16. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
I spent the next day at the hospital. Aunt Lu was looking better—stronger—but restless.
She wanted to be home. The plan was for her to come back Sunday, and I was counting down the hours.
Even though the house was decorated, it didn’t feel like Christmas without her in it.
She’d always been the heartbeat of the holidays.
We spent the afternoon working on storyboards for my new book. No mention of the Jacksons. She didn’t ask about Brady, and I didn’t offer. But I was sure she knew how I’d been spending my evenings.
Still, I hoped. Hoped Brady could charm her. Hoped we could all be a happy family someday.
I wasn’t as optimistic about his side. But I would at least have Benjamin and Kendra—and little Miss Caroline. Brady and I planned to take her to the movies the next night. Apparently, they’d had a standing Friday night date for over a year.
When he asked if I minded, I told him the truth: If I had to share Brady with someone, Caroline was my first choice. My only choice.
He hadn’t told her yet that we were a couple, and I was anxious to see her reaction. I kept thinking about her sweet prayer on Sunday and how much that little girl already meant to me.
Brady came over again that night, and we had another perfect, low-key evening.It was the kind of night that made you feel like home wasn’t a place—it was a person.
We tried to wrap the gifts we’d bought the weekend before. Well— I tried. Brady mostly kept me company and very, very distracted.
We got tangled in ribbon and wrapping paper, laughing until our sides hurt. It was probably the most fun I’d ever had wrapping presents.
But it was more than just fun.
At one point, we were sitting on the floor, surrounded by a sea of bright paper and half-tied bows. I looked up and watched him trying— really trying —to make a decent bow.
And I felt it. That overwhelming rush. The kind that fills your chest and makes your heart ache in the best way. He caught me staring and gave me a sheepish look, probably thinking I was about to tease him.
But I didn’t.
I just said, “I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I believed him.
After we finished wrapping the gifts, I realized I still hadn’t bought anything for Brady or Benjamin.
“What do you want for Christmas?” I asked.
He gave me that look. “You know what I want.”
“A puppy it is, then,” I teased.
He pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me.
“The only soft, warm creature I want on my lap is you.”
I snuggled in closer. “I don’t know . . . think how happy you’d make Caroline if you had a puppy at your house.”
He grinned. “I think she’d be happier if I had an Aunt Ellie at my house.”
I liked the sound of that—being Caroline’s aunt. But I liked the sound of being Brady’s wife even more.
Still, I needed time. Time to be sure Aunt Lu could accept him. Maybe even love him.
Brady seemed to read my thoughts.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I have a plan to win your aunt over.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate her.”
“And you shouldn’t underestimate how serious I am about making you my wife.”
I didn’t. I knew how sweet and charming Brady could be. But I also knew he didn’t fully grasp the pain his parents had caused Aunt Lu—or how hard she was trying not to let that pain interfere with my happiness. Or his.
Still, despite the uphill battle ahead, Operation Get Aunt Lu to Call Brady by His God-Given Name officially launched the next day.
Brady planned to take a half-day off and meet me at the hospital.
I arrived early to make sure Aunt Lu’s hair and makeup were just how she liked them. He wouldn’t win any points if she didn’t feel like she looked her best.
I even brought her new Auburn-blue satin pajamas. They were soft, elegant, and just flashy enough to make her feel like herself again.
I got her as dolled up as I could, considering she was still in a hospital bed. To me, she was beautiful with or without cosmetics. But what mattered most was how she felt.
Brady arrived around noon. I heard his knock and took a steadying breath before opening the door.
My country boy had transformed into a city gentleman—dark suit, tie perfectly knotted, and holding a stunning gardenia plant. To call him handsome was an understatement.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Darlin’.” His voice held a nervous edge.
Mine probably did, too.
I reached for his free hand, gave it a reassuring squeeze, and led him into the unknown. We stopped just outside the curtain. Aunt Lu had it drawn, deep in her steamy soap opera world.
I peeked around. “You have a visitor.”
She looked up, mildly curious.
I tugged Brady forward and pulled him into enemy territory.
When she saw him, she sat up—stiffer, straighter, wary. Her eyes flicked to mine. I smiled, pleading silently for kindness.
Her expression didn’t change.
Brady, sensing his moment, stepped forward.
“Ms. Eaton, it’s good to see you looking so well,” he said gently. He placed the gardenia plant on her bedside table with obvious care. “I brought this for you.”
She glanced at the gardenia. “Thank you,” she said—civil, but clipped.
Brady gave her his signature grin, easy and genuine. “You’re welcome, ma’am.”
That wasn’t the right thing to say. I should have warned him.
“I don’t like to be called ma’am .”
I glanced at Brady, wondering how he’d take the first punch in the ring with the reigning champ.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Instead, he leaned in with a smile and said, “Well, would you prefer we skip all the formalities and I start calling you Mom ?”
I gasped and slapped a hand over my mouth.
Aunt Lu’s face flushed crimson—flustered and caught off guard. And that was saying something. I’d never seen her flustered.
Brady stood his ground, cool as ever, wearing that charming smile like armor.
She narrowed her eyes, regaining control just enough to deliver a measured reply: “You may call me Luanne in private. During board meetings, it will still be Ms. Eaton .”
Brady gave a slow nod. “Well, thank you, Luanne.”
Okay . . . round one? Brady Jackson, by a knockout.
I reached for his hand and brought him to sit on the couch with me. I didn’t know why, but I felt a little awkward holding Brady’s hand in front of my aunt. It was silly, I know. I mean, I was twenty-seven years old. Maybe if she weren’t so tense.
I could tell she was trying her hardest to be civil. I had to remind myself that Brady looked like a younger version of the man who had broken her heart. Undoubtedly, this wasn’t pleasant for her, and I doubted she quite knew what to do with Brady. He had just bested her, and she was never bested.
She grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “So, why aren’t you at the bank this afternoon?”
Great, she was going to give him the third degree.
Brady glanced at me first before responding, “I’m here to see Ellie in action in the children’s ward.”
Her brow pinched. “Why do you call her Ellie ?”
I glanced at Brady, just as curious for the answer as she was. I’d never asked. I’d always figured he simply liked the name.
He lifted my hand and kissed it gently.
“Well,” he began, “back in junior high, my friends used to ask who I liked. I couldn’t tell them I had a crush on Ella Eaton—not with everything going on.
So I came up with a name—a mix of her first name and last initial.
Ellie.” He smiled. “That way, I wasn’t lying.
And no one knew who I was talking about.
There weren’t any Ellies in our school, so everyone figured she lived somewhere else. ”
He looked at me with the same quiet affection I’d probably missed back then. “I never corrected them.”
Oh, gosh, I loved that so much.
“I thought about her so much that, in my mind and heart, she became Ellie.”
I peeked over at my aunt to see her response. Her look seemed to say, “I’ll give you that one.”
We’d had enough of our first little experiment. I jumped up. “I think we should head down to the pediatric ward.”
Brady eagerly stood up next to me, which made me think he was calm and cool on the outside, but maybe not so much on the inside. I walked over, kissed Aunt Lu on the cheek, and told her we would be back later.
I stressed “we” so she wasn’t surprised. Also, I wanted her to get used to “we”.
“It was nice to see you, Luanne. You look lovely, by the way,” Brady added.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. That was a little overkill.
“Well . . . you two enjoy the children.”
As we stepped into the hallway, Brady slipped his arm around my waist.
“She’ll be calling me Brady in no time,” he said, sounding far too smug.
“You think so?”
“I know so, darlin’. I had her eating out of the palm of my hand.”
“Were we in the same room? I think you’re lucky she didn’t eat you for lunch.”
“You just wait, Ellie. She’s going to love me.”
“I hope so.”
We waited in silence for the elevator. After a moment, I turned to him.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me the story about my name?”
He smiled. “You never asked.”
I tilted my head. “So how long have you liked me?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Forever.”
“We didn’t even talk until ninth grade.”
“Doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.”
“When did you know you loved me?”
He looked down at me, voice softening. “To know you is to love you. But I realized it after our first kiss—on the tire swing.”
I sighed. “I loved that swing. Is it still there?”
Brady grinned. “No. I replaced it.”
“Oh,” I said, disappointment slipping out.
He raised a brow. “I kept the original. It’s at my place.”
I laughed softly. “Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?”
“Every time I passed that swing, I thought of us. I thought maybe it was all I’d ever have. So, I took it.” He paused. “But this—us—I like better.”
“Me, too.” So much.
In the children’s ward, the tension from earlier melted away. We greeted the kids who could join us in the playroom. I read to them; some knew my books and were giddy just to meet me. But Brady—Brady became their hero.
While I read, he animated the scenes with voices and gestures, cheering and gasping, helping the kids giggle and shout. By the time we handed out books and dolls, I decided he was coming to all my future readings.
One little girl, Rosie, couldn’t leave her room. Six years old with leukemia, sweet as sugar. Brady took dolls to her bedside and pantomimed the story as I read. Her smile lit up the room. She asked for an extra doll and book for her little sister. I would’ve given her the moon if she asked.
On the way back toward the elevator, neither of us spoke. The joy, the ache—it sat heavy, but not unkind. We rode the elevator alone.
Brady looked at me and said simply, “I love you.”
“I love you.”
I think when you experience what we just experienced, you realize how short life is, and you need to tell the people you love how you feel about them.
As we exited the elevator, Brady flashed a grin. “It’s showtime, darlin’. Watch and learn.”
“You really think she’s going to call you Brady before we leave today?”
“Yep. I hope you’ve been looking at wedding dresses.”
Truth was—I had. Just yesterday, I’d created a Pinterest wedding board for the first time. I’d always avoided the topic; it felt too painful. Why plan something you weren’t sure would ever happen?
Olivia, my agent (and digital shadow), saw it instantly. She called, probing gently. I gave her the most noncommittal overview imaginable. She didn’t push. That’s why our personal and working relationship worked—we knew when to give space.
I’d found a few dresses I liked—simple, elegant. Aunt Lu would want to be involved when the time came. I wasn’t ready to plan anything without her. She’d earned the experience. I was her only child, and this was her only wedding to help plan.
We stepped quietly into her hospital room and found her sleeping.
I leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead. She stirred, opened her eyes, and smiled softly at me. Then glanced left—and harrumphed.
Brady stayed unfazed. “You would have been so proud of Ellie today. The kids adored her—and her books.”
“I’m proud of Ella Lu every day,” she snapped, eyes never leaving him.
Brady didn’t blink. “Another thing we have in common, Luanne.”
Okay. He was fearless.
I jumped in before her soap opera glare got sharper. “Brady was amazing, too. The kids loved him. You should’ve heard his Aunt Calliope and Jane impressions.”
She turned toward him with those eagle eyes.
“I’ve had plenty of practice,” Brady said. “I’ve been reading those books to Caroline for the past two years. You know Caroline—Kendra and Benjamin’s daughter.”
Her brow tightened. “Of course I know who Caroline is,” she said, with a trace of bite. Then softer: “She’s a darling girl.”
Progress.
“Brady and I are taking her to the movies tonight,” I added. “Apparently, they have a standing Friday night date.” I was trying to think of anything to help her see that Brady really was wonderful.
She didn’t respond, but she didn’t scoff either. That was probably a win.
We didn’t stay much longer. Aunt Lu’s energy flagged, and I didn’t want to push.
Before we left, Brady made a final move.
He took her hand gently. “It was really lovely to see you, Luanne. Ellie and I are excited for you to come home so we can spend more time together.”
I saw the slightest hesitation—like she wasn’t sure whether to pull back or let the moment stand. And for half a heartbeat, I thought she might say his name. Her lips twitched. Maybe a “B.” But it passed.
“Well,” she said, “just make sure you take care of my girl. Don’t keep her out too late.”
“I promise,” Brady said quietly, letting go.
I bent close and whispered, “Thank you. I love you.”
She gave me that signature Aunt Lu look. “I love you more than air, Ella Lu.”
In the hallway, I slid my arm around Brady’s waist. “There’s always tomorrow.”
He exhaled, brushing a kiss against my head.
“I thought I almost had her.”
“Me too.”
Maybe next time. Well . . . probably not.