15. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
The rest of the conversation was a little more pleasant. She told me how George Reed was so in love with her that after they got married, they moved to Auburn so she could finish school.
Aunt Lu was probably the wealthiest coed that school has ever had. She and George traveled the world, but they made Kaysville their home base. They built the mansion she now lived in, and they became the center of attention.
They threw grand, lavish parties. The whole town, with the exception of the Isaac Jackson family, was invited.
Even Isaac’s parents came, but that began to divide the town.
The Jacksons began to throw their own events, and everyone was forced to make a choice, just like Alabama or Auburn.
If you lived in Kaysville, you had to choose a side.
George died a year before I was born, making my aunt and me into the wealthy women we were now.
I didn’t know this tidbit, but it was Isaac’s daddy who convinced my aunt to keep her money with Kaysville National.
Apparently, he was still quite fond of my aunt.
He helped advise her after George’s passing.
I could tell, as she talked about him, how much she admired him.
I bet that didn’t sit well with Brady’s momma.
We also talked about me entering her life.
She’d told me on many occasions that I was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
She had always wanted children, but she and George were never able to have any.
My aunt had suffered multiple miscarriages during their marriage.
She had suffered so much loss in her life, but she never felt sorry for herself.
Perhaps she was a little hardened by it, but she had been nothing but tender and loving to me my entire life.
She was also very generous. Many in Kaysville owed their starts to her, and on our trips around the world, we had toured and volunteered in several orphanages and hospitals, and I knew she had donated millions over the years to various causes. She was my hero.
Now, yet again, she was trying to be selfless by putting aside her feelings about the Jackson family so that Brady and I could have a second chance at love. I had no doubt she orchestrated that first meeting of ours at the bank.
By mid-afternoon, we were both exhausted, so we slept for a few hours.
You know you’re tired when you can sleep soundly on a couch in a hospital room.
When I woke up, my aunt told me to go home and get some real sleep and not to stay out all night again.
I had to chuckle at her attempts to parent me still.
I had lots to think about on my drive home. My heart ached for my aunt. I knew how I had felt these last ten years with no answers and no Brady; at least I had never been friends with Amber.
As soon as I stepped through the door, my phone rang.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hi.”
“I’ve missed you today.”
“Then maybe you should come over.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I’ll be there in ten.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Doris was still in the kitchen.
“Feel free to head out early,” I told her.
She gave me a knowing smile. “Dinner’s in the oven—and there’s enough for two.”
I smiled, thanked her, and just as she reached the porch, Brady’s truck pulled up.
She beamed at both of us. “Mr. Brady, you better treat our girl right,” she said as she walked off.
“Of course, ma’am,” he replied, tipping his head respectfully.
As soon as the door closed, Brady wrapped me in his arms and kissed me like he was trying to rewrite history. For a moment, I forgot I was an Eaton. And maybe even forgot my first name.
“How was your day, darlin’?”
“Interesting.”
He gave me a curious look.
“I’ll tell you over dinner. How was work? Did you keep my fortune safe?” I teased.
He picked me up and twirled me with that boyish grin. “Yes, my heiress.”
When he set me down, his eyes shifted—more serious now.
“Will it bother you that you have more money than me?”
“Brady Jackson, how could you ask me that?” I stepped closer. “You know I don’t care about things like that. I never asked for my aunt’s fortune. Does it bother you ?”
He paused. “No. I just want the woman I love to know she can count on me—to take care of her.”
I touched his cheek. “She knows.”
He kissed my palm, then smiled like a man with a plan.
“That reminds me—I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared out the door and returned with a white box tied with a red bow.
We walked into the kitchen together, and Brady handed me the white box as we settled at the counter.
I carefully slid the ribbon off—always trying to keep the bows intact, like some small tribute to the moment. Inside, nestled in crisp tissue paper, was a cream-colored wool coat with matching faux fur-lined leather gloves.
I pulled him into a hug. “I love them. Thank you.”
“As much as I love seeing you in my coat,” he said with a grin, “I figured you could use one of your own.”
He was so thoughtful. I modeled the coat for him, twirling once. It fit like it had been made just for me.
We finished putting dinner together while he told me about his day. Doris had left lemon chicken in the oven. I tossed a salad while Brady set the table, stealing kisses between utensils and place settings.
It was nearly perfect. I could imagine doing this every night—for years. And all I had to do was say the word.
But I wasn’t ready. Not just yet.
Over dinner, I told him about my conversation with Aunt Lu. I kept my tone measured, careful not to lace it with anger or judgment—no matter how tempting it was to call his parents out for their past. I stuck to the facts. Brady didn’t seem upset. If anything, he looked quietly reflective.
Later, as we curled up on the couch together, I rested my head against him and asked gently: “Did you know our parents used to be neighbors? And your grandparents adored my aunt? They were best friends with my grandparents.”
“I had no idea,” he said, surprised. “My grandparents died when I was a toddler. I don’t even remember them.”
He pulled me closer, his warmth grounding me.
“Ellie . . . I know this sounds terrible, but I’m glad our parents didn’t end up together.”
I’d thought the same thing earlier, and the guilt still lingered. Isaac had been my aunt’s Brady. She’d loved him the way I loved the man sitting beside me.
“I know,” I whispered. “But hearing her talk about your daddy—it was heartbreaking. Has he ever told you why it ended?”
Brady kissed the top of my head.
“Darlin’, what’s all this about? Does it really matter what happened all those years ago?”
“I just want to understand why your parents hate me so much.”
He turned toward me, his eyes steady and full of quiet fire. That beautiful face, shadowed with stubble, looked more serious than I’d seen it all day.
“I told you—they have no bearing on how I feel about you.”
“They’re your parents,” I breathed. “Are you really ready to cut them out of your life for me?”
“If I have to, yes. I love you. I want you to be my wife.”
I leaned my forehead against his, heart thudding.
“I love you too . . . but I’m scared. I don’t want a repeat of the last ten years.”
He cupped my face in his hands, gently brushing my hair back. His eyes held nothing but love.
“Ellie, ten years from now, you and I will be covered in children— our children.” A wicked grin tugged at his lips. “And I’ll be trying to get them into bed and fast asleep . . . so I can seduce their momma.”
“Brady Jackson,” I playfully said.
“Ellie Eaton,” he whispered.
My name never sounded so good.
I leaned back against him, exhausted, thinking about what it would truly be like to be seduced by Brady Jackson.
A shiver went through me. We’d always walked a line when we were growing up.
A fine line sometimes. It was a miracle we’d never crossed it.
But there were rules. And that was one we hadn’t broken.
I was so tired, I fell asleep even though I didn’t want to miss a moment with Brady. I awoke sometime late in the night to him kissing me.
“As much as I want to stay, I think I better go home. I don’t want to start any rumors,” he teased.
“You don’t think people aren’t already talking about us?” I said sleepily.
He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m sure they are, darlin’,”
I bit my lip. “You could stay.”
“Don’t tempt me, Ellie. I don’t want you to think I only want you so we can sleep together.”
Could he be any better? “I think I may love you.”
“That’s good, because I know I love you. And honestly, that’s the only thing that is making me leave you right now.”
“Goodnight, Ellie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“I dare anyone to try to keep me away from you.”
With that, he got up and left. I sat on the couch for several more minutes, reveling in the fact that Brady loved me.
I finally convinced myself I should sleep in my bed and maybe put on pajamas instead of sleeping in my clothes.
As I walked up the stairs, I felt like I was floating above them.
A week ago I couldn’t imagine that I would be back in Kaysville and just a word away from being engaged to Brady.