He Chose His First Love. I Own His Empire. novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Sunday Cake

I baked a brown butter apple cake for Odile's table, because it was Sunday and I had not forgotten her.

I carried it up the lake house steps myself, with my bandaged hand tucked against my side.

Benton opened the door.

"Rule four," he said, very low. "Somebody has to open the door."

"That isn't a rule."

"It is now."

I walked past him, and I had the strangest wish to laugh.

The dining room was lit with candles.

Odile sat at the head of the table in her wheelchair, with her shawl and her cane across her knees.

Adaline sat at her right, in pearls, and Dalton and Camille sat across from them with their chairs close together.

Six places were set.

Nobody else had been invited, and nobody had to say why.

Camille wore the emerald, and she wore a soft blue dress, and she rose when I came in.

"Hallie, I'm so glad," she said. "I told Dalton you'd come."

I set the cake on the sideboard and took the seat next to Benton.

We ate roast chicken, and nobody said anything that mattered.

Adaline asked about the weather.

Odile asked for the salt.

When the plates were cleared and the cake was cut, Dalton pushed back his chair and stood.

"I'd like to say something," he said.

"I thought you might," Odile said, and folded her hands.

He looked around the table with his eyes soft and wet.

"I've been a fool," he said. "Friday night was the worst thing I've ever done. I let my feelings run ahead of my responsibilities, and I hurt the woman who is carrying my child."

Camille wiped her eye.

"I'm asking Hallie to come home," he said. "Not as a punishment to anyone. We can find a way to be a family. Camille has agreed to help, and she'll be a friend, even a sister. We'll make a place for everyone."

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