Restoration & Forgiveness (Renovate Book 2) (15 page)

"You are such an asshole," Kaleb shouts, waking up Reese.

"What's going on?" says a groggy Reese, nuzzling in to Kaleb. She looks so peaceful and content. I like this side of her, happy and in love.

"Just my asshole brother, baby."

In a flash Reese is fully awake and eying me. I haven't spoken to her, but Keegan has talked to Kaleb about us returning today. She obviously knows we worked things out, but not about the estate or the ring on my finger.

"Thank God, you're back." She runs, tackling me in a hug.

"I missed you too," I return.

"Get a room," Kaleb jokes, grabbing Keegan in a headlock. There is something so adorable about their affection.

"How's your dad?" Reese asks, concerned.

"He's doing great. Out of the woods; as long as he follows the doctor's orders, he should be fine."

"What about you, Aimee? How are you?" She glances toward Keegan.

"I'm doing good. Actually, better than good." I hold up my left hand, not able to hold in my excitement any longer.

"Holy shit." Reese grabs my hand, pulling it closer to her.

The guys have stopped their horseplay and are now making their way over to us. Keegan wraps his arm around me, pulling me in to his side.

"Why is this on her finger?" Reese asks Keegan.

I'm kind of shocked at her reaction. Shouldn't she be congratulating us?

"Because I want her to have my last name," he answers playfully. I've always been traditional and dreamed of sharing my husband's last name.

A few moments go by and she's smiling excitedly, and tackling both of us in a hug.

"We are going to be sisters." Tears are coming from her eyes.

"I know!" Now we are both crying.

"It's like a lifetime movie in here," Kaleb says as he joins us in our hug.

After we break apart, Kaleb insists on celebrating both of our engagements. Reese is so tired that we decide to stay in, and the guys head out to pick up dinner.

Reese takes the opportunity to pull me into my room for an inquisition. It's our girl sanctuary and where I'm the most comfortable. We may become sisters by marrying the James brothers, but we already are in every way that counts.

"Spill. Don't leave anything out, I want details," Reese demands. I tell her everything, even about the house that Keegan has designed, and the proposal of all proposals.

"Aimee, I'm happy for you. How couldn't I be, and I know you two belong together; I just worry about Gretchen. She's going to lose it, you know that, right?"

That's my biggest fear, that she's going to sabotage my happiness. I trust Keegan to handle the situation, and after everything I know now, there are no secrets holding them together.

"I know, and trust me I haven't forgotten anything that has happened."

"That woman is crazy, certifiable. After the first twenty or so calls, Kaleb stopped answering. It drove her crazy that Keegan left and refused to talk to her. I'm surprised she didn't show up at your dad's."

I just want Keegan, and even though Gretchen will probably do everything and anything to control him, I have to believe in us, that this will just be a bump in our long and winding road.

"It was kind of funny to see her flip out. She may have even broken a nail."

We both laugh as Reese imitates the blonde who must not be named.

"Reese, you know I was devastated when I left here. All I wanted was to focus on my dad. Then Keegan showed up and he pushed me, made me angry, but he was also there for me. He just broke me down, one layer at a time. There was no choice. He's it for me, and this ring here, this isn't just an engagement ring. He asked my dad for it; my grandmother wore it, and so did my mother. It signifies several lifetimes of love."

"Did anyone ever tell you how sickeningly romantic you two are? I should start writing down the things you both say to each other and put them on Hallmark cards."

I throw a pillow at her, hitting her in the face. We can't be that bad? Can we?

"Look who's talking. I can't remember a time since you and Kaleb started dating that you have been apart."

She looks at me and her face drops a little. "Yeah, Kaleb and I are the poster children for the epic romance, here. Engaged after he found out I was pregnant. I can't tell you how many times when we've been together and told someone we were engaged, they look at us expecting that our wedding will be the shotgun kind."

Is she serious? Does she feel this way? That Kaleb only asked her to marry him out of obligation? She has to know he adores her.

"Now who is crazy? Who cares what people think? I've known him most of my life; that man loves you. You have made him happier than I have ever seen him. Just because you're engaged sooner than people expect doesn't mean that you two don't love each other as much as if you have been together for ten years."

I'm angry that someone would make her feel this way, and if I ever find out who it was I'll be giving them a piece of my mind, with my foot.

I hug her when she begins to cry. Rubbing circles on her back, I do my best to soothe her.

"Now whose ass do I have to kick?" I ask, and that works to make her laugh. She's now doing both, laughing and crying.

"What have you done to my fiancé, Aimee?" Kaleb says, entering my bedroom, concerned.

"Nothing. She's upset because for some reason she thinks you're only marrying her because of the baby. I told her she was crazy to think that." I stand up to give them some privacy. Kaleb is who she needs right now to wipe away her tears.

"Why would she feel that way, Kaleb? I can't imagine who would stand by and let someone treat her that way," I say on my way out, aggravated that our happy time has come to my best friend being a blubbering mess.

I suddenly have a strong suspicion of who exactly it is, and if I'm right I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep my mouth shut.
Fucking Gretchen.

Walking into the living room, I find Keegan setting the table. He's humming a tune and looks beautiful. I'm mad, and maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but I just know she did something to Reese. She is messing with everyone's lives, and I've had enough. She can do what she wants to me, but not my family.

"Why is it that she can walk all over people, say and do what she pleases with no consequences?"

The smile on Keegan's face turns to confusion, then as if a light bulb has gone on in his head, I see recognition of who I am referring to.

"Is this about what Gretchen said to Reese?"

Bingo. I was out of the loop again. I don't like this at all. I'm angry, sad, and hurt all at the same time.

"So, she did do something?"

Keegan lets out a long frustrated breath. Unfortunately, we are having this conversation. We should have gotten this out of the way days ago. How are we going to handle the situation, how are we going to face it?

"Kaleb told me."

"Just now?" I ask

"A few days ago."

"You have to be kidding me," I spit.

"Aimee, I can't control what she does," he says, reaching for my hand. I back away.

"Keegan, you have to understand why I'm upset. She's been manipulating you for years. Does she walk on water? Because everyone acts like she can do no wrong. The James brothers I know wouldn't allow themselves to be controlled and walked all over."

He goes to say something and I beat him to it.

'I know it's complicated." I hold up my hand, warning him to choose his next words wisely.

"Aimee." My name escapes his lips in a whisper. I now am aware of how upset I am. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down.

"Keegan, I'm sorry. I know this isn't your fault. I'm trying to be mature here, but it's difficult. I wanted to come back here and be blissfully happy with you."

He looks at me with understanding. I never claimed to be perfect.

"My best friend is crying because of something Gretchen said to her; she's broken down the strongest person I know. How is that acceptable?"

I'm painfully aware of our reality.

"Aimee, I told you we would figure this all out together," he pleads.

"We shouldn't have let this go unresolved before this." I hold up my hand, showing him my engagement ring.

Hurt flashes across his face, and I immediately regret what I just said.

"What do you want, Aimee? I'm doing my best here, this situation is complicated."

There's that word, and I'm sick and tired of hearing it.

"Ignoring it isn't going to make it go away, and if you think for one second this ring on my finger is going to be acceptable to her…"

He takes a few strides toward me, and this time I don't move. I hate arguing with him, and I really don't want to forget about the last few days we've had.

I look away, holding my tears at bay. I don't want to taint this with an argument over Gretchen. I'm sure she would be plenty happy to watch this all unfold. She's the rift in our happiness.

"I promise you, I won't let anything come between us. I told you this is forever, unbreakable. I thought you understood, but it looks like I failed."

"Keegan, I'm scared. Of losing you. What if she does something to take it all away? She's already done it once. She almost had your baby, Keegan. Do you know how awful I feel for being relieved that she lost your baby? What kind of person does that make me?"

He pulls me in to him, wrapping his arms protectively around me. I hadn't noticed my body shaking. Keegan holds me tight, and I'm taken to my safe place, my haven from this shit storm.

"Nothing can break the unbreakable, Aimee, not Gretchen, or years apart. Do you get that? I'm not saying it's going to be a walk in the park, but nothing with us has ever been easy."

I wrap my arms around him, accepting his words, and he's right; the things you want most you have to work for.

"Keegan, I love you, more than I think you could ever know."

He goes to speak and stops.

"The thought of losing this scares me. How could I survive that, after everything?" I continue.

He delicately grips my chin and looks into my eyes so deeply that I know he is looking directly into my soul.

"You don't ever have to worry about that. We are more than a love story, we are the love story." He places a soft kiss on my lips that has more meaning than any other kiss we have ever shared. He's promising to protect my heart, and I just hope he is prepared with enough armor.

Chapter Fifteen

Despite the bump in our happy celebration, the four of us sit down to a nice dinner. The guys ended up getting Chinese takeout from Chinatown. Kaleb promised that they made the best dim sum, and you heard no arguments while we ate.

Kaleb, Keegan, and I toasted with champagne, while Reese guzzled down her sparkling grape juice.

Reese didn't seem to be bothered by whatever Gretchen said to her anymore, and even joked about her so-called shotgun wedding. Her way of dealing with the situation, I guess.

"So, Reese and I would like to officially ask you two to be our maid of honor and best man," Kaleb says.

Like there was ever another choice.

"Yes, on one condition. That you two do the same for us," Keegan answers.

"So now that's settled, what are we going to do about the elephant in the room?" Reese directs her question at Keegan.

"What elephant might that be, Reese?"

"Five feet eight inches, blonde, and bitchtastic," she says. She's not done; after a short pause she continues, "We heard you both arguing, and I'm sorry that I caused it. I'm a little more sensitive these days. I feel like someone's taken over my brain and replaced it with a wimp's."

"You have nothing to apologize for," I tell her.

Both Kaleb and Reese look at us with concern.

"This isn't just about you two, we are family, and no matter what, we face this together," Kaleb says, suddenly the voice of reason.

Keegan grabs my hand, pulling it to his lips. He looks at me before he opens his mouth to speak.

"We have options, and right now, they are limited. Kaleb and I have discussed this. We both own a quarter of the firm, but we signed a partnership agreement with her. Each of us would run different aspects of the business. Gretchen's father didn't want her to be the face of the company, but wanted her to be involved in the everyday running and decision making. She worked with me. She called herself an assistant, but at the time, we were a couple, and well, she just called herself an assistant so we could work together closely.

"We were both young, and when someone offers you that kind of start up, well, you don't think twice about it. One option is to sell our shares. Gretchen can't buy them. We are able to purchase hers, but we know she will never agree to that. Her father wanted to guarantee that if the business failed that she wouldn't be stuck."

My stomach drops; this is so much worse than I anticipated. They can lose everything they worked for.

"Now, the good news is there is an exit clause, but we would all have to agree to dissolve the company. The original agreement is ironclad; Gretchen won't want that. She's all about winning." Kaleb jumps in.

"So what, there is no way you can dissolve your partnership without giving it all up?" I say, looking straight at Keegan. "So, either way Gretchen wins: She gets her share of the company or you have to walk away."

"I know it seems unfair, but after everything Gretchen has orchestrated, it's best to just walk away. I know you may think I don't see her for what she is, but I'm not completely blind. I know she manipulates situations, and has wanted full control for years," Keegan admits.

I'm almost relieved that he hasn't been unaware of her agenda. She's like a shark that lures its prey just to attack at the last possible second. What would she do to get full control?

"The last possible scenario would be if Gretchen was convicted of a crime. Then hopefully, she would rot in jail. Problem solved," I state.

Keegan shakes his head at my spiteful remark.

"Look, Aimee, it doesn't mean I can't do what I love. We could work privately, and consult, but won't be able to contact any of our previous clients for at the least a year."