Baby For My Billionaire Rival (Billionaire Daddies)

20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Jake

I burst through the doors into the hospital wing and hurry through the maze of halls, unsure where exactly to go.

When Caroline called me to tell me that Gram was in the hospital, I jumped in the car and drove as fast as I could, breaking several laws in the process.

“You don’t have to come,” Caroline argued.

“Of course, I’m coming,” I replied, my jacket already halfway on.

“But the drive is so far it’s –”

“Caroline, I’m coming and that’s final, alright?”

I could hear her smile and then her voice trembled, “I’m so scared.”

And that is exactly why I’m here now. To be there for her. Be her rock. Show her how committed I am to the role. For the rest of her life. And our child’s life.

I hurry down the hallway, past nurses who are looking at me like I’m a wild animal, and past rooms where patients are having quiet conversations with their loved ones.

“Jake,” I hear a man’s voice call out. I turn to see Chase waving me over to another hallway.

I rush to meet him. “Hey, man, how are you doing?”

“Alright. Things are alright,” Chase says, walking beside me. “You’re a good man for being here.”

The way he says it makes it clear he knows about Caroline’s condition. That combined with the expression in his eyes, sizing me up and also trying to be sympathetic at the same time. “Of course.”

Chase leads me to a waiting area where there are several people gathered who I assume to be other family members. I spot Caroline and Jude talking in the corner, Jude holding Caroline’s hand. As soon as Caroline sees me, she gets to her feet. We rush to meet each other in a desperate embrace. Her hands reach around my neck, holding on for dear life.

“Oh my God, it’s you,” she says into my chest.

I chuckle. “Of course, it’s me.”

“I can’t believe you came.”

I draw back, cupping her chin in my hand. “What happened?”

“It’s my fault, she was –”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Jude says, interrupting us. “Hi, Jake.”

We exchange a smile. “Let’s all sit down, huh?” I say.

We gather round while Caroline explains to me what happened. That she and Gram got into an argument that turned into a fight over me which ended up with the revelation of our baby and propelled Gram into a panic attack. I rub her back as she talks, listening to every word, trying not to smile at the knowledge she spoke up for me. It’s not the right time. But I can’t help my happiness. Though not for Gram’s panic attack, obviously.

Just that Caroline has bought in enough to see the man I really am. That I can be good for her. A good boyfriend. A good husband eventually. A good father.

A provider. That’s all I’ve ever really wanted to be.

We sit in the waiting room with the rest of Caroline’s family. The introductions are awkward at best and the way her father won’t look me in the eye isn’t great for my spirits, but to hell with it. They all know about the baby which means it’s happening.

I’m going to be a dad. And a piece of Caroline and me is going to exist in the world, a precious and beautiful example of our love.

I don’t even know what to do with my excitement.

The doctor shows up about an hour after I arrive. Everyone swamps him with questions. I linger back with Caroline, massaging her hand in mine.

“Please, everyone, give me a moment,” the doctor says. “I’ve been given specific instructions not to give you any information before the patient gets to speak with someone.”

Caroline looks at me nervously and begins to stand.

“Is Jake here?”

The color leaves my face. “She wants to speak with… with me?”

“That’s what she told me,” the doctor responds gravely.

The world around me freezes. Caroline’s family stares at me in bewilderment as if I know some secret of the universe I haven’t shared with them.

“You don’t have to go,” Caroline says. “If you don’t want to.”

“No, I’ll go,” I say and stand up. “Lead the way, doc.”

I am led into Gram’s hospital room where it is quiet and there is a smell in the air of strong hand sanitizer. I’m suddenly regretting not putting on an outfit that is Gram-approved. I’m in the classic redneck outfit; flannel, jeans, and boots. The kind she abhors. No matter. I’m untouchable now. Her granddaughter has chosen me. If she wants to tear me apart, fine. But I’m not going anywhere.

Gram’s eyes shoot to me, blue and boring into my chest. “There you are.”

“Hello, ma’am.”

She eyes the doctor. “You’re dismissed.”

I stifle a laugh. Gram really does run her life like someone died and made her queen.

“You.” She points a crooked finger at me and then at the chair at her bedside. “Sit.”

I follow her instructions. She is silent for a long awkward moment. Though she is trapped in the bed in a white gown peppered with green leaves, she still has all of her composure and haughtiness. “You look well, ma’am.”

“Yes, I’m sure you’re not too happy about that,” she says dryly.

I shake my head. “I’d never wish ill upon you just because you don’t care for me.” Any extension of Caroline will receive my love, regardless of whether I get it in return. It’s the Simmons way.

“I think it’s rather fair I don’t care for you right now, Jacob, considering what you’ve done to my granddaughter.”

It stings slightly to think the joy of a grandchild is “something I’ve done”, like I’ve harmed her in some way.

“Caroline is a brilliant woman,” Gram says. For the first time, I can hear love in her voice. “She is my granddaughter, yes, but she is more brilliant than I am.”

I frown, “Ma’am –”

“By the time I was her age, I had already had all of my children. I was a stay-at-home mother. My husband was the Gladstone, you see. His family’s business.” She clears her throat, hardened gaze straight ahead. “When he passed away, I had to take over. Had to , you understand. Or else the business would have fallen into disreputable hands.”

A tale as old as time when it comes to family businesses like ours.

“And I was a failure. For far too long. We almost lost everything more than once.”

“You did what you could, ma’am.”

For once, she doesn’t correct me or hush me. She looks at me, the corners of her eyes softening. “Yes. And now I do what I can for my granddaughter.”

We stare at each other.

“She will be CEO of Gladstone one day. I won’t let you get in the way of that.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You have my word.”

“Yes, you say that now. But with a child… you know the world isn’t made for women with children, don’t you?”

I swallow. My own mother, with her five boys, tethered to the kitchen her entire life, would probably say the same thing. The difference is, though, that was what she always dreamed of doing. She met my father and kept his house and gave him children. As far as I could tell, that is exactly what she wanted to be doing with her life.

“You can claim that you will be a good husband and a father, but unless you are truly willing to understand the labors she will go through as a mother for the rest of her life, you will be trapping my granddaughter. And I do not like that.”

“Ma’am…” I say carefully. “I love your granddaughter very much.”

Her face softens even more, the corners of her lips falling not with a frown, but because she really heard what I said.

“I fell in love with her for what she is. Not what she gave me. I know it’s hard to take me at my word without having seen it put into practice, but…” I clear my throat to remain on an even keel. “Caroline is much more talented at business than I am. She has a knack for it and a passion. I know she would never want to disappoint you or the Gladstone legacy. And because that’s what she wants, that’s what I want too.”

“Smooth talker, hm?” Gram says with a waggle of her eyebrows.

For once, I feel I have permission to laugh at something she’s said. “Country boy charm, like you said.”

Gram bites her lower lip. “I’m not sorry for what I said about you, just so we’re clear.”

“You don’t have to be.”

“You have a lot to prove to me, Jacob Simmons.”

I nod. “I am more than willing to.”

Gram smiles. “You’re willing to put up with an old broad like me for Caroline?”

“Absolutely.”

“Huh… interesting.” Whatever she files away in her brain for later I think is a credit to my name.

I’m not done yet, though. “I was blessed with a father I loved very much. A good man. A good father. If I can be half of that, I will have lived a good life. But I promise you, I will try and be twice the father he was.”

Gram nods slowly, taking in what I’ve said.

“I will be stepping away from the program. To give Caroline the opportunity to finish her degree.”

“Now, that’s a thought,” the older woman says.

“I have no intention of dimming her shine because of a misstep.” Although I can’t say that getting Caroline pregnant was really a misstep at all. Feels almost like a cosmic promise that was supposed to seal us together.

Gram holds her hand out to me. Fingers straight, palm flat. A handshake. A businesswoman to her core.

I take her hand. But instead of a business transaction, she holds it and looks into my eyes. “You’re the father of my first grandchild, Mr. Simmons. Don’t you forget it.”

“I promise. I won’t.”

Not for a second.