Maybe she should hide out. Or take an extended vacation. Yeah, and look at where her Vegas vacation had gotten her. No, she and Aidan would be much better off not waiting and just telling everyone as soon as possible. The sooner the better. That way they could get used to their new reality.
She took a seat at the kitchen table in Elle’s cheery kitchen. Her sister and Daniel had recently remodeled it to look like a Tuscan farmhouse kitchen.
From the white farmhouse sink to the marble countertops, travertine tile and wood floors, it really was a show place.
Daniel had built a large fireplace in the room—the opening was at least six feet by six feet—along one wall. There was a built-in pizza oven on the left side of it.
The centerpiece was a top-of-the-line eight-burner gas range, which Jane and Liam coveted. Every time they set foot in Elle’s kitchen, Jane bemoaned the fact that she didn’t have an appliance as impressive, even though she was the cook in the family. Elle always said that she and Liam were welcome to come over and cook in her kitchen every day if she wanted to make dinner for her and Daniel.
Of course, Jane and Liam spent most of their time at their restaurants and the tearoom, but still, it was a dream kitchen. Custom features like that were one of the many perks of being married to a builder.
And since Aidan was not only Daniel’s brother but also his business partner, Kate, too, could have—Reality suddenly reared up in her in the face, giving her a start. Aidan was not just her brother-in-law’s business partner, Aidan was her husband.
All of this—husband, family and a life of security and happiness—was hers to lose. Why was she so eager to throw it all away, ensuring that her worst fears came true, that the worst possible version of herself, the one with all of the qualities of her father, defined her after all?
Elle returned five minutes later. “She fell asleep the minute her little head hit the pillow. She was so tired.”
Trying to get her mind off herself, Kate marveled at Elle’s special way with children. She really was the kid whisperer. It was as if she had some kind of magic touch with the under-thirteen set, which, of course, was what had made her such an excellent teacher back in the day, when she used to teach elementary school art in Atlanta.
“I was thinking of making grilled cheese and tomato basil soup for lunch,” Elle said. “Does that sound good? Of course, the soup is from a can. I’m not Jane, after all, but it is a good brand.”
Elle held up the soup can with the blue label.
“Sounds delicious.” Right on schedule, Kate was suddenly ravenous. She couldn’t think of anything that sounded better.
“How can I help?” Kate asked.
“You can start talking and tell me what’s on your mind.”
Kate glanced around the kitchen as if someone might be hiding and secretly listening. Of course, no one was home, but she still weighed her words.
“Is marriage hard?” she asked her sister.
Elle set a block of cheddar cheese and a butter dish on the cutting board she had placed in the middle of the kitchen island. Cheese slicer in hand, she looked at Kate thoughtfully.
“It depends on what you mean by hard. I mean, it is not always easy. It is not all hearts and fireworks, and honestly, sometimes it gets pretty darn difficult, but at the end of the day, there’s no place else I’d rather be, anything else I’d rather be doing or anyone else I’d rather be doing it with. I’ve never enjoyed working this hard for anything in my entire life. So the short answer is, yes, it is hard. But it is more than worth it. It’s everything.”
As Elle buttered the bread for the grilled cheese sandwiches, she had a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes and a smitten smile on her face.
That’s what I want. That, right there.
And that was what Aidan deserved. He deserved someone who got all warm and fuzzy and dreamy when she thought about him.
Was Aidan the love of her life? Had she been so busy pushing him away that she couldn’t even see the good that was right in front of her? Maybe she needed to start rethinking things.
Now, especially with the baby on the way, it wasn’t just about her. Not anymore.
“Well, I’d say that’s a pretty good endorsement of marriage.” Kate hated the way her voice shook.
Elle snapped out of her reverie and pinned Kate with a hopeful look. “Are you and Aidan—”
“Are Aidan and I what?” Kate snapped before Elle could finish.
Elle shook her head. “For a moment, I thought that maybe you had some news you wanted to share.”
Why couldn’t she just say it? It was the reason she had come over here this morning. To talk to someone compassionate who would not judge her or get overly celebratory before it was time.
Would there ever be a time when they could celebrate?
Elle walked over to the stove and started grilling the sandwiches.
“Aidan and I got married when we were in Vegas.” The words poured out. She couldn’t stop them.
The spatula fell from Elle’s hand and clattered against the skillet. She didn’t bother to pick it up. Instead, she turned to face Kate.
“You did what?”
“You heard me. Aidan and I are married.”
Elle stood there rooted to the spot for a moment before she ran over and flung her arms around her sister. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations!”
When she pulled away and looked at Kate, Elle’s face fell. “Why is it not wonderful? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m an idiot. Or maybe it’s just my hormones,
