Unbreak Me (Second Chances #1) (24 page)

Midnight was fast approaching and she didn’t want to have any awkward kiss at midnight moments.

“Thanks for this,” Katie smiled. “It was much better than staying down there.”

“Anytime,” Patrick returned. “I’ve had lots of practice avoiding parties, my parents used to throw them all the time.”

Katie and Hannah got up and walked out of his room to head back down stairs.

Hannah shouldered into Katie after they moved a good distance from Patrick. “I think you’re the only one that doesn’t see it. He likes you.”

Katie laughed a huge laugh, “We’re just friends Hannah. You know, like you and Anthony?”

Hannah shook her head. “Not like me and Anthony. We don’t look at each other like that.”

“Whatever,” Katie laughed. “Let’s go find my mom and see if she’s ready to leave.”

When they came back down the stairs, Melanie and Austin were pulling their coats on. “There you are. We were just about to come up there and get you. All set?”

“Yep,” Katie smiled.

The group offered their thanks and made their way back to Melanie’s. When they got back to Melanie’s front door, Hannah told Katie bye and walked down to Austin’s truck as Katie went inside.

“I’m glad we left before midnight struck,” Austin whispered in Melanie’s ear. They could hear the crowd in the McKinley’s house counting down at the top of their lungs.

“Why’s that?” Melanie smirked.

“Because I want to kiss you in private,” he leaned in and touched his lips to hers just as “One!” was shouted in the background.

Austin slowly began to move his lips in a methodical unrushed kiss. As Melanie sank into his embrace, he wrapped his arms around her waist. His tongue darted out and ran along the seal of her lips begging for entrance. She moaned and opened up just as he slanted his head to plunge in. One hand slid down her back cupping her rear to pull her hips flush with his. His body was quickly awakening hers and she knew it was going to be a long night unless she stopped this. Her hands slid from around his neck, down to his shoulders where she gently pushed against him. She pulled back panting and looked up into his blue eyes that were now dark and steely with passion.

“I’m supposed to go over to my sister Claire’s tomorrow for New Year’s. Would you like to come? We could tell my family about our engagement,” she swallowed trying to calm down while she changed the subject.

“Sure, I’d like to put a name with a face, and I’m sure they’d like to do the same with me,” he kissed her cheek and started to turn to walk down to his truck.

“Well, they already know what you look like. Are you forgetting that your picture is all over the newspaper, Mr. One of Boston’s Most Eligible?” she giggled. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” she patted him on the chest and cocked her head to the side. “See you tomorrow,” he smiled as he turned and headed down to the truck. Before climbing in he turned and shouted, “Best New Year’s Eve ever!”

She waved as the truck pulled away before opening the door to go inside. Yes, this was the best New Year‘s Eve she‘d had in awhile. She wouldn’t be forgetting it anytime soon. The only thing that could top this would be next year when he didn’t have to leave at midnight. She could think of a few ways to ring in the New Year. She giggled to herself and felt the blush creep up her neck.

oooooooo

Yes, next year would definitely top this one. Austin just didn’t know it yet.

Chapter 22

New Years Day 2013

After calling Austin to make plans for the evening at her sister Claire’s, Melanie had spent most of the day running scenarios through her head on how the night might play out. She hadn’t brought a man around to meet her family in years. She had mentioned Austin in casual conversation over the last several months, but had never let on just how serious they were. Even at thirty five, she still felt the need to have her family’s approval.

“How’s this?” Katie brought her out of her thoughts.

“You look lovely sweetie,” Melanie smiled.

“What’s wrong?” Katie sat down next to her on the couch.

“Nothing, I’ve just got to tell Grandma that I’m getting married,” Melanie wiped her hand across her face.

“Oh,” Katie groaned.

Melanie looked over at Katie and smiled, “Don’t worry, it’ll be alright.”

Just then there was a knock at the door. Melanie stood up and walked over to answer it. Austin was standing there smiling like a goof.

“What’s got you so happy?” she laughed.

“Oh nothing,” he grinned. “I just get to spend another day with my fiancée.”

“Fiancée,” she grinned. “I like the way that sounds.”

“So do I,” he leaned in and pecked her on the lips.

“Let’s hope grandma does, too,” Katie mumbled.

Austin cocked his head to the side and gave Melanie a confused look. She grabbed his hand and pulled him in the door quickly, closing it to keep the cold out. She turned and began pacing in the entryway.

“Mother can be quite intimidating. She still likes to tell me what to do,” Melanie sighed. “In her eyes, I’m always going to be her little girl.”

“That’s understandable,” he placed a hand on her shoulder to still her pacing and raised his other hand to cup her cheek. “I’m sure that she’d want you to be happy though,” he smiled softly. “I mean, after everything you’ve been through” he lowered his voice, “you deserve to be happy Melanie.”

“Yes, I know,” she sighed as she turned her head and kissed his palm.

Katie shuffled her feet in awkward silence and suddenly the front door flew open. “Are you guys coming or not?” Hannah glanced at her dad.

Melanie blushed as she backed up to grab her coat. Austin took that moment to turn to Hannah. “You have had terrible timing lately,” he laughed.

Hannah tossed her hands in the air, “It’s cold out there. I was tired of waiting.”

Knowing that the moment had passed, Austin reached out and grabbed Melanie’s hand pulling her out the door as Katie trailed behind.

The group walked down to Austin’s truck and hopped in. Melanie began giving him directions to Claire’s house as they pulled away from the curb.

“She lives right down the street from Mother,” Melanie mused. “She wanted to be close in case she needed anything after Father died.”

Austin glanced out the windows as he made his way down the street. This was the Beacon Hill district. The people that lived in this part of town came from “old money”. Even though he lived a comfortable lifestyle, he was rather new to luxury. The families that lived here had been born into this lifestyle. They didn’t have to work; they could live off of trust funds. He silently wondered why Melanie would have moved away from all of this. She was living comfortably, but nothing compared to what it looked like the rest of her family’s life was like.

“This is where you grew up?” Austin gave her a sideways glance.

“Yeah,” she rubbed her eyes and gave a worried look in his direction. “Not what you were expecting, is it?”

“Ummmm…honestly, no,” he shook his head. “You live so differently than this.”

“Well, I lived this lifestyle until I was twenty, then it all changed,” she sighed.

“Changed?” he cocked his brow.

“Yeah, I got married to Sean. Mother thought I was out of my mind. I was young, still in school, and the entire family assumed that I had to be pregnant or I would’ve waited. They just didn’t understand. We were in love and didn’t want to wait any longer.”

As the memory was unfolding in her mind, she couldn’t help but go back to that day so long ago…

September 1996

“Relax,” Sean soothed. “It won’t be that bad.”

“My mom is going to go ballistic. You just don’t get it. You’ve never seen her blow before,” Melanie was panicking as they drove to her parents’ house. “Sean, I still have to finish medical school. They’re not going to understand.”

“I’ll protect you,” he teased.

She reached over and smacked his arm. “This isn’t funny. You just don’t get it,” she slumped back into the car seat.

When they arrived at the Andrews’ house, he put the car in park and turned to face her. “We’re in this together. Whatever happens I will always love you, and we are still getting married in the spring just like we planned.”

Melanie relaxed slightly, but tensed as soon as she saw her parents walk out onto the porch.

“You coming in, or planning on sitting in the car all afternoon?” her mother shouted.

“Here goes nothing,” Melanie sighed.

They made their way up to the porch and she hugged both her parents as her sisters made their way out to say hi.

“Oh my god,” Amy shrieked. “You’re getting married!” she pointed to the diamond on Melanie’s hand that was glistening in the sunlight.

It was more of a statement than a question. Claire had stayed off to the side not saying much. She was smiling at the couple. Amy was beaming.

“Congratulations,” Phil, Melanie’s father, patted Sean on the back.

“Thanks,” Sean responded.

“You are not getting married!” Anna, Melanie’s mother, snapped. “You’re too young.”

“Are you pregnant?” Amy snickered. “I mean, I never thought you two would actually do it, but you must be pregnant.”

“No,” Melanie shook her head from side to side. “I’m not pregnant, and what Sean and I do is none of your business.”

The group made their way into the Andrews house as the debate continued over dinner. Melanie knew that arguing with her mother was pointless. If she and Sean were to marry against her mother’s approval, it wouldn’t end well.

It had taken several months, but Anna finally came around and gave her blessing. She and Sean married that spring, and Melanie made a vow that they would make it on their own without her family’s money.

New Year’s Day 2013

She shook her head to clear the memory. She only hoped that today would go better than the last time she’d told her mother she was going to marry.

“Wow, this is fancy,” Hannah gasped as they pulled into Claire’s driveway.

“Uncle Robert’s a lawyer,” Katie smiled. “His family is loaded. Wait until you see the inside.”

“Katie,” Melanie scolded. “We do not talk about people’s wealth.”

“Sorry, mom,” Katie mumbled. “I don’t know what the big deal is. I mean…Hannah is used to this.”

Melanie tensed and sent Katie a warning glare just as Austin reached over and grasped her hand, “It’s okay. She didn’t mean anything by it. Relax.”

The group climbed out of the car and made their way up to the front door. Melanie knocked and then stepped back. Soon a woman who looked to be in her mid forties opened the door. She smiled widely as she stepped to the side.

“Claire,” Melanie sighed as she pulled her into a big hug.

“Come in,” she moved out of the way and smiled.

“Austin, this is my oldest sister Claire. Claire this is Austin and his daughter Hannah,” she pointed and Austin put out his hand to shake.

“Mom’s getting married,” Katie squealed and then slapped her hands over her mouth as she recognized her mistake.

Melanie blushed a deep red and averted her face from Claire as she realized that this was the second time that this kind of news was not being delivered from her.

“What?” Claire gasped as she reached for Melanie’s left hand.

“Sorry, Mom,” Katie cringed.

“What’s going on in here?” an older, graying woman called as she approached the door. “Melanie?” she raised her brow.

“Mom, this is Austin. We’re engaged,” she bit her lip and waited for the reaction. “This is not how I wanted you guys to find out,” she shook her head and hung it.

“When did this happen?” Claire smiled as she admired the diamond.

“Christmas Eve,” Melanie smiled shyly and glanced in her mother’s direction with a guilty look on her face.

“Congratulations,” Claire pulled her into another hug and whispered into her ear, “Don’t worry about Mom, she loves you.”

“So why is this the first time I’m meeting him?” Anna broke the moment.

“I’m sorry, Mom. It’s been crazy at the hospital and it all happened kinda fast,” Melanie began to slip into damage control mode.

Meanwhile Katie stood in the background silently berating herself for divulging the information that was currently being discussed. After a few minutes, several of Katie’s cousins came around the corner motioning for her and Hannah to join them. Realizing that this was her chance to escape, Katie grabbed Hannah’s hand and pulled her into the other room. The girls trailed the group into the game room in order to give their parents some privacy.

“Come have a seat. We’re not eating for another hour,” Claire pointed to the living room. “We’re still waiting on Bethany and Roger to get here.”

Melanie rolled her eyes, “Is she still showing up late, as usual?”

“Yes, when was the last time she was on time anywhere?” Claire laughed.

When they sat down, Melanie introduced Austin to her other sisters, Amy and Sarah, who were currently giving him the once over. This did not go unnoticed by Austin. Sarah seemed more concerned with when the food would be served than anything else. She kept caressing her belly and pouting at Claire.

“This baby needs to eat sis, when are we going to sit down for dinner?” Sarah whined.

Steven, her husband, stood to walk into the kitchen, “I’ll get you a snack dear.”

Amy rolled her eyes, “All she’s concerned about right now is food. I on the other hand want to know more about
you
,” she winked at Austin as she ran her finger down his chest.

“Hands off, Amy,” Melanie warned as she pulled Austin over to sit with her on the loveseat.

“She’s recently divorced,” Melanie whispered into Austin’s ear as he was chuckling.

“Relax,” Amy plopped down on the loveseat beside the couple. “I just want to know why he’s with you,” she pointed at Melanie. “I mean…he’s one of Boston’s hottest men and you’re you.”

“I think she’s beautiful,” Austin leaned over and kissed Melanie on the cheek.

Melanie smiled up at him as Sarah sighed, “I’ve seen that look before. You haven’t had it in a long time.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Amy grumbled. “She’s happy,” she waved her hand in the air as she grabbed Melanie by the shoulder and turned her in her direction. “So,” she cocked her brow “Have you two gotten it on yet?”

Melanie’s face flamed, “Amy!”

“What?” she shrugged. “I mean really Mel? You expect me to believe that you and he haven’t taken a roll in the hay yet?”

Austin’s shoulders shook with silent laughter behind her as he stood to remove himself from the room. He did not want to hear the rest of this conversation. Steven had left a while ago and had retreated to the kitchen. Austin figured he would join him and save Melanie some embarrassment from having this conversation in front of him.

“I’m not discussing this with you, Amy,” Melanie shot daggers in Amy’s direction.

“Seriously Mel. You’ve been married before. You have a kid for god’s sake. You act like you’re this virginal creature, when we all know you’ve done it before,” Amy rolled her eyes.

“What I do in my bedroom is my business,” Melanie ground out. “Maybe Edward would have stuck around if you weren’t so loose.”

Amy gasped and jumped up, turning to face Melanie, “I left him, not the other way around. He messed around on me. Don’t turn this into something it’s not.”

Melanie’s eyes softened, “I’m sorry. Edward was a snake; we all knew that. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just please, stop insinuating things about Austin and I that you know nothing about.”

“I’m sorry, too,” she leaned over and hugged Melanie whispering in her ear, “he’s a great catch. I’m happy for you.”

Anna had been sitting in a soft wingback chair in the corner, just watching her children. It was nice having everyone together. It rarely ever happened now with everyone working and only two daughters still living in Boston. Melanie got up and moved over to sit beside her.

“Mom, are you okay?” she grasped her hand and looked at her face with pleading eyes. After arguing with her sister, she was not looking forward to taking on her mother.

“Do you love him?” Anna asked.

“With all my heart,” Melanie answered.

“Then yes, I’m okay. I want you to be happy. You’ve spent too much of your life in sadness. I want you and my granddaughter to be happy. If he makes you happy, then I’m great,” she smiled at Melanie and kissed her on the forehead. “I spent too much time angry with you over getting engaged to Sean so young. I wish I could take back of all the mean things I said back then. Your father would be so proud if he could see you now.”