The breakfast table was very lively. Ophelia did not know if Charles had always been like this; she would have thought that he was just a stuck-up old man who liked to get rich and play matchmaker; however, that morning he was the one making all the jokes and talking at every chance that he got.
After breakfast, Charles invited them to his study to sit and have tea with him. “I know you are going to work, but there are some days that you have to take it easy,” he said to Ophelia.
She had said that she was going to work when she had gotten there earlier, even though she was not. At lunchtime, they were going to meet her father, and then they said that they were going to spend the rest of the day together. Ophelia had asked countless times what they were going to be doing, but Cade had said it was a secret. She wondered what secret or surprise he had planned and when he had the time to plan it.
Cade had called Harper; he was going to use this opportunity to pass on to her a very firm message that she did not need to hold onto him any more. He wanted her to see how much he loved Ophelia and how the feelings were mutual. He had asked her to rent out an entire restaurant for dinner and told her to make sure there was enough food for two people. Harper had thought he was spreading this for her. Somehow she had deluded herself into thinking that he was finally relating it and was coming to her.
“Having a cup of tea can not hurt anyone,” Ophelia said as they got into the room.
Having Valerie there was a bit awkward for them, but Cade had made up his mind to tell his grandfather what they had come for. “Grandpa” Cade said breaking off the brief silence after they had laughed a one of Charles’s poorly told jokes.
“I knew it; you are here to ask me for something,” Charles said, putting down his cup on the table beside him.
“Ask you? Of course not, grandfather. We are here to give you good news,” she said, rubbing her belly.
Her action caused Valerie and Charles to gasp. Valerie was only able to barely hold herself back from jumping out of her seat so she could sit beside Ophelia. She already had a million and one questions going through her mind.
“You are pregnant?” Charles asked in awe.
“Not yet but remember how you told us that we should make a baby and you would definitely give us the company and we told you that we can not because of situations that we refused to share with you but here is the deal. We thought that staying away from each other and not bringing children into this world was the best thing to do but after spending time thinking about it and falling in love, we truly decided that the best thing to do now is to have children.” Ophelia rambled in one breath with a smile on her face.
“So you came here to inform me that you are ready to have a baby?”
“Of course, we thought that you should be the first to know,” Ophelia said.
“This is good news then,” Charles said, beaming. He had always thought of having great grandchildren, and he was so happy that the person to give him that was Cade. “Very good news,” he said, systematically nodding his head.
“Then I think that one thing we should do is begin the succession plan,” Ophelia said. Cade was going to bring it up, but he only wanted it to be when he was alone with his grandfather.
Charles shifted in his wheelchair and let out a hearty laugh. He was fascinated by the boldness with which she had spoken. He did not expect less from her, but it was so funny how outrightly she had asked for it. “Of course,” he said, his laugh dying down. “A promise is a promise, and being a man of my word, I must keep to it,” he said.
“That means that you would allow him to become the chairman?” she asked.
“Immediately,” he said, taking up his cup and sipping from it. His saying it immediately and not doing anything about it did not sit well with Ophelia. She had expected that by now there would be commands flying everywhere in the room and over the phone. However, she did not want to rush things. Now that Cade’s birth mom was here, it meant that Abigail would be on edge, and judging by all that Cade had said that she said and her reaction that morning, she knew that they had to be on their best defence.
They stayed for a few more hours before they decided to go out. Lunchtime would soon begin, and the roads would be busy again; they did not want to be caught up in traffic. They were having an early lunch with Carter, and Ophelia had stressed going early. She knew her father so well, and tardiness was one of the many things he did not tolerate.
“Ophelia,” Valerie said before they got into their car. She had waited all day for an opportunity to be able to get together with Ophelia alone but it never came. It was as if Charles wanted to keep them by his side. Even as they were on their way out, he asked that they come again soon.
“Me?” Ophelia said, shocked, turning to face her. All morning Valerie had barely said anything and just nodded and gave passive statements. “You want to talk to me?” she added and Valerie nodded. “Oh, okay,” she began moving back to the woman who stood still in position. She had been going with them to their car.
“I want to as that, I am sorry,” Valerie said.
“To me? You should not be apologizing to me,” she said, turning and pointing to Cade, who stood a few feet from them. “You should apologize to him,” she added and he nodded.
“I have done that but I want you to know that I did not come back to Cade’s life to make it difficult for him and neither did I come because of money. I came so I can finally be reunited with my son,” she said and Ophelia nodded.
“Do you want me to praise you for finally acknowledging your child? Do you want a medal or a trophy?” Ophelia asked. She was trying her best to understand the woman, even though it practically made no sense to her.
“None of the above. I just wish that we can also have a good relationship as we are one of the key people in Cade’s life.”
“That makes sense,” Ophelia nodded.
“Also, I would not like to be left out of my grandchild’s life as well,” she added.
“I do not intend to leave you out of his life and sorry as well. Sorry, I was so harsh on you at the station. I just did not want you to come around and hurt Cade; that was why I said that,” she explained.
“I can see that you really love my son,” Valerie said, holding her shoulders. “I am glad.”