The Escape Clause

by Bernadette Marie

  Avery thought her Aunt Madeline radiated, but she had to have been exhausted. She was going to have three grandchildren all born on one day. It was so humorous when Avery thought about it she chuckled to herself.

  “What’s so funny?” Pete gave her a nudge.

  “All three of them having their babies on the same day.”

  “Who wouldn’t want to hurry and be here with this family?”

  His words were casual, but full of love. He’d always been part of the family. Never had he been awkward when she took him to events or dinners. He just blended in, just as he did now at the hospital surrounded by her family.

  Pete let out a long breath. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to go downstairs and get a real cup of coffee. Would you like one?”

  She nodded and watched as Pete stood and took orders from anyone who also needed a little shot of caffeine. A few minutes later he was off, with her uncle John in tow.

  Her mother slid into the seat Pete had occupied and her aunt Arianna was on the other side. Both women wore eager grins.

  “When did this happen?” Her mother asked.

  “When did what happen?”

  Her mother and aunt exchanged looks as her aunt nudged her. “You and Pete.”

  “We had almost given up,” her mother added.

  Avery looked at them. “And you think you know what you’re talking about?”

  “You are denying it?” her mother asked.

  Avery let her shoulders drop. She knew this would happen. Nothing had been different between them. They acted the same as they always did. But there was no lying her way out of this. They’d know and they’d pry until they got the answer they wanted.

  “I’m not denying it.”

  She would have thought it was the announcement of the century the way they both moved in and hugged her in one big group hug.

  “I thought you’d blow it,” her Aunt Arianna said. “I was afraid he’d meet someone else.”

  It was all in good humor, but the words hurt. What would she do now if Pete moved on? Yet she planned on moving on. Nothing was going to stop her from going to France. It was what she wanted.

  Perhaps he’d just have to go with her.

  Pete and John put the cups of coffee into the carrying tray. Everyone was dragging. Those who had gone home had only gotten a few hours of sleep. Those who didn’t were working their second day with no sleep.

  “How’s the job?” John asked Pete as they walked out of the cafeteria.

  “It’s going well. I’m really building some good portfolios for some clients.”

  “Sounds good. I know that stock you set up for us is doing well.”

  Pete laughed. “It should.” He pushed the button on the elevator. “I haven’t mentioned it to anyone, but I’m up for a promotion.”

  “And you’re mentioning it to me?”

  “You’re a client. You appreciate my skill.”

  “That I do,” John agreed and stepped into the elevator with Pete as the doors opened. “I guess I’m not the only person that sees your potential then?”

  Pete shrugged. “I’m not too optimistic about it. There are some very seasoned professionals that are up for the same promotion.”

  “Don’t discredit yourself. Perhaps your youth will be a benefit for them.”

  Pete would have liked to think so.

  John looked up at the display that counted the floors. “It’ll be a good place for you to be in when you and Avery get married.”

  Pete choked on the air he was breathing when John said that.

  “Avery and I are getting married?”

  “Aren’t you? I mean it’s only taken you your entire life to get her.”

  “Get her? What do you mean get her?”

  The door opened and the men stepped out of the elevator and stopped.

  “What ever happened last night, it’s written all over your faces. No one is judging. We’ve told her for years you love her. There’s never been a doubt she loved you too.”

  Pete wondered how stupid he looked just standing there staring at John. They all knew? They all knew what they’d done?

  He’d never been embarrassed about being around her family, but now since there seemed to be a neon sign on his forehead, he was a little leery about joining in conversation.

  John chuckled and gave him a solid pat on the back. “Don’t go panicking. You’re a part of this family as much as I am. We both had an advantage. We were accepted before we fell in love with the women. It makes for an easier transition.”

  Pete was sure of that, but how was he supposed to look Simone and Curtis in the eye?

  John walked ahead and Pete followed. John passed out the cups of coffee on his tray and Pete tried to keep his composure as he passed out the cups on his tray.

  He was only a moment from thinking up an excuse as to why he needed to leave when Madeline appeared in the waiting room smiling a bright smile on a very tired face.

  “Clara had a boy! A boy!”

  Her husband Carlos moved to her immediately and swung her in a hug. “This is the craziest day ever,” he laughed.

  Pete’s eyes immediately moved to Avery who sat next to her mother wiping happy tears from their eyes.

  A set of cousins born on the same day. It was history repeating itself twenty-six years, and one day later.

  When she caught his gaze she smiled and at that moment Pete’s heart absolutely melted.

  There was something in the way she looked at him that told him she’d heard his plea that last night wasn’t the only night. Deep inside she knew how much he did love her and he knew that the words she’d spoken were always meant for him as well.

  Avery Keller wasn’t going to move to France. How could she? Not when they were finally truthful about the love they shared—had always shared.

  His mind flashed to her cousins all having babies on the same day and he knew what he wanted.

  He was going to marry Avery Keller.

  Why wait to ask? It wasn’t new, this life they were sharing. They’d been sharing it all along.

  His thoughts were interrupted when Christian walked to the waiting room scrubbing his hands over his face.

  Immediately his parents went to him. “She’s here, but they took her to the NICU.”

  Madeline reached her hands to his unshaven face. “She’s here.”

  Christian’s weary eyes brightened and he smiled. “She’s here.”

  His parents pulled him in to their arms. Pete noticed both Avery and Simone wiping their eyes. Their family had grown today by three.

  This wasn’t the day to bring up marriage.

  He gave it another quick thought. Spencer and Julie hadn’t said anything about their assumed engagement.

  Pete could wait. For now he’d make her so deliriously happy and in love that she’d never think of leaving Nashville.

  Chapter Four

  In all the years Pete had been spending the night on Avery’s couch or in her spare bedroom, this was the first time she’d ever slept at his place.

  The best part about it was she wasn’t sleeping on the couch. She was wrapped, skin pressed to skin, with him in his sheets.

  He wondered how married couples ever tired of each other. Who wouldn’t want to wrap himself around the woman he loved every single night of his life?

  Certainly, this was exactly where he always wanted to be.

  Avery pressed herself against him and he pulled her in closer. “You do know this is the first night you’ve ever slept here,” he said kissing the top of her head softly.

  “That’s hard to believe.” She let out a sigh. “I guess you were always the gentleman and took me home to tuck me into my own bed.”

  “It’s always nicer to wake in your own bed.”

  Avery rolled in his arms until she was face to face with him. Her soft breasts pressed against his chest.

  Pete pulled the sheets up around them as Avery rested her hand on his cheek.

  “I’m
grateful for you. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  Her words resonated in his chest and stirred his heart rate up.

  Pete took her hand and kissed her palm. “I don’t ever want to think of my life without you.”

  Avery licked her lips and then pressed them together tightly. “I meant it when I said I love you.”

  “I meant it when I said it too.”

  Now he kissed those tight lips, but they didn’t go pliant under his as he’d hoped.

  Something was occupying her mind and causing her to distance herself, even wrapped in his arms. A moment later the pesky alarm on his cell phone began to buzz and he turned from her to silence it.

  “I guess it’s back to reality,” he groaned.

  “Right. Back to work,” she confirmed as he wrapped her back in his arms. “I should let you get ready.”

  “I’ll get there.” He kissed her softly. “I have time for a shower.” He raised his eyebrows. “You might as well get that part of your day out of the way here—with me.”

  Now she finally smiled. “That would be convenient.”

  Pete rolled from the bed and tugged her by the hand until she too rolled from the bed and followed him to the shower.

  Avery was sure he was going to be late, but Pete insisted on driving her back home. Always the gentleman.

  He took her hand in his, lifted it to his lips, and kissed her fingers. “I’ve been meaning to tell you something. I’ve been hesitant because I’m a bit pessimistic about it.”

  “I didn’t think you knew how to be pessimistic.”

  He smiled at that. “Over this I am. I’m up for a promotion.”

  Shock of it hit her in the chest. She swallowed hard. “That’s great.”

  Pete shrugged. “There are two more people, who have more credentials than I do, that are up for it too. But if I got it, I’d be in charge of some very significant accounts. It would mean a hefty increase in my income. At twenty-seven I would be higher up in the company than most people who have decades in the company.” His voice rose with excitement.

  Avery willed her body not to tense, but she was finding that hard to do. “That’s wonderful.”

  “Well, like I said, I’m pessimistic. But if they considered me for this promotion maybe I’ll be in line for the second—if I don’t get it.”

  She nodded and forced a smile. Maybe, if the stars aligned for them, he would in fact get passed up. It might work for her if he didn’t get the promotion. He might be more willing to move with her to France. Time was running out. She’d promised her grandfather she’d be there in a month.

  Pete pulled up in front of Avery’s house and put the car in park. “I hope you don’t mind me not walking you to the door, but…”

  “You’re late.” She pushed open the door. “Thank you for the ride.”

  Pete reached for her as she began to slide from the seat. “You can’t go without a goodbye kiss,” he said.

  Avery leaned in and let her lips warm under his.

  As the kiss lingered, her body warmed. She truly did love this man.

  “I’ll come by after work. Would you like to go out to dinner? Or I could pick something up.”

  Avery bit down on her bottom lip. “I’m going to be at Mom and Dad’s.”

  She saw the flash in his eyes, but he smiled through it. “Call me when you get home then.”

  Avery nodded, climbed from the car, and shut the door. As he drove away she waved and finally let the ache move through her until she cried.

  How could she want Pete and the life that was promised to her in France so badly?

  Avery thought the best way to pass her day would be to pack. She’d received three emails from her grandfather. Every email was filled with photos of the vineyard and the house.

  She closed her eyes and thought of the beauty that had greeted her when she’d traveled to France a few weeks ago. Tennessee was beautiful, but France…

  She sighed as she thought of it. Wouldn’t Pete think it was as lovely too?

  Pete…

  The thought of him made her heart race. In all her life his name could bring a smile to her face, but now—it was different.

  He loved her. He had told her he loved her.

  She loved him too.

  Looking back, how had she not known she loved him?

  Men had come and gone, but the fact was they’d always gone. She didn’t keep them. She didn’t want them.

  Pete, however, had always been there.

  They had celebrated every birthday, Christmas, New Year, and other significant event together for nearly two decades. Avery was as close to his parents and his siblings as she was to her own parents and her cousins.

  Yet, the lure of France tugged at her. The thought of getting to know the part of her family she’d never gotten to know excited her. Perhaps there was more to who she was than she could even imagine.

  Her mother was someone else once and Avery longed to know that life. The luxury, the freedom, the power.

  The timer she’d used on her phone chimed and alerted her that it was time to head to her parents’ house. It was time to face the changes she was about to make in her life and tell them about her plans.

  ~*~

  Simone Keller had checked her watch before pouring them each a glass of wine and handing Avery’s father, Curtis, a beer.

  “Never want to be accused of drinking too early,” she joked as they all walked out to the patio to sit.

  Avery, on the other hand, thought they could use something stronger than wine.

  “I put a roast in the oven for dinner. Can you stay?” her mother asked.

  “Pete was going to take me to dinner.”

  Her mother smiled when she mentioned his name and that in turn made her happy. They loved him too.

  “That sounds lovely.” Her mother sat down in the chair across from Avery and her father sat next to her mother. “So what is it you have come to tell us?”

  Her parents exchanged looks and underlying smiles. What did they think she was going to tell them?

  Avery took a long sip of her wine and a breath of courage as she lowered her glass.

  “I wanted to talk to you about the trip I took a few weeks ago.”

  Her mother’s eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. “The trip to France you neglected to tell anyone about.”

  “I told Pete.”

  “You should have told us. You should not have gone in the first place, Avery. You…” Her mother stopped when her father’s hand came to her thigh.

  “Simone, let her talk.”

  Her mother let out a huff. “Fine. Talk.”

  Avery sucked in another courageous breath. “Grandfather has invited me back.”

  “How generous of him,” her mother snapped. “In time you can go back.” The angrier she got the deeper her accent became.

  “Mother, listen to me. He invited me back because he has the vineyard.”

  “So? What does he know about vineyards? His business is in oil. That is what he should keep his mind on.”

  This was going to be harder than she thought. Her mother harbored such hard feelings for Avery’s grandfather.

  “He wants me to oversee the vineyard and the marketing of the wine.”

  It grew silent in the backyard of her parents’ home. It was as if even the birds were stunned.

  Color filled her mother’s cheeks. “You will not do that.”

  “I’m twenty-six years old. I can.”

  “You will not.”

  Avery set her glass on the table in front of her so as not to squeeze it too hard and break it.

  “I can do this, Mom. I can be what he needs me to be.”

  “You do not know him.”

  “You never let me know him.”

  Now her mother put her glass on the table and inched toward the end of her seat. “He pushed me away, Avery. His image was more important. I was a pawn in all his games. He turned me away.”

  “But he
came back to see your success. Why can’t you be happy for his successes?”

  “This vineyard is not a success. It is a buy off.”

  “For who?”

  Her mother looked at her father and then back at her. “For you.”

  Avery folded her hands tightly in her lap. “Why for me?”

  “If you go to France, he wins over me.”

  Avery dropped her shoulders. “This has nothing to do with you. This has to do with me and my future. He happens to believe in me.”

  “Curtis, talk to her.”

  Avery’s father set his beer down on the table and turned to her mother instead of her.

  “Simone, you have to let her feel this out.”

  Her mother’s eyes grew wide. “You are on her side?”

  “I’m not on a side. I just know that she’s a lot like you. You’re telling her to stay and she’s only going to want to go more.”

  “I do want to go,” Avery interrupted. “Oh, Mom, it’s so beautiful there.”

  “You do not think I know that?”

  Avery stood from her chair to kneel down, on the hard cement patio, in front of her mother. “I know you know that. And I also know you think I can do this. But this ridiculous feud between you and Grandfather is what keeps us all apart.”

  “He disowned me.”

  “He said he made a mistake.”

  “But he did it. How do you completely forgive that?” Her mother’s hands rose in the air. “How do you excuse that?”

  “You don’t.” Avery took her mother’s hands in hers. “You let him in our lives. Let him in a little more.”

  “I let him in to see what a wonderful woman you were. To prove to him that he was wrong to treat me in such a way.”

  “Mom, he sees all of that. That’s why he offered this opportunity to me. Don’t you see that? If you hadn’t let him into our lives he wouldn’t know what I’m capable of. He’d never have known what you built. Mom, your organization is about helping those who need it. You know what it is to chase a dream and to give back. Well, now it’s my turn to chase a dream and give back to all of us. To pull our family together.”