Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

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Grayson had just settled onto the couch when a knock sounded at the door. A flicker of confusion crossed his face. ‘Did Eloise forget her keys?’

He opened the door, expecting to see her, but instead found a stranger standing in the hallway. His expression instantly cooled.

Bobby, for his part, was equally taken aback. ‘Am I at the wrong apartment? Since when did Eloise have a man answering her

door?’

He glanced up at the unit number. ‘No, this is the right place!

His gaze returned to the man before him. Grayson was strikingly handsome, with an air of quiet authority that seemed almost second nature. ‘Eloise’s boyfriend?’ Bobby wondered.

The two men sized each other up in a moment of heavy silence. Bobby was the first to speak. “Hello,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “I’m Eloise’s brother.”

‘Her brother?’ The tension visibly drained from Grayson’s posture. His initial, icy assumption that this was some other man from Eloise’s life causing trouble dissolved.

He stepped aside, his demeanor shifting to one of polite welcome. “Please, come in.”

Grayson seemed quite familiar with the place, and that only solidified Bobby’s theory about his relationship with Eloise.

Bobby entered and took a seat on the sofa. His eyes did a quick, discreet sweep of the living room. “Do you live here?”

“No,” Grayson replied simply, resuming his own seat.

Bobby felt a wave of relief. ‘Good, they aren’t living together. “You’re Eloise’s boyfriend, then?”

Grayson paused, a faint, unreadable emotion in his eyes. “Not ye. I’m pursuing her.”

Now it was Bobby’s turn to be surprised. “This man is clearly exceptional, successful, self-assured, the kind who commanded a room without trying. And he is courting Eloise?’

A complex mix of protectiveness and hope stirred within Bobby Eloise has carried so much alone, raising a child. She deserves someone good.

His thoughts turned to his nephew Noah. He glanced around. “Where’s Noah?”

“Bathroom,” Grayson said, a hint of amusement in his voice. The boy had let him in and promptly disappeared.

An awkward silence settled between the two men, filled only by the faint hum of the refrigerator.

Bobby broke it, adopting a more conversational tone. “I’m Bobby Ellsworth. And you are?”

“Grayson Pierce Grayson’s response was prompt, but then his bow furrowed slightly. “If you’re her brother, why the different surname?”

Bobby understood the unspoken question “We’re half-siblings me mother, different fathers”

Grayson’s next question came swiftly, his gaze sharpening “The why doesn’t Noah have your surname?” He knew the boys full name was Noah Caldwell

Bobby was momentarily confused. But the gears in his mind turned quickly Why would he ask that? Why should Noah have my name?

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Chapter 36

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The likely answer dawned on him: Eloise hadn’t told this man the truth. She must have said Noah was Bobby’s son. She was hiding her child, probably afraid it would scare off a potential partner.

Bobby didn’t agree with the deception, but family loyalty kicked in. He’d play along for now.

He offered a practiced, slightly rueful smile. “Our mother’s maiden name is Caldwell. She raised Noah practically from birth, and she was very insistent he carry her name.”

Grayson’s frown deepened, skepticism clear in his eyes.

Bobby knew the explanation was thin, but it was the best he had

Grayson, however, seemed to be piecing together a different puzzle, one about Eloise’s past. ‘So she uses her mother’s name.’

The pieces from five years ago began to fit together with a painful click. Eloise had spoken of a mother and an older brother, but her father was a conspicuous, never-mentioned absence.

Her phone never rang with family calls, at least not in Grayson’s presence. Throughout their entire time together, she had never gone “home,” not even for the holidays, choosing instead the quiet of their shared rental.

That particular Thanksgiving, Grayson returned to Ekloland for brief family obligation, only to come back and find she had spent the entire holiday utterly alone.

The image of her in their empty apartment had haunted him, a sharp pang of regret that he hadn’t stayed.

Grayson had sensed then, with a certainty that ached, that her family ties were frayed or broken. But he hadn’t pushed. He, after all, had been living a far greater deception about his own identity and family.

Probing her wounds might have led her to turn the questions back on him, and he hadn’t been ready for that.

The creak of a door hinge pulled him back to the present. Noah emerged from the hallway, coming to an abrupt halt when he saw the stranger sharing the living room with Grayson.

Noah’s eyes, wide and uncertain, sought Grayson, and he instinctively moved to stand closer to him.

Bobby’s expression softened into a warm, inviting smile. “Noah, he called, his voice gentle. “Come here.

Noah didn’t move. He simply stared, his small face a mask of quiet wariness.

Bobby understood that the boy didn’t recognize him. And with Crayson as an audience, he couldn’t explain who he really

was.

It was Grayson who seamlessly bridged the gap. He placed a reassuring hand on Noah’s shoulder. “What’s the matter. buddy?” he asked, his tone light. “Don’t you remember your own dad?”

Noah’s head whipped up his eyes darting in alarm from Grayson to Bobby and back. ‘Dad? This man is my uncle.

Noah caught himself just in time, schooling his small face into careful neutrality.

Bobby’s chuckle held a note of strain, covering the near-miss Chess it’s been too long. He’s gone shy on me.” He extended hand again “Come on, son”

‘My uncle is now Dad. Noah complied, walking slowly over to Bobby, who drew him into a somewhat stiff hug

The last time Bobby had held him. Noah was a wobbly toddler his wedding. Now, he was all long limbs and quiet observation. The passage of time felt suddenly, profoundly angle.

Watching the awkward interaction, a wave of disapproval mixed with concern, rose in Grayson. His aunt works incredibly hard, and she’s doing it all alone. It’s a heavy load for one person A chuld should be with his parents.”

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Chapter 36

He fixed Bobby with a direct look. “Is that why you’re here? To take him back?”

Bobby and Noah froze.

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It wasn’t that Grayson saw Noah as a burden. He simply held a deep-seated belief that a child belonged with his mother and father.

Grayson wondered, ‘Even though this man is Eloise’s brother, he and his wife are profoundly irresponsible.

How could they abandon their child to be raised single-handedly by an aunt? Going months without a visit? I’ve never heard him or his wife call to speak to Noah. What kind of parents are they, really?’

Bobby was momentarily speechless, caught in the absurdity of being thrust into the role of a neglectful father and then sternly lectured on parental duty.

A wave of bitter amusement washed over him. But he had to play along for Eloise’s sake.

“I… wish it were that simple,” he began, choosing his words with care. “My current situation is complicated. It wouldn’t be stable for him. I’m afraid I’ll have to rely on Eloise’s generosity for a while longer.”

At that exact moment, the distinctive scrape of a key in the front door lock cut through the conversation.

Just then, the lock turned and the door opened. Eloise walked in grocery bags in hand. She froze when she saw Grayson. The bag in her hand dropped to the floor with a thud.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice sharp with alarm.

Grayson moved to pick up the groceries. “I was just leaving,” he said calmly, nodding toward the living room. “Your brother is here.”

The normalcy in his tone told her the secret was still safe.

‘So Grayson hasn’t found out. If he did, he couldn’t possibly have been so calm. Relief washed over her. Eloise nodded stiffly and saw him out.

Closing the door, she turned to face Bobby. “Bobby…” she began.

He stood up and put Noah down, his expression stern. “Eloise, what were you thinking? Telling him Noah is my child? You didn’t warn me at all. That was really awkward. I had to think fast and make up a story about it.”

“I’m sorry,” Eloise said, guilt flooding her. “It was a panicked lie. I got out of hand.”

“You can’t build a relationship on a lie this big,” Bobby said, his tone softening with concern. “He’ll find out. If you want a future with him, you need to be honest.

“And if he can’t accept you and your son together, then he’s not worth it.”

Eloise looked down, her throat tight. Bobby didn’t know Grayson was the father. He didn’t know the whole story.

However, explaining it felt impossible. She rarely talked to Bobby anyway.

“I know,” she said finally ‘Til handle it. I’ll find the right time to tell him. Don’t worry about me”

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