Chapter Eleven #2
“Jesus.” Asher rubs his hands together and shakes his head. “Her own parents left her in foster care?” He shakes his head again, his jaw set in anger on her behalf. “No wonder she’s got trust issues.”
I nod.
Aurora’s history beats the story of our mother walking out and never coming back, I think. Not that it’s a contest. And my family had our father, Serenity, and each other. I know we were lucky.
But Asher was older, and he remembers our mom…and the neglect. He doesn’t like to talk about his childhood, and I respect that.
“You have your hands full right now. I can have my assistant get a list of potential candidates for you to interview.”
I nod. “That’ll help. Thanks. ”
“We’re family. Whatever you need, I’m here,” Asher says. “I just want to make sure you’re making this big move because you want it, not because Aurora asked you to.”
“Actually, she’s never asked. She’s admitted that my leaving hits her abandonment issues.
” I clasp my hands together and lean forward.
“I was sitting on the private jet I’d rented at a moment’s notice and realized something.
Our wealth? We take it for granted. But it enables us to make choices other people can’t. ”
“Like?”
“Like I don’t need to travel for business. I chose to. Just like I chose not to have a home base, an apartment or a house. Hell, you have homes. Plural,” I say.
Asher rises from his seat. “You’ve grown up a lot in a short time. Gotta say, bro, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” I stand.
“I need to get going.” Asher tips his head towards the entrance. “Tell Aurora I’m sorry I missed her, but that I’d like to get together with you both soon.” He starts for the door and pauses. “Fatherhood looks good on you.”
I chuckle. “You wait until it’s your turn. Fatherhood changes you. Love changes you.”
Asher shakes his head but says nothing.
I pull my brother into a one-armed hug. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. ”
I let my sibling out and shut the door behind him, then turn…and find Aurora standing at the end of the hall. She’s obviously just woken up and stands watching me.
She’s showered, and her hair is damp, falling in waves around her face. She wears the same pair of sweats I saw her in that first morning, rolled down and revealing a strip of smooth skin, and a cropped loose short-sleeve top. Her feet are bare, with hot pink toenails.
I love everything about her.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Better. I needed to sleep. Thank you.” She rubs her hands together and meets my gaze. “Can we talk?”
No good conversation ever begins with those words, I think, and nod.
Aurora steps towards me and slips her hand into mine, giving me hope that this won’t be the doomsday talk I expect.
I follow her into the family room, and when I reach the couch, she places her hands on my shoulders.
“Sit. Please,” she says.
I drop to the cushion and settle in, surprised when she climbs into my lap and makes herself comfortable. “What are you doing?”
“Settling in so we can talk.” She appears serious, without any lightheartedness in her expression…but she is sitting in my lap .
Her lips purse in the lush pout I like. A lot. I want to kiss those lips, but I know talking is more important. Because I’ve figured out that she isn’t going to drop bad news on me. So I can relax while we work things out.
“You’re smiling?” She tips her head to one side, her confusion evident. “Why?”
“Because if you were going to end things between us, you wouldn’t be sitting like this.” I gesture to our intimate position.
She nods. “You always were smart,” she says, leaning down and kissing me. “No,” she says, raising her head. “I’m not ending us. But I need to say a few things, and you can decide where we go from here.”
“I’m listening.”
“I love you, Nick. I’ve always loved you.” Her soft gaze searches my face.
At her admission, my heart picks up speed.
“Well, that’s great news. Because you already know I love you, too.
” I tip my head, and she kisses me harder, her mouth warm and willing and she shifts in my lap.
A long moan escapes me as her sex comes in contact with my now rock-hard erection.
I’m not too comfortable myself, but she raises her head.
“We still need to talk. ”
Nodding, I hold myself in check. This is her show, and I’ll let her lead. “I’m here.”
“Melly said some things that resonated with me,” she says.
“Like what?” I brace my hands on her hips, holding her in place and just, well, holding her.
“We talked about the choices she had to make when Linc found me in Florida, and how she knew people would talk about her taking in her husband’s mistress’s pregnant child. And oh, they did talk,” she says, shaking her head.
“You heard things?” I tighten my grip on her waist, feeling protective on her behalf.
She nods. “I never told Melly. I didn’t think I should say anything to make her feel bad. I knew how fortunate I was—she gave me a home. But Melly told me that she feels like she was the lucky one, that she got so much more than anyone else could understand.”
Her eyes fill, and I tighten my hold on her. I’ll do anything to take away her pain. I can’t change the past, but I can make sure her future is a happy one. And I’m hoping this talk will lead to just that. I hold my breath as I listen.
“She surprised me so much.” She swipes under her eyes. “I already knew Melly thinks of Leah as her granddaughter, but I guess I’d never quite grasped that she also considers me her daughter.”
That lump rises in my throat all over again.
“She’s the only mom I’ve ever known,” Aurora admits, her voice strained.
I rub her back in calming circles, offering comfort…and notice she isn’t wearing a bra.
I clear my throat. “Melly’s special, and I told her that earlier today.”
Aurora blinks. “You did?”
“Baby, you’re surrounded by people who are here . People who aren’t going anywhere. You just need to reach out and take what everyone is offering. What I’m offering.”
She visibly swallows. “About that. About us…”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and smooth a hand over the long strands.
“Melly asked me, point blank, if I could imagine my life and future without you in it, knowing you’d be there for Leah regardless,” Aurora says. “She asked me if I was willing to risk my future because the people in my past let me down.”
I know damn well I don’t want to imagine my life without Aurora in it. And as more than just my daughter’s mother.
I open my mouth, but she places her finger over my lips.
My hand stills on her back, and I meet her gaze. “ So what’s the answer?”
She places her hands on either side of my face.
“Like I said, I love you, Nick. There is no future for me without you in it. Not one that I want to imagine, anyway. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to have a hard time adjusting.
I’m going to have to learn how to get over my abandonment issues.
But I’m not sure it’s fair to ask you to put up with me as I do it. ”
I raise an eyebrow. “How about you let me decide what’s fair where I’m concerned?” I already know I’ll do anything for Aurora and Leah. “If it helps, Asher and I talked about me hiring someone to handle some of the travel.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not what I want. Changing how you live, your job, what you do? No. I’m going to work on my issues. I just need to know you’ll stick by me while I do.”
I smile wide. “Just try to get rid of me. And as for cutting down on travel, I think it’s still a good idea.”
Her eyes gleam with happiness at my reply. She twists her body to face me and wraps her arms around my neck.
“A part of me just wants to make you happy and ease your burdens, but the truth is, not being here when Leah was sick? That was an experience I’d rather not repeat. I’ve lost so much time with you both already. I don’t want to miss any more. ”
“I understand that.” She smooths my cheek with her hand, her eyes twinkling with a lightness I’m thrilled to see.
“But I want you to know that if you need to go out of town, or you change your mind and want to go back to the way things are now, I’m not going anywhere.
I want to work on myself so I’m a better mother to Leah, a better partner for you and a stronger woman for myself. ”
“I promise you, we’ll make decisions as a team, okay?” I say. “I love the person you are now. If you want to make some changes because you need them, I support you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already one strong woman and an amazing role model to our daughter.”
“Yeah?” She rubs her finger over my lips, her eyes dilating with need.
“Definitely. Anything else on the table for discussion? Or can I kiss you without interruption?”
She wraps her arms tighter around my neck and nips at my bottom lip in response. I growl and raise my hips, deliberately coming in contact with her sex. She shifts and archs into me, rubbing herself in circles against my cock.
With my hands on her hips, I help her grind into me, our lips still connected. It’s as if I want to be linked with her, forever.
“Mommy, why are you kissing Daddy again? ”
Caught again, I think, knowing I need to get used to it.
Aurora slides back but remains on my lap. “Because we love each other.” Her eyes sparkle as she answers.
Leah walks over, coughing but sounding much better. “I love you, too.” She climbs onto the couch and pushes between us, nearly knocking Aurora over.
Aurora laughs and kisses Leah’s forehead. “Kissing is different between mommies and daddies,” she says. “But I love you, too.”
I tap Leah’s head, and she looks up at me. “I love you too, princess.”
My daughter flings her arms around my neck. “I love you, Daddy.”
My throat tight, I manage to wrap an arm around both of my girls. I have Aurora back. I have my family. And as far as I’m concerned, I have everything that matters.