Skyscrapers & Camelot (Renovate Book 1) (27 page)

I get out of bed with the note in hand and pull down my special memory box, opening it and sticking the note inside. I have always been sentimental. I want to be able to go through this box when I’m old and grey and remember the little moments in my life that made me happy.

I look down at what I’m wearing and remember I fell asleep without changing into my pajamas. I make my way to the bathroom for a shower, but when I enter, Reese is bent over the toilet, puking her guts out. I run over to her and pull her hair back, noting her skin is a sickly shade of green.

Once I’m sure she’s expelled the contents of her stomach, I guide her back to her room. Kaleb is gone, most likely due to the same meeting Keegan has.

She crawls back in bed, and I pull the covers over her.

“I’ll let Olivia know you are sick. Don’t worry about anything but resting, okay?”

After she looks at me, nods, and shuts her eyes, I start to walk out of her room when she says, “It’s good being sick. That means everything is progressing as it should. Well, at least that’s what I read online.”

Turning around, I shoot her a happy smile. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you this yesterday, but congratulations. I’m really happy for you and Kaleb.” Just because I’m not ready to have a family, it doesn’t mean I don’t realize she is. Besides, they will be amazing parents.

“Aimee, please don’t say anything to anyone yet, especially Liam. Kaleb and I want to tell everyone together, you know, in a public place.”

I nod. “I would never. If you’re worried about Liam, I can talk to him,” I offer.

“I know you would, Aimee, but he’s my big brother, and I can handle him. This isn’t like before; it’s different. Kaleb is different.”

Although I’m still a little worried about her, she’s right. She can handle him.

I make my way back to the bathroom. The hot water instantly relaxes me and washes away yesterday’s stress.

Washing my hair, I think of Keegan and how somber he was with me yesterday. I couldn’t tell if he was upset or not. I replay last night in my head. Maybe he’s shocked by Reese and Kaleb’s news? Maybe he realized what a mistake it would be for me to become pregnant? I mean, I could be, and if I am, I know we would be happy.

With the rampant thoughts in my head starting to drive me a little mad, I end my shower and grab my fluffy, white towel, drying myself off. Then I continue my morning routine for work, grabbing some coffee to go. I check on Reese who is sleeping in her bed before I lock up and make my way to work, telling myself the whole way there to simply take things one day at a time.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I open the door to the quaint coffee shop, the smell of coffee and sugary baked goods invading my senses, making me instantly hungry. The Culture Espresso is a little café located in midtown Manhattan. The décor reminds me of Paris with its hanging chandeliers and lavender walls. There are beautiful paintings along the walls, and the atmosphere is pleasant.

Looking around, I spot Mrs. James sitting at a small table. She hasn’t changed since the last time I saw her. Her shoulder length, strawberry-blonde hair and pale Irish skin makes her look youthful. She’s wearing a pair of black slacks with a turquoise blouse.

As I’m walking over to meet her, she looks up and notices me, and a huge smile covers her face as she stands up to pull me into a hug.

“Aimee, it’s so good to see you,” she says.

“You, too, Mrs. James. You haven’t changed one bit.”

She grabs my arm. “Please, call me Liz. Mrs. James makes me feel old.”

I laugh, thinking that will take some getting used to.

“Liz, it’s so good to see you.” It feels strange as soon as it leaves my mouth.

“Please sit.” She stares at me, smiling for a long moment before speaking with her hand in mine. “Aimee, you have grown into such a beauty. You were always a beautiful girl, but now, as a grown woman, you are just lovely.”

Her compliment makes me blush. That is the nicest thing someone other than Keegan has said in a long time, and it’s nice to hear.

“Thank you,” I reply.

“What do you want to drink? I love it here. I always try to come when I’m visiting my boys.”

“I’ll just have an espresso.”

Liz stands up and I watch her walk to the counter then place the order. She returns a few minutes later with two espressos and two croissants.

She sits back down, smiling at me as she takes a sip of her coffee.

“This is really good,” I comment after taking a sip. I don’t indulge in too much espresso, but this cup makes me want to drink it every day.

“I know; it’s addictive. I would spend all day here, drinking it if it wasn’t going to make me wired.”

We laugh, but I know exactly what she means. You have to drink these in moderation, or you will start having caffeine withdrawal.

“I knew this day would come. I’m so relieved Keegan finally made his way back to you.”

I look her in the eyes and see that she is, indeed, relieved and happy. I mean, how often do people walk back into each other’s lives? How lucky are we that we both ended up in the same city? I mean, it’s a huge city, but still, it’s a relief.

“You sound like my grandmother; she always said that, if it was meant to be, we would find the way back to one another.”

She looks at me with concern at the mention of my grandmother. “Aimee, Keegan told me of your grandmother’s passing, and I’m so sorry. I know how close you two were.”

Memories of my grandmother invade my heart, making me feel sad. She’s right; we were close.

“Thank you. That means a lot. I miss her, but it was her time.” The truth is, there isn’t a day that I don’t at least think of her. She took care of my dad and me when we needed her the most. The love and the home she gave us were everything to me; as a result, I took her death really hard. Losing the second most important woman took a lot of time for me to heal.

“How is your dad, other than still scaring the pants off Keegan?”

Either Keegan or Kaleb must have told her about our trip back home.

“Yes, it’s his job to keep Keegan in line. I am his only child.” I give her a wink. “My dad is doing well. He’s finally retired, but I worry about him. I don’t get to see him as often as I would like,” I confess.

I do wish my dad lived closer. Although I tried to convince him to move to the city after my grandmother died, he said he could never live here, too many people. He enjoys his peaceful, suburban living.

“I’m sure he misses you, too, sweetheart.”

“How is Florida? Do you miss living up north?”

“I miss the change of seasons, but I don’t miss the winters one bit. I also miss my boys terribly, but they are grown, living their own lives with, from what I hear, some very special women.”

We continue to catch up, eating our croissants. We both order another coffee, and before you know it, we have been here for two hours.

“So, Mr. James and the big five-o?”

Liz laughs. “Better him than me.” She grabs her purse and produces an envelope and hands it over to me. “I went a little crazy. I figured you could choose whichever pictures you liked.”

Opening the envelope, I see she isn’t kidding. There have to be a hundred pictures.

The first one I pull out is their wedding photo, in which both of Keegan’s parents look at each other with so much love.

Lifting the picture up, I tell her, “I love this one. You were a beautiful bride.”

Liz smiles, and I think she’s going to say something, but she stops herself.

I continue looking through the pictures and eye a picture of Keegan and his father around the time we met. Was it really that long ago that he walked into my life, turning it upside down?

“That’s one of my favorites,” Liz comments.

I think it’s one of mine, too. It’s a sweet picture of both of them playing catch. I put the picture back and place the envelope down.

“These are so great. I can’t wait to get started,” I tell her.

“I look forward to seeing how it turns out. It’s such a thoughtful idea, Aimee.”

Liz stands up from the table and pulls me into a warm hug. “I wish I didn’t have to go, but Mr. James and I are having dinner with Kaleb and Reese later.”

I’m sure Reese is freaking out about dinner, especially after her asking me if they would still like her if they knew she was pregnant. I know they will love her, though. She makes Kaleb happy, and that’s all that matters to Liz.

“You’ll love Reese,” I tell her, thinking when she finds out she’s becoming a grandmother, she will love her even more.

Liz smiles at me skeptically.

“Really, she makes him happy. They are both good for each other; you’ll see.”

“The boys haven’t introduced us to anyone new in years. Now they are both in committed relationships. I just want them to be happy.”

She sounds just as nervous as Reese. I think they are going to find out they have a lot in common.

I put my hand over hers, giving her a sweet smile.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night for the party,” she tells me.

We hug each other good-bye, and then she grabs a taxi back to her hotel. On my way home, I stop at the craft store to purchase all the supplies I need. Once I have everything, I head over to Park in the Sky to start work on the picture collage. I figured it would be much easier putting it together at Keegan’s than lugging it across town and risking damaging it.

I arrive at Keegan’s to find it eerily quiet. This is the first time I have been here without him. He’s at work, so this is perfect—no distractions from my boyfriend. That kind of distraction will end up lasting all night and into the morning.

I hit shuffle on the music in my phone then spread the pictures on the living room floor, sorting through them as I take in this man’s life. There is not one picture where he isn’t smiling. I can see the love he has for his family. The things he’s accomplished in his life are what many dreams are made of. It’s what I have dreamed of for as long as I can remember.

I go to work, cutting and pasting, covered in glitter. I know what you’re thinking, but you can never be too old for glitter. I’m bopping away to
Uptown Funk
, proud of how things are really coming along. I have all the pictures labeled and pasted on the poster board. I’m in no way an artist, but I think it’s looking pretty good.

The pictures range from Mr. James’s birth to college graduation to the wedding, and then there are some great family photos. I left a space in the very middle for the dreaded fiftieth birthday picture. I’m planning on snapping it quickly after his surprise.

Taking in my work, I lightly blow all the scattered glitter away.

“Do you know how happy I am to come home to you?” Keegan’s deep voice startles me, making me jump.

Turning off the music, I turn around to see him staring at me, and I wonder how long he’s been standing behind me.

“No, tell me.”

He bends down next to me and touches my nose. “You have glitter all over you.”

“I know. It’s inevitable. I’m sure you’ll find it everywhere. I’m sorry.” I look around to see it’s all over everything.

I stand up and walk to the kitchen to at least find something to sweep it up with. As I’m reaching for the broom in a closet, I’m grabbed from behind by strong, warm arms, and I let out a playful shriek.

“Keegan, what are you doing? I need to clean up,” I tell him. I’m placed back on my feet and turn around to face him. “Seriously, there is going to be a party here tomorrow. I need to clean it up.”

“I have people for that, Aimee. You don’t have to worry about anything except looking pretty and being cute.”

“Thanks, Keegan. I’ll be sure to spend extra time beautifying myself so I don’t embarrass you,” I tell him.

I hate just sitting around and watching other people take care of things that I can easily do. I have never had a maid, chauffeur, or cook. I guess, when you have as much wealth as he does, you can make things convenient, but I refuse to be this trophy girlfriend. I’m sure he’s not being sexist, but this bugs me.

I turn around and walk back to the living room, picking up my finished work and moving it out of the way. Then I make my way to the window to stare out at the city, attempting to relax. Some things can just roll off my shoulders, but these last few days have been beyond insane.

Reese has been very ill every morning. If I’m not holding her hair back for her, I’m making sure she’s got something to settle her stomach. This party makes me nervous—there are going to be a lot of people there, not to mention this being the first time we will technically be together as a couple. Will they think I’m good enough for him, or will they expect me to be more like Gretchen? I hate feeling this way, and now he’s just hit a nerve.

Crossing my arms, I choose to simply concentrate on the things I can change since worrying about the things I can’t will drive me crazy. Although I can see Keegan standing behind me in the window’s reflection, I refuse to make eye contact with even his reflection, knowing when I do, I will cave and be whatever he wants.