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When at last she’d gotten past the worst of it, Deidre spoke.
“What happened?”
“Blake knew I was Drew’s biological mom.”
“Was he angry?”
“No.” She’d been so convinced that if he found out about how she and Victoria had deceived him he would never want to speak to her again. “I think he’s known for a while.”
“Did Victoria tell him?”
Bella shook her head. “He said something about having a medical bill from the fertility clinic?”
“Why is this a big deal?” Deidre knew only that Bella and Blake had been intimate. Now her friend needed to hear the rest of the story.
“He asked me to marry him.” She rubbed her bare ring finger. “We were engaged for two whole days.”
“What?” Deidre erupted in shocked tones. “And you didn’t immediately call and tell me?”
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Not even your family?”
Bella rubbed a new batch of tears from her cheeks. “No. And I can’t explain why. I think maybe I was afraid something like this would happen.”
“Who broke off the engagement?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s only marrying me because I’m Drew’s mother. He doesn’t love me.”
“Did he tell you that before or after you agreed to marry him?”
Bella hit her roommate with a hard expression. “I found out today. And as soon as I did, I broke off the engagement. How am I supposed to marry him knowing he only wanted me around for my maternal instincts?”
“Oh, I can see where being married to a handsome, charming billionaire would be one of the worst things that could happen to a girl,” Deidre taunted. “But do you really expect me to believe that a man who could have any woman in Manhattan would settle for a loveless marriage for the sake of his son?” She shook her head. “I don’t see it.”
“But that’s exactly what he wanted.”
“You said you two were sensational together in bed. It can’t be that great without some emotional connection.”
Deidre’s arguments weren’t helping Bella’s peace of mind.
“Well, sure, we like each other.”
“You were marrying a man you only liked?”
Bella’s breath gusted out. “Okay, I’m in love with him.”
“Madly? Passionately?”
“Deeply. Irrevocably.”
“So, the man you adore—the father of the baby you’ve been missing like crazy for almost a year—likes you and wants to marry you.” Deidre paused and waited for Bella’s reluctant nod. “And you turned him down because it’s not enough?”
“Put that way, I sound like a complete idiot.”
“Not an idiot. But you do sound afraid. Haven’t you spent your whole life running from anything that you didn’t think was perfect? Your mother’s choices are not ones you would have made, but from what you’ve told me, she’s completely happy with her life.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about that. I think I’ve been so determined not to have children because I’m just like her and I know once I got started, I’d want to keep going until eventually I’d be financially strapped and tied down with no hope of getting free.”
“That doesn’t have to be what happens to you. Marry Blake and you’ll have more money than you can spend and an army of nannies to take care of your brood.”
Deidre’s pragmatism echoed what Jeanne had said. She glared at her friend. “And have everyone assume I’m only marrying him for his money?”
“Why do you care what anyone thinks? As long as your motives are pure, they can all go jump off a bridge.” Deidre went to the kitchen and came back with two glasses filled with red wine. “We are going to drink this wonderful Cab I got from my friend Tony and then you are going to tell me what club you’d like to hit tonight. Before you decide Blake isn’t the one for you, I suggest you remember what life is like as a single girl. Then you can tell me if that’s really what you want.”
“What if it is?”
“Then I’ll support you one hundred percent. But if it’s not, I expect you to call Blake and tell him you want a long engagement followed by a sensational New York City wedding with all the trimmings.” Deidre held out her hand. “Deal?”
Wondering what sort of trimmings Deidre was talking about, Bella shook her roommate’s hand. “Deal.”
*
The beach house echoed with loneliness. Blake sat in the darkness, an untouched tumbler of scotch at his elbow, and stared out into the night. Bella had been gone for three days.
