The Best of June (13 page)

“She could have already been pregnant. But she wanted you to believe that it was you who had gotten her pregnant.”

“I’ve thought of that.”

“But June’s parents wouldn’t threaten us with the DNA if she isn’t sure you are the father.”

Henry looked at his mother. She had a point too. Fuck. There were so many holes in this story, so many parts that didn’t make any sense. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“You do that. But you are still signing that contract. What is six months? You can still do whatever it is you like to do. And don’t worry about Stacey. I’ll talk to her. She’ll understand. She’s smart. If you want, marry her after you divorce the Greenwald chit. We can make it look like you realized whom you truly care for. That’ll be a good story. Yes!” Richard smacked the table with his hands. “This contract would actually benefit us.”

“Do we even know if June wants to get married? You said she doesn’t know about the parents coming here.”

“She fucked you already. Of course she’ll marry you. And that bit about June not knowing about her parents coming here sounds like bullshit to me.”

“Sweetheart, talk to June. But I would also like for you to get to know June.”

I know that she’s a beautiful fucking bed partner and a liar.
“Why, Mom?”

“She already walked into your life. She’ll forever be a part of your life, dear—and the baby, even after the divorce. Despite what your father says, you will never forget her.”

Richard waved his hand, dismissing his wife’s statement. “Boy, listen good. The contract is binding. You are to live with June. If you want to sleep with Stacey, do it. Just make sure your face doesn’t end up in a local newspaper. Also, the Greenwalds don’t want you humiliating their daughter. Stick to the plan, boy. When out in public, you will show how much you’re in love with June.”

The longer his dad made his speech, the deeper June’s deception went in his gut. If she were already pregnant and had used him, he could only blame himself. He’d fallen for her charm, for the sweetness of the moment. Who wouldn’t? But if he truly was the father of her baby, why lie about being safe? Shit.

What he couldn’t understand was the Greenwalds’ reason for drawing up the contract. No money and communication after the divorce? Was this contract a way for James Greenwald to get even with his dad? By using June? It didn’t make any sense at all.

Despite his simmering anger, he was actually eager to talk to June. Oh, yeah. They needed to talk. And Vivienne? Once he found her— she’d face his wrath too.

Damn fuck. “I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare.”

“Believe me, you’ll be in a real nightmare if you refuse to follow this plan.” Colchester pointed his finger at Henry. “When the news about your wedding goes out, there will be a frenzy, so be careful. Don’t think about disagreeing with us, Henry. You
are
marrying that woman. I actually think this would help us get more votes on the next election.”

Ah.

“One more thing.”

Damn.
“Yeah?”

“The Greenwalds don’t want Juniper to know about this contract.”

Fuck!
“What?”

Chapter Seven

Unexpected visitors?

June quickly brushed her hair, wincing as she snagged the tangles. After gathering it, she tied the locks in a bun. It was almost dinner time. The lasagna still had few minutes left in the oven, the garlic bread was cut and the asparagus steaming. But Mom had told her to run upstairs and change. When she argued that she didn’t need to change for dinner, Mom quickly said they were having visitors. When she asked whom, she just smiled and told her to put on her best dress.

Who in the world was coming?

She put on her short flower-print dress with a pull string just above her midriff. The dress reached the top of her knees and the billowy skirt hid her tiny bump. After applying her lip gloss, she checked herself in the mirror.

The doorbell rang. June searched for her slip-ons. She found them under the bed. They, too, were new. Her mother said falling and slipping were on the top of pregnant women’s causes of accident list and so she should avoid wearing shoes with heels. She really didn’t know the truth in that statement, but she guessed it was her mom’s roundabout way of saying she was a klutz.

Eager to see their company, she went downstairs.

At the top landing, she could see her parents talking to a couple. Whoever they were, money oozed from them. Why, just look at the woman’s handbag and shoes. She’d seen that kind at the store—in a glass case. Diamond earrings, multiple rings added shine on her already glittering ensemble. Wow. She looked like a glass left under the sun to sparkle. The man standing beside her was impeccably dressed as well. But who were… Oh, sweet Jesus. She knew that man.

Judge Richard Colchester and his wife, Minerva.

What the hell?

One of the most powerful judges in Seattle stood in their living room. With her mind reeling, she took one step down and nearly missed it. Everyone turned to look at her.

“You okay, June?”

“Yes. Yes, Dad.”

In her peripheral vision, someone moved. Her heart skipped a beat. June closed her eyes. God, she knew who it was. Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned. She froze. There, standing by the fireplace, as if he’d been waiting for hours, looking bored with his arms crossed over his chest and staring at her with a straight face, was Henry.

June shook her head. She must be dreaming. But no matter how many times she blinked, he was still there.

But why? The Colchester family in my home!

June met everyone’s gazes. They all looked at her as if she were an animal in a zoo. Her parents forced smiles and sadness registered in their eyes. The Colchester couple… June couldn’t even describe their expressions. Henry’s? Well, she could tell he wasn’t happy.
But, why oh why are they here?

June squirmed under their stares.

Oh, God. Were they here to talk about the baby? But how could they have known that? June’s heart hammered against her chest, her ears buzzed and her legs almost buckled so that she had to grip the handrail. She looked questioningly at her parents. Her dad let out a long sigh while her mom wrung her hands. They’d told the Colchesters? No, no. This couldn’t be happening. She’d told her mom and dad Henry’s name, but how the hell did they find him?

My God.
Only last night, she’d dreamed of Henry standing in this room, visiting, her mother offering him fried bananas and her dad laughing at their jokes. This was like a beautiful dream with a splash of nightmare. Everyone looked like someone had just died.

Henry’s blue eyes were dark and unfathomable, his lips unsmiling. He lowered his hands to his sides.
Holy smokes!
He looked ready to wring someone’s neck. Her neck!

June made a quick assessment. Henry’s hair was finger-brushed, the ends pointing in different directions, his blue long-sleeved shirt with a small logo of a man on a horse was partly tucked in his black pants that hung on his hipbones, and his black loafers were so highly polished she bet he could see his reflection in them. He looked marvelously handsome and he obviously hated being here.

A deafening silence filled the room. She forced a smile. Henry glared.

Breathe, June. Just breathe.

“I didn’t know you had company, Mom. Dad. I think I’ll just go back to my room.”

“Junie!”

“Juniper.”

Her parents said their pet names for her the same time.

“No?”

Her dad shook his head.

As the atmosphere turned awkward, Henry walked toward her and stood at the bottom of the stairs. He rested his forearm on the handrail. He looked at her from head to toe.

“Are you just going to stand there so we can admire you?” There was a thin smile on his lips as he asked the mocking question.

June took two steps down then stopped. With her standing on the last step, they were almost eye to eye. Again, despite the confusion and her heart trying to get out of her chest, she smiled. “Sorry. I’m just so surprised right now.”

“Not as surprised as I am.”

“What are you doing here?”

“We were invited.”

“For what?”

Henry sneered.

His rudeness was replaced by his gentlemanly act when he offered his hand to her. June hesitated for a few seconds before taking his offer and placing her hand on his. The contact made her shiver. Henry, on the other hand, seemed unaffected. In fact, he let go of her hand as soon as she planted both her feet on the floor. He walked back to the fireplace then took the glass of wine that sat there.

Weird. She hadn’t even noticed the wineglass there. Then everything seemed to appear. The open bottle of wine on the tea cart, wineglasses, and a plate of small spinach sandwiches that she and her mother had made earlier, and a plate of Red Windsor and mascarpone cheeses with crackers. No wonder her mom hadn’t minded buying those cheeses. They were having the Colchesters for company.

Good Lord, she hadn’t seen her dad hold a wineglass since he’d retired. And the wineglasses had never left the china cabinet. Ever. Until now.

So the Colchesters were the reason why Mom had been crazily cleaning the house. She’d even bought a table runner. And here she thought her mother had wanted the house spot clean for when the baby arrived. Damn it. Why hadn’t they said anything?

“Junie, this is Judge Colchester and his wife, Mrs. Colchester,” Rebecca said, finally breaking the silence.

June forced a smile although all she wanted to do was go back upstairs and hide. “Hello.”

Henry’s mother gave her a sweet smile. “You can call me Minerva.”

Judge Colchester acknowledged her with a curt nod.

All righty.

“June,” her father started. “The Colchesters are here so we could discuss your future and Henry’s.”

“Future?”
Dear God. Why?
“Dad, my future is fine. I don’t think we should discuss it with the Colchesters or anyone else. I’m sure Henry and his parents doesn’t want his future to be discussed either. So no, thank you. Can I go back to my room? I need—”

“Junie.” He said her name harder this time.

“Yes, Dad?”

“You and Henry are getting married.”

Keeping her composure, June asked her parents if she could talk to them privately. The minute they entered the kitchen, she peppered them with questions. “What in the world? Why? You talked to them about my future?”

James raised his hands, palms facing her. “Calm down, Junie. You have to listen—”

“Listen? My God! Dad, there is a reason why I didn’t want Henry to know about the baby.”

“What reason?” Rebecca asked.

June stared at her parents. This would be a good time to tell the truth, then maybe not. Damn it. “I already told you. He’s rich.”

“So?” James placed his hands on his hips. “I don’t care if they’re rich. He needs to take responsibility.”

“Your father is right, Junie. It’s not right to hide this information from Henry. He is the father.”

“Mom, listen. Henry told me he didn’t want to have a baby yet. He’s—”

“Yet. Believe me. He’s happy to hear he’s going to be a father.”

“Oh, my God. Mom, didn’t you see his face? He looked ready to kill someone.”

“He’s just surprised. That’s all.” Rebecca waved her hand in the air.

“Or he’s upset because you didn’t tell him about your pregnancy right away.” James nodded as if he’d thought of a great explanation.

June felt like screaming. She balled her fists instead. Living with them had its benefits but at times like this, she wished she’d accepted Vivienne’s offer to share an apartment with her. “Okay, you told them about the baby. Why the wedding?”

“What do you mean why the wedding? Don’t you want a name for your child? Do you want the word bastard attached to your daughter or son?

June looked down at his father’s shoes. “No. But I don’t want to get married. Obviously, Henry is against the idea also.”

“Why do you think he came?”

Rebecca’s question jarred her. “What are you saying, Mom?”

“Why don’t we talk to them, huh? Let’s hear what they have to say.”

“And this is not the time to argue,” James piped in.

“Your dad is right. Come on. The Colchesters are waiting and dinner will get cold. I worked hard preparing the sandwiches. Besides, Mrs. Colchester might steal one of my knick-knacks.”

June shook her head at Rebecca’s poor attempt to make light of the situation. “I’m mad, Dad. This is not over. We’ll talk later.”

Both Rebecca and James agreed and walked out of the kitchen as if their butts were on fire.

* * * *

Dinner had gone well. Her stomach had churned the whole time she’d sat on her seat. She shared a few words during the meal with Henry, but most of the time he’d seemed lost in his own thoughts. One look from her parents gave her the idea that they hadn’t heard anything that she’d said. Even Henry had said yes to getting married, although he looked like someone had put a gun to his back. Oh, yeah. Her mother was wrong if she believed Henry came because he wanted to get married. She could see the truth in his body language. He’d been forced to come here. But he was an adult. No one could make him do things he didn’t want to do. So why had he said yes to this absurd idea of them getting married?

They’d had only three wonderful nights together. Technically, they were both strangers to each another. Strangers shouldn’t marry. If he’d come because of the baby, he could just make a pledge for paternal support. Marriage wasn’t necessary.

June took deep breaths. She should call Vi. She would know what to do about this. Maybe they could book a flight to Cabo and hide. Without Craig, of course. He would only drive them crazy.

When Craig had found out that she was pregnant and why, he’d ranted and raved, spitting fire. He called her stupid and reckless. Since then he’d been different. He would call her during weird hours of the day just to ask how she was doing. He had been a good, overprotective friend, and she appreciated his concern. Sometimes, though, he’d been annoying and overbearing—worse than her parents.