by Imani King
“Just in time.” He smiled, setting down a vase in the middle of the table. It was filled with a miniature bouquet of roses that looked different than any others I had ever seen before. “They’re wild. Picked them from the thicket. They reminded me of you—especially after last night.” He pulled out my chair as any perfect gentleman would and kissed my head. “Just think, when you move in, I can surprise you with flowers every day.”
I felt a hot flush at the thought. It was sweet.
“Well, good thing I’m moving in,” I chuckled, grabbing my fork and digging in.
While moving in with Braden and having a baby with him was not exactly what I had planned for myself, deep down I knew that I wanted this, just as much I wanted a career—if not more. But of course, I wouldn’t admit that to myself. Not yet, at least.
Chapter 15
Braden
“Roger.” I raised my voice against the rebellious little goat as he rammed one of his brothers. “How many times have I told you to be nice to your siblings?” I wagged my finger as if the animal could understand what I was saying.
Of course, he ignored every word and continued to raid my pockets, practically stuffing his snout into them, looking for food. “I already gave you everything.”
“Meh!” he bleated in protest, growing even more rambunctious. He nearly caused me to topple over before I finally managed to push him away.
Taking my chance, I ran toward the ranch. Roger followed me, as fast as his little legs could take him. When I hopped over the fence, he stared at me, almost looking betrayed. “I’ll be back soon!” I waved.
Once inside, I sighed. It was nice to feel the cool air against my skin. Grabbing a clean dish rag, I wiped the sweat from my brow. It had been a busy morning. I had fed all the animals, gathered all the eggs from the coop, and even managed to clean the horse stalls. Even so, there was still so much more to do before Adele came home from work.
I rummaged through the pantries, looking for something to munch on. Before I could find anything, however, there was a knock on the door. I furrowed my brow in confusion. I didn’t usually have visitors. Maybe it was the mailman delivering a package. Adele had ordered some new sheets for our bed since, well, we didn’t care to wash them every day. Or multiple times a day. I chuckled to myself.
The door opened with a loud creak as I pulled on the handle. To my surprise, a gruff-looking man stood before me. He had a sharp, birdlike nose and a head full of snowy white hair. “May I help you?” I asked, eyeing the briefcase underneath his arm.
“Let me formally introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “I’m Mr. Kilroy. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
My eyes widened. Was this really my grandfather’s lawyer? Up until now, I had only spoken to him over the phone. For him to show up at my house, something must have happened.
“Please, come in.” I stepped back, gesturing for him to come inside.
With a nod of his head, he crossed into the living room and took a seat on the sofa.
I quickly followed suit, not bothering to close the door. A bit of fresh air wouldn’t hurt. I sat down beside him, trying to keep my features calm and composed. The last thing I needed was for him to pick up on my apprehension. Lawyers had a way of picking at loose threads like that and I didn’t want to unravel in front of this man—or my grandfather for that matter.
“Your grandfather has appointed me to be his representative. For this reason, I’ve come to confirm whether you legitimately plan to procure an heir.”
I frowned. “You make it sound so… sterile. You can’t just bring a baby into the world by snapping your fingers. It takes time. The right girl. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Kilroy did not look moved by my little speech. “If you could please answer the inquiry.”
I sighed. “Yes. I plan to procure an heir,” I repeated, verbatim, my tone almost mocking. I wanted him to see, just as much as I did, how ridiculous all this was. In any other family, a grandson simply inherits his grandfather’s estate. No strings attached. Meanwhile, I was being made to jump through hoops.
“Splendid.” He placed his briefcase on his knees, popping it open. From it, he pulled out a yellow legal pad filled with various scribbles, all of them illegible. He slid a pen out of his pocket.
Click.
I jumped at the sound, instantly feeling foolish. I had no reason to be so nervous, and yet, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge, almost as if someone was watching me. I glanced at the door, but of course, no one was there.
“So, you say you plan to procure an heir,” Kilroy started, his voice dry and emotionless. “Do you care to expand on that?”
“Excuse me?”
“What exactly is your plan?”
“Well… I have a girlfriend.”
“And you plan to have a baby with her?”
“Yes?”
“Have you already had unprotected sex?”
My eyes widened. “What?” I spat. His question was completely out of line. “You can’t ask me that. It’s a breach of privacy. I’m not going to sit here and explain to you how many times I’ve had sex with my girlfriend. All you need to know is that we’re trying to have a child.”
Kilroy sighed, putting his pen down. “I don’t think you understand the weight of this situation.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Leave it to lawyers to try and complicate things with fancy words. It was one of the reasons I never went to law school.
“Go on,” I said, my arms folded over my chest.
“I take it you haven’t been made aware of your grandfather’s condition?”
“I know it’s critical, is there anything more to it?”
He rubbed his palms over his knees before crossing one leg over the other. “Your grandfather has been diagnosed with lymphoma. He has been placed on a strict medical regime that should stabilize him for a while, but realistically, they believe it’ll claim his life in the next few years. You no longer have the time to dally, son.”
“I’m not your son.” I got up, towering over the older man. “I know that I don’t have a whole lot of time, but I’m not going to rush into things just like that…”
Kilroy raised an eyebrow. “You just told me you were already trying to conceive with your girlfriend, why are you making such a big deal out of all this? Do as your grandfather says, collect the money, and live burden-free knowing that your child and family will be provided for. Now, are you going to let this opportunity pass you by just because you aren’t able to own up to the responsibilities of being a father—”
“That has nothing to do with this,” I interrupted, my face growing red with rage. This man was truly getting on my last nerve. “You don’t get it. I’ve always wanted a baby with my current girlfriend. I’ve dreamt about it. I want nothing more than to feel the joy of being a father, but… not like this.”
“Tell me, Mr. Ennis, how’s work at the fire station?” His question took me by surprise.
I stepped back, staring at him in disbelief.
He got up, straightening his jacket. “If I recall correctly, they’re thinking of closing it down and combining this county’s station with the next one over. Now, if that happens, tell me how you’ll be able to provide for your child without your grandfather’s money.”
“I’d find a way,” I said, my tone defensive. I could make the farm more productive, put my EMS training to work. I’d make something happen.
“But wouldn’t this way be much, much easier?” He smiled knowingly. “All you need to do is provide proof of the child’s conception, health and paternity and the money is all yours.”
I shook my head. “Why can’t my grandfather just trust me?”
“I don’t blame the man. He has worked hard to accumulate his wealth and he just wants to make sure it goes to good use.”
I ground my teeth together, wishing I could just push this man out the door and never see him again. “It still doesn’t excuse such an i
nvasion of my privacy.”
“Do you have anything to hide, Mr. Ennis?” He stepped forward, his dark eyes boring into mine. I felt like a criminal. Somehow, it seemed I was already guilty.
“No.”
“Then, you have nothing to worry about.”
But, I did have something to worry about. Adele. She didn’t know about the will or the money. If I told her now, she would think I kept it from her on purpose. My intentions would seem skewed. I had kept it a secret for way too long now and I felt that it would all explode in my face. Still, I needed the money, at least for the sake of the baby.
“Fine. I’ll accept the terms,” I relented, taking a hit to my pride for the benefit of my family.
“Perfect. I’ll let your grandfather know. I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic to know his grandson is finally taking the necessary steps to procuring an heir.”
I forced a smile, ushering him out of the house.
The second I closed the door, I leaned against it and closed my eyes.
I never wanted to hear the word ‘procure’ again.
Chapter 16
Adele
I had been let out early from work. When I arrived at the ranch, the front door was open. That was odd. I tiptoed onto the porch, hearing a deep voice coming from the living room. I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying so I crept even closer to the door.
“Your grandfather has appointed me to be his representative. For this reason, I’ve come to confirm whether you legitimately plan to procure an heir.”
What was going on? Who was in the living room? I leaned forward, peering through the doorway. I couldn’t see much due to the layout of the ranch, but I still spotted Braden sitting on the love seat, his face scrunched with anxiety. Something was wrong.
“You make it sound so… sterile. You can’t just bring a baby into the world by snapping your fingers. It takes time. The right girl. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Braden’s response made me smile. Even though I didn’t quite understand the current situation, I could tell that Braden legitimately wanted to have a baby. I thought about eavesdropping a bit more, but I didn’t want to infringe on his privacy.
So, I rounded the house and walked in through the back door. In the kitchen, I could hear snippets of their conversation, but nothing concrete.
The words ‘grandfather’ and ‘money’ seemed to be coming up a lot. My curiosity bubbled. What were they talking about?
As I started making an afternoon snack, I thought back to my high school days—specifically to the one dinner date I had with Braden and his grandfather.
The estate was a stuffy place. Most of the rooms were filled with clothes and newspapers. Braden’s grandmother had recently passed away and it seemed that no one had bothered to dust since then. It covered everything from the bookshelves to the trinkets scattered all over the place and especially the family portraits that lined the walls.
That was one part of the mansion that particularly creeped me out. There were so many family portraits, but no pictures. All the paintings looked haunted somehow. The faces were dark and sunken. The men dominated the frames, leaving the women in their shadows.
I had asked Braden about it and he explained—vaguely—that the Ennis family prided itself on a long, long line of American pioneers. He didn’t say much more. It didn’t seem to be a topic he cared much about.
Once dinner was ready, Braden guided me to a large, cavernous room. In the middle of which was a table large enough to sit thirty people. There were, however, only three plates.
Braden’s grandfather barged into the room like a storm. The first thing he did was stare me up and down like I was some object being sold at the local flea market. His lips pressed into a thin line—clearly unimpressed.
“Grandpa, this is Adele.”
He huffed in response.
I glanced at Braden, but all he could offer me was an apologetic look.
“What is your last name?”
“Huh?” I nearly choked on the bite of roast beef in my mouth.
“Your last name girl. Are you deaf?”
I struggled to swallow my food. “No, sir.” I finally managed to answer him. “Cartwright.”
He clicked his tongue. “Cartwright? The owners of the deli on Second Street?”
“That’s right,” I answered, a bright smile on my face. I was proud of the family deli. After all, it was where I worked during the summer, making just enough money to buy myself a cute new dress, or anything else I might have wanted.
“I hear they’re having financial troubles.”
“Grandpa,” Braden interjected. “That’s terribly rude of you.”
“And it’s preposterous that you would want to date the daughter of a bankrupt deli owner!”
My cheeks flushed. Abruptly, I got out of my seat and rushed out of the room, tears streaming down my face. Once I was outside, I ran. I ran and ran and ran until I couldn’t run anymore. My lungs burned and my legs ached, but I only stopped once the mansion was out of sight.
I never saw it again.
My mouth tasted bitter as a result of the flashback as if I still had the bite of roast beef lodged in my throat. From that point on, I had never been a fan of Braden’s grandfather nor was he a fan of me. He tried valiantly to pry us apart and I suppose, in the end, he got his wish.
I wondered what he must think of us now. Had Braden told him that we were dating again? I smirked to myself, feeling almost triumphant that I had bested the old man after all.
Soon, Braden walked into the kitchen. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me, his eyes widening in surprise. “Adele! You’re home!” he exclaimed. “How long have you been in here…?”
My suspicion rose. “Why do you sound so guilty?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Um… No reason.”
“Who was that in the living room with you?”
“Um…”
“Don’t you dare think of lying to me,” I threatened.
He gulped and stepped back, his expression falling with defeat. “It was my grandfather’s lawyer.”
I held his gaze, remembering the documents the mailman had delivered. “And…?”
“He wanted to discuss the will. Really, it’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“You know I’m not a fan of your family.”
Braden frowned. “Neither am I.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “My grandfather is trying to corner me.”
“How so?” I pressed, my eyes narrowing in his direction.
He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Braden.”
“I promise you, it’s nothing. Just a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo that I don’t want you to worry your pretty little head with.” He walked over to me and kissed my forehead. “He just had to explain a few things to me.”
“Like?”
He sighed. “Adele. Come on, you act as if you don’t trust me.”
I bit my lip. “Sorry. I just get… anxious… whenever your grandfather is involved. You remember that dinner date we had at the mansion?”
He groaned. “Don’t remind me.” He snatched half of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, nibbling on the end, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know I’d never let that happen again.”
“I know… But—” I shook my head. “What did the lawyer want? Why can’t you just tell me? I can’t help but feel that you’re hiding something from me.”
“Look. All he did was go over the will with me. I looked over the documents he had sent me in the mail and he was kind enough to pay me a personal visit so we could discuss it.”
“What was all that talk about an heir?” I blurted out, unable to control myself. “Your grandfather isn’t pressuring you into having a baby, is he?”
Silence.
The air around us felt heavy and thick. I could almost taste it. Like rotten eggs.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me to say.”
Braden came up behin
d me, his arms wrapping around my body. His head rested on my shoulder, his lips on my neck. “I know you’re worried, but I swear, there’s nothing for you to worry about. We’re having this baby because we both want a child. Together.” He murmured something into my neck that I couldn’t quite understand.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” He chuckled, squeezing me tight. “Just know that I care about you. More than anything.”
His words, accompanied by his embrace helped to soothe my mind. He was right. It was silly of me to worry. But…
“You know I don’t want to be beholden to your family. It’ll just give them another reason to hate me—to try and split us up.”
Braden tensed for a moment, but then his muscles eased.
“You’re much too worked up over this. Come on, let’s go riding around the ranch. It’ll do us both some good.”
I hesitated. A part of me wanted to keep interrogating him until this suspicion disappeared, but at the same time, I didn’t want to come across as a prying girlfriend who didn’t know when to give things a rest. “Okay,” I relented, following him out to the farm.
Even as we rode, there was still a creeping doubt in the back of my mind.
“I’ll race you!” Braden challenged, pointing to a large oak tree.
I smirked. “You’re on.”
Before he could say ‘go’ I had already spurred my horse. Lucky sprinted forward, her mane whipping in the wind as we reached top speed. My heart quickened with the rush of adrenaline coursing through my system. My fingers were tight around the reigns as my body bobbed up and down on the saddle.
For a few moments, I was confident in my victory. Braden was trailing behind me, with no hope of winning. I smirked, standing in the stirrups, feeling like I owned the world.
My cockiness, however, quickly got the best of me.
As I gloated, Braden crept up beside me. He pulled his horse so close to mine that he was able to reach forward and slap my ass as he passed me by.
