16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

July

Knowing the circumstances that led me to being pregnant with my married coworker’s baby didn’t improve the way people saw me at work. No one was open and obvious about their disdain anymore. In fact, many of them offered me pitying glances, especially when Mel came by the office with the kids to bring something to Rich. She never came on her own, nor did she interact with him, but it still ramped up everyone else’s need for answers to the on-going office drama. Mel would offer me a wink on the way through, but never stopped to talk. She was doing me a favor, since I tried to keep everything above board and professional at work.

“I wonder what she was doing here again?” Susan from the secretarial pool asked someone who wasn’t in my line of sight.

“Probably forgave the cheating bastard, since they already have two kids and another on the way.”

“I would never forgive him,” Susan stated. “Especially seeing as how that isn’t the only kid he has on the way.”

The last, she tried to whisper, but failed as her voice still carried in the echo-chamber that was the hallway outside my office. No sooner had those two gossiping hens passed by than Bridgette made her way inside my office and shut the door behind her.

“Hey Bridge,” I offered in a sort-of friendly manner. We hadn’t spoken much since everything came out. It felt like one more hit to my betrayal meter that my only true friend in town had pretty much dumped me during my time of need.

“Aviva, I need to talk to you before word gets out.” Her words were rushed as she looked around and then locked the door and shut the blinds, so we had near-total privacy.

“What’s going on? Does Rich have another wife no one knows anything about?” I wanted to add in besides her boyfriend, Cliff. Instead, I bit my tongue on that one. It wasn’t her fault that he helped Rich in his deceit.

Bridgette shook her head and then stared at the floor as she took in a deep, fortifying breath. “I’m leaving.”

“You’re leaving the firm?”

Her head bobbed in affirmation. “I’m leaving town, too.”

That was a shock. I stood and moved around my desk to sit in the chair beside my friend as she collapsed into the other one. “Cliff knew.” Her eyes filled with tears as they met mine. “I’m so sorry, Aviva. Cliff knew the whole time. He went to the same university with Rich. They were frat brothers back in the day.” That explained a lot, but I chose to keep my opinions to myself, since it seemed like Bridge was struggling with whatever she planned to tell me.

“He knew the whole time, Avi.”

“I figured as much when Mel told me he gave Rich an alibi. It was obvious she knew who Cliff was.”

“You don’t understand,” she cried. “All that time, he never told me the truth either. He kept those lies to himself. If he could do that, for months, what else has he lied to me about? Maybe there are other women in his life, too.”

“Well, just because he covered for Rich doesn’t mean-”

Bridgette cut me off. “Oh, it does! Even if it doesn’t.” Oddly enough, I understood her sentiment. “It just set a horrible precedent; you know? Even if he hadn’t stepped out on me yet, the chances that he might have were there because he obviously had no qualms about lying to me for his friend. Of course, that means his friend wouldn’t have any issues giving that back to him. I can’t trust him anymore. It’s like he cheated on me by keeping lies for Rich. That bastard ruined so many relationships with his bullshit and mine is just one more to add to the list.”

“So, you decided that you need to move to get away from all of this?”

She nodded her head again, sniffled, and then glanced around with searching eyes. I leaned over and plucked the box of tissue from my desk to hand to her. “Thanks,” she muttered before wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. “I can’t stay here. I definitely can’t work for him any longer. I don’t want to be in the same town either. What if he decided to fight for me and I fell for his bullshit and then-”

“And then he cheated or lied about something else?”

“Exactly. Who knows what else he might decide I don’t get to know.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have an aunt in Florida. I’m headed down there to start over. I wanted to stop by and let you know, but I also needed to apologize. Things haven’t been good between Cliff and me. I let what was happening at home keep me from being a friend to you when you needed one, and for that, I am so damn sorry. Aviva, I hope you can forgive me. The shit those bitches were pulling at work… There’s no excuse for me not being by your side every step of the way.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Bridge. You were going through your own heartbreak. I could apologize to you for not being there, too.”

“You didn’t know.”

“Even if I did, there was so much going on, there’s no guarantee-”

“Stop,” she said as she cut me off again. “We both know good and damn well that you would have been there with chocolate, ice cream, and maybe wine if you knew what was happening. That’s the type of person you are. You put everyone else before yourself. I’m just sorry I couldn’t give that back to you when it was needed.”

“It’s really okay. I’ve had Mel and Braxton to lean on.”

“That’s just so fucked up,” she admitted.

“It is what it is.” My shrug let her know that there wasn’t really a whole lot more to answer.

“Are you really dating that guy now?”

“Yeah, I am.” The grin that exploded across my face made her smile, too.

“You deserve to be happy, if that’s what he gives you, then I’m excited for you.”

“He does. I never thought I’d start dating someone while pregnant with another man’s child, but somehow, it works for all of us.”

Bridgette started to laugh. “Well, most of you anyway. I’ve heard Rich bitching more than once about the bastard who moved in on both his women.”

I rolled my eyes at that. “He likes to think Brax moved in on Mel, but that wasn’t the case.”

“She doesn’t know whose baby she’s having yet, though,” Bridgette announced as though I wasn’t aware.

“Their one time together was more than enough for them to know it wasn’t meant to be.”

“As long as you believe that, I will continue to be happy for you.”

“I do. They’re both fabulous.”

“It’s crazy that someone as duplicitous as Rich could get two amazing women to fall for him.” She sniffled again. “That’s another reason why I can’t stay with Cliff. I think he’s exactly the same as Rich. I don’t want to fall for the bullshit he’ll sling my way.” She stood up and tossed her used tissue in the trash before she took another one from the box. “I turned in my notice and am using my vacation time for the two weeks’ notice. Mr. Higgins and Mr. Herring approved it already. This was my last day.”

“I wish I’d known sooner,” I lamented.

“I waited until the last minute to tell you. When I leave here, I’m headed straight to the airport. I know that I don’t deserve your loyalty, since I wasn’t there when you needed me, but please, don’t tell Cliff where I’m headed.”

“I would never betray your trust, Bridge. Can you call or text when you get in, so I know you got there safely?”

“Absolutely. I’d still like to keep in touch. I can’t wait to see that beautiful little girl when she makes her entrance into the world.”

“I will be sure that you get an announcement when it happens.”

“Love you, Avi. So sorry I wasn’t a better friend.”

“Let it go, Bridge. I understand. Go, heal your heart and do wonderful things!”

Bridgette leaving the office made me wonder if I should seriously consider doing the same thing. It wasn’t quite as easy, considering I was pregnant, but it might be better in the long run.

Rich hadn’t bothered me in weeks. I was extremely thankful for that, but also suspected that our bosses were behind that more than Rich finally coming to his senses and listening to what I wanted. Mr. Higgins had even removed Rich from the campaign that we worked on together previously. His ties were no longer needed to secure the deal, so he left it in my capable hands and put Rich on something else.

If luck was ever on my side, maybe they would start to push Rich out of the company as well as putting him off my campaign. I rolled my eyes at that thought. It sucked that I adored Mel and her children because it meant I couldn’t wish bad things for Rich. Those bad things affected them whether we all wanted them to or not.

Just as I was closing everything down for the night, Mr. Higgins stepped into my office. “Ms. Acker, I didn’t realize you were still here.”

“I was just about to leave. Everything is set for the Jacobs and Singer campaign. If they decide to ask for information during our holiday downtime, you’ll be able to access everything from the server.”

Our CEO smiled widely at me. “I was prepared to tell Daniel he had to wait for an update after the holiday. Good work Ms. Acker. Make sure you’re taking time for yourself, though. I don’t want to see you here working overtime when it isn’t necessary. It could wait.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that, but I’m trying to stay on top of everything in case any emergencies should pop up.” I pointed down at my ever-growing belly as Mr. Higgins stepped further into my office.

“While I appreciate you looking out for our firm, I want you to know that it isn’t necessary to go above and beyond in your condition. You have proven yourself time and again. Your work speaks for itself, and I promise you, no matter what, we will do whatever is necessary to keep you on here with us.”

The knowing look he gave me made me wonder if he was worried that I would jump ship after my friend left her position. I didn’t bother to give him any reassurances because I honestly didn’t know how things would work out. If they continued as they were, then there wouldn’t be any issue with me maintaining my position.

“I mean that. If you have any further problems with anyone – I do mean anyone – in this firm, I want you to bypass HR and come straight to me. I’ll handle the problem.”

“Yes sir,” I agreed and rose to gather my things.

“Do you have plans for the holidays?”

“I think I’m just going to relax and get some much-needed sleep when not spending time with my mom.”

“Sounds like a good plan. We’ll see you next week.” He tapped the side of the door on his way out, as if he was sealing those words into a pact or something. Then, he was gone. I was left to finish shutting down everything, so I could leave for our extended Fourth of July holiday. While it was normally just a three-day weekend for most places, our company gave us a full week off with pay. It was one of the more family-oriented things they did that I would appreciate in the coming years if everything worked out. It allowed the parents with children who were off during the summer to enjoy some family time.

My message tone on my cell went off as I was leaving, and I looked down to see that it was Braxton. There was no hiding the smile on my face as I read his text.

Brax:A little birdie told me you have a whole week off. Be prepared to be wooed, sweetheart!

Avi:Is it a surprise or can you tell me what this wooing will entail?

I sent the text while in the elevator. Whoever had gotten on with me pushed the ground floor button, so I didn’t need to bother.

Brax:A surprise, of course. Only the best for you!

My grin grew as I sent my response.

Avi:Can’t wait for it. See you soon!

“You look happy,” the man on the elevator with me stated. I turned to see Rich there and was immediately gobsmacked by his presence. More to the point, by the fact that I hadn’t even noticed he was there with me.

“I didn’t realize it was you in here with me.” His brows rose immediately in surprise or question. I didn’t care which.

“You seemed a bit preoccupied with your phone.”

“Not your business, Rich.”

“I know that. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry about everything, Aviva. I wish I could go back and change everything, the way I handled it all. I wish I could have…” He sighed deeply. “I guess there’s not really much point in telling you what I truly wish for.”

“There really isn’t.” My answer was curt while I turned to stare at the elevator door.

“I know you hate me, but I would really like to be able to have a sit down with you sometime to talk about how things will work once the baby is here.”

“When I’m ready and not a moment before,” I explained as the door thankfully dinged and then opened. I’d like to say I ran off the elevator, but my body had shifted enough to make sudden movement a bit awkward. I took my time leaving the elevator and walked with my head held high until I was outside and met with the start of my surprise date.

“Sweetheart,” Brax huffed as his eyes latched on to mine. I moved to him as quickly as possible and was in his arms, breathing in his unique mix of sweet and spice that I had grown addicted to. I felt his muscles tense beneath me and figured Rich had followed me out of the building finally. I turned to see him standing there taking in the fact that I had walked away from him and straight into Brax’s arms.

Rich nodded, though he was unable to hide the grim look that turned his mouth down and slumped his shoulders. Thankfully, he walked away immediately.

Brax turned to pull the passenger door of his car open, “We’ll come back for your car. It’s safe to leave it in the garage here, right?”

“Absolutely,” I agreed as my handsome man leaned in to help me with my seat belt. “Brax,” I huffed his name into his ear. He turned and before he could question me, I leaned forward and took his lips with my own in a sweet kiss that I savored so much it made my toes curl inside my sort of ugly, but sensible shoes.

“What was that for?” He asked when he pulled away.

“Because I really needed that surprise and you delivered.”

Brax didn’t say another thing until he was buckled into the driver’s side of his car. “Was he harassing you?”

I shook my head. “No, he’s not even the reason I needed to see you. I didn’t realize he got on the elevator with me because I was too wrapped up in your text.” He grinned at that.

“Bet the asshole didn’t like that at all.”

“Nope. Especially when he realized I didn’t even know it was him there.” I giggled along with Brax’s laughter. “He was curious about what had my attention so thoroughly occupied, but I told him it was none of his business. He started to tell me about his regrets again, but then stopped and simply asked when we could talk about the baby.” I sighed before adding, “I told him we’d talk when I was ready and not a moment sooner.”

“So, what else happened today?”

My shoulders slumped as I relayed what happened with Bridgette leaving and her explanation about how he had been frat bros with Rich once upon a time.

“Did she even tell him she was leaving?”

“I don’t think so. She asked that I not tell him where she went.”

“Damn, I hope he likes spooning with his frat bro. Sounds like he lost a good one at the expense of covering his boy’s ass.”

“It sucks. I want to blame it all on Rich, but honestly, Cliff made his own bed by going along with that shit. If he had just said something to begin with…” I halted my tirade there. “Then I have to remember that it wasn’t his place to tell me the truth. Rich should have been the one to own up to what he was doing.”

“That doesn’t give Cliff a free pass, though. He should have spoken up, especially when he knew Rich was coming to work at your office and bringing his family along.”

“Well, I guess he served up some of his own karma because he lost a good woman as a result and the respect of another one.”

“At least you know for sure that Bridgette was never in on that shit.”

“I already knew that, but yeah, it’s nice to have it confirmed. I hate that it ruined the life she was working toward, but she wasn’t wrong. If he would lie to her to cover up for Rich, then what else would he lie to her about? It’s hard enough to trust people sometimes, but when they give you reason not to, it’s even harder to get that faith in someone back.”

“Avi, I promise you right now, that is not something you will ever have to worry about with me. We can make a vow, a pact, whatever you need. Honesty, even if it hurts.”

“I like that. Not that it might hurt, but that you’re willing to acknowledge that it might one day.”

“Right now, I see a future with you in it. That doesn’t mean either one of us will always feel that way. There’s no way of knowing, since this is all so new. I promise to always be honest and upfront, and I hope you give that back to me, too.”

“I promise.” It was an easy thing to do and would be just as easy to keep. “Now, where are we going?”

He chuckled in the seat next to mine while he maneuvered through holiday traffic. “I promise, you will see when we get there, and hopefully you’ll love the surprise.”

“Okay, but for the record, you might want to find a bathroom in the next twenty minutes, if we’re going further than that.”

“You have to go?” Brax started searching for a place to pull off as I shook my head.

“Not yet, but I do have a baby dancing on my bladder, so it stands to reason that it won’t be long before the need arises.”

We both laughed at that. “You just let me know, and I’ll see to your needs, sweetheart. We’re not going too far, but it will be more than twenty minutes in the car.”

One hour, and two bathroom stops later, we pulled up outside of a cabin that was nestled in the middle of what appeared to be a forest. No other cabins were in sight, thanks to the trees, but I could hear the faint noise of voices and motors that belied my initial assessment.

“Welcome to Juniper Lake.” I turned to see Braxton standing there with several bags over his shoulder.

“Wait! We’re staying here overnight?”

“We’re staying for the week, sweetheart.”

“No!” I damn near yelled. Braxton stopped in his tracks and the wide grin he had been sporting slipped from his face.

“You don’t want to spend the week with me?” He asked.

“It’s not that. My-” What I’d been about to say was cut off when the front door opened and a voice that I knew all too well called out to me.

“Girl, quit giving that man a hard time and hustle up! Dinner is ready.”

I turned watery eyes toward Brax as he stole the rest of my battered heart and made it his. “How?”

He moved in close, set our bags down, and pulled me into his warm embrace. “She wanted to do something for you. When I suggested the lake for the week away, she knew you wouldn’t go and leave her behind. Her nurse, the one you like the most, agreed to come along. Plus, Mel and the kids came, too. They’re not staying in this cabin, though. They have their own, two up from us.”

“Oh my God, Brax. Do you know how big it is that she-”

He cut me off just like my mom had moments ago. “I know. She made damn sure I knew and that her love for her daughter was the only thing that could get her out of the county she’d been in her whole life.” He leaned in and whispered, “She would have gone if you’d asked her to move to be with that asshole. She would have done it for you.”

“It’s a good thing that was something I never would have asked of her.”

“Smartest move you ever made was showing how loyal you were to your family. Makes me love you even more.” He let go of me and reached back down to pick up our bags before it really registered what he’d just said.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me, sweetheart.”

“I feel like maybe I hit my head at work or something. My only friend at work left today and ultimately it was my drama that sent her away. I’m on vacation at Juniper Lake with my ex’s wife and children, my mother – who has never left her county before – and the man of every woman’s dreams – who just told me he loved me.”

“Sounds like reality to me, sweetheart. All except that part where you blame yourself for Bridgette leaving. That shit isn’t on you. That’s on the idiot she was with who decided that lying to her was the best course of action.”

“Aviva, didn’t I tell you to stop giving that man a hard time? Now, we want to enjoy this nice dinner Amelia helped prepare and then I want to watch the sun setting from the gorgeous deck that overlooks this lake. I never knew anything this beautiful existed so close to home.”

“Thank you,” I whispered to Brax as he helped guide me up the path to the front porch of the cabin where my mom was sitting in her wheelchair, thanks to Amelia having brought her all the way out to spy on us.

“Mom!” Her name was on my lips as I ascended the steps. “I can’t believe you’re here. This is going to be the best vacation ever.”

“It already is, my beautiful girl. That smile,” she pointed to my face, “was worth the trip.”

“Dad would be so proud of you,” I whispered in her ear as we met in an awkward hug that was hindered by her immobility and my belly.

Her hands cradled my belly for a minute before she dropped them and then blew a kiss up at me. There was no way to miss the tell-tale glimmer in her eyes. She needed to run from her emotions, and I would let her. Amelia helped to wheel my mom back into the house. “Thank you for coming to help out during the holiday, Amelia.”

“It was no problem at all. I’ll be spoiled when I get back after all this fresh air out here.”

I glanced around the interior of the cabin as we entered and had to agree with her. “I may never leave.”

Amelia and my mom both giggled as Braxton came up from behind and kissed the side of my head, “Noted.” That one word whispered in my ear sent a wave of pleasure dancing over my skin.

Everything was already laid out on warmers out on the back balcony that overlooked the lake below. “Wow!”

“That’s exactly what I said,” Mom agreed.

“Me too,” Amelia sighed as she took in the sights right along with us.

“Ladies?” Braxton called. We all turned to look over our shoulders in time for him to snap a picture of us standing there and I could have wept for joy at the thoughtfulness. This was everything that had been missing from my romance with Rich. What I’d thought had been a beautiful romance had really been two people hiding away in a bubble and pretending. I fell for a dream of what we might have if we ever stepped foot outside that bubble. Braxton was showing me what it was like to have the real thing and I loved him for it.

I didn’t waste a single second longer in telling him either. He met me halfway across the deck and the minute my arms went around him, my heart poured out in words.

“Thank you. Thank you for loving me enough to include my mother, to bring our family together, and for making me see what real love should look like. I love you, too. I hope you know that. I wanted to tell you but, the words kept getting stuck. I do, though.”

“Aw, sweetheart, I knew. You show me just as much as I show you. The words weren’t stuck, Avi. They just weren’t necessary because your actions spoke volumes.”

“Aw, shit! Now you have her blubbering,” my mom announced. “I’m eating without you. Come on Amelia, wheel me to the good stuff!” Amelia chuckled but did as my mom asked.

“She’s going to drive us nuts this week,” I admitted quietly.

“We’ll love every minute of having her sassy mouth with us.” He kissed me once more and then spun me toward the table and pulled my chair out for me to take a seat. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll make you a plate, sweetheart. You need to prop those feet up and drink some water.”

My mom turned to smile at me and gave a knowing little nod of approval. It was obvious that she already loved Brax, but that was something she used to always brag about whenever she’d speak of my father. He took care of her in every way. That man cherished the ground she walked on and didn’t hesitate to show her, no matter who was around to see it. Mom always told me that I would know I found the right one when the man I loved made sure to love me right back in the ways that mattered.