she’s planning on using them in court.”
“Blackmail?”
“It’s a possibility. He’s leaning more towards her getting money from the tabloid shows on television for them.”
“Wow, this woman needs a hobby.”
He laughed, sadly. “Yes, she does. It seems that lately her hobby is making us miserable. I’m not going to let her keep doing this to us. I’m going to find a way to stop her.”
“Who is it you’re going to stop from doing what?” I looked up and there was a middle-aged man standing in the doorway. His hair was full and platinum, his face was tanned and he had Alex and my son’s hazel eyes. My assumption was that I was looking at my son’s grandfather, which Alex soon confirmed.
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
His father raised an eyebrow and said, “Is that any way to greet your father? Is that my grandson?”
“I’m sorry Dad, I wasn’t expecting you. Yes, this is Michael.” He held our son out and his father looked him over. Then he looked at me and I stood up. “This is Victoria, Dad.”
“Hello Mr. Reigns.”
“Victoria, it’s nice to finally meet you.” He looked back at the baby then and said, “And Michael, it’s a pleasure.”
Alex’s lips twitched as he said, “Would you like to hold him?”
His dad looked up at him and smiled. “I’d love to hold him. Let me sit down though, it’s been a while, I don’t want to drop him.”
Alex looked at me and smiled. Mr. Reigns sat down and Alex handed Michael to him. Michael must have sensed that his father was no longer holding him. He blinked open his little eyes and looked at his grandfather.
“Well hello there, little Prince.” Michael stared up at his grandfather and the older man stared back down into the baby’s eyes. It was a precious moment and if I’d known him better, I would have taken a photo of them.
Alex let him soak in his grandson for a few minutes and then he asked again, “What are you doing here, Dad? Is Mom here too?”
He looked up from the baby reluctantly and said, “I had business in town. Your mother will be joining me on Saturday. She is anxious to meet this little man too.” He beamed down at Michael again with pride in his eyes. Alex looked both amused and surprised by the effect our son was having on his father.
“Oh, that’s… great Dad. Where are you staying?”
“They should stay here,” I said. Alex gave me an incredulous look but his father looked up at me and smiled.
“We would love that Victoria, thank you. I don’t know if Alex told you but our home here is undergoing some major renovations.”
He hadn’t told me, but asking them to stay seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I could tell by the look on Alex’s face that he didn’t agree. But, with a forced smile he said, “Of course you can stay here, I just wasn’t sure if you’d already made other plans.”
“Nope, no plans.” The older man was staring at the baby again. I knew Alex didn’t have the best relationship with his father, but it was so cute to watch him with the baby. He rocked back and forth gently in the chair and made faces at Michael as he did.
“Lunch is ready sir,” Karen said, suddenly appearing in the doorway.
“Thank you, Karen. Dad, have you had lunch?”
“No, and I’m famished,” the older Reigns said.
“Here, I’ll take Michael and put him in his crib,” Alex told him.
Mr. Reigns reluctantly relinquished him. Alex looked at me and said, “If you don’t mind taking my father in for dinner, I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“Of course. Mr. Reigns, shall we?”
“Please Victoria, call me James.”
I didn’t think I could do that. I just smiled and he and I went out to the dining room together. The maids were serving the soup and we both took our places at the table. After Esther, one of the kitchen girls that Karen had recently