A mug of cold coffee sat on his blotter, the only thing he’d had in his stomach all day. The uncertainty of his job was wreaking havoc on his system. Mr. Walcott had taken a chance and hired Darius during a time of economic upheaval. And now with the war on, the unemployment rate remained high. Not a favorable time to be out of work.
The other matter weighing on him was Meredith’s situation. She was meeting with Olivia today, but would she agree to go to Bennington Place? In his gut, Darius felt that would be her best option.
He rose from his chair and looked out the window to the busy street below. When had his life become so complicated? A few months ago, his only problem had been trying to shield Sofia from his father’s Greek influence. Now he had Mr. Walcott breathing down his neck, his career hinging on his ability to coerce a widow into selling her home. His former fiancée, the woman he’d hoped would be a good mother to Sofia, had deceived him and was now drowning in her own unfortunate circumstances. And somewhere along the way, he’d fallen for an Italian beauty who ran a maternity home for unwed mothers. A woman all wrong for him and his daughter in so many ways.
Darius scrubbed a hand over his bleary eyes. This was not how he’d imagined his life turning out. Not at all. When he’d married Selene, his future had stretched before him with unbridled optimism—until violence had robbed him of that dream. Yet he’d survived, for Sofia’s sake. Then, just when he thought he had his future back on track, life had thrown him another curve that sent him reeling. And no matter how much he tossed and turned at night, trying to find solutions to appease everyone, all he ended up with was bags under his eyes in the morning.
A knock sounded on his door.
Darius suppressed a groan. Time to face the music. But instead of Walcott, he found Meredith standing there.
She came in and closed the door behind her. Anxiety seemed to roll off her in waves, and Darius could only surmise the talk with Olivia hadn’t gone well.
“Did you meet with Miss Rosetti?” he asked.
“Yes, but it was a waste of time.” She paced to one side of the room and stared at the artwork on the wall, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.
“Why is that?”
Meredith shrugged. “The place sounded fine, but while I was talking with Olivia, a friend of my mother’s came into the diner and recognized me. There’s nowhere I can go in the city that’s safe.” She came back to face him, her expression earnest. “I appreciate what you were trying to do, Darius, sending me to talk to someone who’s lived through my situation. But it doesn’t change the fact—”
“Wait.” Darius frowned. “What do you mean someone who’s lived through your situation?”
Meredith sighed. “You don’t have to cover for her anymore. Olivia told me how her family disowned her and how her baby was taken away. I can see why she’s so determined to help people like me.” She fumbled in her bag for something. “I admire her for turning her life around. I just wish I could be that brave.”
Darius sat down hard on his chair, clenching the armrest in an iron grip, the cold chill of truth sliding down his spine. It all made sudden sense. Perfect, horrible sense.
Olivia had given birth to a child out of wedlock.
And she hadn’t said a word to him about it.
“Are you telling me you didn’t know?” Meredith had taken a seat and was leaning forward to stare at him.
“No, I didn’t. I figured she had a reason for wanting to run a place like that. Maybe a friend or cousin had gotten in trouble. But she never said anything about her own child.” Not even when he’d asked her point-blank about her motives for becoming involved with Bennington Place.
“Well, I don’t suppose it’s something she goes around telling everyone.”
Maybe not, but he thought they were friends. He ran a hand over his eyes, trying to corral his jumbled emotions.
“Oh, now it’s starting to make sense.” Meredith gave a humorless laugh and shook her head. “You have feelings for her. That’s why this is hitting you so hard.”
He met Meredith’s gaze. “I guess the joke is on me.”
Her features softened somewhat. “Olivia seems like a nice person. Doesn’t she deserve the chance to explain?”
With no ready answer, he rose and walked to the window. He wouldn’t discuss this with Meredith. Wouldn’t let her see how his heart was being shredded into pieces alongside the image of the woman he thought he loved. “So, does this mean you’re going to abide by your father’s wishes and go to Saskatchewan?”
“Not if I can help it. Hearing Olivia’s story made me realize I could find another maternity home in a city far enough away that no one will know me.”
“Like where?” A deep weariness invaded his body as he turned back to her.
“Maybe Ottawa. Who knows, I might even like it there and stay after . . .” Her brows crashed down and she rose abruptly. “Anyway, that’s really why I came to see you. To thank you . . . and to say good-bye.”
He walked around the desk. “Will you tell your parents?”
“Not right away. Daddy would only try to stop me. But once I’m settled somewhere, I’ll let them know.”
He laid his hand on her shoulder. “Promise me you’ll find a reputable place. And that you’ll let me know you’re all right.”
“I will.”
“Do you think you’ll keep the baby?” he asked softly.
A flash of pain rose in her eyes, and then she shook her head. “I don’t think I’d make a very good mother. My baby deserves a real family. Not one that would forever resent it or consider it a liability, the way my parents would.”
Darius’s throat thickened. He couldn’t imagine anyone thinking of
