Pieces of You

by Haven Rose

  “Nice to meet you, Bianca,” I start, mentally laughing when my mother preens, as if she’s won. She’s always underestimated me. “This is my fiancée, Rooney, and I prefer Caden.” If looks could kill, I’d be taking my last breath.

  Bianca’s reaction is the complete opposite of my mother’s. Her entire demeanor relaxes, as if she avoided her fate and it makes me wonder how far Kimberly Howell will go. Once the three of us are left alone, my mother leaving in a huff to deal with a “situation,” I cut straight to the point.

  “I’m sorry you were obviously brought here under false pretenses. As you can tell, my mother lied. I am not single, nor do I want to be. Not only is Rooney the love of my life, but we’re also expecting our first child together, something my parents aren’t aware of yet.”

  She gets a twinkle in her eye, as if already imagining how that news will impact my mother and she enjoys it. Yeah, there’s no love lost between the two of them, which leaves only one option, her next words confirming it.

  “No apology necessary, unless it’s from me. I didn’t want to come and had heard you were engaged and over the moon about it – congratulations to you both, by the way – but Mrs. Howell can be very convincing.”

  “You mean prone to blackmail?” A nod tells me that’s exactly what happened.

  Looking over her shoulder, as if expecting my mother to be watching her, which isn’t too far off, she sees it’s safe to talk freely and tells us, “She threatened my job and I need it to help cover my mom’s medical bills.” Bianca is close to tears at just the thought of being fired.

  “I promise, it’s safe. There will be no consequences if you want to leave now. While you’re just as much a victim as Rooney, I refuse to upset her or make her uncomfortable, and seeing you here will be a glaring reminder of how far my mother is willing to go.” Bianca nods, but I’m not done, “And I have a feeling you’d rather not stay.”

  “I completely understand and will gladly go. I’d prefer to. I truly meant it when I said I didn’t want to come in the first place.” Then she gets quiet and with desperation in her eyes, asks, “You promise my job is safe?”

  “I promise.”

  Rooney pipes up, clearly feeling bad for the woman used as a pawn, “I’m sure I can’t compete with what you make now, but if, for some reason, you want to find other employment or even make a little extra here and there, I can always use help at my animal rescue.” Bianca’s eyes light up at Rooney’s words and I leave them to discuss it as I track down my mother.

  Finding her leaving the kitchen, where she no doubt was bitchy to the staff, I lead the way toward my father’s study, knowing she’ll follow. She won’t be able to resist. “Are you pleased with yourself? No, don’t answer that. Of course, you are. How dare you do that not only to myself and Rooney, but to that innocent woman. You took advantage of the fact she relies on you for her job.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Thomas.” If it wasn’t for the glint in her eyes or the slightly evil smile on her face, one could almost believe her proclamation of innocence. However, not only do I see both, but I know she’ll stoop to the absolute lowest to have things her way. “How was I to know you were bringing someone, let alone a fiancée? It’s not like your father and I had been told. Plus, Bianca is a perfectly lovely woman. I thought you two would hit it off. She suits you.”

  “Cut the bullshit. She suits you, or at least what you envision for me. I choose the woman I’m going to marry and that’s Rooney. And don’t pretend you didn’t know who she was to me. You knew the second you orchestrated that encounter by my suite. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if you even knew before then. For all I know, you have my office bugged, at least Estelle’s, to glean information you think you may be able to use later.”

  She doesn’t even try to deny it any longer, but instead metaphorically sinks her teeth in, ready to defend her stance. “That woman,” she sneers, referring to Rooney, “is beneath you. She will be a blemish on you and our name.”

  “Because she isn’t a Stepford Wife nor a woman you can control. Plus, she makes me happy and loves me for me, something you hate. If you ever try anything like this again, you will be cut from my life without hesitation. Rooney means more to me than anyone else and I will always put her first.”

  “Even above your sister and nephew?” She asks, knowing how close I am to them.

  “You just don’t get it, do you? Peyton would never ask me to choose,” and then I walk out. Upon finding my woman, now talking to my sister, I want to know only one thing. “Want to leave?”

  “More than anything,” Rooney replies. After telling Peyton we’ll talk to her later, and getting a high five from Reese, I place my hand on my fiancée’s back and lead her out, not caring in the least that I ruined my mother’s plans. She tried to do the same to my relationship with Rooney and I can’t let that go.

  Once we’re in the car, thankfully not blocked in, we both breathe a sigh of relief. It was bad, I’m not gonna lie, but it could’ve been so much worse, especially had it been someone other than Bianca who didn’t want to be there any more than we did.

  “Let’s get our boy,” I say as her hand grasps mine. Pulling up to her moms’, I know once they find out what mine tried to do, we’ll have to stop them from going over there with pitchforks and torches. That visual makes me chuckle and when Rooney asks what’s so funny, I tell her.

  And that’s how Mary and Dani find us, bent over laughing as if we don’t have any sense. Considering we could’ve easily walked in on our own since Rooney has an open-ended invitation, not to mention a key, instead of standing in the drizzle that’s now coming down, they could be right.

  “For a couple loons, you two sure do clean up nice,” Mary says, causing Dani to shake her head as she holds the door wider for us to come in.

  “I’m the only sane one of the bunch,” she mutters. In response, Mary informs her she’s full of it, then walks toward the other room.

  Boomer chooses that moment to come see us, his granddogmothers sticking to Rooney’s training of not letting him rush the door until given permission. Getting unconditional love from him helps the residual aftereffects of what we just left fall away.

  Of course, letting Dani and Mary know what happened gets them fired up, the former running to the door like she’s ready to throw down. The thing is, I don’t think she’s joking. Part of me wants to ask Mary to stop holding her back. Then again, listening a little more closely to their discussion, I doubt that’s what she’s actually doing.

  “No, we have to be smart about this. Go after her when she least expects it,” then she looks Dani directly in the eye and says, “and there are fewer witnesses.”

  Leaning toward Rooney, I ask, “Should we be worried?”

  Just as seriously, she replies, “Nah, they won’t get caught.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Caden

  June 29th…

  Rooney is starting to show, though I doubt others will notice. I do as I try to get her naked as often as possible, so I’m very familiar with every inch of her.

  I watched her as she got ready this morning. Oh, she wasn’t aware I was there, but she was standing in front of the mirror, cupping her small belly, the sweetest smile on her face. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the vision she’d made, knowing no one else but me would see it. It was a private moment, not meant for anyone else’s eyes. Some would say I’d intruded on her private moment, but I am not one of them. Also, I wanted her to have that memory to look back on throughout the years, so I’m going to print it, and have it framed for her desk once we move.

  Bill texted earlier, calling me a whippersnapper when I was surprised he knew how, and said the moving truck had arrived and they were making great progress.

  Knowing they and their belongings were in capable hands made me feel better and was one less worry on my mind. My entire focus is now on Rooney. She’s sitting on the table, already wearing the gown they provide, while
we wait our turn.

  It isn’t long before Dr. Chalmers enters, saying hello with a cheery voice and asking how we’re doing. This is Rooney’s first visit back since we were reunited, so she makes the introductions.

  “Happy to meet you, Mr. Howell,” she says, “and congratulations to both of you on the engagement. Do you two have any questions for me?”

  Since we don’t, she informs us what today’s appointment will entail. Rooney’s blood pressure will be taken, and her weight checked. There will also be some testing, by blood for diabetes and screening for possible birth defects and genetic issues. Knowing there’s a history of neither in my family helps, but with Rooney being adopted, we’re thankful they’ll be done.

  We’ll love our child regardless, but, if by chance something shows, we want to make sure we have everything in place to care for him or her. An ultrasound will also be performed, though we won’t be able to find out the gender until next month, after the wedding. She informs us we’ve crossed the danger zone and can start announcing the pregnancy if we’d like. Family wise, the only people that don’t know are my parents, and I plan on putting that off as long as possible.

  Drew recently got back from his business trip and I told him when we talked. Mona, who I have yet to meet, knew when Rooney first suspected. I don’t begrudge Rooney that. She needed someone to talk to and, based upon the misunderstanding, that wasn’t me.

  “Everything is progressing as it should and I don’t foresee any issues, though we’ll continue to monitor you during your visits. We will need to start seeing you every two to four weeks, then each week as you near your due date.” Doctor Chalmers notes down the results of the blood pressure and weight, and we’ll find out the others when we return next month. “Rest when you need it, make sure you stay hydrated, and don’t overdo it. Something tells me your fiancé keeps an eye on you,” she says with a smile.

  Rooney snorts, “You have no idea.”

  The doctor leans close to Rooney and whispers something that has both women giggling. I’m not sure if I should be worried, but the twinkle in my fiancée’s eyes lets me know I’m safe. We aren’t there much longer and schedule the next few appointments before leaving, including the one where we might be able to see what we’re having.

  Stopping for lunch, we enjoy the time to ourselves and go back and forth on possible names. When we return to the hotel, I stop and talk to one of the clerks that’s trying to get my attention. He and Rooney hadn’t seen each other at first as she’d run to the bathroom then joined us, but the second they do, his face pales and the smile that had graced hers all day fades. Unsure what’s going on, I take Rooney’s hand in mind and ask, “What’s wrong, rainbow?”

  “He’s the one that called your mother that day I tried to find you.”

  Pissed, I now see Brent in a different light. I’ve never had a problem with him before; he’s a good worker and the customers like him, but knowing he cost me months with Rooney, and the chance to be there when she discovered she was pregnant, changes everything. And he knows it.

  “Mr. Howell, I didn’t know who she was,” he explains, and I understand that, but I also think he took the easy way out by calling my mother, and not me, his boss, or letting Rooney explain who she was and why she wanted to see me.

  “Do you always contact my mother when there’s a problem you decide you can’t handle?”

  “No, sir?”

  “You sound unsure.”

  “I don’t, sir,” he says, his voice slightly more confident this time. “I thought I was protecting you, Mr. Howell.” Glancing down at myself, then Rooney from head to toe, I raise a brow at Brent, as if telling him to try again.

  “So, apparently, not only can’t I take care of myself against a woman, let alone one half my size, but I also don’t get the chance to learn why she’d like to speak to me?” He opens his mouth to answer, then closes it as if just realizing it was rhetorical. “And why would you contact my mother and not your boss, regardless of who the visitor asked to speak to? If there is something you deem an issue, one you’re unable to handle yourself, what should be your next step? A supervisor and then me, if that doesn’t work, yet you instantly sidestepped both and went to someone that wasn’t an option.” Brent has nothing to say now, but he’s finally seeing what he did wrong and asking himself why he went the route he did. It begins to make me wonder… “Were you told to keep an eye out for a woman fitting Rooney’s description?” I can’t figure out how my mother would’ve known, unless she has someone in security that’s been told to keep tabs on my comings and goings, or that of my guests. The latter never being an issue as the only people that visited me were family and Drew. But if her watchdog saw Rooney entering and leaving my suite, knowing the rarity of it, you can bet your ass they’d instantly call her. On one hand, I can’t fault either for doing what they were told as my mother is a Howell and therefore does have some say over the company and its employees, but neither took into consideration that she was literally having them spy on me.

  Rooney is eyeing me, knowing I’m working through the situation, and her expression lets me know she’s come to the same conclusion.

  “She wouldn’t, would she?” We both know she would and did. Turning to Brent, she asks, “Did it never occur to ask yourself why she was having you do this nor to talk to Caden regarding it? She made you her minion by having you do her bidding. You proved who your loyalty is to in the end and that means he’ll always be questioning whether he can trust you. Do you know who she has inside the security department?” Brent immediately shakes his head no, but he’s lying, and we all know it.

  Wanting to fire both involved, I debate if I should because they were trapped by my mother’s manipulations. “Each of you are being demoted, a letter inserted into your files about this, and will have to show me you can be trusted again. This is your one and only second chance. You will not get another. Do you understand me?” Brent nods then quickly writes something down and hands it to me – the name of the other person.

  Walking away, we head to the elevator and once inside, I make a call. “We need to talk.”

  **Rooney**

  Caden is furious, and I can’t say I blame him. His mother is a piece of work. She’s known this entire time who I am, that he and I spent that night together, and acted as if she didn’t. She purposefully kept us apart, going above and beyond, and, sad to say, I don’t think we’ve discovered it all yet.

  Drew just arrived, and Caden is filling him in. As head of security, he’s responsible for those who work under him. They answer to him then he to Caden. Drew is pissed.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Drew tells him. “I messed up.”

  “How the fuck you figure that?” Caden asks. “Did you know before this and not tell me?” Drew says no, of course not. “Then shut the fuck up and help me figure out who it could me.”

  They start going through the files, getting a feel for all the workers in that department, making notes throughout. Somehow, and I have no idea of their thought process, they’ve narrowed it down to three. The thing is, I have a feeling they’re right, the culprit is one of them.

  Ensuring they stop long enough to eat the quick dinner I threw together for us, I take Boomer for his walk, telling both we’ll be okay by ourselves. And we are. The only thing that happened was Brent stopping me, and that was simply to apologize, his sincerity obvious. It doesn’t excuse what he did, nor can I instantly forgive him for his part in keeping Caden and I separated, but I’ll get there. Nodding, unable to give him what he wants just yet, Boomer and I continue until we reach the elevator and step inside.

  When we walk in, I know something happened while we were gone. They tell me they know who it was, Brent having just left the suite when our paths had crossed, and it was their top choice for having done it. As the man, Doug, is working now, they’ll talk to him and let him know the consequences. I do know Caden is going to ask Drew to be his best man before this is done today, so at leas
t the evening won’t end on a sour note. It’s definitely been full of ups and downs though.

  Calling Mona, we update each other on what’s new and I let her know by this time next month, I can tell her if she’ll have a niece or nephew. That’s how close she and I are, she’s the sister of my heart, and any children I have will know her as their aunt. I believe Drew will be given the honorary title of uncle as well.

  We make plans for lunch this upcoming week, needing to find her maid of honor dress, and confirm she’s still planning on helping us move tomorrow. It’ll be her first time meeting Caden, though she’s heard a lot about him. Thankfully, she no longer wants to kill him. Hell, she’s the one that told me I was more than likely blowing it out of proportion. My best friend has my back in all ways, but she also knows me better than anyone else and will not hesitate to call bullshit when she believes I’m messing up. But heaven forbid someone else does the same. She will instantly get in their face and make them regret their words. I call her Mighty Mouse because of it. I even got her a shirt with the name and a picture on it. The funny part is when I shorten it to MM, everyone assumes it’s due to her initials – Mona Mitchell – and we have a good laugh over that. It’s a little inside joke that never fails to make us smile and the person to think we’re crazy.

  I’d like to say that’s the worst we do, but that’d be a lie. When we were younger, okay, fine, it was a few years ago, her and I were sitting on a bench talking and a guy approached us. He had that smarmy look, the one where you know his mother is embarrassed because he thinks and acts like he’s god’s gift to women, and we decided to cut him off before he even started. Mona told me to do whatever and she’d follow my lead.

  “Hello, ladies,” he said, sticking his tongue out and wiggling it. Gross.