39. Keller
39
KELLER
I finally get it.
I know people always compare me to my father, but I’ve always seen him as someone different, separate. He was an adult when I was learning to ride a bike. He’s simply not me.
But as my eyes bounce between Claire and her slightly older clone, I understand what other people have been saying.
I’m extremely confused and slightly horny.
There weren’t pictures of the mother in the file I read about Claire, because she wasn’t a huge part of her life. In and out a few times a year.
She’s what, thirty-five? At least I know exactly what Claire will look like in a few years.
Hot, that’s what.
“Oh god, you’re pretty,” the mother says, eyes wide. “He’s so pretty, Claire. You guys are going to make the cutest babies. You are making babies, right?” she checks. “That’s why I’m meeting him.”
Claire blushes, and I grin. “Practicing.”
“Good for you,” she tells her daughter, visibly sincere. “All right, tell me everything.”
We do not tell the mother everything. Even Claire’s edited version contains more truth that what I would have guessed.
The fact I paid for the harpy’s surgery for a kiss makes Hyacinth laugh so hard she holds her side. “She keeps saying she got it by being a fucking saint. Oh, please, please let me tell her.”
“Mom, she’d flip.”
“She’d die on spot, you mean,” Hyacinth snorts. “Let me get a life insurance policy on her, then tell her.”
I decide I like her, the absent parent thing aside. I certainly wasn’t equipped to raise a kid at sixteen. She made a shitty choice in a shitty situation. I remember something about her file; she asked for custody ten years ago and was denied, as a young, single woman without a stable income or a home she owned.
She tried.
She’s trying still, that much is clear.
“I think Claire said you’re working in New York?”
Claire, who said no such thing, doesn’t disagree.
“Yep, kiddo. In finance. It’s a bit busy, but it pays.”
“Boyfriend? Close friends? Dog?” I check.
“No, no, and god do I want a dog, but no. What’s it to you, handsome?” she teases.
I shrug. “I wonder if you might want to move out to Thorn Falls is all. We have a pretty busy financial center. Nothing like Manhattan, but it’s also less competitive and busy. I fully intend to keep your daughter there.”
“Keep her, huh?” She tilts her head. “Clever man. You know what, I’ll look into it. See if there’s something in my wheelhouse coming up.”
“I can ask my uncle to look into your resume,” I offer.
“His uncle owns the town,” Claire clarifies.
“ Half the town, love,” I remind her. “But specifically, a thriving investment firm.”
“Would I have heard of it?”
“Goltz Investments.”
That gets her attention. Everyone’s heard of it. “Kiddo, my resume won’t get me into Goltz Investments.”
“Can’t guarantee it will. But he can look. He might know someone.”
“You know what? Sure. I’ll spruce it up and send it to you.”
Better not mention I already have the current version.
Hyacinth reminds me of Lisa a lot. I can imagine they’ll get along once we get her in town. We head out to dinner, and I don’t even hate having to share Claire’s attention. For the time being. I’m not going to pretend to be sorry to have Claire to myself later.
“Were you serious?” she asks the moment we’re back in the suite. “About getting Hyacinth a job with your uncle—or someone your uncle knows in town?”
“Do I ever joke?” I reply, grinning.
“Says the man who was chatting about pumping a dozen children into me.”
“A slight exaggeration, not a joke. Yes, love. It’s clear she’s a good influence. It’ll be great for you to have family around you. And an occasional babysitter for the half -dozen children I’m pumping into you.”
“There you go again. This is why I can’t take you seriously. But do you really think your uncle might hire her? Or know someone who would?”
“I don’t know enough about her aptitude for a definite answer. If she doesn’t suck, yes. It’s no different from the reason why my father wanted your drawing. In the end, we work better surrounded by a network of people we have a relationship with. Uncle Eriks will take his nephew’s mother-in-law over a random stranger any day.”
She shakes her head, yet again denying the obvious.
God, there’s really no way she’ll take me seriously until this is over with, is there?
The ring’s in my wallet, rather than a fancy, pretty box, because I didn’t plan this. I fiddle with the leather pockets until I get it out. “I was going to wait for the perfect time, and not in goddamn Michigan, but I feel like half of our conversations will be extremely frustrating on both ends until this is clarified. So, marry me.”
I pull it out.
I took a while to choose it, opting for a platinum band and a cluster of diamonds with a sapphire the exact color of her eyes in the middle, rather than the typical big diamond, guessing she wouldn’t want something too showy. It’s already her size. I measured while she slept with a bit of string. It’s hardly the most invasive bit of stalking I’ve gotten away with where she’s concerned.
She stares at it wordlessly.
It occurs to me I didn’t actually ask. “If you don’t say anything, I’ll have to assume you’ve acquiesced and proceed to booking the venue.”
“Keller, this makes no sense,” she says, eyes flying from the ring to my face. “We only met weeks ago.”
I shrug. “When you know, you know.”
“And you do?” she gasps, astonished for some reason.
“Don't you?” I countered.
“Well, yes.” She doesn't hesitate. “But you're… you . You have tons of options. Girls. Models who’d kill to be with you.”
“So do you. You had Noah. Plenty of guys are sniffing around.”
More than I’d like. Hence the ring.
“You know what I mean,” she counters, starting to pace.
“I don't.”
I understand that her response has everything to do with her lack of confidence, and nothing to do with me. She said “well, yes.” She knows she wants me. Which is why this conversation is going to end very soon, with my ring on her finger and my cock in her ass.
“Claire, I have a lot more dating experience than you do. Trust me, I know . I've always made it quite clear I see a future with you.”
“You weren't joking?” Her voice is half a whisper. “About all of that, and the kids?”
“Well, I don’t truly want an actual dozen. Six, however…”
“We said four.”
“To be debated.” And I’ll win. “Don't worry, I'm in no rush. You've just started college; I have my residency in a few years. And I intend to be fully involved when we decide it’s the right time for children. But I want the world to know who you belong to. As soon as possible.”
Today, if it were doable.
“It’s too soon,” I agree. “But Claire, our relationship isn’t balanced. You will never fully trust me until there’s a ring on your finger saying that it’s forever—or that I would owe you enough to take care of you if somehow we grew apart. This is your security blanket. And the reason I do it is to tell every asshole in and out of town that you’re mine.”
She’s stopped pacing, but still too stunned to respond.
I try to explain my need to get this written in stone. “My mother doesn’t build relationships. She actively avoids it. And my father still hasn’t found someone to hold on to, although he yearns for that. It’s just sad. I know there’s something unique, completely different from the usual level of chemistry and compatibility between us, and I choose to commit to you. So when I say marry me, I mean, choose me back.”
“I—of course, I choose you. But are you really sure? Really sure you want me? That you won’t think you made the wrong choice tomorrow?”
Oh, silly little ghost.
“I’m a Keller, love. I’m never wrong. I’ll ask again. Try a one-word answer this time.”
“Technically, you never asked,” the smartass points out.
“Whatever. Marry me.”
She doesn’t say no.