CHAPTER 20
“You weren’t to blame for your father, and you weren’t to blame for any of the lies Keira told. And you’ve supported her in every way you possibly could. Until we both realized just how bad her lies really were.” He kissed her knuckles so gently she wanted to melt into him. “God, I am so sorry for all her crap.”
“Thank you for saying that. But don’t you see? I’ve always taken her crap because it was easier than standing up, or pushing back, or
going for the life and the love I truly wanted.” She shook her head, feeling the weight of all the things she hadn’t done. But that
ended now. “I’m done with all that. I’m done letting fear and excuses and, most especially, guilt hold me back.”
She wouldn’t wimp out this time. Not if there was a chance that she and Ares could make things work.
She’d been a wimp nine years ago—and look how that had turned out.
It was finally time to be bold.
They’d pulled up to her condo by the time she looked him square in the eye and said, “I’d love to go to Chicago with you and your
family.”
“What did I do that was good enough to deserve you, Keira?”
She smiled then, despite the heavy tension of unrequited desire in the air between them. “Everything good, Ares. Everything.”
Then she kissed him on the cheek and slipped out of the car before he could argue with her.
Her fight for his heart was definitely on.
A fight she hoped both of them would win in the end.
They arrived at Sally and George’s at two thirty Saturday afternoon. “How was the flight, dear?” Sally’s smile was so bright it lit up
the room.
“Good.” Ares smiled, giving her a hug.
Tessa, Tyler, and Kathy had been utterly awed by his luxurious private plane stocked with gourmet food and drinks. Ares had done
his best to make them all feel comfortable, but as he had an important Baddrick contract the other guys were waiting on him to
review, Kelsey was the one who truly smoothed the way for the three newcomers.
All the while, Ares had been almost painfully aware of Kelsey. How good she looked in her jeans and sweater. How soft her hair was
when she flipped it over her shoulder, a few strands brushing his face. How beautiful her eyes were when she smiled. How lovely the
sound of her laughter. On top of that, Kelsey’s fragrance had been something new, light and fruity and more intoxicating than the champagne they were drinking.
Every time they’d been together since New Year’s was still fresh inside his head, his heart. It wasn’t just their attraction that drew
him to her. It was the way she made him think. It was how brave she was in facing up to her past mistakes with her sister and her
father. It was how confident she was that anything truly was possible.
God, how she must have suffered over that promise she’d made to her mother. He should have known there’d been something like
that in her past. But she was so strong, so courageous, so caring. Take the treat she’d planned in San Diego, suggesting they see
Andrei Wyeth together. No one else would have known how much that would mean to him. But Kelsey did. She was everything a
man could need.
But she needed a man who was worthy of her.
And now he needed to get it together. Especially when he was in the same room with Susan.
While George was hanging up coats and jackets, Ares made the introductions. “Meet my brother, Tyler, and my sister, Kathy.” He
felt proud saying it. Tessa had done a good job there.
“Oh my Lord.” Sally grabbed Tyler’s arms, held on to him as she looked up into his face. “You’re the spitting image of Ares.” Then
she took Kathy’s hand. “You’re beautiful, honey.”
Kelsey blushed. “Thank you.”
“I can’t wait to get to know you both better. Ares is so proud of the two of you.” Then she passed them on to George, who gave them
each a big bear hug. That was where Hector had learned how to hug, from his dad.
“And Tessa.” She’d hung back, still shy and hesitant, despite Kelsey’s cheerful chatter on the flight. Sally took Tessa’s hand in both
of hers. “It is so lovely to finally meet you.”
“Thank you. You too.” But when Tessa’s eyes met Ares again, he read her clear confusion: How can she think it’s lovely to meet me
when I abandoned my son to her?
Though Tessa had heard of Sally back in the neighborhood and knew she was a good woman, she couldn’t possibly comprehend
Sally’s amazing capacity to love, her willingness to forgive a wrong, her need to make things right. If it was in her power, Sally
would make this right too. It was why they were here, after all.
Ares wasn’t sure anyone had that power. Not Kelsey. Not even Sally. No matter how good their intentions.
“Kelsey, honey.” Susan opened her arms again. “Come give me a hug. I haven’t seen you since last year.”
Kelsey laughed as they hugged. “Last year was only a week ago.”
It seemed like a lifetime. A week ago, he hadn’t kissed Kelsey, hadn’t held her or tasted her skin, hadn’t dreamed of her, hadn’t
needed to hear her laughter more than he needed food or water or air.
And he hadn’t known he had a family besides the Baddricks.
Sally herded them into the great room. “Have you eaten?”
“You wouldn’t believe the food they served on Ares plane,” Kathy said with a smile that was still more than slightly awed. “And champagne too!”
He smiled indulgently, feeling a tug on his heartstrings. He still couldn’t quite believe he had a sister. Or that she could be so fun, so
smart, so pretty.
“If you get hungry again, I’ve put out a few snacks.” Sally’s version of snacks was a smorgasbord of guacamole and chips, spinach
dip with French bread, a platter of shrimp, and bowls of nuts on the coffee table. She’d spent years feeding five hungry teenage boys,
after all. “Now come in, make yourselves at home.” The massive fireplace and brickwork filled one wall, and a blaze was pumping
warmth into the room accompanied by the pleasant crackle of the fire.
Tessa sat on one end of the sectional sofa, and Sally took a place next to her. Tyler relaxed into the couch on Sally’s right. George
had pulled chairs to the other side of the coffee table, but before Ares could take one of the seats, George sat with Kathy beside him.
That left a corner of the couch for Ares, with Kelsey next to him. Which, truthfully, was right where he wanted her to be.
“I want to hear all about raising twins,” Sally said to Tessa. “I’ve always marveled at parents who manage such a feat.” The way she
said it, you wouldn’t have thought she’d raised six kids herself.
Tessa smiled fondly at Kathy and Tyler. “They were easy babies. Great kids.”
Kelsey shifted next to him, and between them, where no one could see, she squeezed his fingers. Even as wound up as he was over
her, the gesture relaxed him.
“People were always so kind,” Tessa continued, speaking more easily with Sally than she did with anyone but the twins. “Especially
the man who gave me a job the first day I was in Modesto. I used the last of the money I had for one night at a cheap motel. There
was a coffee shop across the street, and I went in to ask for work. The waitress said they weren’t hiring. But there was a man eating
at the counter. He said he needed a receptionist if I was interested. And even when I told him I was pregnant, he didn’t retract the
offer.”
“You’d finally found a safe haven,” Sally said in a gentle voice.
“It was a miracle,” Tessa agreed.
Sally wasn’t looking at Ares, nor had she been speaking directly to him, but her message was clear nonetheless. In the world of his
childhood, kids were left alone for hours. They suffered abuse—physical, verbal, and more. But Sally and George’s house hadn’t just
been a haven for Ares—it had been equally as miraculous as Modesto had been for Tessa.
Yes, she’d made a terrible choice between him and the twins, but if she’d come home for him first, would any of them have made it
out? Or would they all have ended up rotting in that squalid neighborhood, buried by his father’s fists?
* * *
Kelsey was impressed by Tessa’s story. She’d beaten the odds, and the twins had grown into extraordinary people.
If only she hadn’t left Ares behind.
“I’ve worked for Hudson Crate’s company ever since,” Tessa was saying.
“He sounds like an amazing man,” Sally said.
Beside Kelsey, Ares sat still as a stone. His expression was just as unreadable. Kelsey wondered if the thought of Tessa immediately
getting a job in Modesto with an understanding boss bothered Ares. Because if she was settled, if she could easily have come back
for him, why hadn’t she?
“Hugh and his wife were wonderful,” Theresa said softly. “They’re both gone, and we all miss them so much.”
“They were like our grandparents,” Kathy said with fondness brimming over. Tyler agreed with just a smile.
“After the twins were born,” Tessa went on, “they knew I was juggling the job and child care, so she would often babysit, and he let
me bring the kids in with me. I also needed to keep borrowing money from them.” She glanced at Tyler and Kate, who smiled
encouragingly. “But I paid it all back.” She took a deep breath, one that didn’t seem to do much to center her before she said, “I don’t
know how I can ever pay you both back for what you did for Ares.” Her voice was watery, tears obviously close.
Kelsey felt Ares stiffen beside her. Aching for him, she gave the only thing she could with everyone around them—a gentle brush of
his shoulder with hers.
Sally patted Tessa’s leg. “My dear, we’re the ones who have to thank you. It was a privilege to have him.” She looked at Ares with
deep emotion shining in her eyes. “We love him with all our hearts.”
“We love all our boys,” George said in agreement.
“Look at all those games on the shelf,” Kathy said, clearly afraid that they were about to degenerate into a tear-fest. “You must have
a lot of grandchildren.”
Ares tensed once more, and worry flickered on Sally’s face as she glanced at him. Kelsey knew they were thinking about the same
thing. Keira and her pregnancy lies. All the grandchildren Sally didn’t have.
Fortunately, George jumped in to save them all. “We have one wonderful grandchild from our foster son Perseus. Zeus is nearly six.
We adore him. But Sally and I love to play games in the evening.”
“When you’re not bingeing on Sons of Anarchy,” Kelsey teased, hoping to lighten the mood. “You even got me addicted to it.”
“When you’re done, you’ve got to try The Walking Dead,” Sally said like an overexcited teenager.
Ares groaned like any son would when embarrassed by a parent, and everyone laughed. Everyone but Tessa, who was carefully
watching the interaction between Sally and Ares. Not with jealousy, but with regret.
It was clear to Kelsey that Tessa wished she could have been the mother Ares needed. But could Ares understand that?
“Why don’t we play a game?” Sally suggested. “How about Skip-Bo?”
“Do not let her con you into playing that,” George said. “She wins every time.”
Sally shrugged. “What can I say? I’m lucky at cards.”
“How about Yahtzee?” Kelsey said, spying the game on the shelf.
“We used to play that a lot,” Tyler said.
Tessa smiled. “It was thrifty entertainment.”
“And Tyler liked it because he always won,” Kathy put in. “Even though I’m the numbers girl.”
“Well, you’ll all have some stiff competition with this one.” George jerked his thumb at Sally. That was one of the things that Kelsey
loved about the Beischel—the way they teased with such love in their eyes.
They cleared the food remainders off the table, and while everyone was preoccupied with carrying things to the kitchen or sifting
through the games on the shelf, Kelsey drew Ares aside. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.”
She growled at him, “You know I hate it when you say fine like that.”
He laughed softly, and she felt a tingle low in her belly. “I’m not going to lie and say this is the easiest social gathering of my life.
But it’s a heck of a lot better than last Sunday.”
She wanted to lay her head on his chest, as if listening to his heartbeat would confirm his feelings better than his words could.
“Did it bother you to hear about Tessa’s experiences bringing up Kathy and Tyler in Modesto?”
“A little.” She appreciated his honesty a great deal. Especially knowing what it cost him. “But it also cleared up a few things.”
She smiled at him. “I’m so glad you feel that way.”
When he returned the smile, she wanted so badly to kiss him. Right then and there in the middle of Sally and George’s living room.
With everyone watching. Soon, she hoped. Soon, leaning in to kiss him in front of everyone would be as natural as breathing.
“Thank you for coming here this weekend.” He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “I can’t imagine doing any of this without
you.” His fingertips lingered on her face. “I wouldn’t want to.”
She melted on the inside. Not just from his caress, but from the amazing things he’d said. His gaze on her burned with desire, tracing
her face, sweeping down to her lips, as if he imagined putting his mouth on hers.
Before she could put voice to any of her swirling, growing feelings—or steal the kiss she could practically taste—Tyler called out,
“You any good at Yahtzee, Ares?”
“Wait and see,” Ares said with a smirk.
“Sorry in advance when I crush you, bro.”
By the grin that spread over Ares face, Kelsey knew how much he liked it when his bro egged him on.
Still, Kelsey’s stomach twisted. Because once she and Keira had grown into teenagers, they’d never had that kind of relationship.
And now they never would.
“Kelsey?” Looking back up into Ares eyes, she saw concern deepening the hazel color. “Are you okay? You look upset.”
He’d been honest with her. She could do no less with him. “I was thinking about Keira. How we were never very good together as
sisters.”
“You were.” His words were impassioned. “You were the best sister she could ever have hoped for. It’s her fault she never knew how
to love you the way you loved her.”
With his heartfelt words, Kelsey felt a spell weaving itself around just the two of them, drawing them closer and deeper together.
“Time to get your caffeine fix,” Sally called out, carrying two carafes while George carted a tray of mugs and cream and sugar. Tessa
followed with a big plate of cookies.
Even then, the spell didn’t break. Because Kelsey could still feel the threads of attraction—and strong emotion—connecting them.
* * *
The game was fabulous. They laughed and cursed and groaned and had a marvelous time with each roll of the dice.
“You can’t use a calculator.” Tony snorted at his sister when she fished one out of her purse.
“I’m an accountant. We do everything better with calculators.”
“I’m not touching that one with a ten-foot pole.” George’s eyes widened to saucer size.
Everyone laughed. Even Tessa. And she wasn’t the only one having a good time. At long last, something seemed to let loose in Ares
too.
Was it spending time with his new siblings?
Was it realizing that the ghost of his mother wasn’t nearly as horrible in real life as it had been in his head all these years?
Or was it the bond Kelsey felt growing moment by moment between herself and Ares?
He rolled and one of the dice fell off the table. He leaned down to get it, searching on the carpet, but somehow found her leg instead,
his hand gliding up the half boots she wore, as if he hadn’t been able to resist touching her.
Kelsey flushed, almost gasping out loud at the sensual touch.
When he finally came back up with the die, Sally pointed a finger at him and said, “You better watch out for him.”
Kelsey’s heart stopped beating. Does Sally know?
“He was always the quiet one, our Ares,” Sally continued. “But then you’d find he’d done something tricky, like switching out the
dice under the table.”
“Yes, you.” She was laughing as she said, “You were our little prankster. Remember that time you put a frog in my apron pocket?”
“That was because you made us all watch The Sound of Music.” He looked around the coffee table, grinning as he said, “Seriously.
Five teenage boys watching Maria flirt with Captain von Trapp?”
“So you’re saying Ares was incorrigible?” Kathy asked.
Sally nodded happily. “Totally.”
He looked at Kelsey. “You’ve known me all these years. You could defend me, you know.”
“Actually,” Kelsey said with a wicked little grin, “I’d rather Sally and George tell us more stories about their little prankster.”
It turned out there was no end to the mischief Ares had caused.
There was the time he’d put the goldfish in the toilet while he cleaned the fishbowl. “How was I supposed to know Perseus wasn’t
going to look down?”
And the time he painted the windows shut. “Hector was the one who was good with his hands. No one told me I was supposed to
tape first.”
“And what about when you put the hammer through the wall while you were hanging a picture for me?” Sally’s smile was fond with
the memory.
“The walls were like tissue paper,” Ares protested. “The hammer just followed the nail right through.”
“And you didn’t know your own strength,” George added.
“Exactly. But how did you two know about that? Hector helped me patch it up so it looked like new.”
Sally laughed. “Hera.”
“That little tattletale,” Ares grumbled, but there was light in his eyes for the youngest Beischel. All the Baddicks had a soft spot for
her.
Kelsey wondered if those small incidents had been Ares way of acting out like a normal kid—especially considering he’d grown up
with a father who wouldn’t let the slightest transgression pass, even if it was an accident. If so, Sally and George had taken it all in
stride. They told the vignettes with a smile, a laugh, and, from Sally, sometimes a little swat at Ares. Meanwhile, he and Tyler kept
racking up the points on their Yahtzee scorecards.
“I’m so glad Ares had such a wonderful family to live with.” Tessa clutched the cup to her chest before she shook out the dice.
Sally’s eyes softened with emotion. “We’re so glad to have you and Tyler and Kathy with us now too.”
Sally had more than enough love to share. She would never be jealous of Tessa’s sudden return.
As for Ares, he didn’t seem to be as tense or upset. wanted to believe he was enjoying this. But what did he truly feel?
She longed to get him alone to find out. Longed just to be alone with him. Even though that was bound to be impossible this
weekend with family all around.
Still, she had faith that more magic would happen between them soon. Magic so powerful that he wouldn’t be able to walk away this
time.
In the meantime, she was delighting in all the things she was learning about him. With their scorecards almost filled and Ares neck
and neck with Tyler, the intensity of the game punched up. There was whooping and hollering with every throw.
“I’ve still got a really good chance against you two,” Kathy groused as she took her throw. And came up with zilch.
“Hah!” Tony crowed.
She leaned over to rap his arm lightly. “I’ll get you next time.” Kelsey sensed the love there, the deep twin bond.
Then it was Ares turn. “You’re going down, dude,” he boasted to Tony as he shook and threw, then punched the air when he rolled
four fives. “Gotcha.”
“No way. I still beat you.” Tony pointed to his scorecard, then Ares, and punched the air too.
“Let me double-check.” Kathy grabbed the two cards.
“Now don’t cheat just because he’s your brother,” Ares warned.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re my brother too.”
Ares leaned in. “But he’s your twin,” he emphasized.
The three siblings were so easy with each other, as if they’d known one another for years. Ares laughed and joked and teased. God, it
was so good to see him smile, especially with his family. Kelsey caught Sally’s eye, and she was sure she saw the mist of happy tears
there. This trip had truly been an engineering masterpiece. Even Tessa was smiling as she gazed at all three of her children.
“I declare it a tie,” Kathy said. “And we’re going to need a rematch so I can beat the pants off both of you.”
They were all competitive, but what Baddrick wasn’t? Tyler and Kathy clicked with Sally, George and Ares as if they’d been born
Baddricks.
With the game finished, Sally announced, “I’m starving. Let’s take a dinner break.” Then she said that she and George were going to
make grilled cheese sandwiches.
“My favorite,” Ares said as he hugged her off her feet. “I’ll help you.”
As the two of them headed off to the kitchen, Kelsey watched Tessa, looking for signs of jealousy over Ares relationship with his
foster mom. It would be natural, as much as it would be a consequence of her own actions.
“I’m very glad you and the twins came,” Kelsey said as an icebreaker.
Tessa turned, a sheen in her eyes. “I am too. Sally and George took such good care of him. He obviously loves them very much.”
“All the Baddricks do.” Throughout the game, Sally had talked of her other foster sons and of her own children. “Sally and George
have a lot of love to give.”
“So does Ares,” Tessa said in a soft voice, one that was filled with so much longing it nearly broke Kelsey’s heart.
She wished she had the right words to make it better. Something more than, “This trip is a good start.” One small step on what
Kelsey hoped was the road to forgiveness.
Tessa clasped her hands, as if in prayer. “He seems to really be bonding with the twins. I’ll be patient. It can’t happen in one
weekend.”
Kelsey felt a great kinship with Tessa in that moment.
Because patience where Ares heart was concerned was something Kelsey knew all too well.
* * *
After they’d eaten, Ares said, “It’s been a great day, but I’ve got a few things to take care of before bed. I’ve got a room at a local hotel so I won’t crowd anyone out. I’ll see everyone in the morning for breakfast.” He pulled Sally beneath his arm. “You haven’t eaten breakfast until you’ve had Sally’s eggs Benedict.”
“Kelsey,” Sally said suddenly, “it would probably be best if you stayed at the hotel too.”
Kelsey couldn’t hide her surprise at this suggestion. A beat later, however, she wondered if this was Sally’s way of not only saying
she approved of what might be going on between her and Ares, but also giving them a helping hand in making it happen.
Still looking at Sally as if she’d just lost her mind, Ares said, “There’s always been plenty of room here for Kelsey before.”
She wanted to smack him, even if he was running scared after the three deliriously glorious kisses they’d shared. But she wanted to
hug Sally.
Especially when she said, “The bathrooms will be crowded when we’re all trying to get ready in the morning. Not to mention the hot
water with all those showers.”
With that, Ares didn’t have a single excuse left.
While everyone hugged Ares good-bye for the night—even Tessa, who, miracle of miracles, he didn’t push away—Sally gave
Kelsey a hug.
In a low voice, she said, “He needs to decompress and talk through the day’s events. This has been a big step for him.”
“I know.” Kelsey nodded. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t hold it all in.”
“Thank you, honey. I can always trust you to take care of him. And I know he’ll always be there for you too.”
Sally could have simply been talking about their friendship. But Kelsey was certain that she heard something more in his foster
mother’s words.
Something that sounded a lot like love.
