Hidden Threat (36 page)

Cali shook it off but knew it wasn’t so easy for Matthew. Although he dealt with public relations side of his job well, having his personal life in print for the entire world to see was not something he relished. If she didn’t know him so well, she wouldn’t even have noticed the small narrowing of his eyes. So instead of getting in her car as planned, Cali gave his hand another small squeeze and said, “I’ll see you tonight. I love you.”

She watched the tension ease some and he gave her a gentle squeeze back. “I love you, too.”

While Matthew drove to Stanton Enterprises, Cali drove to the hospital. Calling in a few favors, she found a job in the ER at Chicago Memorial. It had been a while since she’d worked in an ER, but she was up to the challenge. She missed being a doctor.

At four o’clock, she left work to go to her dad’s. She pulled into the drive, and as she walked up to the house, she realized this wasn’t home anymore. Her home was with Matthew; it had no bearing on physical location.

Her dad was happy to see her, of course. Jessie was there, but that didn’t surprise her since she was part of the family. Plus, Cali had already caught a whiff of the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.

Not five minutes later, Matthew, Jason, and Lisa arrived. Her friend and former assistant had completely recovered from her injuries but ended up with a drastic hair cut after the doctors had to shave some of it off in order to stitch and bandage her wound.

After greetings were complete, Jessie ushered everyone into the dining room.

She’d outdone herself with the impressive spread of food crowding the table.

Everyone dug in, cheerfully forgetting all that had happened that morning and enjoying each other’s company.

For dessert, Jessie brought out a chocolate pie, and everyone started eating, well everyone but Alvin and her. It took a few minutes for the rest of the group to notice, but they did one by one. Cali was the first to speak. “Dad? Is everything okay?”

He smiled but looked a little nervous. “Yes, sweetheart. Everything is fine. Good, actually.”

Things might be good, but Matthew could see that Alvin was still anxious.

“I have—” Alvin looked up at Jessie. “We have something we’d like to tell you all.” Then he looked back at the group of the people he considered his family. “Jessie and I…we’re getting married.”

A fork dropping on china a second later was the only sound in the room. All eyes looked to Cali, but hers were on her father and Jessie. Finally she spoke. “You’re getting married?” she choked out. Then she seemed to catch herself. “I mean…what…when…I don’t—”

Matthew’s hand came to rest on her knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. Figuring he might as well confirm his suspicions, he interrupted, “Well, this explains your presence at the lake house, Jessie.”

Jessie smiled at him. “I was wondering if you’d figure that out. I’d wanted to leave when you two called, but Alvin said no,” she said, flexing her fingers against his shoulder.

“How long?” Cali finally asked. She didn’t seem upset, just shocked.

They looked at each other, and then Alvin met Cali’s eyes. “About fifteen years.” 

Cali’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t help it. “You’ve…been having an affair for fifteen years?”

“We just—” Jessie started to say.

But Alvin interrupted her. “We didn’t think it was ever the right time. First there were your rocky teen years. Then you were away at college and medical school.

Once you were finished with that, we considered saying something to you, but then you announced you were going overseas. There just never seemed to be a right time.”

“So what changed?” Lisa asked.

“Cali and Matthew, actually,” Jessie said. “We’d been worried not only about her reaction but also how the outside world would see it if the millionaire married the housekeeper, what with him being such a public figure.”

“But after seeing what happened to Cali,” Alvin interjected, “after seeing what they went through, we decided it didn’t matter. We love each other and want to be together. That’s all that matters.” 

He turned to his daughter who now had tears running down her face. “Are you okay with this, Cali?” 

With that, she got out of her seat, walked over to her dad, and gave him a big hug. Matthew sighed in relief. “I’m more than okay with it, Dad. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

***

Later that night as Matthew walked Cali to her car, he picked up her left hand and kissed her ring finger. “You do know I plan on making it official one of these days?”

Leaning her head on his shoulder, and closing her eyes, she said, “And you better not take too long about it.” She smirked. He didn’t answer with words, but instead placed a soft kiss on her head.

Cali couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in the last five months but she wouldn’t change it for the world. She had her family and the man she loved.

No matter what the world had in store for them, she had no doubt they would be ready. Together.