Christmas morning dawned bright and early. Claire awoke, at first startled that she had been asleep. It had proved to be a fitful night. She had been content being in his arms but hadn’t rested well with the ring weighing heavily on her finger. Not with so many unanswered questions swimming around in her head.
Quietly, so as not to wake the others, she made a pot of coffee and settled down with her thoughts. Each time she moved her hand, she couldn’t help but stare at the ring Tristan had given her.
She wanted to believe that she meant something to him and that’s why he had given her such a beautiful gift. But he hadn’t said the words. He hadn’t said that he loved her and that’s what she had to hear.
She sighed. She loved Tristan. She always had. But it seemed now that he had come back into her life, she loved him even more. She loved him differently as well. She loved the fact that he snored when he slept on his left side and he liked his coffee with four sugars. She loved the crooked smile he had when he was teasing her and the lock of golden brown hair that fell over his forehead.
But as much as she loved these things—as much as she loved him—she couldn’t let herself be deceived. Tristan had talked about Christmases in the future, but he hadn’t talked about love in return. The simple fact nagged at her heart. If he didn’t love her, then why had he given her a ring? Why had he talked as if he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her?
Or at least another year.
Maybe that was it. Maybe it all came down to money.
Why hadn’t she paid more attention to the terms of his aunt’s will? Could it be that Tristan only wanted her back because of his inheritance? As much as it pained her heart, it could be. After all, that was the reason he’d married her to begin with. Now that Devin and Esperanza weren’t together, maybe Tristan had a shot at regaining his inheritance. Their divorce—though drawn up—wasn’t final. The papers hadn’t been signed. Depending on the terms of the will, Tristan could possibly still get his money if he talked her into staying with him.
The thought made her head ache. It made her nauseous.
She took a sip of her coffee to alleviate the feeling, knowing full well that she couldn’t go on this way. She had just gotten her life in order when Tristan popped back into it. She had just made her plans. She was just starting to feel like the person she wanted to become. And now this.
Give it some time, Nanie would say. But how much?
Claire had already decided to give her houseguests until Christmas before she talked to them about moving out and today was Christmas. She would give Tristan today. If he hadn’t said the words by six o’clock tonight, then she would know that he wasn’t sincere, that he didn’t love her. Then she could go on with the rest of her life.
♥♥♥
Devin dry swallowed the aspirin and resisted the urge to chase it with whatever liquor he could find in Claire’s cabinets. Alcohol wasn’t the answer, but he was at a loss.
For once in his life he knew exactly what he wanted. But he couldn’t have it. He’d messed up royally. Funny how a man didn’t see what he had until it was gone. And for a time he had it all: a beautiful wife, his inheritance, a new designer for McFarland Manufacturing, and a baby on the way. Everything.
And now it was gone…all of it.
But that didn’t mean he was going to stop trying to get them back.
The bathroom door opened and Espie stepped out, took one look at him, and started back inside.
“Espie. Wait.” He laid a hesitant hand on her arm. “Please.”
She pulled away, crossing her arms as she frowned at him. “Please what, Dev-in?”
Funny, but he had never noticed the rhythmic way that she said his name. He liked it, and he wanted her to keep saying it every day for the rest of their lives.
“Please everything.”
She blew her hair out of her eyes but made no comment.
It wasn’t a concession, but at least she hadn’t retreated back into Claire’s room.
“Please hear me out. Please give me another chance. Please let me love you.”
Her mouth twitched as she fought her inner demons. But her dark eyes were unreadable. “Okay,” she said with a brief nod. “Because it’s Christmas only. I do not want to spoil it with Claire and Tristan.”
Devin shoulders slumped in relief. It was a start.
Small, but a start.
♥♥♥
“Are you all right?”
Claire jerked out of her Tristan-filled thoughts and turned to address Devin. “I’m fine.”
Tristan’s brother looked like warmed over hairballs, and Claire was certain that she couldn’t look much better. Dark circles had formed under his eyes from his sleepless night in the bathtub. Claire knew it wasn’t possible, but the poor, lovesick man looked as if he’d lost twenty pounds since his arrival the day before.
Esperanza didn’t look much better either, but Claire couldn’t tell if it was morning sickness or the lingering effects of her own sleepless night. She suspected it was a combination of both.
Claire had been surprised when Esperanza had peeked out of the bedroom earlier in the day. Claire was beginning to think that she might keep herself locked inside for eternity. However, it seemed that she and Devin had called a Christmas truce which allowed the four of them to attempt to enjoy a family holiday dinner. The tensions around the table were high and after eating only half of her plate of Tristan’s gourmet Christmas goose, Espie had opted to lie down for the rest of the afternoon.
After the clean-up, Tristan, Claire, and Devin had watched a football game and a parade on the big screen TV Tristan had had delivered for Christmas. Claire was beyond asking where the money came from. She wasn’t sure she really wanted to know.
What a mess the three of them were. Tristan was the only one of them who appeared to have gotten any sleep. He’d whistled all morning long as he’d prepared their Christmas dinner. Now he was out walking Bruno, enjoying the light dusting of snow that made up the very rare Texas white Christmas.
“You’ve been really quiet all day,” Devin continued.
“Have I?” she asked, knowing full well that she had. She had been trying to give Tristan all of the airtime that he needed to declare his love for her.
How ironic. She had been waiting for the slightest whisper of love from Tristan while Devin was shouting his feelings to the rooftops and Espie wouldn’t relent. How ironic indeed.
“My brother loves you, you know.”
“No,” Claire said with a small shake of her head. “I don’t know.”
Tristan loved money. It was all a matter of money. Tristan had been wooing her all week long. He had bought her present after expensive present, living so far beyond his means that it could only mean one thing: he thought he could win her back and in doing so regain his family fortune.
She moved her hand to push back her bangs. The diamond he’d placed there last night flashed, a wickedly sharp reminder. Tristan didn’t really love her. Just as always, he only wanted her for what she could get for him: 36.3 billion dollars.
♥♥♥
Esperanza pressed a hand to the flat plane of her stomach and thought of the child growing there. A tiny thing right now, no bigger than a peanut. But it was there.
She sighed. She had been so happy to find out that she was pregnant, but that was before she knew what Devin was about.
If it were just her, it would be different. But she had a child to think about. An innocent baby who needed both of its parents to succeed.
And then there was Devin’s heartfelt plea from this morning. He wanted a second chance. And as much as she wanted to, she was afraid twice that.
If she took him back would that mean he would get his inheritance? Is that all this was to him?
There was only one way to find out. She took a deep, shuddering breath, then went in search of her husband.
She didn’t have to go far. As soon as she took two steps out of her bedroom…well, Claire’s bedroom, he was there.
“Esperanza.”
A little bit of her heart melted as he said her name. It sounded like a prayer on his lips. She wanted to fall to her knees in front of him, beg him to love her, but only God’s hand kept her upright. She wanted them to be together, forever, the way it should be, but she didn’t have to make it easy for him.
She gave him a regal nod that also served to hide the wobble in her chin. “Devin. I will talk to you now.”
His green eyes lit with an emotion she was afraid to name. But she wanted it to be love. Oh, how she wanted that.
Without waiting to see if he followed, she turned on her heel and made her way back to Claire’s room.
As she perched on the bed, Devin quietly closed the door behind himself and leaned back against it with a sigh. “I love you,” he said, his face lighting up like the Christmas tree Tristan and Claire had decorated the day before.
How she wanted to believe him. “If we go back, do you get your aunt’s money?”
His handsome brow furrowed, and it took everything she had not to rush to his side to smooth the wrinkles away. That was the old Esperanza. The new one had more than a man to think about. Regardless of the fact that she loved him without end.
“I suppose. I mean, I hadn’t really thought about it.”
She searched his face looking for deceit or arrogance. Anything to indicate his sincerity. Or lack of…
He hooked a thumb over one shoulder. “You want me to ask Tristan?”
She shook her head.
Devin pressed his lips together, closed his eyes for a moment. Just long enough that Esperanza wondered if he were praying. Then he opened them again, and she saw tears glistening within the beautiful green depths. “Are you worried that I can’t take care of you? I can. I promise you that. You and the baby.” He shook his head as if to realign his thoughts. “You mean more to me than anything. And I’ll do whatever it takes to take care of you. Anything.”
The sheer fierceness of his last word had her heart pounding in her chest. Did he mean it? Did he really mean it?
Devin pushed away from the door and made his way to her side.
Her breath quickened, faster and faster the nearer he got. Then he reached her side and held out one hand to her.
“I’ll renounce my claim on the McFarland money and work at Burger King if that’s what it takes. I just want to be with you.”
Her fingers trembled as she laid her hand into his.
He pulled her to her feet, then dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around her and pressing a kiss to her belly.
He held her close as she ran her fingers through his hair, holding him close.
“I love you, Espie McFarland. I think I always have. And I know you love me. Please…please say you’ll be my wife. For real this time.”
Tears fell from her eyes as a happy laugh escaped her. “I love you, too, De-vin.”
“And we’ll be a family.” He pressed another kiss to the place where his child grew inside her.
A family.
Maybe Azó Maria had been right after all.
♥♥♥
The front door shut, and Claire jumped. She could hear Tristan whistling a tuneless melody behind her. The cheery sound grated on her already raw nerves. She had been on pins and needles all day waiting for Tristan to say those words she so longed to hear. She couldn’t take it any longer. She’d told herself that he could have until six. It was four-fifteen now. Close enough.
“All right,” she practically yelled. Tristan and Devin turned to stare at her. “Everyone in the living room. Family meeting.”
“But Esperanza’s resting,” Devin said.
Claire nodded. “I know, but this is important. Wake her up.”
It took thirteen and a half nerve-racking minutes to gather everyone together and get them seated on the sofa. Now that it was accomplished, Claire wasn’t sure what exactly to say or how to begin.
As they watched her with speculative expressions on their collective faces, Claire ran her sweaty palms down the sides of her jeans and took a deep breath.
“I got a letter yesterday. Carnival has taken me on as an intern.”
“Oh, honey,” Tristan exclaimed, “that’s terrific.”
As Devin and Esperanza smiled at her, Tristan started to stand.
Claire held up one hand to stop his approach. “I leave after the first.”
As she said the words, she couldn’t look Tristan in the eye. Out of the corner of her vision, she saw him slowly sit back down.
Devin squeezed Esperanza to him. Espie smiled, everything seemed to be settled between the two of them. “We’re very happy for you,” he said.
Tristan remained silent.
“I’m happy, too.” A month ago—two weeks ago—that statement would have been true, but today it was a painful lie.
“The first of what?” Devin’s brow furrowed.
Tristan remained silent.
“The first of the year.”
Finally Tristan spoke. “When are you coming back?”
Claire twisted her hands together. His question was valid…and inevitable. “I’m not. I can finish my degree online and continue to work at the same time.” She wobbled a smile toward the three of them, but once again avoided Tristan’s gaze.
“What about us?” Esperanza asked.
“We can arrange for you to take over my lease here. That will give you a chance to get back on your feet until you can find something else.”
“What about us?” This came from Tristan.
Claire took another deep breath. “There is no us.”
He stood, but still she lacked the courage to look at him direct. “Not if you go traipsing off to the Caribbean.”
“Tristan, be serious.” She turned her eyes to him, realizing in a sudden rush that he was serious. She pushed her hope back down. For thirty-six point three billion dollars, even Bozo the Clown could get it together.
“What about these past two weeks?”
Claire steeled herself against the furious expression on Tristan’s face. He wasn’t angry with her because he loved her and he wanted her to stay. She knew in her heart that he was mad because once again he was going to lose it all. But she was tired of all these games. It was time to end it.
“What about last night?” he whispered. “I gave you a ring.”
“Tristan, we both know that all this…this…” She waved a hand in the air trying to find the word. Unable to verbalize, she started over. “If you don’t sign those papers, then we’re not divorced. And if we’re not divorced, then you still can inherit your uncle’s fortune.”
He shook his head. “We have to live together. In the same house.”
“That explains a lot.” She did her best to say the words as if her heart wasn’t breaking in two.
“You think this is all about money?”
“It always has been.”
Tristan clenched his jaw, a tiny muscle jerking as he faced her. Then without notice, he stomped to the hall closet. He jerked his tuxedo jacket off its hanger and pulled a folded stack of papers from inside along with a pen. Jacket forgotten, he dropped it to the floor, braced the papers against the wall, and scrawled his name in the spot marked with the X.
“There,” he said, his breathing heavy. “We’re divorced, and I’m broke. Now will you marry me?”
Claire didn’t respond, couldn’t respond. Sure, he signed the papers, but she couldn’t lay her heart on the line again. She just couldn’t.
When she didn’t immediately answer, Tristan grabbed her arm and snatched up Devin’s keys from the hall table. “Hey, Dev, I’m borrowing your car.”
Devin only grunted in answer, but Claire could hear the smile behind the sound.
Tristan hauled her outside not bothering to get a jacket on their way out the door. Somehow, Claire thought it was best not to point out his oversight. It could have been the hazel fire that lit Tristan’s eyes or the stubborn set of his chin, it didn’t matter. For the time being, she knew she was better off keeping her mouth shut until he cooled down just a little.
She was afraid to even look at him as he maneuvered his brother’s car through the north Dallas neighborhood. His knuckles were white where they grasped the steering wheel. She had no idea where they were going and wasn’t about to start asking this late in the game.
After about ten minutes of silent driving, Tristan whipped the car into the pebbled drive of a palatial three story Tudor style house, complete with a big oak in the front yard and ivy growing up one side of the beautiful structure.
She didn’t have time to ask where they were before Tristan pulled her out of the car and marched her up to the front porch. He rang the bell, his finger heavy on the button as the summons sounded throughout the house.
The door opened and with one hand still around her upper arm, Tristan pushed past the startled maid and dragged Claire along behind him.
“Sir. Sir!” The uniformed woman called.
Tristan ignored her, winding his way through the golden lit rooms as if he’d been in the house a hundred times before.
Finally, they burst into a dining room, decorated for the season with red velvet ribbon and boughs of fresh pine. The elaborate table was set with all the finest holiday foods. Eight or so people ranging in age and varying in gender were all seated, enjoying their family holiday. Claire recognized only one of them.
“Mr. Masters,” she gasped as Tristan continued into the room and to the head of the table where the lawyer sat. Strange, but the man didn’t look at all surprised to see them.
Eating stopped and all eyes turned to them as Tristan dropped the divorce papers onto the table next to his aunt’s attorney. “We are divorced,” he announced. “Will you kindly tell my wife…my ex-wife that I’m broke?”
Masters turned his cold gaze toward Claire. Slowly, methodically, he placed his napkin by his plate and leaned back in his chair. Claire gulped, realizing that her heart was pounding. “He’s broke.”
Her head started to swim. This couldn’t be happening. This had to be some elaborate set up.
“But…but…”
“But what?” Tristan released her and crossed his arms over his chest. He raised one brow in that “continue” manner that unnerved her.
Claire struggled to scrape together the flustered fragments of her composure. If Tristan was broke then maybe…
Maybe he wanted her for her.
“But the bedroom set,” she finally managed. “The big screen TV. This.” She held up her left hand, flashing the diamond that he’d placed there in the wee morning hours. “If you’re broke, then how could you afford this?”
A flush crept into his cheeks, but Claire couldn’t tell if it was chagrin or anger. “It’s only a carat.”
Claire threw up her hands as everyone at the table put down their forks to watch the show unfolding before them. “Only a carat. Only a carat. It’s a perfectly cut, one carat, yellow diamond, Tristan. It had to have cost a fortune.”
He shrugged. “I had a little tucked away for a rainy day.”
Maybe he had seen a weather report that she hadn’t. “How much?”
He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and shrugged again. “A little over five.”
“Five thousand?”
“Five million,” he corrected, his head down.
Claire choked, all of the air leaving her lungs in a painful whoosh. “That’s not broke,” she wheezed.
“For me it is.”
He had a point there, but it would be easy for him to adjust to being poor with five million dollars at his fingertips.
“If you don’t need the money, then why did you give me the ring? Why all of the talk about the future?”
“Don’t you know?”
“No.” Everyone seated at the table spoke in unison, but Claire could only shake her head. All of a sudden her mouth had gone dry and she was unable to speak.
“I love you, Claire.”
A round of applause went up from the table.
“You…you love me?”
Tristan nodded. “More than McFarland Manufacturing. More than my uncle’s fortune. More than anything in the world. I want you to stay here in Dallas. With me. Do whatever it is you want to do most. But do it here.”
“And next Christmas?”
“I want to spend it with you and the new addition to our family.”
“Devin and Esperanza’s baby?”
“No, ours.”
Tears filled Claire’s eyes.
“Will you marry me, Claire McFarland? I can provide for you. Devin and I have decided to start our own company, designing and selling infant and maternity fashions. Please say yes.”
She nodded, rushing into his arms as a cheer rose from the table.
“That’s all well and good,” Masters said as Tristan’s lips descended toward her own. “Now get out of my house.”
EPILOGUE
Masters picked up the papers that his client’s nephew had left and smiled. His family had gone into the living room to drink coffee and have a slice of pecan pie. Tristan and Claire had gone to wherever it was that they were staying now and their holiday dinner had gone on without further interruption.
What a Christmas. He was certain that his old friend Patricia was looking down at them from heaven and smiling a bit herself.
Masters shook his head. Only Pat could manage to get herself a Christmas present after she was dead and gone. She had gotten the very thing she wanted most in life: “her boys” happily married. And from the sound of it, with children soon to follow.
Strange, how it took losing everything for the McFarland brothers to gain what every man really needed from life: love.
Not that the family fortune was a total wash. Oh, no, Patricia McFarland was too shrewd for that. Somehow, she knew how things would turn out. Somehow, she knew the boys would get married, that their wives would walk out, and that children would be born. That’s why the real will was set up the way it was.
He supposed he should tell Tristan and Devin about it soon. But he would give it a couple of months. After all, it wasn’t every day you told a man that his children—however unborn—were multi-billionaires. Not every day indeed.
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
A MILLION TO ONE
Copyright 2023 by Amy Lillard
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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previously published as All You Need Is Love copyright 2013 by Amy Lillard
significant changes have been made to the original manuscript resulting in new copyright status