✿ Reid's POV

Thirty-eight hours.

Thirty freaking eight hours.

“Call me.”

It'd been that long since I asked her to call me.

If she needed anything, my conscience quips.

But she could still call. If not for anything, tell me how her ankle's doing.

You could also call to ask how her ankle's doing, my conscience goes again.

I stare at my phone's screen and hover my thumb over her contact.

“No” I shake my head. “I don't want to come off as desperate.”

I sigh and check the time.

“I'll go see her instead” I smile to myself and put my phone away.

Checking my hair in my rearview mirror, I nod at my reflection and get out of my car. As I'm walking in, I meet Maeve on her way out.

“Hey, Uncle Reid!” she chirps, pushing on her toes to kiss me. “Ohh you look so handsome today.”

“Don't I always?” I ask, pretending to be offended.

She giggles and I kiss her cheek.

“Where are you headed?”

“I'm surprising Ty at work today. Then taking him to lunch.”

Ugh!

“You're taking him to lunch?”

“Yeah. He said his boss has been giving him a hard time so I just wanna help.”

I fold my arms.

“Is that a good idea? To show up at his workplace unannounced when his boss is already giving him a hard time?”

“Yeah, who doesn't love surprises?” she laughs.

“Don't you have school today?”

“Not really.”

“That's not a yes or no, Maeve.”

She sighs.

“Uncle Reid, you know I'm a good kid. This never happens.”

“You're playing hooky, Maeve.”

“Just this one time. C'mon, Tyler needs a good pick me up.”

“And you're the good pick me up?” I frown.

“I'm his fiancée. Who else is going to pick him up?” she pouts.

“Do your parents know?” I ask, reaching for my phone in my pocket.

“Don't, Uncle Reid. Please?” she whines. “Just...” she sighs. “Don't tell them—”

“You're playing hooky?” I cut her off.

She brings her hand to her forehead and I reluctantly sigh.

“Okay.”

She looks at me.

“Okay? Seriously?”

I nod.

“Yeah, I never saw you.”

She grins and hugs me.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're my favorite uncle. Don't tell Uncle Clay though.”

“Mm,” I hum and step away from her. “Have fun.”

“Oh hey, Hernan was here to see you.”

I turn.

“Really?”

“Yeah. But I told him you weren't here.”

I check my phone.

He hasn't called me.

“So where is he?”

“With grandpa, in his study.”

I narrow my eyes slightly.

“He's home?”

Laughter erupts from the backyard patio and I glance at Maeve.

“What's going on out there?”

“A tea party” she giggles.

I arch a brow.

“Your mom's here and you're skipping school?”

“No,” she says in a high-pitched tone. “And I thought you said you never saw me?”

I give her a look.

“If your mom's not here then who's giggling out there with my mom?”

“A certain special lady” she grins, playfully nudging me.

I chuckle and head out back to see who's visiting.

“Darling!” my mother smiles upon seeing me.

“Hey mom” I greet and kiss her cheek.

“Well, don't you look extra handsome this afternoon.”

“Thank you Mom” I chuckle. “I hear dad's home.”

“Mm hm. He's with Melba's son in the study.”

“His name is Hernan, Mom.”

She waves a hand dismissively.

“I'll go see him” I shake my head and turn.

“Wait, wait, wait” she calls back.

I stop.

“Aren't you even going to say hello to Anika? You have seen her, haven't you?”

“Of course he has, Aunt” Clayton tips his glass at me. “How could anyone not notice a rare gem like Anika here?”

“Oh stop it, Clay” She smiles brightly and looks at me. “Hello, Reid.”

I nod curtly.

“Anika.”

Then I turn to my mother.

“I'm going to see Dad now.”

“That's all you're going to say to her, Ben?” Clayton chuckles.

I fold my arms.

“Do we have anything to talk about, Nikki?” I ask her.

My mother frowns.

“Oh stop it, Reid. I raised you better than this.”

I sigh.

“You raised me to be honest and honestly speaking, I have nothing to talk about with her, Mom.”

Anika shifts in her chair.

“There you all are” I hear my father's voice behind me.

I turn.

“Hello, Dad.”

“God, Reid!” Hernan exclaims. “Where the hell have you been?”

I brush him off.

“Dad I need to talk to you.”

“On my day off?” he chuckles.

“You took the day off?” I ask, surprised.

“When you get to be my age, Reid, you deserve a day or two off.”

True.

“Not when you're thirty-five, son” he continues, folding his arms.

Ah, here we go.

I look at Hernan who has a frown on his face.

“Hernan here tells me you left work two days ago in the morning and he hasn't heard a word from you. Your phone's been unreachable too. Care to explain?”

“I was busy” I shrug.

“With?”

“Personal stuff, Dad.”

“That you couldn't even return my voicemail?” Hernan asks.

“I didn't get any voicemail. It happens.”

“And you weren't home or at the office. Where were you?”

“I'm not a child, dude. Stop it.”

He sighs.

“Fine. I just wanted to tell you we've finally closed the deal with Citadel.”

I nod.

“I know. Telvin called.”

“That call you got?” Hernan scoffs. “Unbelievable.”

“Look I was busy okay? I apologize. I'm back now. Better?”

“Only if you come with me to celebrate with the others,” he says.

“Dude—”

“I'm not taking no for an answer Reid” he shakes his head. “We're going out to celebrate the deal we made today. For heaven's sake Reid. We've worked hard on this project for months so we deserve to relax a little bit... doncha think?”

“He's right son” my father clasps me on the shoulder. “You deserve to celebrate your achievements. This is good news and you want to pass the chance to celebrate?”

“Dad—”

“Oh stop it, Reid” Mom rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, Ben” Clayton grins, “Live a little.”

I shake my head.

“I think it's a waste of time,” I say. “We could rather start developing ideas for the Renaissance project.”

Clayton scoffs.

“Hernan, don't get me wrong, okay? I know we've really worked hard... especially those long hours into the night. But wouldn't you rather relax at home?” I ask.

“Lemme see if I understand this” Anika chimes in with a small laugh.

I look at her.

“You were practically living in the office, these last couple of weeks. And you wanna... relax at home?” she asks.

I shrug.

“I don't see why not.”

She laughs again and stands.

“C'mon Reid. You deserve to go out and relax now that you've succeeded and finally made the deal. What is this talk about relaxing at home?”

“Anika makes a good point” my mother agrees.

How's it any different from the one Hernan made?

“In fact, I think you should bring Anika with you. Would you like that Nikki dear?”

She smiles at my mother and looks shyly at me.

“If it's not a problem with you Reid, I'd love to come.”

I open my mouth to refuse her but my best friend beats me to it.

“Of course, he doesn't mind!” he grins and throws an arm around my neck. “We'll be more than happy to have you around.”

I shoot him an annoyed look.

“In fact, why don't you recommend a place for us, Anika?” Hernan goes on to talk.

“Yes, and I'll even come too” Clayton grins.

“Yes, yes, you should all go” my mother smiles. “Do you have a great place in mind, Anika dear?”

“Actually, yes. There's this new place that opened up a few days ago around Rosy's. I heard they have the best—”

I shake my head and shake Hernan's arm off me.

“I'm afraid but I'll have to pass,” I say. “But you guys have fun okay?”

“Pass? Why?” my father asks.

I look at Anika.

“Because I've got someplace else I'd rather be. But I'm sure Ethan would love to tag along, right Nikki?”

She frowns a bit.

“Some place you'd rather be Ben? That's more important than hanging out with your favorite buds?” Clayton asks.

“I was even thinking of inviting my cousins... if it's okay.”

I nod at Anika.

“I'm sure Pam and Brandon would love to join your little party” I smile. “But me? I have somewhere else to be.”

“Where do you have to be Reid?” she asks.

My lips quirked into a smirk.

“With my fiancée, Lee.”

Anika's initial frown returns, but bigger and much deeper. My mother groans loudly.

“Not this nonsense again!”

Hernan looks at me.

“Reid, you left the office with her two days ago in the morning... for a quick surprise... and the two of you never showed up again,” he says. “You were gone the whole of yesterday, more than half of today, you get back, and you're going to her again? Don't you think it's too much?”

“To see my fiancée?”

“Wait, wait” my mother stands. “That woman dared to set foot in my son's company?!”

“Mom, I asked her to. And she's my fiancée. She has every right to come by my place of work whenever she feels like it.”

“You strictly prohibited me from coming to the company when we were together, Reid” Anika says, “Even if it was an emergency.”

“Well, it's not that way anymore, Nikki.”

“It's not that way with Lee.”

Clayton lets out a low whistle and shakes his head. I try hard not to show how over the moon I am at Anika's pained reaction.

“Well, you kids have fun” I bid goodbye.

“Oh you are not going anywhere, Reid” my mother stops me.

“Mom—”

“I forbid you from seeing that woman!”

“That's not quite possible Mom. She's my fiancée, we're together, and so I have to see her.”

“Is that where you were the whole time you disappeared?” my dad asks. “With your friend?”

“Fiancée” I stress as I correct. “And no, I was getting some stuff done around the house.”

“The house?” Clayton questions.

“Our house” I correct.

Anika visibly winches and takes a seat, angrily grabbing her wine glass.

My mother groans even louder.

“What stuff?” my father folds his arms.

“Just some plumbing, Dad” I lie.

My mother lets out a very dramatic wail and throws her arms equally dramatically in the air.

“That wretched woman is turning my poor boy into a laborer.”

“Mom... it was just a leaking faucet. All I had to do was tighten—”

“And you don't have the number of a plumber?” my dad cuts me off.

“It's nothing I couldn't handle” I sigh. 

“Oh, Ben... always willing to step up and save the day” Clay nods, patting my back.

“Why couldn't she do it if it would just take tightening a valve to solve it?” Anika asks.

“Because she's hurt.”

“Oh my goodness, what happened?” Hernan asks, his voice full of concern.

“Nobody cares what happened to that woman” my mother rolls her eyes.

I sigh.

“We went out, missed a step, and twisted her ankle. But it's not serious, Mom. Thank you for your concern.”

“So you've been taking care of her?” Clayton chuckles.

I look at Anika and smirk a little.

“As a matter of fact, I have.”

“Yet you refused to even talk to Anika the last time she was injured?” he continues.

My smirk fades off and I turn to my cousin.

“In case you've forgotten, Clay, she was injured and had a cold. Colds are contagious.”

Anika scoffs and angrily gulps down all her wine. Clayton nods.

“Fair point.”

“She can have her foot amputated for all I care. But enough with this nonsense, Reid!” my mother exclaims. “No son of mine is getting married to a baker who doesn't even deserve to breathe the same amount of air he does.”

“You don't even know her, mom. That dinner was a chance to meet her and establish some kind of—”

“I don't want, or need to know that woman to tell what kind she truly is! And I sure as hell don't need to establish any kind of goddam—”

“Portia” my father calls out to her. “Calm down.”

“When our son is frolicking around with low-class bakers, Eros?”

I scoff.

“So it would have been okay if she was from our class?” I ask.

My mother looks at me, offended.

“Even if her ancestors had a do-over, that girl could never belong to our class.”

“Portia.”

“No, Eros, no. I am not letting our son ride off into the sunset with that girl. She's going to destroy him!” she exclaims. “Today she gets him to fix the faucet, tomorrow she's getting him to sign off everything we own to her name!”

I groan. Now she was just overdoing it.

“Tomorrow” I let out.

They all turn away from my mother and look at me.

“Tomorrow what?” Hernan asks.

“Lunch” I keep going. “At our place.”

My mother scoffs and I see my dad nodding his head.

“That's not a bad idea, son.”

“Eros!”

He shakes his head.

“I don't know about you, dear, but for me, lunch at our son's house sounds good. And don't tell me you're not dying to see where he's living with his friend.”

“Fian— fiancée” I let out more calmly.

“Well if Uncle Eros is down, so am I” Clayton nods.

“Thank you, Clay,” I say. “And Hernan, you're coming too.”

“Well since our celebration isn't coming on, sure.”

I turn to Anika.

“You're invited too. Bring Ethan.”

She looks away with an annoyed look on her face.

“Who else is going to be there? Her entire family?” my mother scoffs. “Oh I forgot, she's an orphan.”

That's it!

I smile.

“Her either family is going to be there as well, Mom.”

Her smug look falls.

“Hm, so we're going to see what she truly comes from? Exciting” Anika tips her glass.

Her voice was laced with anger and annoyance. I smile.

“So I'll see you all tomorrow?” I ask.

“Yeah sure” Hernan nods.

“We'll be there Ben” Clayton adds.

I nod.

“Good. Now I gotta run.”

“Drive safe son.”

“Thanks, Dad. Bye, Mom.”

She frowns at me as I kiss her cheek. But she was the least of my worries now. I had to get to Lee and hope she would understand and not kill me after putting us in this situation.

Bring her flowers, my conscience goes.

“Yeah, yeah. Girls like that” I mutter to myself as I rush out.

“You never got me flowers, Reid” I can almost hear Anika say if she knew I was getting flowers for Lee.

I chuckle to myself.

“I'll get red roses.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Clayton's POV

“I cannot believe that boy!” my aunt screams. “Lunch? With that thing of a woman? What does he take us for?!”

I shake my head.

“I've never seen my cousin so determined to make something work with a woman before,” I say. “I mean fixing pipes? Taking care of her because she twisted an ankle? I've met this girl and she is not in any way special.”

“Or deserving of my son!” my aunt screams.

“I understand that this is hard for you Auntie, but please, try to calm down a bit.”

“You don't understand how hard it is for me, Clayton. You. don't. understand.”

I nod.

“But calm down, please. Don't get worked up over this. I'm sure it's just an infatuation.”

“You don't put a ring on an infatuation, Clayton” she sneers.

I sigh.

“And why are you so calm Eros?!” she screeches at her husband. “Our son is throwing his life away and you've left me to do all the worrying?!”

Eros Dalton was seated in the corner of their bedroom, wearing his house robe and reading a newspaper, with his feet up on the ottoman.

“What would you have me do, dear?” he asks, lowering his newspaper.

“Demand that he stop seeing that girl!”

“My father did not stop me from seeing you, darling.”

Low blow.

My aunt frowns.

“Don't give me that nonsense, Eros. This is nothing like you and I.”

Eros sighs.

“Give the girl another chance. That's all our son wants.”

“Never.”

“But wait, isn't the engagement party in two days?” I ask.

“Yes, the one I said I'll plan” my aunt answers.

“And that's why I think this lunch is a very good idea” Eros nods.

My aunt rolls her eyes.

“Reid's not going to call off his engagement to that girl. So the party must go on. And what better way to show the world we're not to blame for that relationship not getting anywhere?”

I shift my weight onto my other foot.

“Portia, this lunch is going to get all awkwardness out of the way before the engagement party you are elegantly going to throw,” he says to his wife. “We might not agree with this relationship but don't forget our reputation is at stake here. Our family is going to be in the spotlight, Portia. And no one else throws the most elegant parties than us.”

I see my aunt start to relax. Eros looks at me and I nod.

“Yes. And should something go wrong with Reid and Aileen's relationship on that day, we would have still thrown the best party—”

“And hopefully gotten rid of that woman” my aunt cuts in, nodding.

“Sure” I chuckle.

My aunt nods.

“You're right. We'll do the lunch.”

Then her smile turns sinister.

“And I'm going to throw the best sendoff engagement party for that wretched tramp.”

“Good” Eros nods. “Now I'd like to get back to my paper in peace.”

My aunt smiles and turns to me.

“Nephew, we have work to do.”

Thank you for reading!
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~the_atticwriter