“Here we are,” Lucas said as he pulled up to the gate and waited for the intercom to crackle to life.
“Name?” the haughty voice asked.
“Luke, as if you don’t have me on camera William.”
“…Yes Master Stanton. Do come in.”
The gate opened allowing him to pull into the driveway before closing behind him. People on the street paused to watch as it was unusual for someone to come and go from the property but he paid them no mind.
Unlike most retired billionaires Alice Stanton did not live in some fancy, sprawling estate. Her home was located in Brighton Beach and though it was certainly a home worthy of her it was small and understated compared to the large mansions owned by the DaLairs, Prescotts or Worthingtons. But that was the way she liked it.
The three-story mini-mansion had everything she could ever need including several extra bedrooms for visiting family members, a large backyard with a pool and garden. It was also a stone’s throw away from the ocean. The small property was easily cared for by a single housekeeper who was also the cook and butler who doubled as gardener and valet.
Lucas’s mother and sister hated staying there thinking the house was too small to be worthy of them. On the other hand, Lucas had always enjoyed its relaxed atmosphere free from the burdens of society’s expectations. That was probably the reason why Alice preferred it too.
In the past Lucas had never taken a day off work let alone an actual vacation. Even during the holidays he spent most of his time on the phone with the office much to his grandmother’s annoyance. This time work was the furthest thing from his mind. Beside him Sarah sat in the passenger seat looking nervous though she really didn’t need to be. Alice would certainly welcome her with open arms. In fact she would probably greet Sarah with more warmth than her own grandson. Zoe was practically bouncing in her seat with a wiggling Daisy at her side.
The garage doors opened allowing him to park inside next to the large mini-van that served as Alice’s sole mode of transportation. Turning off the SUV he hesitated and glanced at Sarah. They shared a nervous look, both anxious for different reasons, before disembarking. While Sarah went to unbuckle Zoe Lucas grabbed their luggage even as William stepped out to greet the arrivals.
“Master Lucas.”
“William, how are you?” Lucas gladly handed over some of the bags. One thing he was learning to appreciate in preparing for this trip was the sheer amount of things small children evidently needed when they traveled.
“Quite well, thank you.” William accepted the bags with no small amount of surprise.
The older man was still spry despite his age and thought he had seen just about everything while in service to Alice Stanton. However, Lucas’s sudden call had come as a surprise. It wasn’t anywhere near the holidays so it naturally piqued the butler’s interest. Lucas usually arrived in a sedan from his office’s motor pool and with only one bag. To say William was shocked by the older model SUV as well as the amount of luggage would put it mildly.
Daisy suddenly rounded the back of the SUV barking at the butler unsure if he was friend or foe. William stared at the puppy with a mixture of surprise and wonder.
“You got a dog?”
“I got a lot more than that.”
Even as Lucas spoke Zoe ran around the vehicle. Reaching the puppy she stooped, picking up its front feet and hugged it close saying, “No Daisy! Be good.”
Setting the puppy back on all fours Zoe straightened to look at the butler. The pair shared a rather long look before Zoe broke the silence.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m William. I’m the butler.”
“Hi Mister William! I’m Zoe and this is Daisy! And that’s my daddy!” Zoe declared pointing to Lucas before turning to Sarah who followed her. “And this is my mommy!”
“Madam Sarah,” William bowed as she appeared. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you again, William,” Sarah smiled.
She had always gotten along with the aging butler as well as the cook neither of whom had any great affection for either Lucas’s mother or sister given their tendency to be abusive towards staff.
“Hello to you, Miss Zoe,” William smiled at the three-year-old who giggled at the formal title. “Right this way.”
He escorted them inside setting the luggage down beside the stairs. Zoe skipped into the foyer staring up at the deep mahogany interior and classic art pieces. It reminded her of the brownstone Uncle Si and Auntie Ava lived in and knew immediately to be careful around so many antiques.
Lucas set down the last of the bags on the stairs to see William quietly surveying him. No doubt there was much the butler wanted to say if not for the presence of their company.
Daisy whined sniffing around the Persian rugs.
“Uh-oh mommy. I think Daisy has to go,” Zoe declared.
“We’ll take her to the backyard,” Sarah said looking at William. “That’s okay, isn’t it? I have bags so I can pick it up.”
“Dear me no!” William gasped in horror. “I shall pick up the dog’s leavings. You don’t have to worry about that, ma’am.”
“It’s all right. I can do it.”
“Nonsense. I am the groundskeeper and I shall handle it.”
Sarah gave him a wry smile but knew better than to argue. Instead she grabbed a few dog toys and hurriedly ushered Zoe and the anxious corgi outside. Lucas watched them wanting nothing more than to follow but there was business to attend to. He glanced at William to see the butler watching him curiously.
“Make sure they have everything they need,” Lucas said.
“Of course. They shall want for nothing.”
“My grandmother in the study?”
“Yes.”
“All right.”
Lucas sighed running his hand through his hair before marching down the hall to the library. Like all the rooms his grandmother frequented it was on the first floor. Though the small mansion was equipped with a motorized chair to scale the stairs Alice preferred to stay on the ground floor. Knocking on the closed door he waited for her permission to enter before opening it.
“Well, Lucas. This is a surprise,” Alice said closing the book she had been idly reading and set it down on the coffee table. She motioned for him to have a seat as well but he wasn’t interested in small talk.
Alice Stanton was not a tall woman but in her younger days she stood straight and proud. Despite the fact she was now in to a wheelchair she still maintained that stately grace and no one would think to belittle or disrespect her. She sat in a soft, lavender dress with a floral design. Her auburn hair had faded to silver long ago but her gaze was as sharp as ever.
“Grandma.”
“So what brings you here?”
“You know why I’m here, or do you really want to play dumb?” Lucas said gripping the back of one of the chairs. “Why didn’t you tell me the details of your agreement with Sarah?”
“Why didn’t you ask me about it?” she challenged.
“Are you serious?”
“You stormed in here demanding to know every little detail about my arrangement with her father,” Alice said. “Were you never curious about my agreement with her? It was no secret she and I had a private conversation.”
Lucas shook his head, pacing.
“My agreement with Sarah was no interference. I didn’t want any of my actions to sway you. It would have been different if you sought me out first…at least that’s what I told myself.”
“How long?” Lucas finally stopped pacing. “How long have you known about me and her, when we were kids?”
“Let’s just say not everyone hired at your school was there to merely teach,” Alice waved a dismissive hand.
Lucas collapsed in a chair feeling like a fool.
“You were my chosen heir. I was leaving nothing to chance.”
Lucas shook his head his gaze straying to the book on the table his grandmother had been reading: Daisies in Bloom by Rosemary Thomas. He suddenly sat up seizing the book and giving his grandmother a hard look.
“How long have you known Sarah is Rosemary?”
“Luke, I own Briarwood Books,” Alice said. “I bought it specifically because she is Rosemary and Briarwood is her publisher.”
“Does she know?”
“That I know she’s Rosemary? Yes. That I own Briarwood? No. At least I don’t think so.”
“How long have you known about Zoe?” Lucas suddenly asked his gaze hardening. “Tell me you didn’t know.”
Alice sighed, maneuvering her motorized chair to the desk and grabbed a small photo album. Moving close to Lucas again she offered him the book. He stared at it apprehensively before taking it and opening it. On the first page was a picture of Zoe in the NICU, small and fragile but fighting for her life.
Lucas sucked in a breath turning the page. The album was full of pictures of little Zoe first in the hospital with her mother then in a home that appeared to belong to friends. The same mocha-skinned woman, boy and older lady he had seen in Sarah’s pictures at home made several appearances. Evidently Sarah had stayed with them after leaving him. Paging on he found pictures of Sarah and Zoe in Vermont and the life they made for themselves there.
Shutting the book he glared at his grandmother, “You knew the entire time! And you didn’t tell me!”
“You never asked,” Alice said with a shrug.
He leapt onto his feet, fuming. She knew! The entire time she knew!
“You knew I was looking for her and you didn’t tell me!”
“I was waiting for you to ask for my help, or at least my advice,” Alice said. “And given the way you practically threw her out I wasn’t so sure you deserved to have her in your life after all.”
Lucas hung his head as a fresh wave of shame hit him.
“I hired a man, Roy Austin. He used to work for the Eagle. I asked him to keep an eye on her…and my great-granddaughter. I couldn’t interfere but at least I could watch over them.”
Lucas sank back into the chair still trying to wrap his head around his grandmother’s confession. He searched for four years and she knew where they were the entire time. His voice was hoarse as he croaked out, “Why? Why did you arrange our marriage? Why Sarah?”
With a sigh Alice once again shifted her motorized chair to the desk. He watched as she unlocked the bottom drawer and pulled it out revealing the files within. She looked at him solemnly.
“These are files of every woman you’ve ever had contact with. Childhood friends, high school sweethearts, classmates, bedmates.”
Lucas cringed.
“I’ve looked into every single one to find your perfect partner: the one woman who could match you, that wouldn’t cower and who genuinely cared for you. You were my heir and I wasn’t going to take any chances and let you end up like those Worthington boys or worse that Avery boy. Julius and Silas had the kind of life I wanted for you. I didn’t realize you were your own worst enemy. At the very least I figured Sarah’s physical attractiveness would spark something in you.”
Lucas sucked in a breath, “Well, I had help. Did you know Lidia and Madeline were sending Sarah texts implying I was sleeping with Madeline? Or that my mother was sending her texts asking why she hadn’t killed herself yet?”
“Those greedy bitches,” Alice said surprising Lucas who had never heard her curse before. “I should have cut them all off long ago.”
“You’re the one who always said you can’t abandon family.”
Alice pressed her lips together as if deep in debate with herself. Finally coming to a decision she moved her chair to her safe hidden in a lower cabinet. Leaning down she entered the combination and rummaged through the paperwork until she found the file she was looking for. Without a word she maneuvered her chair close to him and handed him the file.
Lucas glanced at it before taking it. With a sigh he opened it knowing his grandmother wouldn’t explain until he looked through the contents. It was always the same game she played wanting to know just how much he observed on his own.
Lucas read the first few sheets noting they were paternity test results. There was nothing terribly strange about that even when he saw his and his sister’s names at the top. Most people in positions like his grandmother liked the assurance of official documents. Nothing was strange until he noticed the results: negative.
His brow furrowed and he looked up at his grandmother.
“You know I had a difficult pregnancy. I had to rely on fertility treatments just to conceive,” Alice sighed. “I worried your father might share the same fate and I wasn’t wrong. The results of his tests are there as well. Your mother was desperate to be acknowledged by providing an heir. So she took action…and a lover.”
“A lover?”
“His file is in there,” Alice nodded. “Steve Davis. After you and your sister were born I offered him ten million dollars to disappear and never contact either of you again. He took the money. He lives in Arizona now, has a construction company. He’s married and has two boys. Mason Luke Davis and Walter Lidia Davis. Your younger brothers.”
“…So I’m not your grandson?” Luke asked. “We aren’t family?”
“Luke, I chose you to be my heir,” Alice said. “Blood or not, you are my grandson and the one I chose to carry on the family legacy. My son was not happy with my decision and devastated by the fact your mother cheated on him. He hit the bottle hard and in a fit of rage one night got into an accident. I count my blessings it only cost his life and not the lives of innocent bystanders.”
Lucas stared at his grandmother still trying to wrap his head around it all.
“Family is what we make it,” Alice said. “Your mother insisted that you couldn’t lose both parents so I agreed to let her remain in the family register as long as she didn’t interfere with my plans for you. It seems she let it go to her head. Well, I say it’s time I corrected her…high time.”
“No.” Lucas shook his head. “I’m the head of the family now. That’s my job.”
“And what are you going to do?”
“I’m already doing it,” Lucas met her gaze evenly. “Alan’s clearing the paperwork as we speak. I’m closing their accounts and I’m selling the estate.”
Alice gave him a careful look before nodding approval.
“But they were only part of the problem…I’m the one who drove Sarah away.”
“The first step is admitting your fault. The next is to apologize.”
“Done and done,” Lucas said. “Sarah said we could start over but where do I even begin?”
“Sarah? You’ve seen her? And Zoe? Where are they?”
“In the backyard with the dog.”
“They are here! You brought them here and you’re only telling me now!” Alice practically leapt out of her chair. “Let’s go!”
“How did you not know she was here?” Lucas asked. “Your publishing company is hosting a masquerade for her to reveal herself as the real Rosemary. You didn’t know?”
“Of course I knew that,” Alice waved a dismissive hand. “Approval for such things must come through me. That doesn’t mean I’m privy to all details. I trust Ruth to get the job done. She’s never failed and always keeps Sarah’s best interests in mind. How long have they been here?”
“A week.”
“A week!” Alice turned her chair toward the door. “Let’s go! I want to see my great-granddaughter!”