Legal Attraction Read online

  Marissa felt some of the tension in her body melt away.

  Griffin’s parents were very sweet and they went out of their way to make sure that she was comfortable. They pulled out photo albums to show Marissa pictures of Griffin as a baby.

  By the time they left, around noon, she knew she’d love being part of the Jackson family.

  “I thought that went well,” she told Griffin during the drive back to Mt. Airy. “Your parents were very sweet, although they did not hide their shock well.”

  He laughed. “I already know my mother is going to wear my ear out next week for not preparing her for the news.”

  “I hope it isn’t too bad,” she said. “But first, we have to get through telling my parents. I just hope they take it as well as your parents did.”

  Griffin dropped her off at Integrity.

  Marissa went inside to speak to her mother, and then she was on her way again—this time to the hair salon.

  She returned home three hours later, with her hair pinned up and her nails freshly painted for the charity ball later on that night.

  Her mother was on the phone with the hotel going over some last-minute details.

  Marissa waved at her and then quietly made her way upstairs to her bedroom.

  Jillian stopped by her bedroom. “I wanted to see what Liz did with your hair.”

  Marissa turned around slowly. “What do you think?”

  “You look beautiful,” Jillian complimented. “Pregnancy agrees with you,” she added in a low voice.

  “Thank you,” Marissa said. “We told Griff’s parents this morning.”

  “How did it go?”

  “They were shocked, of course, but they congratulated us and they were really nice.”

  “When are you and Griff telling our parents?” Jillian asked. “You’ve gotten bigger.”

  “We’re going to tell them tomorrow,” Marissa announced. “We can’t wait any longer. I just want to get through this charity ball. After tonight, there won’t be any more secrets.”

  * * *

  The Hearts and Hands Charity Ball was always a huge affair, with proceeds benefiting the Tuck Me In Foundation, and attended by many of the Who’s Who in Philadelphia. Several celebrities had also traveled to attend the event. The media were also well represented.

  Jeanette looked stunning in her silver-sequined gown. She moved gracefully around the room, pausing here and there to acknowledge the attendees.

  Jeanette and her committee had planned an evening where guests could enjoy a sit-down dinner, silent auction, raffles and dancing. A local band provided music for dancing, while an orchestra provided background music during dinner.

  Marissa spotted her mother and walked over to where she was standing. “Mother, everything looks beautiful.”

  Jeanette smiled. “Thanks, dear.”

  Frank Hamilton and his wife, Vanessa, made their grand entrance. Marissa noted how exquisite her aunt looked in one of her own designs. The pewter-colored Grecian-style gown complemented her copper-colored skin tone and her dark hair, which flowed to her shoulders.

  They glanced in Marissa’s and Jeanette’s direction but did not join them.

  Marissa was glad because the two women had always merely tolerated each other. She also noted that her mother did not quite meet Frank’s gaze.

  “Is there anything I can do to help you?” she asked Jeanette.

  Her mother shook her head. “I think we have everything under control. You go and join Griffin. You two have a good time tonight.”

  Marissa and Griffin avoided her uncle and aunt as they made their rounds. They paused briefly to talk to her brother Marcus and his date.

  “Do you know if Harper is planning to come tonight?” he asked Marissa.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I haven’t talked to him in a while.”

  “I talked to him about a week ago,” Marcus said, “but I forgot to ask him about the ball. I wish I knew what was really going on with him.”

  “Harper has always wanted his own law office,” Jake said, joining them. “He has never really wanted to work in the family firm. He did it to please his father.”

  Marissa and Griffin excused themselves and continued to work the room. The firm was a major sponsor of the annual event hosted by Jeanette.

  “Let’s check out the items up for auction,” Griffin suggested.

  There were Park Hopper passes to Disneyland, tickets to sporting events with prime seating, artwork and gift certificates to five-star hotels and spas. As Marissa looked through the prizes, Griffin pulled her close.

  “Have I told you how beautiful you look in that gown?” he asked in a loud whisper.

  Marissa looked up at him. “No, it must have slipped your mind.”

  “You look exquisite.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured. “You look quite handsome yourself.”

  He leaned down and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

  “Enough of that,” Jillian said, coming up beside them.

  “I love that gown on you,” Marissa told her sister. “Red is definitely your color.”

  Marissa had chosen to wear a cream-colored ball gown with red accents. The full skirt helped to camouflage her pregnancy, although Marissa worried that if someone looked hard enough, her secret would be exposed.

  She caught Vanessa staring in their direction.

  “Aunt Vanessa is watching us,” she told Jillian and Griff. “Do you think she blames us for Harper’s leaving the firm?”

  “Why would she?” Jillian wanted to know. “Harper is a grown man. He is free to make his own choices.”

  “But you know how she can be at times,” Marissa said. “Whenever something went wrong, she always blamed us. Her children could do no wrong.”

  Jillian agreed. “Well, she can’t blame us for this.”

  Marissa nodded. Her sister had no idea just how right she was.

  They navigated to their assigned tables in preparation for the dinner.

  Griffin and Marissa were seated at the same table as her parents along with Jillian and her date for the evening. At the next table, Frank and Vanessa were seated with sons Shawn and Nelson along with their dates. There were two empty chairs for Harper and Azure, if they showed up.

  Marissa could not wait for this night to end. All she wanted to do was go back to Griffin’s apartment and relax in his arms. She did not want to think about anything other than her future with the man at her side.

  After they had eaten, Jacob escorted Marissa to the dance floor.

  As they danced, her eyes grew bright with unshed tears. Marissa loved Jacob dearly and it broke her heart to consider that he was not her biological father.

  “Honey, why do you look so sad?” Jacob asked. “Things look like they are going well with Griff.”

  “Griff and I are fine, Daddy.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “I was thinking of all the father-daughter dances you have taken me to. I was always so proud and loved showing you off. You were the most handsome and brilliant of all the fathers there.”

  Jacob laughed. “I’m sure all of the little girls felt the same way about their fathers.”

  “But in my case, it was absolutely true.”

  “My baby girl, I want you to know that I am very proud of all you have accomplished. I have to confess that I never thought you would follow the rest of the family into law, but you did, and it suits you.”

  “I have always wanted to make you proud of me, Daddy.”

  “You have,” Jacob confirmed.

  “Daddy, how do you really feel about Griff and me being involved?” Marissa inquired.

  “I like Griff,” he said. “I can see that he makes you happy.”

 
“He does.”

  The music stopped and Jacob was about to escort Marissa back to her seat. Suddenly she knew what she had to do. She stopped in her tracks, saying, “Daddy, I have to tell you something.”

  Chapter 22

  “What is it, Marissa?”

  She glanced over at her mother and then back at her father. She couldn’t do it. “I just wanted to tell you how much I love you, Daddy. I feel very lucky to have you in my life.”

  Her father gave her a hug. “Baby girl, I love you, too.”

  Marissa returned to her seat.

  “You okay?” Griffin asked in a low whisper.

  “I almost told him about the affair.”

  “What stopped you?” Griffin asked.

  “My love for him,” Marissa answered. “I love him too much to destroy him like that. This secret is going to die with me, Griff. I am going to do whatever is in my power to make sure Daddy never finds out the truth.”

  “What about your mother?”

  Marissa’s eyes traveled the ballroom in search of Jeanette. She found her mother standing near the stage surrounded by the media.

  “It will take time, but hopefully, I will be able to forgive her one day.”

  Griffin covered her hand with his own. “We have so much to look forward to, sweetheart.”

  Marissa smiled and nodded. “Yes, we do.”

  “Jacob is your father and nothing will ever change that,” Griffin said. “Biology has nothing to do with it.”

  “I know what you’re saying, Griff. Jacob has been my father in every way that matters.”

  Griffin leaned closer to her and whispered, “Do you know if Frank knows you are his daughter?”

  “I don’t think so,” she said.

  Marissa stole a peek over at the next table. She met her aunt’s gaze and gave a tiny smile, which Vanessa did not return. “Harper did not mention it to him and Uncle Frank did not bring it up.”

  She could still feel her aunt’s eyes on her, making her uncomfortable.

  What’s going on with Aunt Vanessa? she wondered.

  * * *

  Jeanette spent most of the evening on her feet, greeting guests and granting interviews. Marissa and the rest of her family joined her for a series of pictures that would be featured in the society section of the newspaper.

  They looked like the perfect family.

  They were anything but, Marissa silently acknowledged.

  Marissa felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she returned to her seat. She glanced around.

  Vanessa boldly surveyed her from head to toe. Holding her head in a haughty manner, she met Marissa’s gaze and smiled. The look was not one of warmth.

  Did she know about the affair? Marissa wondered.

  No, she couldn’t know. Harper would never have told his mother about the affair.

  Marissa’s attention shifted back to her mother. It was almost time for her to acknowledge the sponsors.

  Jacob escorted his wife to the stage.

  He attempted to leave, but Jeanette grabbed his hand and gazed lovingly at him.

  With Jacob at her side, Jeanette began her acknowledgment. “This year’s event has been another successful campaign, thanks to the generosity of our donors,” she began. “We raised more than two million dollars this year.”

  Applause thundered throughout the room.

  Marissa smiled. Her mother’s work had paid off.

  As happy as she was for her mother, she felt the need to get out of that ballroom and get some fresh air.

  “Do you mind if we go outside for a few minutes?” she asked Griffin.

  He rose to his feet and together, they left the ballroom. They stood outside on a paved patio aglow with delicate white lights.

  “Your mother certainly looks in her element,” he said.

  “Yes, she does,” Marissa agreed.

  “I never knew that this kind of life existed outside of television when I was growing up,” Griffin confessed. “I definitely never thought I would be attending something like this. I didn’t know it was possible until I met Albert.”

  “Is that why you’re so focused on being successful?” Marissa asked.

  Griffin nodded. “I grew up with my father working two jobs. He was never able to attend any of my games. My mother worked and in the evenings, she would help my grandmother with her sewing. She worked in alterations for a dry cleaner.”

  “I guess you think I’m just a spoiled little rich girl.”

  “I did when I first met you,” Griffin confessed. “I thought the same about your brothers and sister. I felt the same way about your cousins. Even most of the people I went to college with. I had no one to pay my way—I went to college on a basketball scholarship and worked to win more.”

  Marissa smiled. “Your determination certainly paid off.”

  “It did,” Griffin agreed.

  She turned to face him. “You have never shared this part of your life with me.”

  “I guess I wanted to tell you that I was wrong about my initial impression of you. Marissa, you have worked just as hard as I have. I know how much you want to prove yourself to your father.” Griffin took her hand in his. “Sweetheart, your father is so proud of you. You don’t have to try so hard.”

  “I guess you think I need to just relax.”

  Griffin smiled. “Yes. Honey, you are a great attorney. Just believe in yourself.”

  He kissed her. “Are you ready to go back inside?”

  Marissa nodded.

  “I’m going to get a drink,” Griffin announced when they returned to the ballroom. “Would you like something?”

  “A Sprite,” she said. “Thanks.”

  Jeanette was the only one at the table when she resumed her seat. Her mother was staring at her, prompting Marissa to ask, “Is something wrong?”

  “You have really put on weight.”

  “Mother, you’ve always told me that I needed to gain because I looked too skinny.”

  Jeanette’s eyes traveled from her face downward. She took a closer look and uttered, “Oh my God. You’re pregnant!”

  Chapter 23

  “Please keep your voice down, Mother,” Marissa hissed.

  “What in the world were you thinking?” Jeanette demanded. She waved her hand back and forth, fanning. “You have your whole future to think about, but clearly you weren’t thinking at all.”

  “How dare you!” Marissa uttered. She couldn’t hide her anger at the way her mother was talking to her. She was not some teenage girl in high school.

  “I suppose Griff is the father.”

  She could tell that Jeanette was clearly not pleased about the baby. “Of course he is the father of my child. I don’t sleep around, Mother.”

  “How far along are you?”

  “I’m twenty-two weeks.”

  Jeanette shook her head. “I don’t understand, Marissa. How could you let this happen?”

  Marissa felt under attack. She searched for Griffin but found him across the room, engaged in a conversation with her father.

  “You do realize how this is going to look to everyone,” Jeanette was saying. “I get it now. The only reason you told us about Griffin was that you were pregnant.”

  “My relationship with Griff was really not anybody’s business.”

  “I am your mother,” Jeanette stated. “How could you keep something like this from me, of all people?” She shook her head. “I’ve really had enough of your secrets, Marissa. This is just scandalous, not only for us but for the law firm.”

  “Oh, you’re one to talk, Mother,” she snapped in response. “What about your secrets?”

  Jeanette sent her a sharp look. “I don’t
know what you’re talking about, Marissa. I have no secrets. That was always your department.”

  “Really?” Marissa said smoothly. “Then what about you and Uncle Frank?”

  Jeanette gasped in surprise.

  “Griff and I are both single and we love each other,” Marissa pointed out. “But you…you were married and you had an affair with your husband’s brother. Tell me something, Mother. How could you do that to Daddy? How could you do that to me?”

  “Nooo…” Jeanette moaned.

  Marissa rose to her feet and walked briskly away from the table.

  She swallowed hard, fighting back tears.

  Throwing a tantrum would not help her now. She just needed to find someplace private so that she could compose herself.

  Her mother had some nerve judging her.

  * * *

  Griffin spied Marissa rushing out of the ballroom. He ended his conversation with Jacob and followed her.

  He found her in the hallway standing near one of the windows, staring out.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” he asked.

  She turned to face him and Griffin could see that Marissa had been crying. “Did something happen between you and your mother?”

  “She knows about the baby,” Marissa said. “She had the nerve to talk to me about what this would do to our family.”

  Griffin wrapped an arm around her. “Your mother is just upset right now—probably because she found out about the baby before you had a chance to tell her.”

  “You should have seen the way she looked at me, Griff. She acted like I had committed a horrible wrong to this family.”

  “It’s the shock talking.”

  “I don’t care,” Marissa uttered. “Mother had no right to speak to me that way. I am a grown woman—not some kid in high school.” She released a short sigh. “I just want to get out of here. Can we go to your apartment?”

  Griffin nodded. “We will go anywhere you want to go, sweetheart.”

  Just as they were about to walk through the nearest exit, Jeanette called out Marissa’s name.

  She turned around slowly. “This is not the time or place for this discussion, Mother.”

  “Marissa, we need to talk about this.” Jeanette glanced over at Griffin. “Alone.”