Aspen ducks her head, a blush lighting up her cheeks. “What have you done to my son?” Mom starts to fuss over her again. Her own holiday party is all but forgotten.
“Wouldn’t we all like to know.” Charlotte folds her arms over her chest, glaring toward Aspen.
She obviously isn’t in agreement with my new marital status. I couldn’t care less what she thinks. If my mom weren’t standing here, I’d tell her as much and to watch her step when it comes to Aspen, but I hold my tongue. I don’t want to ruin this moment for my mom or Aspen.
“Be very careful, Charlotte, at what you insinuate when it comes to my wife.” I keep my tone very even-keeled so that my mother’s and Aspen's attention is not drawn to our conversation. Her lips purse, but she gets the message. She turns, heading back into the house.
“Come inside. Where are your bags?” Mom takes Aspen’s other arm.
“Mom—”
“You’re staying here.” She cuts me off. “Marco, can you be a doll and bring their things here? They aren’t staying at the hotel.” Aspen clings to me tighter. “Bring your things too, Marco. Is Frank with you?” She keeps on pushing.
“He is. Back at the hotel.” Mom rolls her eyes.
“That’s ridiculous. Both of you can stay here. I want to get to know my new daughter, and you and your new fiancé aren’t staying at a hotel.”
“It’s fine.” Aspen tilts her head to peek up at me. “We can stay here.”
“All right.” I break, knowing there is no way that I can tell her no. “We’ll stay.” The way my mom’s face lights up has guilt settling into my bones. I really have been a shitty son lately. I don’t want to share Aspen, but I think my mom might be good for her.
“Lovely. Now get in. Are you hungry?” Mom asks Aspen. “Can you let her go for a second?”
“No,” I say flatly, making Aspen giggle.
“Fine.” Mom rolls her eyes but smiles as she does it. Marco slips back to the SUV to go collect our things. Maybe it will be better. Aspen hasn’t been the most comfortable at the hotel. I want to do whatever will put her at the most ease.
“This place is breathtaking. You’ve really decorated it so nicely.” Aspen’s eyes are wide as she takes in my mother’s home. Christmas has all but thrown up on it. It reminds me of my childhood and how things were so long ago before my dad died.
I fight a grimace when I see how many people are here. I notice a few people from the board in the crowd of people. Including Jacob. We’d actually been close as kids. We didn’t have much of a choice really with his father and mine having worked together.
His own father, Connor, was on the board back then. Jacob slipped in a few years ago when his father stepped down. I wouldn’t have picked him, but so much had been shifting around at the time with me taking over that I haven’t pushed back.
I didn’t think he was qualified at the time, and not much has changed, unfortunately. But I was already shaking things up so much that I didn’t want to make extra waves. He’s always skated by in life, never really working for anything. I kept my head down in college and busted my ass to prove that I could handle what my father had left me. Even back in high school, I was always at his side, learning from him.
I take a breath as those memories start to shake up inside of me. I always wanted to make my father proud. He’d be pissed with how I’ve handled my life outside of work. I watch my mom fawn all over Aspen, trying to pull her out of her shell. Seeing the smile on Aspen’s face has me promising myself that I’ll do better.
I’ll be better. Not only for him, but for Mom and more importantly, Aspen.
14
Aspen
Everyone is so much nicer than I thought they would be. Sophia has put me at ease. I don’t think I’ve met anyone sweeter than her in my whole life. From the second she laid eyes on me, she’s been all over me. I’m seeing where Hunter gets his caring ways from. Both of them are easy to love.
The only thing that keeps me on edge is Charlotte. She lingers around but not close enough to have a conversation. I think she’s waiting to get me alone. Which is causing me to be a bit uneasy. So I’ve been making sure to stick close to Sophia and Hunter. Not that I have a choice in the matter when it comes to Hunter, since he can’t keep his hands off me. No matter which direction I turn, he always has some sort of hold on me.