Robotically, they turned to me and I nodded. Gabe led us into a small office our security team had used to make phone calls. One of the security men left after Gabe gave him a nod. Honestly, I tried to keep track of their names, but it was difficult.
Marissa closed the door but kept a hand on the doorknob with Rosie holding her arm, ready to flee. The air was thick with discord.
Beside me, Gabe remained calm and at ease with a gentile smile. A hand went into his pocket and the girls relaxed minutely with his demeanor. “I’m not Alex, I’m Gabe. My twin brother impersonated me while I was deployed. He was an undercover cop and had used Willow without her knowledge to create a cover life.”
I thought back to the conversations with them. I hadn’t told them Alex had lied about being an undercover cop.
That was an interesting take on what happened and completely doable. Why not use the lie Alex had created to keep people in the dark about the black truth?
Marissa’s chocolate eyes darted to me. I confirmed Gabe’s statement. “It’s true. This is the man I fell in love with. Not the man who tricked me into marrying him.”
“Fuck a duck.” Marissa’s mouth still hung open on her last word.
“Yes, basically,” Rosie concluded and patted her red sleek bob and straightened her spine. She cocked her head to the side. It was odd, but Rosie was like that. It was as if she were trying to work something out in her head but staring rather uncomfortably. Gabe had witnessed her ass-grabbing sessions with Carson once when we met at a club.
Stepping forward, Marissa switched into concern mode as her brows drew together. “Are you safe? Did they find the killer? Do they think the accident is connected?”
I was not prepared for all this. Mentally, I took a deep breath and then answered, “So far nothing else has been found. We’re taking precautions just in case.”
Rosie’s look changed from skepticism to leery as she eyed Gabe. “You’re not him?”
“No, I’m not. Because Alex was an undercover cop, I didn’t share it with people. Willow and I had dated for such a short period of time, I hadn’t disclosed it to her either.”
Wow, Gabe had obviously thought ahead for this sort of scenario. Of course he had with him being some black ops man.
They relaxed a little. Marissa continued her inquisition. “Marie mentioned you were staying at the Whitmore. Do you think him being undercover is why someone is after you? Is that why you’re staying at the hotel?”
Gabe leaned against the desk more at ease, which caused Marissa and Rosie to relax, too. It was amazing how he was able to control the atmosphere with body language.
“We’re closer to Carson this way. With the accident, it’s best if we keep travel to a minimum for her to keep healing.” Gabe gave them part of the truth. If only they knew Alex lived.
“I hope to go home in the next day or so. With any luck, Carson will be awake by then. His vitals continue to improve,” I added.
Rosie gave me a sweet smile. “We heard. That is wonderful news. Francesca must be ecstatic.”
“She is. Extremely. She’s waiting to hear the baby’s heartbeat with Carson.”
“That is special.” Rosie glanced at her watch.
I was anxious to get out of this situation too.
Marissa gave me a hug. “I know you’re probably ready to see Carson. Let us know if you need anything. Can we bring you dinner?”
“No, we’ll order in. I’m going to take Francesca back with me for a bit so she can shower and maybe eat. Thank you, though.” The hospital had accommodations, but she needed to take a break away from here.
“Of course. We’re here for you. Everyone is thinking of you guys.”
“Thanks, Marissa.”
We exchanged good-byes, and they walked from the room.
I leaned against the wall. “I was not prepared for that. Thank goodness you were.”
Gabe straightened and came to me. “It was on the list to go over our story to make sure you agreed. Looks like it’s out now. I was hoping we would have time to change anything you didn’t like.”
“It’s a good cover. Sticks to the truth they know.” I closed my eyes. “I hate lying.” Then something occurred to me. “Gabe, I don’t want them to think our children are Alex’s. I can’t… I won’t…”
He kissed me, instantly soothing my worry. “Don’t worry. With twins we’ll have the ability to manipulate the dates a little. We’ll figure it out.”
“You already thought of that.”
“Willow, there is no chance I am going to allow there to be a question about whose children are growing inside you. They’re mine. You’re mine. No questions.”
“No questions.” I loved it when Gabe was possessive. He tried to let me have my freedoms, but he also made sure everyone knew I was his.
“Let’s go see Carson.” We walked out the door. The warmth of Gabe’s hand pressed against my back. “I wanted to let you know that if he wakes up while we are here, I’m going to slip from the room until he’s told.”
That made sense since Carson had no idea about Gabe. If I had woken up to Gabe in my room, it wouldn’t have been good. Gabe was thorough.
One hurdle down. Only a million to go.
This morning we had gone to the hospital to bring Francesca back. Last night she had decided to stay. Today, she needed a change of scenery if only for a few hours while Carson underwent testing. I understood it made her anxious to leave Carson for very long. No doubt I would feel the same way.
Currently, we were in her room and had ordered room service for lunch. Hopefully, a shower and meal rejuvenated her.
This morning there was no change in Carson’s responsiveness, but the doctors were optimistic.
The room was similar to mine except a little larger. The shower went off as the door to the room opened. Gabe wheeled in our room service cart. “This arrived. I told Andre I would bring it down to you guys. How is she?”
My stomach growled as I smelled the food. “Tired and on edge though she’s better now that Carson is off life support.”
Gabe’s phone buzzed. “It’s Bennett. Let me take this.”
“Okay.”
I took the covers off the food. It was enough to feed an army. When we ordered, I think Francesca and I got carried away as we handed the phone to each other and talked to the waiter.
I was about to nab one of the nachos when Francesca called,
“Hey, Willow, would you mind coming in here?”
“Sure.” Food would have to wait. I walked into the room as Francesca wound her semi-wet brown hair into a French twist.
“I have something for you.” There was a small present on the bed with a pink and blue bow. “Open it.”
I touched the ribbon, moved by the gesture, and tore into it. It was a scrapbook that looked like a canvas with the words How My Mom Came To Be written in paint strokes. I brushed my hands across it. “This is amazing.”
“Look inside.”
There was an inscription on the cover page.
I turned the page. The picture was of Mom holding me the day I was born.
Tears pooled as my chest tightened. I flipped the page. In the top right corner was a picture of Carson and me in the tomato bath from when we had decided to wrangle skunks. Opposite was a picture of us looking dejected in the front of the exterminator truck after we decided to start an ant farm.
The next page was a picture of me at my most recent art gallery event. I was laughing at something. It was candid. I ran my fingers over the picture; it was hard to believe that was me.
The gift was breathtakingly beautiful. “Thank you. This is one of the most special things I have ever received. When did you do this?”
Francesca came to sit beside me. “I’ve had a lot of free time. Marie helped me. I made one for Carson, too. The bond you two share is so special.” She blinked back the tears and mine puddled even more. “You have been there for me in a way I never expected. You love with your whole heart, Willow. It’s unbelievable. You have had so much to deal with, but you’ve been my rock. When I wanted to give up, I saw your strength and perseverance. I wanted to capture those emotions in a book for your baby.”
“Thank you. I will treasure this forever.” We hugged.
Gabe called from the front. “Willow. Francesca. Get your things together. Bennett believes Carson is about to wake up. During testing he moved a little bit.”