She considers, opens her mouth but I cut her off.
“That reckoning I mentioned? You don’t want to add on to what I’m planning.”
She flushes red.
“We’re going to do things differently going forward, Isabelle. We’re going to trust each other. No more secrets. No more half-truths. No more space between us. You understand?”
She nods. “I like that very much.”
“Good. Because I like you very much. No. That’s not all. I love you.”
50
Isabelle
Jericho comes home a few days later. It’s the first time Angelique has seen him since she left the house, and I can see the anxiety on her face as she waits for her dad. Matty is at my side holding my hand and sucking on his other thumb. I think he’s still a little bit in shock with the move and not seeing his mom. He’s too young to understand what’s going on.
But when the door opens and Jericho walks in to the shouts of surprise, he stops short. It takes him a moment to take in the balloons and decorations Angelique, Matty and I made.
“Daddy!” Angelique runs to him, stopping herself just short of throwing herself into his arms. We told her he’d have to take it easy.
But Jericho crouches down and opens his arms wide. “What are you waiting for? Do I smell bad? I showered—”
“No, silly!” she throws her weight into his arms, and I see him wince. But he squeezes his eyes shut and hugs her so tight, I think the hug is worth the discomfort.
“My little Angel.”
“I’m so happy you’re home. I’m so happy we’re all home,” Angelique says.
He straightens, lifting her with him. When Zeke steps in to take her, he shakes his head. “I got her.” He walks to me, kisses me and we hug as a family. Then he draws back, crouches down again, setting Angelique on her feet.
Angelique moves around him to take Matty’s hand from his mouth and hold it.
“Daddy, this is Matty. He’s my new friend. And Matty, this is my daddy. I told you about him. He’s like your uncle. Right?” she turns her face up to me to ask.
“Um, yeah. That’s right.” Okay, that handles that.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Matty.”
Angelique nudges her dad. “Shake his hand,” she whispers loudly.
“Oh. Of course.” Jericho extends his hand and Angelique places Matty’s tiny one inside. Jericho smiles and Matty attempts to. “Which room did you get, buddy?”
“The one next to Angelique,” he says quietly.
“Oh, that’s a good one,” he says, then leans in close. “She’s not making you play with her princess dolls, is she?”
Matty’s smile widens. “Only a little. I told her I’m not dressing up like one though.”
“That’s a smart decision,” Jericho says and stands, ruffling his hair.
Angelique takes both of Matty’s hands. She’s so sweet with him and although he’s only a year younger than her, she treats him like he’s a baby and wants to take care of him. “Should we go get cake, Matty? I think since it’s a special occasion they’ll let us eat cake for lunch. Come on.”
“Okay,” Matty answers and allows himself be led along.
We all watch them disappear into the dining room. Then I hear Megs’s voice. So does Jericho and he turns to me. Dex and Zeke make themselves scarce.
“I have another surprise for you!” I move closer to him, set my hands on his shoulders and kiss his cheek. “Megs is here! And she brought cake.”
“I’m going to have some words with Megs outside of the dining room.” He tries to take a step around me, but I move to block him.
“It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t want me to go. I made her cover for me. It was all my fault.”
He raises his eyebrows and just then, Megs comes into the hallway and clears her throat.
We both turn to watch her approach. She holds out a small gift box to Jericho. “A peace offering.”
He grunts.
I nudge him. He takes the box and opens it. Inside is a Cotton Candy gift card. “What the hell is this?”
“Unlimited cake. Lifetime supply. For you and for your family.” Megs smiles.
He reads the little card then looks up at her.
“Look,” she says, the Megs I know back. “We both love Isabelle. I already love Matty and that little girl of yours is on that list now too, so I’m sorry for my part in this. I should never have let my stubborn friend,” she casts a chastising look at me, “run with her stupid idea.” Another look.
Jericho smiles.
“But I did and I’m so happy you’re all safe. If a little worse for wear,” she tells him.
He grunts.
“But we’re going to be in each other’s lives and weirdly, Jericho, I don’t dislike you. Let bygones be bygones?”
He glances at the card again then back to Megs. “I don’t suppose I dislike you either. You’re pushy and are a poor decision maker, but I think you mean well.”
“Wow,” I say but they both shush me.
“Welcome to my home, Megs.”
“Thank you, Jericho. Oh, and you have me to thank for the balloons,” she adds as we follow her into the dining room. It looks like a pastel color explosion as so many balloons bob along the ceiling, the kids jumping to try to catch the ribbons.
“Oh great,” Jericho mutters.
“I’m glad you like it,” Megs says. “And you’re welcome.”
They exchange a friendly smile and, for the first time since I’ve known Jericho St. James, we all come together almost like a normal family and have cake. Just cake.
51
Jericho
At Isabelle’s insistence and with young Matty in mind, I step into Hildebrand’s office and close the door. The Councilor is seated beside Judge on the leather couch in his office, paperwork spread out before them on the coffee table.
“Mr. St. James,” he says and stands.
“Councilor. Thank you for seeing me. Judge. Thanks for coming.” Over the last few weeks I’ve been consulting with Lawson Montgomery in dealing legally with the Matty-Julia issue. Given his knowledge of the legal system and his position within IVI, he’s a good ally to have.
“Have a seat.” He gestures to the glass of whiskey on his desk. “Would you like one? I think we may both need it.”
“I think you’re probably right.”
He pours me a tumbler, refreshing his and Judge’s then sits back down. “This is highly out of the ordinary.”
“I realize that.”
“Discretion will be of utmost importance as it always seems to be when it comes to my dealings with you.”
It was how we started our talks about Isabelle. “I think we want the same thing. There is a child involved, after all.”
“How is the boy?”
“Doing well. He’s settled in nicely.”
“Good. And your wife?”
I smile at the mention of her. “Also doing well.” Her belly is rounding with the pregnancy and she’s even more beautiful than she already was.