Beachcombing in the Bahamas (Once Again #11)

Chapter 8 – Adeline

8

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ADELINE

A knock sounds on my bedroom door as I’m seated in a comfortable wing chair by the window.

It must be Olive with my hot chocolate. I’ve given her strict instructions. None of that packaged abomination, not even made with cocoa but with chocolate melted in the milk. I brought my own chocolate and gave it to her.

The door opens. Brock. Of course he doesn’t wait for my permission to enter. “I’ve brought your hot chocolate.” Elbowing the door, he doesn’t bother to close it as he crosses the room.

Brock is a law unto himself. He never truly obeys me, only doing what I say if it aligns with his plans.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, for the company, it’s an excellent thing. I can’t abide a man with a namby-pamby leadership style. When the workers threaten to strike, I want them beaten down. And Brock has steered the company admirably, avoiding any impending disasters. At least up to this point.

He sets the cup on the table beside me, then takes the chair on the other side, a snifter of brandy cupped negligently in his hand.

So, he’s here for a talk. What will it be this time?

“You need to lay off Lorna,” he says with a demanding harshness I don’t appreciate.

I put my hand to my chest, as if I’m the offended one. I should have known it would be about Lorna. Brock is always the knight in shining armor, rushing to a damsel’s distress.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I give him my most innocent expression. Of course that doesn’t work on Brock.

“Stop hounding her about what she eats. She’s pregnant. She’s eating for two.”

I purse my lips. It should be a signal, but Brock ignores it, forcing me to say, “I’m only looking out for her. She shouldn’t get fat. It’ll be so hard to lose the weight after the baby comes. And you know what happens when a woman loses her shape.”

“Jesus Christ, Adeline.”

He only swears when I’ve pricked a nerve. Which is good. He needs to have his nerves pricked sometimes. And I go on. “Men stray if a wife doesn’t watch her looks. It’s in their nature.”

He shuts his eyes and wags his head. Then he looks at me. “I never strayed after Corrine had the boys.”

I raise a superior eyebrow. “She never lost her shape.”

No, Brock hadn’t strayed. It was Corrine who’d done the damage. And it was Harris who’d done the damage after I had my baby. I never forgave him. Even in death, I still don’t forgive him. But I had my revenge. Brock doesn’t know any of that. It’s a secret I’ll take to my grave.

Unless I need to use it to my advantage.

“Isn’t it interesting that you’re the one up here telling me to lay off Lorna?” I say in such a pleasant tone, as if we’re talking about the weather. “Where’s your brother? He should be here defending his own wife.”

“Good God, woman. Will you never stop?”

Of course I won’t stop. Not until my dying breath. And hopefully not even after that. I plan to run this family even from the grave.

“I’m glad he’ll never be at the helm of Donnelly Shipping,” I continue. “He just doesn’t have it in him.”

The way he looks at me sometimes, as if he can’t believe I’m his mother. But, I have only one goal in mind, and that is Donnelly Shipping, this family’s legacy. I will let no one, not even a weak son, take it down.

I wouldn’t have let that happen even if Pierce had been the one to try. He might have been my favorite, but I would never have allowed him to run Donnelly Shipping. I am, after all, a realist. And now I smile. “What about Garth? How’s he doing? I envision you fast-tracking him to CFO.”

Brock laughs. And truly, it is full of humor. “We’ve already got a CFO. Trevor does an excellent job.”

I shrug. That isn’t worth fighting about. At least not now. “But you will want to retire eventually. We need to groom Garth.” Then a horrific thought catches my breath. “He hasn’t had a girlfriend since he broke up with that girl right after graduation. Is he gay?”

Now that wipes all the humor off Brock’s face. I truly don’t like to be laughed at.

“You’re out of line, Adeline. I don’t know what his sexual orientation is. And I won’t ask. Because it doesn’t matter. It’s none of our business. He is whatever he is. So lay off him too.”

I don’t have a prejudiced bone in my body. But I can’t build a dynasty with a gay man. “I only ask because I have a perfect girl in mind for him. Judith Amesbury’s granddaughter. She’s a lovely girl. She’d be perfect for Garth.”

“I’m warning you, Adeline, butt out of his life.”

I just smile. Because what can he do about it?