I gave Timmy his meds, grabbed everything I needed and joined Dean in the hall. He was in what seemed like a conference call though, so just gestured me toward the car.
“I’ve put the stroller in the car, Miss,” the driver said as he opened the door for me.
“Thank you, David.”
He smiled, bowing his head slightly. “You’re very welcome.”
Dean spent the whole drive on his conference call asking about share price and takeovers. It was all so unbelievably boring that I tuned him out after five minutes and started to play with Timmy.
Just as we parked in front of the Beaumont Enterprise tower, Dean disconnected his call.
He looked down at his watch.
“Little Cherubs is two streets down. I believe you can find everything you might need in this neighborhood, but should you need to go anywhere else, you can use the car.”
“That won’t be necessary. I know the city. There’s everything I need in this district.”
He nodded sharply. “Very well.”
I watched him disappear into the tower in his perfectly tailored suit, the security guard scrambling to open the door for him like he was a god. Although, I suspected that’s exactly what he was in this building.
I sighed and shook my head, trying to get Dean Beaumont out of my mind.
I texted Dee, asking her to meet me for coffee in a couple of hours if she could. She replied almost immediately, saying that she missed me so much, so of course she’d be there.
I smiled at her reply. It was a nice change from the constant animosity I was facing with Dean Beaumont.
I entered the store, bracing myself at having to justify my presence. Little Cherubs was the most exclusive and expensive baby store in all of Philly. The shop assistant detailed me, looked at the stroller, and then smiled broadly.
“Welcome to Little Cherubs,” she said, rushing toward me. She peered into the stroller to find a sleeping Timmy. “Oh, he is adorable!”
As I looked down, I realized that the stroller was a very expensive brand and I was wearing the amazing red cashmere coat that Dean had bought for me - a coat I was more than grateful to have on today with the freezing, unforgiving wind.
I did look rich. I smiled at her. I would spend money today alright. Timmy would have the best there was.
“Hi. I have a credit line opened for Timothy Beaumont.”
“Ah, yes, of course!” Her eyes light up with dollar signs. “What is it you need?”
I looked down at Timmy and smiled. Be ready for the bill, Dean Beaumont. “Everything.”
I shopped for the next two hours, buying everything I thought Timmy would need for the next eighteen months. I even added paint and stencils to decorate the white clinical walls I hated so much.
By the time I was done, I was exhausted. I changed Timmy's diaper and fed him in the store’s state-of-the-art room I was sure was not provided to every mother. But I’d just spent five digits in this store - more than my yearly wage before tax!
When I met Dee, I was ravenous and so decided to treat us to a late lunch, using the credit card. I deserved that much for being Dean’s in-house punching bag.
We sat at a table at the back. As usual, Dee looked stunning, wearing a leopard-printed dress that molded her generous form to perfection. Her make-up was flawless, her deep-red lips matching her bag and shoes.
Picking Timmy up from his stroller, she kissed him on his forehead, leaving her usual lipstick mark there. “I’ve missed you, sweet boy.” She stroked his cheek softly. “How is he doing?” she asked me, rocking Timmy against her chest.
I smiled. “He’s doing good. The Doctor Dean took us to is a world-renowned pediatric surgeon and a nice man. He will fix Timmy’s heart, I'm sure of it.” I smiled fondly at the little boy starting to doze on his unofficial godmother’s chest. “He is still getting tired, but the new meds are fantastic. The side effects are barely there anymore. He can eat without getting sick and no more diarrhea.”
She looked down at him and brushed the top of his head with her nose. “That’s good. At least something good will come from this. This little boy deserves the best.” She looked up. “And so do you, sweet girl.” She detailed me as we ordered our food and drinks.
“What?” I asked subconsciously.
“You’ve put some weight on.” She nodded. “It looks so good on you. Just a few more pounds and you will be perfect.”
“I’ve only been gone two weeks, Dee, but yeah, I guess that’s what eating your fill will do to you, huh?” I’ve put on six pounds in two weeks. The constant dull ache in my stomach is gone. It was a luxury most people took for granted.
“How are things there? Really,” she asked as she settled Timmy back in his stroller and the waiter brought us our lattes.
I drank a bit, giving myself time to think of what to say. I didn’t want Dee to worry more than what she already did.
“The house is amazing. You should see this place. And the library is enormous. I think I’ve read more in two weeks than I have in five years!” I smiled. “The staff is very lovely too, Mrs. James, the head housekeeper, is teaching me how to cook. I know quite a few recipes already. I love cooking.”
She nodded, resting her chin on her knuckles, her eyes shining. I clearly had not fooled her. “How’s it going with the oldest Beaumont?”
I was grateful the waiter came then with the food.
I cut a piece of steak.” Well, I can’t say he’s a fan,” I admitted before putting a piece of meat in my mouth.
“Uh… Why do I think you’re hiding things?”
Because I am. “It’s not that bad, really.” Yes, yes, it is.
She detailed me silently, her lips pursed. “You know, honeybun, you don’t have to take whatever that man is throwing your way. Just because he’s rich and powerful, doesn’t mean he’s better than you.”
“According to society, he is.”
“And since when do I care what society thinks? Ain’t no time for that shit.”
I chuckled. “It’s not so bad, really.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes.
I sighed. I needed to know the truth. “Do you think she did it on purpose? Get pregnant by a Beaumont?”
Dee frowned. “Why do you ask? You’ve never questioned it before.”
I leaned back in my seat. “You do, don’t you?”
Dee shook her head. “I don’t speak ill of the dead.”
I looked down at my plate. My sister had been as calculating as Dean accused her of being. “I thought about it and it made sense now you know. The newspaper cuttings she had... Eddie had not been her usual type, too soft and lanky. She played him, didn’t she?”
Dee let out a weary sigh. “I’m not certain, honeybun, but what I do know is that your sister always knew how to keep herself safe. She’d had an implant and even when she was high, condoms were a must.” She shrugged.
I nodded. She didn't need to say more, I understood Dean had been right and, whilst misplaced, his anger and dislike was.
“But what she might have done or not doesn’t matter. She’d loved this baby you know.”
“I do.” I nodded. That was the only thing stopping me from being mad at her right now.