Tristan's Redemption (9 page)

Abby put the cap on the lipstick and s
et it down. Tristan would be here for their date in a few minutes. She turned off the bathroom light and thought about the last three weeks. He texted every morning, he called every night, and when they saw each other, he smiled like a man seeing the sun for the first time.

Since David
’s death, Abby only smiled whenever it had something to do with the baby. Now, she never stopped. The baby rolled, as if he knew his mother was thinking about him. She rubbed her belly affectionately.

She looked outside, checking for Tristan
’s Aston Martin. She almost felt guilty riding in the Vantage, as David dreamed of owning one. Whenever they drove by the dealership, he said that he would drive her around in their very own one day. Tristan told her that he bought this vehicle as soon as he came back from his sabbatical. Riding along with him, David often crept into her thoughts.

There were other similarities as well. Tristan was very protective, just as David had been. They seemed to have the same tendency to see her safely to her car. Tristan
’s good morning text waiting for her when she awakened. David either stayed in bed with arms wrapped around her, or left a note on the rare occasions that he left before her.

A car door shook her out of her thoughts and she looked outside to see a Land Rover. Tristan got out of the backseat and said something to the driver, then shut the door. Abby got her purse and keys and walked outside just as he got to the steps. His eyes took her in, from head to toe and she thought that she heard him mutter
God help me
under his breath, before he smiled and held out his hand.

“
You look beautiful.”

“
Thank you.” She put her hand in his then looked toward the Land Rover. “Why do you have a driver?”

“
I had a conference call, so one of my security guys drove. I don’t take the risk of talking on the phone and driving.”

“
Oh.” She respected Tristan for being responsible. He opened the door and kissed her lightly on the cheek, his breath leaving a trail to her ear before he pulled back. Abby looked up and saw his heated expression. She wanted him with a ferocity that surprised her and judging by the look on his face, Tristan felt the same. He walked around to his side and made quick introductions. The driver’s name was Jack, he worked security for Tristan and would be tagging along tonight.

“
So,” Tristan asked as he turned toward her, “do women in their seventh month still have cravings, or is that a beginning of pregnancy phenomenon?”

“
I still have them.” As if to prove the point, her stomach growled and Tristan looked down with a frown.

“
You’re hungry?”

“
Tristan, I’m always hungry. At least now, anyway.” His frown grew. “I was sick a lot my first five months. It was only around my sixth month that my appetite increased. I seem to be making up for the lost time.”

“
What are you craving?”

“
A big, thick, juicy, rare steak,” Abby held out her hands to emphasize the word big, “but that will have to wait until after the birth, I don’t want to risk eating undercooked meat.”

“
Duly noted.” Tristan drummed his fingers on his knee and stopped suddenly. “Would you like a burger?”

“
Ooh, I would
love
a burger. But none of these little premade patty places. I’m talking about a big, thick burger, chargrilled, oozing with cheese and so many toppings, I’ll need a bib to eat it.”

“
I think I’ll have one of those as well.” Tristan leaned forward and said something to Jack, who nodded and clicked the turn signal. He gave Abby a smile. “I know just the place.”

~

Most of the tables in this restaurant were taken, and Tristan wasn’t able to arrange private seating tonight. He looked around the room and noticed the lighting was more functional and less subdued than he would have liked for Abby. But she didn’t notice the light, the linen tablecloths, the modern art decor or the fact that the coaching staff for the Atlanta Falcons was seated two tables away. No, she was too busy enjoying her food and that made the lack of privacy bearable.

“
Oh. My. God. That was the best food I have ever eaten in my life.” 

Tristan
’s eyes twinkled, his smile exultant. “Good, huh?”

“
Oh yes.” Abby wiped her mouth and sighed, then got her mirror out of her purse and checked her face.

“
What,” Tristan asked with amusement, “did you do that for?”

“
Do you remember that comment I made in the car about wanting a burger I needed a bib to eat?”

“
Yes.”

“
It was a little messy. Just covering all my bases.”

Tristan cocked his head to the side and leaned over.
“You missed a spot.” He kissed her on the corner of her mouth then pulled back with a smile. “Mmm.”

Abby
’s breath hitched and her eyes widened. She licked her lips and Tristan felt like punching the air in victory. If Abby felt the public display of affection was too much, she would have said so by now. Someone dropped a plate off to the side. She looked in that direction, and tensed.

“
Abby, are you okay?”

“
I’m fine.”

Tristan turned to see what she was looking at, and inwardly cursed.
Son of a bitch! Why here? Why now?

Tristan had to pretend he didn
’t know the woman. “Who is she?”

“
David’s secretary. The woman he cheated on me with.”

Tristan glanced around quickly, wondering if he would get a Hail Mary pass from the angel. No such luck. Nor did the ground seem willing to swallow him whole at the moment either.

God, why did she have to be here?

Tristan could have gone the rest of his life without seeing her again. Her name was Marianne, and she
’d been David’s secretary for two years. Just prior to his death, David had suspected her of having inappropriate feelings. Her skirts progressively got shorter, her comments in private more sexual. The day he died, David returned from lunch in a foul mood, his disappointment over not being able to get his wife pregnant growing, when he found Marianne bending over his desk, exposing her garter. The office soon emptied, everyone leaving for the holiday, and David couldn’t face going home, not when he knew his wife would be disappointed. But Marianne stayed and...

Tristan refused to think about what happened next. He scowled as he saw Marianne cast her judgmental gaze on Abby. Tristan refused to let this carry on. He took Abby
’s hand in his own and stood.

“
Let’s go.”

Abby nodded.
“Good idea.”

Tristan led Abby past Marianne, who remained firmly in place.

To Abby’s credit, she carried herself with grace and dignity past the woman, until Marianne muttered, “the mourning period didn’t last very long.” Abby paused and Tristan tugged.

“
It’s not worth it. You know the truth.”

“
Yes,” Abby whispered, “but what if she has said something like that to other people?”

“
It doesn’t matter. You’re the victim, and she knows it.”

Abby nodded and walked off, while Tristan looked over his shoulder. Marianne sat down next to Joe Price, one of the partners at David
’s firm. Joe placed his arm on Marianne’s chair and Tristan had a clear view of Marianne’s hand resting inappropriately on Joe’s thigh. He knew then what he would do...eventually. Right now, Abby’s fingers were clammy and tense in his hand. He needed to get her away from this.

~

Abby was quiet and kept her eyes glued to the window. Tristan held her hand which was a good thing, considering how badly he wanted to hit something. David died having failed Abby horribly. Now Tristan would die a thousand times over before he let that happen again. Abby turned her head toward him.

“
Where are we going?” Her voice was soft, as if close to breaking.

“
My house.”

She frowned.
“But why?”

Because I can
’t let you go tonight. I want to hold you and take all the pain away.

“
I don’t want you alone right now. I thought, even if it’s only for a little while, you could think without all the reminders.”

Abby nodded.
“Thank you.”

The irony wasn
’t lost on Tristan. Abby had thanked him for giving her relief from a situation that he’d caused. Okay, so technically
David
had caused it but technicalities didn’t make a damn bit of difference when Abby was hurting.

Tristan murmured,
“You’re welcome,” and squeezed her hand, hoping and praying they would be at his house soon.

~

The house was huge. Three, maybe four of Abby’s house could fit inside Tristan’s. She never was impressed by pretense and, with everything weighing on her mind, she wasn’t about to start now. Jack pulled into the circle drive in front and stopped at the entrance. Tristan took her hand as she got out and a servant waited to welcome them inside. Tristan made introductions and the man asked if Abby would like something to drink. She politely declined and stayed still in the middle of the cavernous foyer. Tristan regarded her with worry and Abby knew that she looked as shaken as she felt.

“
Let’s go in here. I want you to be comfortable.” Tristan led them into an informal parlor and Abby followed. He sat down beside her, keeping her hand within his, like he needed to feel her skin.

Abby exhaled and wished
she could pour water on Marianne and make her melt. It certainly worked for other wicked witches.

“
I’m sorry I picked that place.”

She looked up, her eyebrows furrowed.
“Don’t be. That wouldn’t have made a difference.”

“
You wouldn’t have been subjected to that...
woman
if I’d chosen another restaurant.”

“
Maybe not tonight, Tristan, but it would have happened eventually. It may have happened after the baby was born and she could’ve said that in front of my son.”

“
Regardless of when she said it, Abby, she was wrong.”

“
I know. Logically, I know she’s wrong and opinions on timing are subjective but...to stand there in judgment of me, when she
slept with my husband.
How dare she?”

“
She had no right.”

Abby stood, her hands flexing.
“No, she didn’t. But she’s only saying what other people are thinking.” Abby walked over to a vase, lightly running her fingers over the rose petals. “I never told anyone about finding David with
her
the day he died. I kept his secret and protected him. But if anyone we knew sees me with you, they are going to think I’m not honoring David’s memory.”

He shook his head.
“Abby, that’s—”

“
Unfortunate, but reality nonetheless.” She faced Tristan and sighed. “Whether or not it’s actually true, I’ll be tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. Which, in this part of the country, is ruled by southern propriety. The grieving widow does not automatically go and find someone else.”

He clutched his fingers together and inhaled deeply, like the whole situation troubled him as much as her.
“That’s not what you’ve done.”

“
It isn’t? It’s only been a little over six months and I’m seeing you. My own mother brought up the very same thing when I told her about you.” Abby shook her head and laughed bitterly. “Grief. What is the proper mourning period? Did the people who made up these arbitrary rules take into account extenuating circumstances, like my husband screwing another woman the day I found out I was pregnant? Within an hour, my dreams came true and my expectations fell apart. David and I should’ve had a house full of children, grown old together, played with our grandchildren on our front porch. In here,” Abby pointed to her head, “that’s the future I saw. A couple so deeply in love that they never looked at another, held each other’s hands through the hard times and were grateful for all the good. But that afternoon...” Abby paused, her voice lowering when she spoke. “And now, half a year later, I’m with another man. I condemned David for that very thing.”

“
Abby, you’re letting her upset you, and that’s just what that spiteful woman wanted to do.”

“
I know.” Her shoulders drooped. “It still doesn’t change the circumstances.”

“
Abby.” Tristan stepped forward. “Things have changed so very much. What would have been unacceptable during our parents’ time isn’t frowned on so much now.”

Abby nodded
but didn’t look at Tristan.