One Wrong Choice (A Cruel and Beautiful Book Book 3)

by A. M. Hargrove

  He’s not totally right, because I didn’t do the right thing where Brandon was concerned, but we won’t go there. I need to get to the reason why I wanted to meet him here today, so I switch gears.

  “So, now that you brought it up, I wanted to ask you specifically about Mom.”

  “Go on.”

  “Brandon is after me to mend our fences, but, Dad, she still hasn’t apologized for the big lie she told me. And to be honest, it ripped my heart apart. I mean ...” I’m suddenly hit with the urge to cry. Gulping back the tears, I take in a load of air to clear my head.

  Dad squeezes my hand. “Jenna, I know. Believe me, I know. And we have had serious words over this. I have given her an ultimatum. Betty and I talked, and this may sound unusual, but we both agree that your mom was never like this until maybe a few years ago. She has to change. And she understands this.”

  “Oh, Dad.”

  “It’s that new group of snobby friends she’s been hanging around with. I’ve told her she needs to decide what’s more important to her. But they are not allowed in my home anymore.”

  “Dad, you’d go through a divorce?”

  “It won’t come to that. I love your mother with my whole heart. But I won’t be placed behind her societal wishes and have her lie to her own daughter just to get what she wants ever again. When you and Ben were born, I knew then there were only two things that were important to me. Your health and your happiness. My family always came first. Somehow your mother stopped seeing things that way. I think she lost her way for a while.”

  “I hope she comes around, for your sake, Dad.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. She will. I have faith.”

  Over lunch, we talk about a lot of different things, but my heart aches for my dad. I hope my mom sees the light and realizes exactly what kind of man she risks losing.

  As we stand to leave, Dad says, “Good luck with the yacht show next week. I know it’ll be fantastic. I plan to be there.”

  “Thanks, Dad. Honestly, I can’t wait for it to be over. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends with it, and helping Brandon get the new business up and running.”

  “Ben keeps telling me it’s going to be a huge moneymaker. In fact, he keeps talking about franchising.”

  Running a hand through my hair to smooth it into place, I say, “Ben is always looking for a new deal.”

  “He got that from his old man.”

  “Yes, he did.” I put my hands on Dad’s shoulders and lean in to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for meeting me.”

  “Are you kidding? Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

  A thought pops into my head. “You know, Dad, we need to make a lunch date once a month. Father-daughter thing.”

  “Let’s make it happen.” We walk out arm-in-arm until I get to my car and he waves me off.

  When I get back to my office, Helen immediately barks out orders for this and that. She’s been a bear for the last two weeks.

  “We have a week to go, and you act like we have a year,” she shrieks.

  “Exactly,” I say calmly. “Helen, the thing is, everything is taken care of. All the caterers are on point. I sent out another email this morning with all the instructions for each of them. It listed where they each needed to be and when they could set up with their respective menus. You should’ve received a copy of it. Our fliers went out, with the last of them being delivered today. All email blasts are scheduled. All ads are scheduled. All Facebook ads and posts are scheduled. The final thing that needs to be done is to physically post the signs in front of each yacht and the main signage at the yacht club, and lastly the maps. But we can’t do that until the day before the event. What else do you need to do?”

  Her jaw sags as though she’s getting ready to lick the floor. “Oh. Well, okay then.” Never a thank you or fuck you very much from this woman. If she didn’t have me here, she wouldn’t be able to pull up her panties, I declare.

  After Helen is appeased, I keep thinking about Brandon and what my dad said. His loss was so different, and I wonder if there was anything different I could’ve done. The only thing I know is you have to take each day at a time. I think about something that would make Brandon happy, and I call my friend that’s an artist. She agrees to paint a picture of him, but I have to find one that Brandon loves.

  When I get home from work that night, I call Brandon. “I can’t move. Every muscle feels like lead that’s been dipped in acid.”

  “What happened?”

  After I explain about Helen, he says, “Quit. Come to work for me full-time.”

  “Let me get through the tour, and then I can process all of this. But honestly, I can’t wait for tomorrow to get here. Once the day starts, I’ll be too busy to think about her.”

  “Want me to come over?”

  “I always want you to come … over.” I laugh at my little joke. But then I add, “But you know what? I really need a good eight hours tonight. And as much as I love you, I wouldn’t get eight.”

  “Yeah, Brutus is more like twelve.”

  “Hahaha. You are such a comedian.”

  “I only speak the truth.” And does he ever.

  “So, can I plan on seeing you tomorrow then?”

  “You know it. I can hardly wait.”

  “Me either. Love you.” A huge yawn escapes from me.

  “Jeez, someone is really sleepy.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Sleep well, and I love you, too.”

  My alarm wakes me, and I jump into the shower. A text from Brandon awaits me when I get out.

  Good luck and I’ll be looking for you.

  Aww. He’s so sweet. I get dressed and head to the kitchen when I hear a knock on the door. Knowing it’s Brandon here to surprise me, I open it, saying, “You couldn’t wait to see me, could you?”

  But it’s not Brandon. It’s my mother standing there, holding a bag and two cups of coffee.

  “Actually, I couldn’t, and I hope you allow me to come in.”

  Waving her through the door, she moves directly to the dining table where she sets the bag and coffee down.

  “Can I bother you for a couple of plates?” she asks.

  Grabbing two out of the cabinet, I hand them to her, and she places a huge cinnamon scone onto each plate.

  “Please, sit, Jenna. I’d like to talk.”

  No harm in eating breakfast while she talks, I suppose. Breaking off a corner of the scone, I nibble on it while she begins.

  “First, I want to tell you how sorry I am. I nearly destroyed our relationship by lying to you about the family finances in trying to force your hand in marrying Kenneth.”

  The scone falls back onto the plate. Thank God I hadn’t taken a big bite or she would be administering the Heimlich maneuver right now.

  “Wh-what did you say?”

  “I’m quite certain you heard me correctly.”

  “Did Dad make you come over here?”

  A tinkling laugh comes out of her. “Your father has done a great many things, but he’s never forced me to say or do anything in my life I haven’t freely chosen to do on my own.”

  “Then why after all this time?”

  “I finally realized that those so-called idiots I thought were my friends were nothing but a bunch of snobby-faced assholes.”

  “Mother!” My shock nearly causes me to fall off my chair. Mom has never cursed a day in her life, or at least I’ve never heard her utter a bad word, unlike Ben or me.

  “You heard me correctly. I called one of them after Kenneth came to the house to apologize. She still said you were in the wrong. So then I knew something was up with that whole crew of miscreants I’d been spending my time with. Jenna, I don’t know what got into my head. For a time, I guess I went a little crazy, and to be honest, it caused me to lose my religion where you’re concerned. I was the most selfish individual in the world, and I am ashamed of myself. I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to forgive me for what I did to you
. Well, good Lord, I almost ruined your life. And that’s completely backward from the way it’s supposed to be.”

  I am so surprised by her confession and apology I have become mute.

  When I don’t utter a word, she says, “I can understand if you can’t forgive me, because I’m not sure I could do it if I were you.”

  “I’d like to put it behind us, but you really hurt me when I found out you lied.”

  She doesn’t back down. “I know, Jenna. And if you’ll give me a chance, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

  “That’s not what I want. I want to get our family back, Mom. I want you to get to know Brandon, and I’d like to have our Sunday dinners again. That is, if we can have them the way they used to be. You know, before you started acting so … well, so crazy.”

  A hint of a grin appears on her face, and she says, “Yes, I would like that very much. I miss the laughter and the jokes we used to share. And I can’t wait to get to know your Brandon. Your father tells me he’s quite the business man.”

  “I suppose so, but he’s a wonderful guy regardless.”

  “Then next Sunday, because we can’t do it this weekend with your big show, can we?”

  “No, we can’t. I’ll be a little busy.”

  “By the way, I’m coming with your father, so I’ll be looking for you.”

  “You are? Ben and Sam will be there, and so will Brandon.”

  She stands to leave, and we end up in an awkward hug. I’m reminded of when I was a little girl and how much I loved it when she used to give me “big squeezes” as she liked to call them. I wonder if we’ll ever get back to the way we used to be.

  “And, Jenna, that man of yours sure does look good on TV.” She winks at me.

  “Um, who are you? My mom would never say something like that.”

  “Yes, she would. She just kept herself hidden for the last year or two.”

  Hmm. Maybe getting my old mom back will be kind of fun. After she leaves, I drive over to Brandon’s to tell him about her visit.

  “She said what?” His perfect mouth is open so wide I want to poke my finger into it. I explain the entire visit from beginning to end.

  Brandon’s arms wind around me, and I realize I don’t need Mom’s anymore for the big squeezes. I have something much better. Nothing will ever compare to this.

  “I’m rooting for you to work it out so you’ll have no regrets. Family is so important. Braedon taught me more about that than I ever knew.”

  Standing on my toes, I wind my arms around his neck and say, “I appreciate you suggesting the lunch with my dad. That was the force behind it all, even though she said it wasn’t. I think it put everything into motion. It’ll be a while before things will be the way they were before, but I have high hopes.”

  “So do I,” he says right before he presses his lips to mine for a brief kiss.

  When he leans back, I say, “Did I tell you Mom thought you looked good on TV?”

  “Oh, God, not her, too,” he groans.

  “Hmm. Maybe we should start a cougar fan club on Facebook.”

  “If you do, I’ll think of some way to retaliate.”

  “I’m sure you will, master,” I say, laughing.

  After he pinches my butt, he lets me go. When I stick out my lower lip, he points to the clock on the wall. “Do you want to be late for your opening day?”

  Shrugging, I say, “I don’t care. It’s all on Helen now.”

  Brandon shakes his head. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Wanna bet?” I proceed to unbutton my blouse as I watch his eyes pop. Then they narrow as my pants drop, and I stand in my lacy bra and thong.

  “You really are taking risks today, aren’t you?”

  “What’s she going to do? Fire me?” I burst out laughing right as he pounces on me.

  Forty-five minutes later, we’re still making out like teenagers as he walks me to the door.

  “Hey, what are you doing right before opening time?” I ask.

  “Nothing, why?”

  “If you meet me today around eleven, near the yacht clubhouse, I have the perfect place where we can sneak away.”

  He kisses me goodbye, and I’m off to work. Helen scowls when she sees me, but doesn’t utter a word. She can’t say anything because all her work is done, thanks to me. The morning runs smoothly with all the final preparations. The tour doesn’t open until after lunch. At eleven, I meet Brandon near the clubhouse.

  Taking his hand, I guide him along a walkway to an area of shade trees that overlooks the harbor. There’s an old swing that’s unoccupied, but not for long.

  “I’ve always thought this was one of the best views, and for whatever reason, nobody ever comes here.” I start rocking to and fro to get the thing swaying.

  “Oh my God, you’re like a kid.”

  “Sometimes I am.”

  “Are you nervous for the tour?” he asks.

  “Nope. I’m done with all I can do.”

  Then he takes my chin between his index and thumb and touches his lips to mine. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

  I feel his mouth curve against mine right before we make out like teenagers. My teeth press against my lips, bruising them, but I don’t give a shit. Nothing in the world beats kissing Brandon. Somehow, I end up on his lap, and the tender skin on my chin is scraped raw from his scruff.

  “Um, I think we need to take a break,” he suggests.

  “Yeah, it’s probably time for me to get to work.”

  “Well, that, too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your lips are a tiny bit swollen.”

  “Oh shit. Are they bad?”

  He looks closely and says, “No, no, not at all. Hey, I really like this place. We need to come out here some night with a bottle of wine and a picnic.”

  “That would be nice.” I run my fingers through his hair. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could hang out here every day? Or maybe even get us one of those yachts and travel around the world?” I ask him.

  Glancing around at all the elegance that surrounds us, he answers honestly, “I don’t know. I think I have everything in the world I could ever need sitting on my lap. I don’t need lots of money. I don’t need a fancy yacht, or even a lavish house. When I didn’t have you, I was just on autopilot making a living, but not really living. Losing Braedon made me realize how short life is, and going through it without the ones you love is meaningless. You’re all I’ll ever need. Well, maybe you and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

  “Peanut butter and jelly?”

  “In case we get hungry.”

  When our eyes meet, the love that radiates from his tells me I couldn’t be in a better place or have been lucky enough to have chosen the right one this time. It can’t possibly get any better than this.

  “You’re all I’ll ever need, too, Brandon Connelly. There is no love greater than the love I have for you.”

  Forty-Five

  Brandon

  Leaning over, forearms resting on the edge, I gaze out into the sea from the bow of Tabitha’s yacht while she and Dad hobnob with their wealthy friends. I miss my brother like crazy. Parts of me still feel guilty for finding happiness with Jenna.

  “Brandon,” Dad says. I stand straight and face him. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  Shocking the shit out of him, I reply, “Why?” I almost buy his confused expression. “Your family paid off Mom to keep our existence a secret, and now you want to share with the world you have a son?”

  It isn’t like he went public about Braedon when he went missing, though he talked to the cops.

  “Brandon.” His tone is laced with a tiredness that rivals the anger bubbling inside of me.

  “Why didn’t you ever remarry and have legitimate kids, Cole?”

  “Brandon,” he says as if the third time will somehow be the charm.

  “No! Answer the question.”

  He and I are the same height and build.
Easily, he takes my arm and steers me further away so we aren’t overhead. I’m not at all surprised by this move. He doesn’t let anyone see that there is any impropriety going on.

  “I’m a coward,” he states.

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  He isn’t deterred by my rudeness.

  “I loved your mother. No, let me correct that. I love her still.” His eyes don’t shift. They remain steady on my own. “I had a choice, and I made the easy one for me. When my father died, I came back. By then, your mother wouldn’t have me, not that I blame her.”

  “You didn’t make time for me.”

  Even I can hear the petulance in my tone.

  “You wouldn’t let me. You shut me out.”

  A memory surfaces with him kneeling down with a huge smile. I remember hating him. He’d left us, and then he was trying to come back. I was having none of it.

  “You didn’t try hard enough,” I say.

  I also remember how it felt when his smile disappeared and he so easily walked away.

  He nods. “I messed up with your mom.”

  “Yeah, you did. But it’s too late. She’s moved on. Don’t fuck that up for her.”

  He holds up his hand in the universal sign for peace.

  “I won’t. But most of all, I messed up with you.” He visibly swallows. “Braedon’s gone, but you’re still here. I want to make this right between us. It’s time for me to acknowledge you, my son. Something I should have done a long time ago.”

  “And he’s a mechanic.”

  “A damn good one,” he snaps back. “I’m damn proud of you, Brandon. You’re the man I should have been. I hope one day I can make you proud enough to call me, Dad, not Cole.”

  “Brandon.”

  Interrupted, I turn around to find Jenna’s mother. Before I know what’s happening, she’s enveloped me in a hug. She pulls back after kissing my cheek. For a second I think I’m in an alternative universe. “I didn’t know you would be here. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised you’d be here to support Jenna.”