24. Will
24
WILL
I made dinner. It wasn't gourmet, just spaghetti and garlic bread, but it was made with love and a tad bit of anxiety. Abby had only been home a few hours when I sent my car to retrieve Beth from her apartment. I hadn't told her we were having company yet or who that company was, but I did tell her we would have a serious discussion tonight, which she agreed to.
The time with my brother and his wife seemed to help her relax a bit. Christmas was lonely without her, but it had given me time to reflect on everything. I knew Abby was only trying to get her footing and feel better. I watched her struggling to find her way after Kate's death and now with graduation approaching in five months, I knew she was going through things on her own. She probably had the weight of wishing her mother could be here for her graduation riding on her shoulders, and I hadn't taken time to account for that.
"I'll set the table," she said cheerfully as she pecked me on the cheek. "Smells good."
I glanced at her and smiled, but I felt nervous apprehension swirling in my chest. "Set an extra place please," I told her, and she narrowed her eyes at me as she pulled the plates out of the cupboard.
"Who's coming?" she asked, and I shut off the stove, leaving the wooden spoon in the saucepan I'd been stirring.
My fear of her horrible reaction was cut off before I could answer as Beth rang the bell. Unfortunately, I felt that springing this on her was the only way to get her to participate. I knew she was starving after her flights today; she'd said so a dozen times. I knew she would be forced to eat, and my standing rule about eating our meals together would commit her to the table for at least as long as it took for her to eat.
"Dad…" she said, and her face soured.
"Please get the door, Abigail." I used a firm tone so she'd understand this wasn't optional, and I prayed for a positive reaction.
Abby huffed, set the plates on the counter, and headed for the door. I picked up where she left off and carried the plates to the dining table. I heard Abby invite Beth in as I arranged things, then Beth appeared around the corner. She was breathtaking, wearing a pink sweater that hugged her hips like a dress and white leggings. Her hair was twisted up on her head, and she had rose cheeks from the cold.
"Hey," I said, approaching her. She gave me a polite hug with an air kiss—the way I'd greet my aunt. I was slightly confused by it, but after seeing Abby's scowl and the way she folded her arms over her chest, I figured it was the appropriate greeting.
"Hi, thank you for inviting me." Beth seemed just as nervous as I was. She left her coat on but unbuttoned and peeled the black leather gloves from her hands.
"I, uh…I made spaghetti and it's already done." I gestured at the table and Abby huffed and rolled her eyes at me, vanishing into the kitchen just out of sight.
"Will, she seems really uncomfortable." Beth bit her lower lip.
"She'll be okay…" I reached out and took hold of Beth's coat, helping her out of it. "Just sit. Okay?"
Beth was stiff, being distant from me when I kissed her quickly. She shied away and I walked toward the coat closet to hang her coat. When I returned, the serving dishes with spaghetti, sauce, and breadsticks were set out. Beth and Abby were seated across from each other and my spot at the head of the table waited for me.
I sat and reached for the bowl of spaghetti to serve them and to my utter shock, Abby was the one who began the conversation.
"So, you're Elizabeth Reid?"
I put noodles and sauce on Abby's plate first, then Beth's. Then I served myself a small portion before pouring myself a glass of wine, and then Beth. Abby had water, though I saw her eyeing the wine as if she'd prefer it. It made me half smile thinking about my daughter becoming an adult.
"Yes, and I've heard so much about you, Abby. Your dad talks about you all the time." Beth's comment made Abby scowl, though I didn't understand why. She carefully cut her pasta with her fork and knife before taking a bite.
When Abby swallowed she continued. "Look, I'm sorry about that post. It went viral and I never meant for that to happen. I was just pissed."
"Abby—" I snapped, feeling frustrated. "Language."
"Sorry," she mumbled and her cheeks flushed red.
"It's really okay…" Beth was being polite. It really wasn't okay, but all of that was hopefully in the past, and hopefully Abby had learned not to do that again. "I get it…" She smiled at me as Abby's head still hung, and somehow I just knew things were going to be okay. "So your dad said you're looking at colleges? What do you want to major in?"
I never said a word. I sat there eating my spaghetti in silence as a conversation naturally blossomed between them. Abby was stiff at first, reluctant to open up, but when she confessed to Beth that she'd like to study business, perhaps at King's College, Beth offered some really great advice.
One sentence at a time I saw Abby warming to Beth, though it didn't appear overly intimate, just a casual and comfortable disposition between them. They were being civil and it pleased me. I never doubted Beth would be good for Abby, but my daughter's shift in attitude helped me relax.
"Beth, you haven't touched your wine tonight…" I refilled my glass and noticed how she hadn't even taken a sip of hers. Abby just kept eating, and Beth shrugged her shoulders.
"Not in a drinking mood, I suppose." Her soft smile reassured me, and I figured she was just trying to stay in control, given the situation. She turned back to Abby and asked, "Have you taken the ACT or the SAT yet?"
The way conversation flowed between them so naturally made me more than hopeful. Beth couldn't have picked a better topic to break the ice. Abby was in the thick of college preparations and I knew she'd been nervous about it. My brother and his wife tried to help her too, but what she really needed was her mom. Beth would never replace Kate, but I did hope one day Abby would think of her at the very least like a friend.
When dinner was finished, I left them sitting at the table talking about college choices and placement tests and carried the dirty dishes away. I brought Beth a glass of water and removed her wine glass. They were still talking, so I rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher, which was something I hadn't done in ages, but since I gave the maid the night off, it had to be done.
As I pressed the button to start it, I heard chuckling in the other room, and it hit me that this was what my life could be like every night if things went smoothly. To have Beth in this house as my partner and to feel like a real family again without the distance and heartbreak. It wasn't something I thought I'd really ever have again, at least not while Abby was still living here, and the idea of it made me crave it so desperately. It made me crave Beth too.
I walked back into the dining room and Abby was gone. Beth sat quietly sipping her water and I leaned down and kissed her cheek, lingering there to hug her from behind.
"She's just getting her senior portraits," Beth whispered and I smiled.
"Seems like you two are hitting it off?" I kissed her cheek again, trailing my lips up her jawline to her earlobe where I nibbled.
Beth smiled and leaned away from me and said, "She's a really good kid, Will."
I was so close, so hungry to taste my victory in this situation, but I wasn't going to push either of them. I kissed Beth again, this time on the lips and she responded. Her body angled toward mine and her hand rested on the back of my neck, pulling me down against her. I crushed my mouth against hers and slipped my tongue inside. She moaned softly as my hand slid down over her sweater, cupped her breast, and kneaded it.
"Will," she panted breathlessly as I sucked on her pulse point and raked my teeth against her skin. "She's coming back…"
I hadn't heard her bedroom door shut yet, so I knew we had a few seconds longer, and I squeezed her tit hard. "Stay with me tonight…" My groping continued and she forced my lips back to hers. Her response encouraged me. I wanted her so badly. I let my hand slide over her belly and between her thighs, and she gripped my wrist and held my fingers away from her core.
"Will, stop…" she sighed, and when I pulled away she was grinning. "This isn't exactly how she should walk back in. Okay?" I saw the concern on her face, and I knew she was right. We were making progress, and Abby seeing us groping each other like horny teenagers wouldn't help my case. I straightened and she shook her head. "I can't stay."
"But …"
"Think about it, okay? What message would it send to Abby?" I hated that Beth's wisdom was correct. And I hated that everything was moving at a snail's pace, but at least Beth and I were finally inching forward again. Being away from her in the office was sheer torture and she'd been so distant lately. I didn't want to push her either.
"Alright…" I conceded and took her hand, leading her toward the living room as Abby left her bedroom.
I sat for the next thirty minutes as Abby showed Beth her portraits. They were getting along even if it was very stiff and professional, but it was a first step. After another half hour of talking about college life and dorm living—which made me thoroughly convinced I needed to hire a bodyguard for my precious little angel—Beth yawned and mentioned she was getting tired. I hoped she'd stay, but she had made her mind up.
"I'll escort you home," I said, and I saw the flash of frustration on Abby's face as I walked toward the coat closet.
Beth stood and nodded at Abby. "It was really nice to finally meet you, Abby. I hope we can do this again sometime."
"Yeah, it was okay." Abby stood and hugged her scrapbook to her chest and pursed her lips. "You're coming home tonight, right?" Her eyebrows were knitted together and she stared at me.
"Of course, honey. You make some popcorn and I'll be back in forty minutes. We'll watch a movie." I winked at her as Beth walked over to me and slid her arms into her coat.
The night had gone off without a hitch. We were miles ahead of where we'd been only hours ago. Abby was willing to sit in the same room and speak with Beth without angry tantrums. I made a mental note to call my brother and thank him for whatever it was that he said to her to help her see things my way.
"I'll be back," I said and waved at her as she stood there glowering at us.
I escorted Beth downstairs to my car and we climbed in. Part of me hoped she'd give me a wild ride right here in the back seat like before, but she sat against the door with her legs crossed and her arms folded on her chest in a very distant and cold posture, even when I scooted up closer to her.
"Did Allen tell you what's happening?" she asked, and her face turned to take me in. Her eyes looked pained, her lips slightly curled downward in a frown.
"We've had several board meetings, yes." This wasn't the topic I wanted to discuss, but I could tell she was having emotions about it. It did involve her too, and I knew no one would ever inform her of things unless I did. I was fighting hard to make sure my board and my chiefs all knew she wasn't doing what the gossip mill said.
"And?" she said in a defeated tone.
I rested my hand on her thigh and rubbed my thumb back and forth. She still didn't loosen up at all. In fact, she grew more tense as I explained things.
"Nevil is buying up shares as fast as shareholders sell. There is talk about me sleeping with you." I grimaced and bit back my own emotion so I could keep a steady expression for her. I didn't want her fears to feed off my lack of self-control. "People are saying you were selling insider information and some of our shareholders fear they'll lose money, so they're backing out."
The entire thing was a scheme cooked up by Banks himself; there was no doubt in my mind. Though I'd recently come into some new information from our CTO that the email address that sent Beth those bullying emails was created and came from within our own servers. It meant someone on my team was taunting her all along, so that part wasn't cooked up by Nevil.
"Will, this could destroy me. You know I've sent out three hundred résumés and I've only gotten a handful of responses?" My chest tightened and I hid my scowl. I hated that she felt like she had to look elsewhere for work, but I knew she was only protecting herself. "This whole thing is destroying me, and you swore no one would know. Every firm in New York has seen the tabloids. I have to search for a backup employment opportunity outside of the city."
My throat knotted up and I swallowed it back. "Beth, I'm not going to let them fire you."
"You can't decide what they will or won't do." She turned away and stared out the window and I knew she was hurt. There really was no way I could stop them if they wanted to fire her. They could vote me out as CEO at any second too. It was out of my control and she knew it. And my empty promises weren't ever going to bring her reassurance.
"I got a job offer." Her lips moved and sank my heart like the Titanic.
"You what?"
Beth swiped at her face and I knew she was crying. "All of this is my fault, Will. Your life would be on track if I hadn't messed things up. You told me after that kiss that nothing could happen, and I agreed that day. And then you flirted with me and I should've said no. I should've walked out of your office that day. Abby wouldn't hate you or me. The board wouldn't be breathing down either of our necks. And Nevil Banks wouldn't be trying a hostile takeover just to get me."
Beth turned to look at me and her words cut my heart open. "Beth, don't say that. I love you. I don't care what happens to anything else. This isn't your fault. We love each other."
"The job is in London." Her eyes met mine and the shock of her statement slapped me. I pulled back, sinking into the leather of the seat. My shoulders drooped. It felt like the wind was sucked out of my chest. "They can start me in one month. It's better pay, better benefits. They'll give me a relocation stipend and?—"
"No," I muttered but it was halfhearted and weak. I was devastated. I thought we were on the right track here. I thought things were going well. Abby was even coming around.
"It might be what's best, Will." She leaned forward, angling her body toward mine now. "I can't sit here and watch you lose your company while the entire city is calling me a gold digger and saying I'm sleeping my way to the top."
"Beth, you can't believe that moving across a whole ocean is the best thing." I took her hand and pressed it to my heart. "You'll destroy me."
The car rolled to a stop and the brakes squeaked. "I'd be saving you, Will. You just don't see it yet." She sighed sadly and leaned forward and kissed my cheek. "I need some time to think about this choice…I just need you to respect that, okay? Don't try to call me or buy me flowers or convince me I'm wrong. Just let me think." Her sad eyes raked across my raw soul and left me bleeding out.
"Beth …"
"Bye, Will," she said as she slipped out of the car and into the night. When the door shut, it felt like a bomb went off in my chest. None of this was supposed to happen. She couldn't go to London, I just found her. I just fell in love. Things weren't supposed to go like this. We were supposed to be happy now.