“Yes, that’s right,” Gabrielle confirmed. “We just couldn’t wait. I’m sorry,” she said, feeling really bad now. She knew her parents loved her. She didn’t like causing them pain, despite how much they’d caused her.
Caroline sniffed. “You must love each other very much,” she said, relenting.
“We do,” Damien said without hesitation, and for a split second Gabrielle actually thought he meant it. Her heart gave a thud, then settled down to reality.
“Russell will be pleased,” Caroline said. A frown marred her forehead. “But perhaps we shouldn’t tell him until I speak to his doctor?”
“Good idea,” Damien said. “And look, I know Russell’s been too sick to have visitors, but don’t let Keiran in to see him just yet. He might slip up and give it away about our marriage, and I’d hate to set Russell back because he received a shock.”
She nodded even as she looked startled. “Keiran knows about your marriage?”
“Not yet. We’re on our way to the office soon to tell him.”
“Oh, good. He’ll be so surprised. And delighted, too, no doubt. He’s taken on a big responsibility trying to fill Russell’s shoes, always phoning me and checking to see how your father is doing. He’s been such a comfort.” She smiled warmly. “As you both have.”
“Don’t worry, Caroline,” Damien said. “We intend to help him as much as we can.”
Her mother’s brow rose. “We?”
Gabrielle knew she had to tell her mother their plans. “Mum, Damien’s going to help me run the company until Dad gets better.”
Her mother’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Yes.” Deliberately she didn’t mention Keiran. If her mother asked, she would say he intended to help out in another capacity at the office.
“That’s wonderful, darling. I’m so proud of you.” She glanced at Damien. “Russell always thought of you as a son, Damien. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled about this.”
Damien cleared his throat. “He’s been like a father to me, too, Caroline,” he said, sounding gruff.
Caroline gave a light laugh. “Good heavens, I now have a son-in-law. Who would’ve believed it?” She winked at Gabrielle. “And maybe one day I’ll be a grandma?” she teased, a sudden speculative light in her eyes.
Gabrielle stiffened, but she was sure only Damien felt it. “Not yet, Mum. I have too much to do to help Dad first.”
Caroline looked only slightly disappointed. “That’s okay, darling. But I look forward to the day when you’re ready to give me a little grandbaby.”
Gabrielle swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure that day would ever come again.
As if Damien knew she was uneasy, he changed the subject. “How about when Russell’s better we have another ceremony? A big event with lots of family and friends. What do you think, Caroline? Would you and Russell like that?”
Caroline’s eyes lit up. “Oh yes, that would be wonderful.” Then the light in her eyes dimmed. “Of course, I’m not sure where I’ll be once Russell gets better…”
Gabrielle’s heart thudded to a halt. “Mum?”
Caroline patted her hand. “Darling, I came back because I love your father and he’s sick, but I don’t know whether he still loves me.”
Gabrielle was horrified. She’d thought her parents were back together. “Mum, of course he does.”
Caroline frowned. “To be honest, I’m not sure.” Then her mother fluttered a dismissive hand. “But this is about you and Damien, not me and Russell. And I promise that no matter where I am I’ll come back for another ceremony.”
Gabrielle was having trouble trying to come to terms with her mother’s admission that she hadn’t resumed her marriage, so she was thankful when Damien stepped in and suggested they leave.
“Don’t let the comment about grandchildren worry you,” he said on the way out of the hospital. “Your mother’s just doing some wishful thinking. It’s only natural.”
Somehow she found the strength to pretend she didn’t care that her parents should have already been grandparents. If only…
No!
Instead, she shot Damien a glare. “Did you know they weren’t actually back together?”
“Yes,” he said, opening the car door for her.
“What! You told me—”
“That your mother had come home because of your father’s stroke. She did.”
“But—”
“Let them work it out themselves. We have other things to worry about right now.” He took her elbow and guided her onto the passenger seat. “Keiran being one of them. He’s bound to be difficult.”
The thought of facing Keiran kept her quiet as Damien closed the door and came around the other side of the BMW. A short while later they entered her father’s office to find her cousin again behind the desk, looking so self-satisfied she wanted to wipe that look right off his face. Thank goodness she’d dressed in a short black skirt and cream silk blouse that looked very businesslike.
“Keiran,” she said, walking over to the chair in front of the desk and taking a seat as Damien went to stand by the window. “Do you realize you lost the company a three-million-dollar contract?”
Keiran suddenly looked wary. “They wanted more than we could give. We don’t have the resources for what they wanted.”
“No,” she snapped. “My father would have bent over backward to find a way to keep that contract.”
Keiran glared at her defiantly. “I did all I could.”
“I’m sure you did. But this company isn’t only about you and what you can and can’t do, Keiran. It’s about being a business. About keeping people in jobs.”
Keiran stiffened. “Don’t come in here and start preaching to me on how to run things, Gabrielle. I’m in charge now and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Correction. You were in charge.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t start that again. You and Damien are—”
“Married.”
He flinched, then quickly recovered. “So?”
She leaned forward and slapped a copy of the marriage certificate and the document transferring the shares on the desk. “We’re married. We were married yesterday. And Damien’s given me eleven percent of his shares as a wedding present,” she said, enjoying dropping that bombshell. She made a point of standing up. “So thank you for holding the fort, but I’ll take over now.”