This was a better welcome than she'd expected. She hadn't really spoken to his staff. She went inside the front door and asked, "Where is Peter?"
The maid swung her hips as she walked. "With his mother near the bay. Come with me. I'll bring you to him."
She saw how her work dress made her seem like the hired help as she followed the maid. No one stopped her until they crossed the threshold to the outside, and Jennifer left Rafe's arm.
The maid tapped her foot as Jennifer brushed against Belle's arm. Then Jennifer said, "I wanted to say I am sorry."
With a nod, Belle checked out of the conversation for a moment. She tried to find Peter in the throngs of people. She pressed her lips together and then glanced at Jennifer. "For what?"
Jennifer looked at Rafe and nodded her head. "For trying to sabotage you. I've promised I'll try to be nicer to people from now on."
Belle pulled her arm out of reach and took a step toward the bay. "Good luck with that."
The maid continued to lead her closer to the yacht. “For the record, I like you better.”
“Thanks.” Belle's heart beat in her chest fast and goose bumps grew on her arm. Peter was closer. She licked her lips and searched the crowd for him.
Then her gaze saw Peter, and euphoria was the best word to describe how she felt. The moment he turned and saw her, he left who he was with and met her halfway. The maid excused herself as Peter leaned forward.
Her lips tingled for that kiss again, but she placed her hands on his shoulders and said, "I love you. I quit my job because I want to see where we stand."
He wrapped his arms around her waist. She was home as he said, "Then you'll marry me and stay by my side always. I love you and need you in my life."
Her lips parted. The world seemed to snap into place as she asked, "What? You want to marry me?"
He nodded his head like he would agree with anything. "Yes, if you'll have me."
She was hyperaware only of their hearts and how she felt with him. This was it. She gave him her heart.
"Of course I will. I love you."
Chapter Twenty Seven
His mother tapped him on the shoulder. He reluctantly let go of Belle's waist and then turned to his mother who said, "Peter, sorry to interrupt."
His heart was light. She had said yes. He then nodded and said, "Mom, I'd like for you to meet Belle Jordan. We're getting married."
"Nice to see you again, and we're all happy you came back." She immediately hugged both of them. Peter couldn't let Belle go yet. "I'm so happy for you."
Belle patted his mother's back and then added, "Thank you. I can't wait to tell my dad when he gets back in town."
His mother pulled away, and her face was solemn and serious as she said, "Peter, I need to tell you something."
If she didn't want him to marry Belle, then he had no idea what to say. His shoulders tensed. "What mom?"
She glanced around the party and stared at some blue-eyed very pregnant woman he didn't know, but reminded him of his sister, Victoria. He widened his stance as she said, "We have to get your brother and sister and go somewhere. This is something I should have said right away."
Belle took his hand and squeezed it as she picked up her phone to check her home screen.
Peter nodded and said, "Of course."
Belle peaked at her messages and then glanced at him. "I texted John and Colt. They are getting their wives and will meet us in your study, Peter."
He offered his mother his other arm to guide them through the party as he said, "My future wife is efficient. This way, Mom."
She rocked on her feet. He held her to steady as she asked, "You use your father's study?"
Peter didn't want his mother to worry. He nodded his head. "It's mine now. I had it redecorated, and I'm hoping Belle will help me make it more personable."
Belle shrugged her shoulders. "Okay."
His mother passed the young mother-to-be and squeezed her hand as they passed. Once they were away from the woman, Peter asked, "Who was that?"
His mother turned white. "Who was who, dear?"
Peter pointed with his head as he had both women on each arm. "The woman in the hall. You just squeezed her hand."
She lowered her head and didn't look at him. "This is part of what I need to explain."
His mother didn't say anything. Once they entered the study, Belle took a seat and waited with his mother. Peter stood as his brother, his wife Alice, and Victoria and her new husband, Colt, all came into the room. The two couples both found seats. The same seats they once chose as teenagers, only this time his siblings all had spouses.
He sat with Belle and then leaned closer to his mother. "Mom, we're all here. What's so important?"
She flicked her gray hair behind her head and stared at the ceiling. "I was pregnant when your father kidnapped me."
The young woman must be his sister. "What?"
"It was one of the reasons I wanted a divorce."
"So that woman in the hall?" Peter's gaze flew to the floor.
Vicki sat closer at the edge of her seat and asked, "What else did our father do?"
His mom then looked into his eyes, like she was afraid of his reaction, as she said, "I was grieving for the loss of my children, but then I had three more, all at once. I don't think your father knew how to explain everything away."
Peter raised his eyebrow and stared at his mother. Clearly the woman outside was one of three. "What? Just say everything, and let us sort out the details."
Her face squished together as if he had physically touched her. Peter's skin crawled as if he had hurt his mom as she said, "Your father and I had the triplets. I raised them until they were six, and then your father sent them away too."
Belle squeezed Peter's hand. "What? There are more Morgans?"
Peter shook his head. "Dad's lawyer said various people would receive inheritances. I thought he meant illegitimate, though the numbers add up to be perhaps the triplets and a few more."
Vicki then wiped her face. "Peter, this isn't about the money."
"This isn't about that, sis." He’d sat through enough sales pitches to know there was something else. He leaned closer in his seat to not scare her again. "I am trying to calculate how many siblings we might have out in the world."
She closed her eyes as if she didn't want to see him. Peter's heart ached like it was a rejection, though he held Belle's warm hand as his mother said, "Out of the triplets, Luke is the oldest. He's a doctor. He took care of me in the hospital, but couldn’t come tonight. With luck he’ll get a job in Miami and I’ll see him more. Then there are Elizabeth and Matthew."
"The woman outside the door?"
"Yes, that's Elizabeth. She's having a hard time adjusting to being a Morgan."
"She doesn't have to adjust to anything."
"She and her brothers thought I was sick, and that's why they were sent away, but they don't want anything from any of you. I wanted to let you know that you have more family."
Victoria massaged her mother's back. "Elizabeth looks like John and me."