Chapter One
“Y ou’re sure we weren’t followed?” Nicole Andrade asked her driver when the car came to a stop. Her hands shook as she buttoned her long coat.
“I was careful to be discrete, Mrs. Andrade.”
Arnold had been Nicole’s driver for as long as she could remember, since her early childhood. He’d stayed with her out of loyalty rather than necessity. To Nicole, he was more family than employee, and she had told him that several times. There was no need for formality between them, but Arnold was old-fashioned and Nicole respected that about him.
“I feel like a traitor when I come here.”
Arnold met her eyes in the rearview mirror. The sympathy in his expression was a comfort. Not many would understand how Nicole could have everything and still wake up scared in the middle of the night. She was happily married; she not only had her brother back in her life, but she also had a large extended family who loved her.
And yet I keep coming back.
“Would you like me to get the flowers from the back, Mrs. Andrade?”
“I need a moment, Arnold.” Arnold left the car running and waited without a word. Nicole slowly covered her cold hands with her leather gloves. “I should be glad he’s gone.”
“He was your father,” Arnold said gently.
Nicole blinked back a tear. “A father who drove my mother into hiding, beat my brother until he left, and then ignored the only one who stayed with him—me. How could I still love him?”
Arnold didn’t answer, but Nicole didn’t expect him to. As always, he was quietly supportive yet held his opinions to himself. If danger came, Nicole didn’t doubt that Arnold would defend her even at the risk of his own life, but he wouldn’t discuss it afterward. That he listened while she rambled on about her life was a testament to his affection for her. He was a private man.
His silence made him one of the few Nicole felt comfortable opening up to. “Stephan finished our house on Isola Santos. He gave Gio the original Andrade house. We could have lived in the home my brother built on the other side of the island, but Stephan wanted something more traditional. Our new house is beautiful. Tasteful. Perfect. When Stephan first told me we could demolish Dominic’s complex, I was okay with it, but now that it’s scheduled, I don’t want to see them remove it. I want to throw myself in front of it and beg for someone to save it. Even Dominic said he was fine with it being torn down. I should let it go.”
Arnold opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, then closed it, and met her eyes in the mirror again.
“I know it’s just a house, Arnold. Just a glass and chrome monstrosity. An eyesore to most people. But that island, for however much trouble it has caused, brought us all together. It was a place for both Andrades and Corisis. That’s about to change, and I don’t know if I’m ready.” Nicole put a hand on her stomach. “I’m pregnant, Arnold. This should be the happiest time of my life. I thank God every day that so many people care about me now, but I’m falling apart on the inside.”
Arnold turned in his seat and put his hand out to Nicole. She held on to his tightly.
“Stephan and I weren’t trying to have a baby. I haven’t told anyone about the baby yet because I don’t know how I feel. I want children. So, part of me is happy, but another part is terrified. What if I can’t be a better mother than mine was?” Nicole looked out the window of the car in the direction of her father’s headstone. “And why do I come here for answers from a man who gave me none while he was alive?”
“Nicole,” Arnold said her name in the way a father does with a child, “you’re too hard on yourself. You will be a wonderful mother.”
Nicole wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “That’s kind of you to say, Arnold, but is it true? Stephan’s family has welcomed me as one of their own. They are warm, loving, and better to
“Y ou’re sure we weren’t followed?” Nicole Andrade asked her driver when the car came to a stop. Her hands shook as she buttoned her long coat.
“I was careful to be discrete, Mrs. Andrade.”
Arnold had been Nicole’s driver for as long as she could remember, since her early childhood. He’d stayed with her out of loyalty rather than necessity. To Nicole, he was more family than employee, and she had told him that several times. There was no need for formality between them, but Arnold was old-fashioned and Nicole respected that about him.
“I feel like a traitor when I come here.”
Arnold met her eyes in the rearview mirror. The sympathy in his expression was a comfort. Not many would understand how Nicole could have everything and still wake up scared in the middle of the night. She was happily married; she not only had her brother back in her life, but she also had a large extended family who loved her.
And yet I keep coming back.
“Would you like me to get the flowers from the back, Mrs. Andrade?”
“I need a moment, Arnold.” Arnold left the car running and waited without a word. Nicole slowly covered her cold hands with her leather gloves. “I should be glad he’s gone.”
“He was your father,” Arnold said gently.
Nicole blinked back a tear. “A father who drove my mother into hiding, beat my brother until he left, and then ignored the only one who stayed with him—me. How could I still love him?”
Arnold didn’t answer, but Nicole didn’t expect him to. As always, he was quietly supportive yet held his opinions to himself. If danger came, Nicole didn’t doubt that Arnold would defend her even at the risk of his own life, but he wouldn’t discuss it afterward. That he listened while she rambled on about her life was a testament to his affection for her. He was a private man.
His silence made him one of the few Nicole felt comfortable opening up to. “Stephan finished our house on Isola Santos. He gave Gio the original Andrade house. We could have lived in the home my brother built on the other side of the island, but Stephan wanted something more traditional. Our new house is beautiful. Tasteful. Perfect. When Stephan first told me we could demolish Dominic’s complex, I was okay with it, but now that it’s scheduled, I don’t want to see them remove it. I want to throw myself in front of it and beg for someone to save it. Even Dominic said he was fine with it being torn down. I should let it go.”
Arnold opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, then closed it, and met her eyes in the mirror again.
“I know it’s just a house, Arnold. Just a glass and chrome monstrosity. An eyesore to most people. But that island, for however much trouble it has caused, brought us all together. It was a place for both Andrades and Corisis. That’s about to change, and I don’t know if I’m ready.” Nicole put a hand on her stomach. “I’m pregnant, Arnold. This should be the happiest time of my life. I thank God every day that so many people care about me now, but I’m falling apart on the inside.”
Arnold turned in his seat and put his hand out to Nicole. She held on to his tightly.
“Stephan and I weren’t trying to have a baby. I haven’t told anyone about the baby yet because I don’t know how I feel. I want children. So, part of me is happy, but another part is terrified. What if I can’t be a better mother than mine was?” Nicole looked out the window of the car in the direction of her father’s headstone. “And why do I come here for answers from a man who gave me none while he was alive?”
“Nicole,” Arnold said her name in the way a father does with a child, “you’re too hard on yourself. You will be a wonderful mother.”
Nicole wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “That’s kind of you to say, Arnold, but is it true? Stephan’s family has welcomed me as one of their own. They are warm, loving, and better to
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