Restoration & Forgiveness (Renovate Book 2) (6 page)

"If you want to find out what's in here, you have to go somewhere with me, and before you say anything, it's not even eight yet, and visiting hours at the hospital don't begin until nine. I promise it's close and you'll like it."

Has he completely forgotten our rules? Keegan is always going to do whatever he wants, and I blame his parents for letting him get his way as a child.

"What makes you think I want to go anywhere with you?"

"You want to go even if you think you don't, because you are going crazy wanting to know what's in here." He lifts the bag, teasing me. He's good, and for a moment I think about walking out of here and going straight to the hospital. What are they going to do, kick me out? But I'm hungry, and I think there might be something yummy in there. My decision is made for me as my stomach growls like a lion. Stupid hunger.

Keegan lifts one eyebrow as he hears the sounds coming from my traitorous stomach.

"Fine, but only because I don't want my stomach to start eating itself."

"Obviously." He grins and holds his hand out for the key to the car.

Huffing loudly, I reach into my pocket, pull out the key, and drop it slowly into his hand.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?"

I roll my eyes. How is it no matter how hard I try, he always seems to get his way?

Keegan opens the passenger door for me and without making eye contact with him I slide into the seat. He gets in on the driver side and places the white paper bag behind his seat.

"Don't even think of touching that bag," he warns.

I turn my head, holding in a smile as I place my cheek against the cool glass of the window. I don't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how he just affected me.

"I guess it would be a waste asking you where you are taking me. I'd like to text Reese, in case you decide to kidnap me."

He lets out a deep laugh that sends goose bumps right up my spine. It's the kind of laugh that should be trademarked as Keegan's alone. It's all commanding and controlling, like he has it all figured out. That laugh is my answer, a big fat hell no.

I watch as we drive through town. It's the opposite of New York City, small, quiet, and serene. Not much ever happens here, which is surprising, being a college town. I could have stayed and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, or even gone to school in Pittsburgh, but I wanted to go to school where my mom did. There was no other school for me; I didn't even apply anywhere else.

Being here feels safe as I reminisce about the happy childhood I had here. Even with Keegan here, it's like I'm cocooned in a safety blanket.

The car turns down a gravel road, and I remember when I was growing up that this property was an old abandoned farm. I'm curious what could possibly be here that I would like.

When Keegan pulls the car to a stop in front of an ancient run-down barn, I'm nervous. This looks like the start to a horror flick, and I don't want to be the chick that gets axed.

I look around. I can't see anything else, but there's only a tiny house with graying wood. The roof is hanging over its porch and I'm positive no one lives inside.

Keegan opens my door, startling me. I look at him, not moving, and he waves that white bag in front of my face, taunting me, as if offering a dog a bone so it will listen to a command.

Call me Fido, because I grab the hand he offers and get out of the car. He runs into that scary-looking barn and I hope there isn't some guy with a chain saw in there. After a few minutes, Keegan comes out holding a blanket. Thankfully no ax murderer, but I'm not convinced one isn't hiding in the trees.

"Come on, it's over here."

"Umm…what's over there? What's going on?" I ask defensively.

"Seriously, Aimee, why are you freaking out?"

I admit I've watched a few too many scary movies. I blame Reese for her addiction to all things gory. Who watches
The Devil's Rejects
five times in a row? My best friend, that's who. Why couldn't I have found a best friend who shares my love of everything Jamie Fraser?

"Well, you're not telling me why you've brought me here, and you bribed me with whatever is in that bag. If you want me to go any further, you're going to have to give up the goods," I say.

He walks back over and places the blanket on the hood of the car.

"Close your eyes, and no peeking. You can use that cute little nose of yours to smell what's inside."

"Keegan, you have got to be off your rocker, and maybe all this fresh air is messing with your head. I'm not sniffing what's in that bag." I feel like we are fourteen again and have fallen into our old camaraderie. He looks at me with determination and he isn't budging, so I do what Aimee does best and give in to Keegan James.

He knows he's won. "Close them," he commands.

I close my eyes, and all I hear is the wind blowing through the trees. I feel Keegan's body heat as he steps closer to me. He leans in and whispers, "Sniff."

The way he says it is all raspy and breathy, and as usual my body and my head are not on the same page. I seriously need to have a conversation with them about this.

I do as I'm told, and I smell sugary goodness that leaves me salivating. I chalk it up to hunger and not the way he is making my insides feel. Way too soon he pulls the bag away, and I suddenly want to pummel him, grab the bag, and run. He's really testing me, and one thing I don't mess around with is food. I've always had a strange addiction to it, and he knows exactly what he's doing. I want to be angry, but my stupid brain is telling me that if I don't have what's in that bag I might explode.

I follow him past the barn, and through a field of tall grass. The air smells of sawdust mixed with damp leaves. I'm not sure how far we walk, but Keegan stops and I crash into his back.

"Just trust me and close your eyes for me one more time?" he asks.

I let out an irritated huff and do as I'm told.

"Promise me you won't peek, okay?"

I nod. Normally I'd peek, but I'm afraid if I do I won't get my sugary treat. Grabbing my hand, he leads me down a steep hill, the kind where the closer you get to the bottom the faster your legs go. I'm sure I would fall if Keegan weren't holding my hand so tightly. Once at the bottom, my feet hit hard smooth concrete. We walk a little ways and I'm lowered down a step, and hit soft grass.

"Just a few more steps, and we'll be there."

My curiosity is killing me, and I honestly have no idea why he's dragged me here.

We stop and Keegan lets go of my hand. I notice my palm has become sweaty and my nerves must show.

After a moment he pulls me down, onto what I assume is the blanket he grabbed from the barn, because there is soft fabric beneath me.

"Okay, you can open them now."

So I do, and I forget about that stupid white bag, because I'm staring at something magnificent, a piece of art, and I'm not sure what this is, but it's the making of something beautiful.

"What's this?" I ask, staring at the construction of bricks and mortar, a stone fountain with a piece of art that looks like it came from a museum. There is scaffolding surrounding the entire structure, and I'm breathing it all in.

"It's obviously not finished," he exclaims.

"Obviously, but what is this, Keegan, and why is it here?"

He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"Aimee, this is your castle

Chapter Seven

I think I heard him right, but I'm not sure I can process it all. My castle? Keegan's hands are still holding my chin.

"What?" I ask him.

His hand leaves my face and he grabs the bag that is now long forgotten.

Opening it, he removes one of my favorite treats, a bear claw that is covered in a sugary glaze.

"Here, they're even better than they look."

"Keegan, I'm not hungry anymore. Please tell me what this is," I demand.

He shrugs, taking a bite out of the claw, moaning in a way that normally would distract me, but my heart is pounding so hard that it's difficult to think of anything but what has just been unveiled.

I continue to stare at him, waiting for him to respond to my question.

"You heard me. This is yours, Aimee, or it will be once it's finished. I told you before, I'm making up for things."

A sudden onslaught of memories hit me. Childhood promises, and my obsession with being a princess. Castles, knights, fairy tales, and Keegan promising to build me a castle. Who keeps a promise they made when they were seven years old? Keegan James does, that's who. I hold back the emotions that I'm flooded with. If he'd showed me this a week ago, I'd have been elated, but the shock is beginning to wear off and is replaced with anguish. Castles and knights, they aren't real, and this is just one more thing that will be taken from me. A dream I can almost touch, but is thrust away and disappears right before I can grab it.

"You shouldn't have done this," I tell him.

He blinks and a quick flash of disappointment appears on his face. He might have thought showing me all this would break down my walls, but now they are just built higher and stronger.

"Aimee, our story began the day I met you, and you may have given up on our happy ending, but I haven't, and I won't. You see, this isn't just something I broke ground on yesterday. I designed this when we were teenagers, I bought this land two years ago, and the construction started months ago, way before you walked back into my life," he professes.

I turn my head, not wanting him to see how his words have affected me. It sounds like a dream, and I would be lying if I said my heart wasn't all for a happy ending with him. I gather the courage to look at him.

"Keegan, this isn't real. We aren't going to ride off into the sunset. Did you ever once think while you were making plans for us what it would do to me when I found out why you left and didn't come back? You made a choice, and I don't hate you for it, I know there were things beyond your control. I've accepted our fate, and when you do we will both be better off."

His eyes show me his sadness and guilt. It's almost enough for me to pull him to me and give him what he wants, but I can't because for once my head is overtaking what my heart thinks it needs.

"I admire your strength, Aimee, I do, so much. It's one of the things I love most about you, and trust me I have a long list. I know this isn't easy, but I'm going to keep reminding you what you are to me, and who you have always been. You are my everything; no one could mean to me what you do. As long as we live I'll remind you that loving you is as effortless for me as breathing."

My breath catches at his heartfelt confession, the most romantic and beautiful words I have ever heard.

"Keegan, enough. Either take me to the hospital, or I'll just walk." A tear escapes, and he wipes it away with his thumb. He looks at me with love and understanding. He's not going to push anymore, and I'm relieved.

He's silent while he nods and grabs everything he's brought. We walk to the car and I leave my head down, but my heart tells me to get one last look at the structure. He may never give up on us, and that makes me hopeful. My heart wants it all, but my head is screaming to get away. If only it was that easy to get away from it all.

No words are exchanged, and as we pull up to the hospital, I wonder why he isn't parking; I assumed he was going to follow. He doesn't get out of the car, but he gives me the remaining bear claw.

"Tell your dad hi, and that I have a conference call and I'll be by later to see him."

I look at him in confusion. This isn't what I expected from him, and at first I'm not sure if he's just gauging my reaction, but I can see in his eyes he is serious. He wouldn't just give up? No, he wouldn't after his confessions. I remove myself from the car in a daze and make my way to the entrance. I look back and he has already gone. The pit of my stomach is heavy, and I wonder how I am ever going to survive Keegan James. The man is a puzzle, all the pieces scattered in my heart. Will I ever be able to put it all together?

When I enter my dad's room, everything falls away. It is empty, and another emotion replaces all the others: fear. I then realize I'm missing my purse and it's still in the car. My head is just all over the place. I run to the nurses' station to find out what is going on.

"Oh dear, we tried calling you. He's fine, we just needed the bed and moved him to a different floor," the nurse tells me. My heart catches up to my head.

"Here you go." She writes down my father's new room.

"Thank you," I say with a relieved smile.

I make my way toward the elevator, but take a detour to an empty and quiet corridor. I lean against the wall and let out a breath, then everything inside bursts out of me in one giant explosion. I cry all over again over the fear of losing my father, Keegan, and my carefully scripted mundane life. I slide down the wall and pull my knees to my chest. I place my chin on the top of my knees, and let out a hysterical laugh. I truly have lost my mind, and if I don't pull myself together soon, I know I'm going to do something stupid.

I stand and wipe my eyes free of tears. I duck into a nearby bathroom and put down the white bag I've been holding on to so I can splash cold water on my face. The mirror shows I look worn and older than my twenty-six years.

I go to grab the handle and exit the bathroom when the door opens, almost hitting me in the face.

"Oh crap, I'm so sorry," says a sweet voice.

I back away, allowing the door to open fully. A woman dressed in blue scrubs with blonde hair piled on top of her head enters.

"Aimee?"

I look over, and the woman is staring at me. She looks familiar, but I can't come up with a name; my head is still a mess from earlier, and I probably wouldn't recognize anyone right now.

"Yes," I respond.

"It's Delaney. We were in the same class."

Wow, yes, I remember her now, but she looks different.

"Delaney, yes. How are you?"