As he said it, he realized he still hadn’t said the words to Kaitlyn. He’d given her an engagement ring, and hadn’t told her he loved her. What an idiot he was.
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning at nine-thirty, she pulled her BMW into the used car lot. She knew she should be at work, but she didn’t care. She didn’t think Ruben would be there, and who else would notice if she was late?
An older man approached her as soon as she parked. “Hey there, pretty lady. Looking for a new car?” he asked when she exited hers. She gave the man a quizzical expression; her car was worth three times what any of the cars here were worth.
“No, I’m looking for Alex,” she said. She wasn’t sure if he’d be there, or if he was still on the cruise. How did he even afford a cruise?
“He’s inside,” he said, and pointed toward a small building that looked like it consisted only of cinderblock and aluminum siding.
“Thanks,” she said, and strode toward it confidently. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Alex standing near a desk, talking to a cute blonde sitting behind it. Kaitlyn wished she could say she was ugly, but she wasn’t.
“Can I help you?” the girl asked. Alex turned just then, and his face dropped. He looked scared, and she smiled brightly when she saw it. She stood there for a moment, taking in his expression.
“I just wanted to let you know that I know. Not that you’d care, because I see you have a real nice back-up plan.” Her eyes rested on the blonde girl. Kaity could see the spark of realization of her implication in the blonde girl’s eyes. “Needless to say, I won’t be buying your dinner on Sunday any longer. I think you can make other plans.”
She smiled as she exited the building with a huge smile on her face. The older man stood by her car, admiring it. She smiled at him as she climbed in, then waved as she drove off.
* * *
Kaitlyn refused to pace when she arrived at her office late, and she refused to cry. The smugness she felt after she confronted Alex didn’t last long. To be honest, it didn’t hurt her as much as it should have. Their entire relationship had been nothing but a sham. He’d lied to her, for whatever reason. She was much more hurt about how Ruben told her, but even that didn’t sting as much as it had at first. Perhaps it was just the shock of it.
Then she remembered, as she stared out at the Richmond skyline, that she had done the same with Ruben. He could, and should, hate her. Ruben had lied to her as well. And it hurt. Her thumb and forefinger idly rubbed her ring finger on her left hand. She hadn’t worn it for twenty-four hours, not even an entire day, and yet she missed the ring he’d given her.
She had no idea how long she would have this office. Without Ruben in the office next door, the job was fairly meaningless. She wondered where he was, if he’d travelled to New York or Paris. He hadn’t texted her to let her know he was leaving. He hadn’t texted her much at all, except I miss you twice.
When the knock came at her door, she expected it to be the nice lady from HR telling her to vacate the office. But when she turned her chair around, she found an older, shorter version of Ben gazing at her from the open doorway. He wore a light grey suit, and a dark grey tie.
“Come in,” she said. But she didn’t stand up. She waved at one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Have a seat, please.” It could only be Levi Aronson, both of his children looked just like him.
“Debora said you were beautiful, but for the first time she was wrong,” he said with a heavy sigh as he sat down. For a moment she felt hurt, until he continued. “Beautiful isn’t a strong enough word to describe you. You’re like a delicate flower.” He had a silver tongue and a lovely voice, like his son.
“Thank you.” She tried not to be flattered, but it was hard.
“It’s easy to see why my son fell for you.” He crossed his legs and wrapped his hands together in his lap. He seemed nervous. She was glad.
She shrugged her response. The story Ben had told her was still very fresh in her memory. She wasn’t inclined to be nice to him.
“Debora also told me about your accolades, first in your class.” She nodded. “She thinks I was too hard on Ruben.” His hazel eyes turned green, like Ben’s the evening before. It was uncanny how alike their eyes were. “But I don’t care how smart you are, or how good your family is, you’re not Jewish. So we have a problem.”
“I don’t see the problem.” She said it firmly. She had no idea where the tone came from. But she wasn’t going to let Levi Aronson come between her and Ben.
“Of course you don’t, Miss Morgan,” he said too smoothly, “but…”
“I did a little research of my own. Granted, it was all on the internet.” She liked this side of herself. She felt fierce. She felt like she could take on a courtroom by herself. “There are many interfaith marriages now, Mr. Aronson. We’re living in the twenty-first century. Times change. Children from mixed marriages are accepted into the Jewish faith now. It’s not an exclusive club any longer.”
“Miss Morgan.” He sounded flustered. He looked upset.
She smiled. “If your son and I get married, we can raise our children in the Jewish faith, if we wish. But that’s a big if, Mr. Aronson. And to be honest, it’s between me and Ruben. It has nothing to do with you. You can threaten to fire me, but I’ve done nothing to warrant that. My work history is impeccable. And you can’t fire me for having a relationship with Ben, because there’s no clause against it in the employment contract.”
He sat silently and stared at her.
“So I have you in a bit of a jam, don’t I? If you fire me, I will sue you and your very successful company. I won’t be taking a payoff, and I won’t quit. I won’t be waiting six months to find another job.” She sat up straight, and as she said it, her fingers twisted the missing ring.
He couldn’t say anything. And she felt fantastic.
“I’m not a poor girl from a broken family who is desperate for money. I am where I am through hard work and determination, and the help of good parents and their strong faith and work ethic. I have a feeling you got where you are for the same reasons.” She softened her tone a little. “Your son is a beautiful, smart, incredibly gifted man, who is too self-conscious because of what you did when he was just barely out of his teen years. And I am lucky to be able to spend time with him. But I’m not going to run away from my home, my family, because of you. I hope he stays, but if he goes, I will miss him like crazy. And if he asks, I’ll go visit him whenever I can.”
She inhaled deeply, trying to stop the emotions that were creeping into her voice.
He cleared his throat. “Thank you, Miss Morgan. I believe that’s quite enough.” He stood then, and turned to walk away. “I hope he stays too. I won’t be happy, but I also won’t forbid your marriage,” he finally said from the doorway.
“That won’t happen for quite some time,” she responded with a smile.
“Don’t wait too long. I want grandchildren to carry on the Aronson name.” He said it gruffly, then he tipped his head and walked away.
* * *
When she returned to her office after lunch, Debora lounged on her couch waiting for her. “Hello,” Kaitlyn said brightly, but she couldn’t hide her shock at seeing her there.
“I heard what happened.” Debora had a huge grin on her face, and she jumped up to hug Kaitlyn. “You may be the first woman to put Levi in his place, besides Ruth.”
“I like your shoes,” Kaitlyn commented with a grin. They were at least three and a half inch heels from a famous designer.
“I was jealous,” she admitted. “I’m even more jealous now. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall.”
“I didn’t really do anything,” Kaitlyn countered. But she laughed, a loud, cathartic chuckle that Debora soon echoed.
“Tell me what he said,” Debora encouraged.
“He couldn’t say anything. He was speechless.” Kaitlyn grinned from ear to ear.
“Good for you, Kaitlyn.”
“No, dear. I don’t think he’s going more than ten miles from where you are ever again.” As Debora said it, she joined her on the couch. She placed her hand on Kaitlyn’s, and instead of echoing Kaitlyn’s serious expression, she smiled. “I think my little brother is finally in love, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“We had a bit of a misunderstanding yesterday.” She sighed. “I thought he would be ready to run off somewhere.”
“I promise you he’s not going anywhere. He’s doing a set tonight at the martini bar. He needs to make money to pay for that ring you’re not wearing somehow.” Kaitlyn liked Debora. She had a quick wit and easy charm, much like her brother and father. She hugged Kaitlyn once more before she stood up. “I might join you. To be honest, I’ve never been to one of his performances. I feel horrible admitting it now. Ruth has the kids, since she’s staying with us for now. She, the nanny, and their father should be able to handle them for one evening.” She kicked her heel up, and said. “I might even get a manicure!”
“Seven o’clock?” Kaitlyn said with a grin.
“I’ll meet you there,” Debora promised before she left.
* * *
After having a visit from his father and sister, Kaitlyn half expected Ben to wander into her office, but he didn’t. She didn’t have time to go to the salon after work and be at the bar by seven, so she decided to put her hair in a ponytail and curl it with hot rollers, then do her make-up and choose her outfit.
She found a soft blue dress that she hadn’t worn in forever in the back of her closet. She’d worn it to some function in college, and was told more than once that it matched her eyes. The top was a lacy, cutout dress with flowers strategically placed to cover her nipples, and not much else; the skirt was a demure knee length silky material the same color.
She lined her eyes in a dramatic navy blue, put a bit of light blue on her eyelids, and coated her eyelashes in black mascara. With that she wore light pink blush and lip gloss; the one that tasted like watermelon. She looked at herself in the mirror, and hoped Ben would think she looked gorgeous.
* * *
Ben was surprised to see his sister sitting in the audience, and he waved at her. He was even more surprised to see the stunning redhead sitting at the table with her. His heart pounded. He started to breathe heavily. He was afraid he was going to start hyperventilating. He literally felt dizzy just gazing at her. He closed his eyes, but that didn’t help.
He removed his guitar, hopped off the stage, and walked toward her. She hopped down from her stool and walked toward him. He felt like he’d been hit by a wrecking ball when he saw what she wore. She looked incredible. His knees felt weak, as he took the last few steps.
“Hi,” she said gently, and blushed.
“God, I love you Kaitlyn Morgan.” He said it, and he felt like he could breathe again. The smile she gave him lit up her entire face. Before she could say anything he pulled her into him, and kissed her passionately. When he was finished, his head was spinning, and she looked breathless. But he felt better than he ever had in his life.
“I love you too, Ben Key,” she teased. He laughed, and blushed. “You’re adorable, gorgeous, sexy, and everything she ever wanted in a man, even if I didn’t realize it when I first met you.”
“I feel the same way,” his eyes sparkled when he said it. “Although I knew from the first time I laid eyes on you that you were exactly what I wanted.” He had the ring in his pocket. He couldn’t leave it at home; he had to have it with him. He pulled it out, bent down on his knee, and said, “Marry me.”
She burst out laughing. Usually it made him feel self-conscious, but this time he didn’t. He felt happy. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
He placed the ring on her finger again, before he stood up and kissed her one more time. His body reacted as it always did when she was near him. But it was alright. He’d take her home tonight, hopefully, and wake up with her tomorrow morning, and hopefully every morning for the rest of their lives.
When he returned to the stage, and pulled his guitar back on his shoulder, he cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone. “This is dedicated to my fiancée, Lyn.” She laughed again. Debora glanced over at her, but Kaitlyn just shook her head. He didn’t know how he got through it, but he played the entire set of happy, sappy love songs. And Kaitlyn cheered loudly when he finished.
Epilogue
“You can’t be in here,” Debora exclaimed, when Ben invaded the bride’s dressing room. Kaitlyn squealed, and ran toward a pretty, ornate screen.
“Where are you, pretty Lyn?” he purred.
“Ben, it’s tradition,” Debora protested.
“I can’t see her,” he complained.
“So are both of your children that way? Because I can remember some of the arguments I used to have with Kaitlyn,” Sarah Morgan said to Ruth Aronson.
“Debora more than Ruben. Ruben was always obedient, bookish,” Ruth reminisced, with a wide grin on her face.
“He was a total nerd, always in his room with his guitar,” Debora corrected.
“Ruben, the wedding is scheduled to start in an hour, and you’re not dressed yet,” Ruth chided.
“I just want to see Kaitlyn for a moment.” He didn’t want to admit, in front of the women in his family, that he wanted to reassure himself that she was really there.
She’d set the pace of their relationship, even though she’d been wearing an engagement ring since they’d only known each other a few months. He woke that morning thinking of that evening, when she arrived at the martini bar with, shockingly, his sister in tow. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she’d said. And she did return to his condo that night.
But she’d refused to move in with him, until he’d explained to her that she’d spent nearly every night with him for three months, and they were just wasting gas to drive to her apartment every morning to get ready for work.
The very next Monday, his father asked him, practically begged him, to come back to the firm. His partner, Andy Cohn, was ready to retire as well, and his son had refused to go to law school, as he’d decided to start a non-profit company, and his daughter had married a rocket scientist and moved to Florida. So Ruben had convinced his father to allow Kaitlyn to become a junior partner, and she had an assistant of her own. They still worked side by side, but she had much more responsibility, and she had thrived. Debora had decided to come back part time, since only the baby was not in school, and she enjoyed having Kaitlyn at the office to have lunch with. Sometimes Ben thought his sister saw more of his fiancée than he did.
Then, after she’d lived with him for three months, he begged her to set a date. He knew she was young, and she was just starting her career, but he wanted to start a family. Finally, after about six months of his pleading for her to marry him, she relented. She set a date six months in advance, and he thought it was too long to wait.
But now, he realized she was right. There were many dresses to pick, including the ones his nieces wore. Gila waddled over to him, and lifted her arms. “Pick me up, Uncle Ruben,” she demanded.
“You’re getting so big, and you look so pretty,” he told her.
“I’m three!” she exclaimed, with her three fingers up.
“I know sweetheart.” He kissed her cheek, and asked her, “Where’s Aunty Kaity?”
“Over there,” Gila answered, and pointed at the screen.
“Ruben,” Kaitlyn sighed, exasperated.
“There she is,” he grinned at Gila, then placed her down on the floor. “Can we have one moment alone?” He turned toward his sister, and whatever she saw in his eyes, she nodded.
“Let’s give them a moment,” Debora said, and gathered her daughters. Ruth and Sarah both smiled at each other, and followed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, but
she didn’t come out from behind the screen.
“What’s wrong?” He walked toward the screen, but he didn’t look behind it. “I’ve gone to sleep with you, and woke up with you every day for almost a year, and I haven’t seen you in two days.”
“That’s the point, Ben. You’re supposed to miss me, until you see me walk down the aisle.” She tried to keep her voice light, but he could hear the emotion she was hiding.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little,” she admitted. “Are you?”
“I was, until I heard your voice, and assured myself you’re here.”
“Where else would I be, sweetheart?” Her voice helped his heart beat again.
He would never admit he was scared to death she was anywhere in the world but here. “You remember what happens tonight?” His voice was lower, as if he was afraid someone might hear.
“Yes,” she sighed.
“We’re going to try to make babies,” he murmured.
“Yes, dear. You’ve reminded me every day since I agreed,” she giggled. “And you texted me the same thing yesterday and today.”
“Do you want me, Kaitlyn?” Even he could hear the husky tone in his voice.
“Yes, my love. I want you.” He saw her outline through the screen. She’d placed her hand there, and he put his hand over hers.
“I love you,” he said, just as the door opened again.
“I love you too,” she said. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Time to go get dressed,” Debora reminded him. “We need to finish too, you know.”
“Okay,” he said with a grin. “I’ll go. I don’t want to be late.”
“No, you don’t,” she said, and took his arm and escorted him out.
* * *
“He’s gone,” Debora called out, and Kaitlyn peeked around the screen to make sure.
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