19. Carter
19
CARTER
“ A ll right, Bradley, let’s get this shit over with.” I slide my phone back into my pocket. “I have to get back home.”
“I can just email it all to you. Expect it in your inbox before you hit the sack. You can get back home.”
Normally, I would tell him just to tell me now since I’m already here. But I’m desperate to get back home and decide to take him up on his offer. Giving him a slap on the back, I nod. “Thanks, man. Sorry you came all this way for no reason.”
“No problem. Don’t sweat it, Carr.” He waves me off. “You have more important things to focus on. Although I’ve got to say, Eden has done a number on you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Bradley shrugs. “I don’t know, man. You seem different. I’ve never known you to be in such a rush to get out of the office.”
“Yeah, well, when you find out your only family is struggling with their health, it really puts things into perspective. If it weren’t for Eden, I wouldn’t have come in at all,” I huff.
“Relax, bro, I was just teasing. But you trust her that much already? Damn, you really are that into her.”
I think about what’s happened between Eden and me over the last few days.
It’s been a roller coaster.
I’d be lying if I said there isn’t something .
We head to the elevators.
“I’ll check my email later tonight once my aunt is settled. If anything else comes up, just text me. I may not answer, but I’ll at least handle it when I have a chance,” I tell Bradley.
“Don’t worry about it.” He offers a bro-fist, and I bump it. “I’ll take care of what I can. Hope everything goes okay with your ladies.”
Huh. My ladies. I actually don’t mind the sound of that.
I get home as fast as I can. When I enter the apartment, I’m surprised to hear absolutely nothing. With a frown, I check the living room and, aside from a tea tray on the coffee table and an almost-empty pack of the “Not-So-Rummy Rum Balls” from a small local bakery, it’s exactly as I left it this morning. The “Not-So-Rummy Rum Balls” are a non-alcoholic, low-sugar version of the classic treat. However, Auntie doesn’t know that.
I glance toward the guest suite and see the door closed. Aunt Eleanor must have gone to lie down. Poor thing. She’s probably exhausted after her long flight.
That doesn’t explain where Eden is. Or does it?
I walk to my bedroom and am greeted with the sight of Eden curled up in my bed. Her pants and bra are discarded on the floor, and she’s asleep in only a thin nightgown. Seeing the shape of her beautiful curves and other details shine through the thin cotton like that, I’m tempted to crawl in next to her.
I hear the sound of a door opening.
Aunt Eleanor must be awake.
I caress a strand of hair away from Eden’s face, silently close the door behind me, and go back out to the living room to greet my aunt.
“Hi, Auntie. Did you have a nice rest?” I ask, pulling her into a hug. She feels so fragile in my arms, it tugs at my heart.
She’s changed into a different pantsuit, this one made of softer material and clearly meant for comfort. She has removed her rings and necklaces and put on a pair of pink fuzzy slippers. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her in person, and without her huge fur coat and endless jewelry, she looks a lot smaller. However, she has freshened up her makeup.
“Oh, I tried, but could not turn my brain off. Too much on my mind.” She hugs me back, kisses both my cheeks, before taking a step away and slapping my chest. “Shame on you, Carter Donovan Bancroft!”
“What did I do?”
Aunt Eleanor huffs. “You lied to me!”
I freeze, staring at her. “I did?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you dragged Eden into a bar on the first day you met? Did you think I would be so snobbish that I would not understand?”
“No, of course not. I’m sorry, Auntie,” I say, relieved.
“Apology accepted.” She smiles and makes a move to pick up the tea tray, but I take it from her. Aunt Eleanor has never been one to hold long grudges. That’s something I’ve always appreciated about her. “Eden told me about that special first kiss you both shared…”
“Did she?” I stop in my tracks.
“Yes! How romantic!”
Surely, Eden had stuck to her own suggestion that we’d discussed earlier, namely of our long walk and me handing her my jacket because it had gotten cold. “Well, I am a gentleman,” I say.
“What do you mean, son?”
I stare at her, blank. First, I consider telling her that I meant that anybody would have given her a jacket, but then I pause. What version did Eden tell her? Obviously, something doesn’t match up. “Well, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“Oh, you! You charmer! For a second, I thought you did not remember your first kiss. How she told you she was the world’s best kisser.”
Ah, so that was the version she’d told her.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, impressed that Eden had gone with the truth, but not ready to risk any more mismatched reactions or answers, and turn with the tray toward the kitchen. “Bruno will be glad you’re visiting. Last time I saw him, he said he’ll have your favorite dish ready whenever you want it. We can order in.”
Every time Aunt Eleanor visits, she insists on going to a small fine dining restaurant around the corner. Since she’s not doing well, I know the chef will be more than happy to pack up her favorite dish for delivery.
She follows me into the kitchen. “Oh, quel trésor . But why would we order take-out? We should go and get our favorite seat.”
“Auntie, you’re supposed to be resting and taking it easy. I don’t think going out into a busy restaurant is a good idea.”
She pauses. “Oh, you’re probably right. Fine, I’d be more than happy to enjoy dinner here tonight with you and your lovely wife. As long as you open a bottle of that spectacular pinot noir I know you keep on the top shelf of your wine rack.”
I put the tea tray next to the sink before turning to frown at her. “Aren’t you on medication? I would think drinking wouldn’t mix well with your meds.”
Aunt Eleanor waves her hand and takes a seat at the table. “One glass of wine isn’t going to make a major difference.”
“Since when have you ever stopped at one glass?”
“Oh, Carter, the things you say! Forget about that tray and come sit with me. I have a few things I want to say to you…and ask you.”
Well, that doesn’t sound good. Never one to disobey my aunt, I take a seat next to her at the table.
“Why did it take me making this long trip to finally be introduced to Eden? Did it really have to take months and months for the two of us to meet?”
“I’m sorry it took this long,” I tell her, and I mean it. “But you know how crazy work has been. Taking time off to go to France hasn’t been in the cards. Not just for me but for Eden as well.”
“Right. What does she do again? I don’t think you’ve said. Unless you have and I just forgot. My mind is not what it used to be, Cartie.”
My heart aches when I hear that. “You didn’t forget anything,” I assure her, taking her hand. “I didn’t tell you what Eden does. She recently started as my assistant. It’s not something we typically talk about, especially not at the office, because we don’t want others to get the wrong idea.”
“What?” Aunt Eleanor removes her hand from mine and studies me with those piercing eyes of hers. “Your wife is your new assistant? And nobody knows about it? That sounds like it could get complicated très , très quickly.”
“We have ground rules. Work isn’t discussed outside of the office and our home life isn’t discussed inside the office.”
“Translation: you’re keeping your marriage a secret ? Is that why you’re suddenly not wearing a ring?”
I try a calming smile, noting I’d forgotten to put the ring back on after the meeting. Well, one less thing to worry about. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”
“Nope. I may not be the woman I used to be, but I’m still sharp when it most counts.”
“You’re every bit the woman you always were. Maybe you should consider moving back here to New York City.”
She opens her mouth to say something but am cut off by a series of deep coughs. I stand and immediately get her a tall glass of water. When I try to hand it to her, her hands shake so bad I have to steady the glass for her. After several sips, the coughing subsides, and Aunt Eleanor lets out a tired sigh.
“Thank you, Cartie,” she says, reaching over to take my hand.
“Do those coughing fits happen often?”
“No, no. I’m fine.”
I take her small hand between mine and squeeze it. “Tell me, how long do you have? Did the doctors say something?”
First, she looks at me blankly. “Oh, I wish I knew,” she finally says. “That would make things a lot easier.”
“You need to see a specialist, get a second opinion. Let me make a few calls, I’m sure I’ll get the best?—”
“No.” She squeezes my hand. “I’ve seen enough doctors. They all say the same thing. Cartie, I’m getting older. Sixty-six. At my age, any number of things can slow me down. I don’t want you to dwell on this though. I’ve made my peace with it. Let’s just enjoy what time we have together.”
A door opens and closes, and I look up to see Eden coming down the hall. She’s wearing her brown hair in a high ponytail and looks pretty in her orange summer dress, the same one she wore on the day we first met. No, not pretty. She looks spectacular.
I only realized I’m staring when Aunt Eleanor chuckles. “Ohoohoo. Look at that lovestruck face,” she teases, pinching my cheek.
Eden approaches with a smile. I lean toward her, indicating that I’m expecting a kiss on my lips as she joins us at the table. She leans down and obliges, giving me what I asked for. Am I an asshole using the situation to my advantage? Yes, yes, I am.
“Did you have a good rest, Auntie?” Eden rubs my aunt’s shoulder, her face a little flushed as she sits down.
“Please, I haven’t had a restful sleep since I was forty-four. Only to be young again.” My aunt looks back at me. “Cartie, you haven’t shown me the marriage license! In my day, we used to have them proudly on display.”
There it is.
Eden’s eyes meet mine, shock written all over her features.
In the back of my mind, I hoped Auntie wouldn’t ask and Eden had a better poker face, but I should have known better. “Let me get it.”
“And bring the wedding photos too!” my aunt demands.
Giving a calming glance to Eden, I get up and go over to the neat pile of mail and papers on the kitchen counter. There, I grab my tablet. Auntie is forgetful. She won’t remember if I distract her long enough.
My aunt’s eyes light up when she sees our marriage photos, and I can see a tear or two slide down her cheek. “Oh, will you look at that?” She gives me a radiant smile. “My little Cartie is finally married. Gosh, you’re even smiling in this one.” She looks at me. “Why didn’t you print them out and assemble a wedding album? This one, where you stepped on her dress, is hilarious!”
I was glad I hadn’t sorted it out. It’s the one photo that feels the most genuine, real. For our situation it’s more than ideal—it makes the whole wedding believable. “Well, I figured if we put them in an album, especially that one, I’d have a constant reminder of my legendary move.”
“Exactly. It is the perfect antidote to a bad day! Right, Eden?”
“I’m glad my wedding day included some comedy,” Eden says happily. “I’ll forever cherish it.”
After my aunt looks through all of the photos, she hands my tablet back. “Carter, now the marriage certificate.”
“I’m hungry!” Eden blurts, suddenly drawing our attention, hand on her belly. “Babe, when do you think we can put that food order in?”
“Oh, how silly of me,” Aunt Eleanor says. “Carter, feed your wife. Of course! I am sure she is famished. After all, a woman in her condition needs sustenance.”
I furrow my brow in confusion, putting the tablet down. “What condition?”
“You know…” Aunt Eleanor leans in for a loud whisper, saying, “In a family way.”
She beams at us. Then she gives us a playful wink, as if sharing a secret joke.
I give Eden a look. She seems as baffled as I am. “What are you talking about?”
“That’s why you two married after such a short time, isn’t it?” she asks. “Because of the baby?”
Eden’s cheeks turn bright red, and she bursts into laughter. I put my face in my hand. I thought I’d given her a convincing enough story and a decent timeline, but she has a wild imagination.
“Auntie, I think you have the wrong idea.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not pregnant,” Eden speaks up. “That’s not why we got married.”
Aunt Eleanor huffs. “Oh, don’t you try to pull the wool over my eyes. I told you I am as sharp as a tack. It is the twenty-first century, and I am well aware life is different than it was in my day. I am not here to judge.”
“Seriously, Auntie,” I insist. “Eden isn’t pregnant. We didn’t get married because of a baby.”
“Well, why not?” Eleanor asks. She looks over at Eden. “What are you two waiting for? When we talked earlier, I thought you said you wanted children?”
Goddammit, Eden. I give Eden a look that says: I was clear about what topics to stay away from when talking to my aunt. Children and babies were two of them.
Eden gives me a look that says: Sorry, not sorry.
She turns to my aunt. “You asked what I thought of children, and I said I liked them,” Eden clarifies. “…A lot. But I never said we were going to have any.”
“I know what you said, ma chère . I read between the lines.”
“There were no lines, I can assure you.”
I love my aunt, but God, can she be a pot-stirrer. She understood Eden perfectly. Her fake confusion is her way of trying to prod us into changing our minds about having kids. Which would not happen even if this was a real marriage.
“Auntie, don’t,” I say in a firm voice. “You know how I feel about kids, and I know Eden didn’t tell you she wanted any.”
My aunt huffs again and gets to her feet, surprisingly energetic. “I never understood why you’re so adamant about having no children. Kids are wonderful.”
“ You didn’t have kids,” I point out.
“We’re not talking about me . We’re talking about you .”
She beelines into the kitchen, and I watch her go on her tiptoes and grab the bottle of wine she’d mentioned earlier. I glance over at Eden who looks like she’s trying not to smile. Her hand covers her mouth, highly amused by the whole situation.
At least one of us is.
I get up, storm into the kitchen after her, and take the bottle of wine away from my aunt as she scours the drawers for a bottle opener. “No wine,” I say in a firm tone. “We already talked about this.”
“Carter, I am a grown woman, and if I want a glass of wine, I damn well will have one. Open the bottle. Now .”
“Why don’t we order dinner?” Eden asks, trying to change the subject. “I hear you like to have something from Bruno’s every time you come to New York. I’ve never had their food, is it good?”
“Is it good?” Aunt Eleanor repeats. “Oh, dearie, Bruno makes the most amazing dishes. The best in the state.”
She goes back to the table, and I give Eden a thankful look, taking pleasure in the cooperative dynamic we have as a team. She offers a warm smile in return before giving my aunt her full attention as the woman raves about Bruno’s cooking.
The rest of the day is, well, manageable .
Once Aunt Eleanor gets off her children train of thought, it’s fairly smooth sailing. The food comes quick and is as delicious as ever. Aunt Eleanor is insistent about the wine, and I pour her half of what she requests. She isn’t thrilled about it but doesn’t complain. Instead, she asks about the wedding itself, and Eden takes the reins, giving an embellished account of our quick Vegas wedding.
Aunt Eleanor loves every minute of it. “Oh, that sounds beautiful,” she gushes as I clear the plates from the table. “I’m sure it would have been more beautiful in person. Not that I’m bitter that you didn’t invite me.”
“No, of course you’re not,” I tease. “This is only the third time you’ve mentioned it in the last five minutes.”
I carry the plates into the kitchen and put them in the sink. While I prepare to slice into my aunt’s favorite authentic New York cheesecake from the same local bakery I got the Not-So-Rummy Rum Balls from, I notice Eden quietly swipe my aunt’s empty wineglass, along with the dishes I wasn’t able to carry. I’m glad because I saw my aunt eye the bottle, and I know she would have poured herself more when we weren’t looking.
“Well, you know I always wanted to be at your wedding,” Aunt Eleanor says from the other room while we get the dresser ready. “I am glad you are married, but I would have loved to have been there.”
Eden carries fresh plates to the table while I bring the cheesecake.
“Don’t be mad at Carter, Auntie,” Eden tells her. “That one was on me. I wanted to do something small and intimate with just the two of us. For personal reasons.”
I’m surprised Eden has taken the blame for that. But I can see my aunt’s demeanor immediately change. Her expression softens and she reaches over to take Eden’s hand.
“I’m sorry, dear,” she says, with genuine concern in her voice. “My heart aches for you. It must have been such a difficult decision not to invite friends and family to your special day. Did something painful from your past influence this decision?”
Eden sits back down with a nod. “I won’t delve into the specifics, but yes, something happened the last time I was preparing to walk down the aisle that caused me to lose not only my heart, but also my finances, and many of my close friends. It felt like a knife had been plunged into my chest. The pain was so intense, I couldn’t even cry.” She gives a brave smile. There’s courage in her expression, but also hurt, deep hurt. Her heart, she guards it with care, and it isn’t just her smile or braveness that holds one captive. She’s a force to be reckoned with—smart, unpredictable, stimulating, and full of nuance.
But the cloud surrounding her worries me. While she had mentioned to me that she’d been left at the altar by some douche, she hadn’t explicitly stated that the event had caused her financial hardship. I can only surmise he was the culprit behind her financial downfall and the loss of her social circle. Nonetheless, I don’t want to make decisions based on mere assumptions. An insatiable curiosity to delve deep into her world rises within me, starting with the fucked-up act carried out by some worthless fucking scumbag.
Aunt Eleanor reaches over and pulls Eden into a tight hug. “Oh, dearie,” she says, rubbing her back. “I do not understand how some men can be so awful. Let me tell you, some of them are about as useful as a chocolate teapot! But don’t you worry, now that you’ve got Carter, you will never have to deal with that kind of rubbish again! Right, Carter?”
“Right.”
“And the cherry on top? You’ve got me in the mix now. We are your family now. Now and forever. Right, Carter?”
“Right. Cheesecake, anyone?” I ask, gesturing to the plate I’ve placed in the center of the table.
“Cheesecake is my favorite,” Eden points out as Auntie is clapping. “I can’t wait to try New York-style cheesecake.”
“Oh, it’s the only way to have cheesecake,” my aunt insists. “So many people change the flavor or put fruits and things on top. Utter nonsense if you ask me, and a waste of ingredients. Plain is the best.”
I serve Eden her slice first, as per my aunt’s gestured request. “You’re in for a real treat.” I turn to my aunt. “Auntie, how big a slice?”
“Lay it on me! There’s always room for cheesecake.”
The conversation becomes much lighter. I can tell that Aunt Eleanor adores Eden. The way she starts fussing over her and trying to make her laugh makes me smile. Deep down, I feel bad because of the deception. She has already accepted Eden into the family. The two are getting along like two peas in a pod—even more of a reason to make sure Eleanor doesn’t find out the wedding was a sham.
It’s late by the time we finish eating and talking. Aunt Eleanor looks exhausted, and her eyes start to droop as Eden clears away the dessert.
“Come on, Auntie,” I say, getting to my feet. “You’ve had a long day, and you need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be equally as long.”
She doesn’t argue. Instead, she nods and extends her hand toward me. “Sleep sounds lovely. Help me up.”
I help her out of her seat, and she shuffles over to give Eden a tight hug. “I enjoyed getting to know you today. Cannot wait to spend more time with you tomorrow.”
“Likewise, Auntie.”
She gives Eden a kiss on each cheek, and in her fatigue, she skips her customary three-kiss routine and obligatory French linguistic flair, before reaching for me. I slide my arm around her waist and hold her hand as I lead her down the hall to the guest suite. She has unpacked a couple of her bags already, and the bed is neatly made, even though she had laid down in it earlier.
“You know, I don’t notice my age until the end of the day,” she says. “There’s a certain point where these old bones and joints hurt.”
“I’m sure you’ll feel better in the morning. We’ll take it easy tomorrow.”
She smiles at me. “I am so happy for you.” She reaches up to squeeze my cheeks. “Eden is a wonderful woman. You make sure you take good care of her, you hear me? You love her back with all your might and never make her sad.”
“I promise, I will try my best.”
“Good, you do that.”
I place a kiss on her forehead. “Eden is a tough woman. She can handle herself. Just like someone else I know.”
“A tough woman still needs a shoulder from time to time. Good night, Cartie.”
I wish her goodnight, and she quietly closes her door.