's passionate about, not only Chateau B, but hospitality in general. Your business-minded approach has made an impression on me,” he compliments, addressing her. “How could I not want to keep you tied to the business in whatever way I could?” The smile he offers is one wholly aware of the imposition he’s asking. “I’m not in the habit of forcing anyone’s hand, and I would hate to think you were here out of obligation. That wouldn’t be doing my sons any favors, or you.”
Frowning, Reuben catches my eye.
Yeah, what kind of nonsense is this?
“That said,” Roo says in his trademark baritone, a teasing edge to his voice. “If you want to marry one of us, I suppose we’d be up for it.”
“Suppose?That’s not the kind of proposal a woman dreams about.”
‘Are you dreaming of proposals?” Luca asks, interested.
“I was talking hypothetically,” she answers unconvincingly. “So,” she diverts, looking back at Dad. “What are the retirement plans and when are they being announced?”
“May first I’ll announce that I’m retiring on December first. That three of my sons will take over the hotel group. Naturally, there will be a great deal of media interest and scrutiny. So far, your identities have remained hidden. Next week, I’ll speak to Laurent and see if he wants his ties to the family made public. Sienna has offered to renounce the surname Wolfford and take her mother’s.” He takes a deep breath. “I have yet to give her an answer on that. It feels very final. And I know my sons will take my name, which makes me very proud. And if you wanted to tie yourself to this family, Winter, despite all the recent distress, I would be prouder still. You’re the daughter I need right now.”
Their eyes connect, Winter nodding softly with what looks like consideration.
That sly fox.How can she refuse his carefully crafted request? So much for not mandating a wedding when he’s gone ahead and asked for it in a much more nicely wrapped package.
I withhold a laugh.Well played, Dad.He’s not the most successful hotelier for nothing.
“Good,” Dad says pushing off the sofa. “Thanks for the invitation. It’s been good.”
“Come visit whenever you want,” Winter tells him. “Or I’ll just keep ringing your doorbell until you answer.”
He chuckles. “I’ll make sure to stop by.”
Laughing kindly, she hugs him tightly, and I realize now why she’s so fond of him. Why she’ll seek him out if he doesn’t come over just as she’s offering. Having lost her parents, he’s a father figure, a role model. She has The Moms, their partners too, but perhaps most importantly she has Dad. Throw in three boyfriends and we are more than enough family for her, all of us willing to shower her with love and affection.
Balzer sees him out, a quiet conversation taking place between them on account of the occasional hummed voice reaching me.
As soon as Luca returns, throwing a log on the dwindling fire, Roo switches off the TV. Then, he dims the lights. It has Winter’s gaze jumping from one of us, to the next, to the other in interest. Or suspicion.
