Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers (26 page)

“Please just be certain leaving is what you truly wish to do.” She lifted her face to his. “I should hate to see you regret this.”

“I’m not going to regret anything.” He bent to brush her lips with a gentle kiss. “Now, go and sit, and I will make sure everything you need is brought to the ship.”

“Very well.” She rose with a sigh. “If you’re certain…”

“I am.”

He said it with such finality that, despite her reservations, she didn’t press. Perhaps one day he would change his mind. She only hoped that, when that time came, it wasn’t too late and the chasm between father and son wasn’t too large to bridge.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Despite her misgivings about leaving America, Heather was happy to come home to London. She hadn’t realized how much she missed the city until she and Drew settled into a lovely townhouse on Berkeley Square. It was a fresh start, just as he’d said.

Of course, that didn’t mean she didn’t miss Brunswick, either. Drew refused to discuss his family, refused to discuss the events leading to their return, and she learned not to push. As the days passed, and she grew larger with their child, more important matters cluttered her brain. True, Drew didn’t seem to be at all bothered by her changing shape. If anything, he was as lusty as ever where she was concerned, and she spent as much time in bed with him as she did outside of it. Instead, he was intrigued. Especially when the baby kicked.

The first time he felt the child move, his eyes glimmered with tears, his hand pressed against the flutter in amazement. After that, he developed the habit of talking directly to her belly, chuckling softly when his son thumped back to the sound of his father’s voice.

Yes, he was convinced the child she carried was a boy and he’d hear no argument that suggested otherwise. He was a McKenzie and, as such, his firstborn would be a boy.

End of discussion.

Spring came and Heather found moving about more difficult than ever. She couldn’t see to even make certain her slippers matched. Her back ached constantly and she had to use the chamber pot every hour. As she drew nearer to the end of her pregnancy, she was filled with a mixture of relief and fear.

Drew spent most days at the harbor, in the small warehouse he’d leased to start up his own shipping business. He really didn’t wish to become his father’s competition, but shipping was all he knew. And thus, Zeus Exports was born.

He was in his cramped office when there came a sudden knock at the door. He looked up, his jaw going slack when he saw who his visitor was.

James McKenzie stood on the far side of the threshold. “May I come in?”

He rose to his feet. “Yes. Of course.”

James stepped into the office, closing the door behind him. Both men faced each other, tired amber eyes locking with defiant topaz eyes. Drew felt his muscles tighten as he anticipated what his father might do or say.

“I suppose you’re surprised to see me,” James began after a long silence, in which they stared at one another.

“That’d be putting it mildly, but yes.”

“Well, your mother is here as well. Along with Garrett and Katherine.”

“This is a regular family reunion, then, isn’t it?” His reply was cold as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I hope you don’t expect to be welcomed into my home.”

“I expect nothing, Drew. I’d hoped you would remain in Brunswick.”

“Why would I? I’m no longer your son, remember? I believe that was what you told me.”

“Yes, well, I thought we might want to talk about that.” His cheeks flushed, James gestured to the straight-backed chair across from Drew’s desk. “May I?”

“If you wish.”

James made himself comfortable in the chair. “Drew, I think I might’ve spoken in haste. Perhaps your mother was right, tempers were lost and things were said that shouldn’t have been uttered. Perhaps I was too quick to judge, and in doing so, misjudged terribly. I trust all is well between you and Heather?”

“Everything is fine. She wasn’t happy about leaving, but she understood why I wanted to. Besides, she has more important things to worry about now.”

“Such as the baby? Garrett told us Heather is expecting.”

“Due any day.”

James nodded slowly. “I must admit, Drew, of you and your brother, Garrett was the one I expected to give us a grandchild first.”

“Yes, well, that’s always been the case, hasn’t it?”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

Drew sighed softly, shaking his head. “Is that why you are here?”

“No. Well, not entirely. As I said, I think I might’ve made a mistake.”

“Now you think
you
made a mistake. Six months ago,
I
was making the mistake.” Drew relaxed, lowering himself into his chair. “Which of us went wrong?”

“
I
made the mistake. After you left, Garrett found out that the man who’d begun the rumors regarding Heather was a former member of your crew.”

“Yes.” Drew nodded. In his spare time, he combed London’s harbor for signs of Henry Donaldson, without much luck. He’d learned through other sailors that Donaldson had been given a commission on board one of Markson’s ships, so it was only a matter of time before Drew got his hands on the worm responsible for his current expatriation.

“And that Darcy Penrose, once again, made certain this rumor made the rounds,” James sighed, leaning back in his chair. “So, it goes without saying that very few people have chosen to believe this particular story. Your wife seems to have made the impression that she’s nothing other than a lady.”

“I see.”

“So, with that said, I wanted to apologize for my words that last afternoon. I’m proud to call you my son.”

“And that’s supposed to make everything right again? As if the last six months haven’t happened? Am I simply to forget what was said that day?”

“Drew, be reasonable — ”

“As you were reasonable where Heather was concerned?” he countered sharply, slowly rising and leaning over the small desk. “The way my judgment was questioned? The wa — ”

“Captain McKenzie!”

He turned to see Priscilla, Heather’s maid, standing in the doorway, out of breath and her eyes wide. His stomach gave a lurch. There was only one reason why the maid would be down at the harbor and so out of breath.

“What is it?” he asked, gripping the edge of the desk. “The baby?”

“Please, Captain McKenzie! You must come home now! I’ve sent Hodges for Dr. Burnham!”

He didn’t hesitate, following the maid down the stairs and out to the waiting carriage, his father right on his heels. The ride back to the house on Berkeley Square seemed endless, and the coach hadn’t even come to a complete stop when he flung open the door to leap from it. He took the front steps two at a time, slamming into the foyer and scaring Hodges half to death.

“Where’s Heather?” he thundered, completely oblivious to his brother standing in the parlor.

“Upstairs, sir, but the doctor — ”

He didn’t wait for him to finish, taking the steps three at a time. He burst into the bedroom to find Heather lying in bed, surrounded by his mother, Katherine, and the gray-haired doctor.

He rushed to her side, taking her hand in his. “Heather?”

“Go away.” Her face scrunched and she let out a muted shriek.

Rebecca walked around the bed to take his arm. “It would be best if you wait downstairs, Drew.”

“The hell I’ll wait downstairs,” he shot back, his eyes never leaving his wife.

“Drew — I’ll be — fine!” Heather gritted out. “Now, go!”

He bent over her to press his lips to her damp forehead. “Heather — ”

She screamed then, her fingernails biting into his hand as her fingers clamped around him. A cold sweat broke out over his entire body and the room swam before his eyes. It was a thousand times worse than when he’d been wounded by Henry.

She relaxed a moment later and he took advantage to pull his hand free. He leaned over long enough to brush a kiss over her forehead and to whisper, “I love you.”

She managed a tired smile. “I know. I love you, too, Drew. Now please, go.”

He didn’t resist as his mother eased an arm about his waist and guided him to the door. Heather cried out again, and Rebecca gave him a not-so-gentle shove out the door, closing it firmly behind him.

Garrett emerged from the shadows of the hallway, a glass of whiskey in his hand which he pressed into Drew’s grasp. “Come down below. It’ll be a long enough night without you having to listen to her screams, Drew.”

He nodded, feeling numb as he followed Garrett back down to the parlor. James was there, uncorking a full bottle of single-malt scotch. Drew dropped onto the damask sofa, lifted the glass to his lips, and drained it in one swallow.

Without a word, James took the glass, filling it with scotch then passed it back to him. “Tonight’s one night where it’s perfectly acceptable to get drunk.”

“I don’t care if it is or not,” Drew muttered, taking another long swallow. “All I know is I don’t want to see straight this evening.”

The night crept by with agonizing slowness. Every now and again, a piercing scream would rent the air and it took the combined efforts of both Garrett and James to restrain Drew as he attempted to mount the stairs each time. Even soused, Drew was a tough customer as he towered over both his father and brother.

Eventually, he gave in to the liquor, passing out on the sofa, leaving James and Garrett to watch over him with worried expressions. Hodges passed through every so often, making certain the men ate and the liquor did not run out.

As the sun broke through the grayness of dawn, Katherine emerged from Heather’s bedroom, looking exhausted. She gave them a tired smile and gestured to Drew, who was sprawled on the sofa, on his back, snoring softly. “Is he dead?”

“I don’t think so,” Garrett grouched. “Are you going to keep us in suspense?”

James coughed softly. “I think it only fitting Drew be the first to know what he has sired, don’t you?”

Garrett flushed. “Of course.” He nudged his wife impatiently. “Go on, then. Wake him.”

She gathered her skirts as she crouched down beside the sofa. “Drew? Drew, wake up. Your child has arrived.”

He stirred, forcing his eyes open as the words sank into his fuzzed brain. “W-what?”

She nodded. “Heather’s fine. Resting now. You may go up and see her.”

He came fully awake, sitting up and combing his fingers through his hair. “Do I dare ask?”

She slid her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “You have a son, Drew. A beautiful, bawling son.”

He let out a whoop as he jumped up from the sofa, Katherine in his arms, and swung her wildly about the room. “A boy! Damn, I
knew
it was going to be a boy!”

He released her to throw his arms about his father and brother in an all-encompassing bear hug. “A son!” He was laughing and crying at the same time. “Damn it all, I’ve got a son!”

“Why don’t you go up and take a peek at him?” Garrett laughed, slapping him heartily on the back.

“You know, I just might do that!” He wiped his eyes as he stepped back. “A boy. Holy — and Heather — Heather’s all right?”

Katherine nodded, shooing him toward the stairs. “She’s exhausted, of course. But otherwise, she’s fine. Now, go!”

He passed his mother on the steps and she stopped to embrace him. “Congratulations, papa,” she whispered, ruffling his hair tenderly.

“Papa…” Drew felt fresh tears sting his eyes. “Momma, I — ”

She waved him away. “Go to your wife, Drew. She needs you now. We can sit down and discuss this later.”

He did not need another push as he tore up the stairs and down the hall. For the second time in twenty-four hours, he burst into the bedroom, although he did so much more quietly this time.

Heather was lying in bed, propped up against a mountain of pillows, cradling a small, blanketed bundle in her arms. Her hair had been brushed out, wound into a simple braid. She looked tired, but almost glowed as she smiled serenely up at him. “Come and welcome your son, Drew.”

His knees threatened to buckle beneath him as he walked over to sink down into the chair drawn to her bedside. She shifted the bundle slightly, and he caught his first look at his infant son. The boy was a bit redder than he’d imagined, with a shock of thick, dark hair. His eyes were closed, his face scrunched, and his tiny fists were waving in the air.

He was in love.

“He’s perfect,” he murmured, leaning over to cover her lips in a gentle kiss. “Thank you, love, for giving me a son.”

She nestled against him as he eased an arm about her shoulders, moving to sit beside her. “Thank you for helping me.”