Chapter 51
NATHAN
It’s been almost three months since Arianna moved back into my apartment. In that time, she’s decorated the bedroom and living room and is currently underway with a full remodel of the kitchen.
I haven’t asked her what color she finally decided for the cabinets because she’s been swaying back and forth for weeks between bottle-green, navy-blue or pink. Which I’m not keen on.
She did such a great remodel in the other rooms though; I should trust her on the bold choices she seems to be able to pull off with ease.
Fuck it, if a pink kitchen with gold hardware makes her happy, then I’ll be happy too.
We’ve settled comfortably into working life together.
However, what is different is that she has made me have more time in my schedule to prep between cases, and she makes sure I don’t take too many clients on at the same time.
She also has me leaving the office before ten most nights, which means I’m getting more sleep.
Well, maybe not, because we fuck, a lot.
But the best part is not working on weekends because I implemented a team of lawyers who buffer me from weekend calls and emergencies.
On Saturdays we do date nights at the theater or dine out after spending most of the day on the beach after playing tennis with my brothers in the morning. And on Sunday mornings we laze about and spend hours between the sheets then enjoy the afternoons with my brothers and mom at the ranch.
I share everything with her, but there is still one important part of my life I want to share with her.
It’s someone she’s been keen to meet but I only wanted her to come here when she felt the timing was right. Today is that day.
“Dad, I want you to meet someone.” I lay my hand on his shoulder.
Even though we found the best memory care home in the city for my dad, I still wish he was at home with my mom.
He requires full-time care and that would be too hard on my mom. This way he gets the therapy and dedicated around-the-clock specialist care he needs.
“Your dad is on form today. Watch yourself.” The nurse winks, chuckling to herself, which means he’s having a good day and causing mischief. “Just call if you need anything.” Cynthia leaves the room, and I quickly thank her.
Arianna sits next to my dad on the chair beside him and nervously plays with her fingers in her lap.
“Who’s this, now?” My dad’s voice is sounding fainter and gruffer with each week that passes, and I hate how his muscles are becoming weaker, and his head is slowly becoming more tilted to one side.
“This is Arianna, Dad,” I say and settle myself beside her in the other chair.
“Hello, Mr. Hart. It’s lovely to meet you.” She lays her hand over my dad’s. “I’ve heard so much about you and all the wonderful things you have done to help so many people.”
His lips twitch, and I can tell from his expression he likes her. How could he not? She’s perfect.
“Arianna. Now that is a pretty name.” His words come out slow and drawn out. “I think I knew an Arianna once.” Confusion lines his brow.
I’ve spoken about her before. Sometimes he remembers her, sometimes he doesn’t.
I know he doesn’t remember our conversation from all those months ago when he told me to go to her. It’s like it has just all gone. Poof. Like a puff of smoke.
“Did you know an Arianna before, Dad?” My dad’s mind comes and goes. On good days when his mind is really clear, we talk about old cases because he loved his job and I know if he could, he would still be fighting cases and running circles around me and my brothers.
I’m so relieved I’m on speaking terms with my brothers again. For a moment I thought I’d lost them but like Mom said, we love each other regardless.
“Mmm,” my dad hums as if deep in thought, and he takes his time to reply. “From a case, I think.”
“My name is Arianna Donovan. Do you remember Kevin Taylor?” she asks, smiling and leaning closer to him, her voice full of hope.
His eyes look away and then at me and back again, and I can tell he’s trying to figure something out. “I do,” he eventually replies. “Car crash. It was a terrible accident.” He struggles with the last two words of his sentence. “You’re Arianna?”
My chest fills with emotion, because I wish that things could have been different for him. He was the best lawyer in the city, and he helped so many people. He deserves a better ending to his life.
“Are you happy, dear?” he asks, concerned about her welfare. “Did Jean look after you well?”
It doesn’t surprise me that he remembers the case. Today, which is a good day, he’s remembering everything but then when he goes to sleep for the night, it’s like his mind resets and the next day won’t be so good.
“She did and I wanted to thank you personally for helping Kevin organize my care. I’m very grateful.” Arianna’s eyes turn watery, and I lay my hand over hers, which is rested on top of my dad’s.
“Arianna is amazing, Dad.”
“I’m a legal secretary,” she interjects, trying to hide her tears, sounding brighter than she looks.
“Are you Nathan’s secretary?” He shifts his attention to me and then back at Arianna, struggling to move his neck. “I hope you keep him on his toes, Arianna.”
“She does, Dad,” I assure him. Having her in the office again has been incredible. We work well together, she makes my life ten times easier, and hell, she just gets me and the job I do and never complains.
“Good,” is all he says, and while it’s slow, it’s firm.
“We’re getting married.” I rub my finger across the top of Arianna’s four-carat diamond solitaire.
She was adamant she wanted something smaller but there is no way I was having that; I don’t do anything by halves. The bigger the better. She’s mine and off limits, and I wanted to show the world who she belongs to.
“Well, now, this is a turn up for the books.” My dad chuckles before coughing a little. “Who is giving you away, dear?”
He knows that Arianna’s father is no longer around, and I hadn’t even thought about it.
“I was thinking Max could, if that would be okay with you?” She asks him for his approval.
“Now that is a good idea. I would, but you see I’m sort of stuck here now.” His voice trails off.
I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe. He’s a shadow of the man I once knew.
“Well, if we could wheel you down the aisle in this fancy chair of yours and bring the service to you, would you do it?” Arianna asks hopefully.
I swear to fuck I haven’t cried in a very long time, but I’m on the verge now.
My father smiles wider than the moon, and it sparks something in me—pride, relief, maybe even hope. If he can still smile despite everything, then I have no choice but to be strong.
“Do I have a suit, Nathaniel?” he asks, sounding determined.
“Yes, Dad.” He won’t have one that fits because he’s lost a lot of weight, but I’ll have someone here this afternoon to measure him if it makes Arianna happy.
“I know we set a date for next year, Nathan, but could we make it happen quicker?” Arianna questions, lifting her shoulders to her ears in excitement.
I just hope Dad has a good day for the day we set, but that’s something none of us have control over.
“In weeks or months?” I ask.
“Weeks,” she replies, sounding hopeful.
How the hell are we going to do that? Knowing her, she’ll have everything booked by sunset today.
I guess she senses that my dad might not have much time left either but that’s something I can’t even think about now, and I just want to focus on soaking up each day he has, whether those are good or bad.
She lets go of my dad’s hand then turns to me. “Let’s do it, Nathan.”
“Let’s do it,” I agree, feeling excitement bubbling in my chest.
Arianna leans closer and shocks me to my core when she whispers in my ear, “I forgot to take my contraceptive when we broke up and so when we reconciled we made something beautiful together, Nathan. A happy accident. I’m pregnant.”
I try my best to school my emotions but fail.
“I’m going to be a dad.” I swallow hard, because I once believed that I was meant to live my life alone, choosing work above everything else, but now I know that’s not true.
With unwavering belief, I know her family has been watching over her, guiding her to me since the beginning.
And now, she’s giving me a life I never dared to dream of; a family and a place that’s not just a penthouse, but a home, where we will grow, laugh, and love each other in the best way possible, because she taught me how.
My Arianna. My destiny.