Our Little Wedding (The Spencer Brooks Diaries #3)

Spencer

I glanced at my watch; it was already after seven and I was starving. I looked down at the menu, going over my options, while I waited for Max to arrive. It had been his suggestion to come here and, as usual, he was late.

It had been good to see my brother again. Over the years, we’d drifted apart, I’d married Brittany, and we’d had Nikki, while Max had gone off to find himself. Then I was in the middle of a horrible divorce. Mike and I would only hear from him occasionally, until he’d returned to the States.

This afternoon, I’d sat down with my brother to go over my plans for the Denver office, and over the course of two hours, I’d learned that Max had lied to me about everything. He’d lied about most of his experiences, and I also found out that he’d been fired from his last two jobs. I knew he was worried that I’d be firing him from this one, and I really should have, but when I realized how desperate he was to get this job, it changed my mind.

He’d only been back in the States for sixteen months when he’d woken one morning, no job, on the verge of getting evicted from his apartment, and heard a knock on his door. He’d opened it to find his ex-girlfriend, who’d walked out one morning, standing in front of him holding a baby. His baby. So yes, he’d been desperate.

I’d let out a breath. “Why is it you never told me all this to start?”

“I don’t know. I needed something to get myself up in the morning. Everything fell apart when Pam left me. You know how that is, but when she showed up with the baby and dumped him on my lap, I was desperate. Are you going to fire me?”

I looked down at the reports I’d brought from the office back home and shook my head. “No, I will not fire you, Max. In all honesty, I did not know what I was doing when I started this company either. Most of it was trial and error, until I found most of my core team. I can train you, regardless of how angry I am. I still want you to be a part of this. I want to build a legacy.”

Max chuckled. “A legacy, really. That is a really interesting way to put it.”

No matter how angry I was, I still felt for him. However, we went over all the plans I had written for him, along with all the goals, and I planned to work with him to get him where he needed to be instead of taking the easy way out.

“Sorry I’m late,” Max said, sliding into the booth across from me.

“That’s okay. I hope you know what you want, because I am ready to chew my arm off.” I chuckled.

Max reached for the menu and opened it, , closing it two minutes later while I signaled for the server.

“So, since you know all about my issues, tell me, how are things with you? How did the engagement thing go?” Max questioned.

“Went well. I still say it would have been nice for you to have been there, to meet Ainsley.”

“Well, given the circumstances…”

“I know.” The baby was the entire reason we hadn’t heard from him. Instead of calling us, he’d kept all of that to himself, until today.

“I don’t really get why you’re rushing to get married to this chick. I mean, twenty years’ difference in age is huge. What if she is just after your money?” Max questioned.

“She isn’t after my money,” I replied.

“Do you know that for a fact? Did you ask her to sign a prenup?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, Max, no prenup. We are in love.”

“Yeah, in love, that is what I said about Pam, until she walked out on me and then walked back into my life with a baby. Just wait until she tells you she is pregnant.” Max chuckled.

I grew quiet. “Well, Max, I don’t need to wait for that.” I sat back putting my hands behind my head.

“Are you fucking with me?”

“No, I’m not. Ainsley is pregnant.”

“You got the sitter pregnant?” Max questioned, leaning forward, interested in whatever gossip he may find out.

“Careful, that is my soon-to-be wife you are speaking of,” I gritted.

Max sat back. “True. Tell me, what could you possibly see in her long-term? Have you even thought about your future?”

“My future is all I think about, Max. Providing a home for Nikki and Ainsley and now the baby, maintaining the growth of the company.”

“That may be, but have you thought about how you have absolutely nothing in common? I mean, in twenty years she’ll be changing your diapers, for fuck sakes. She’s gonna want to party, and you’re going to want to go to bed at nine.”

“Why don’t you tell me how you really feel, Max?”

“Fuck, I am. It’s the truth, .”

I frowned. “I just told you to be careful. I’ve given you a job, and only a few hours ago you were begging me to keep it. This is an opportunity for you to make a fresh start, to leave your past behind.”

“I’m grateful, , really I am. I just…”

I put my hand up to stop him. The last thing Ainsley and I needed was yet another person who disapproved of our relationship. Max was my younger brother, and we’d only just reconnected a few months ago. He had no right to judge us. He was also my employee, and this type of talk needed to be stopped immediately.

“You will respect my decisions, Max. I’m in love with Ainsley. We are getting married, yes she is having my baby, and Nikki adores her. Honestly, had you of been around the last year or so or had shown up to our engagement party, you would probably feel the same way about her.”

“I will do my best to keep my opinions to myself. And look… Nikki will have someone to grow up with.”

I looked at my brother, unsure if that was a hit directed at Ainsley’s age or if he was talking about the new baby.

“I really hope you are referring to the new baby,” I gritted.

“Of course, that is what I meant. I am sure Ainsley is very mature for her age, ‘cause lord knows she has to be because you don’t have an immature bone in yours.”