Page 83 of Made For You
“What’s that, dear?” Gigi asked as she yawned and clicked the button to sit her seat back up. “You were mumbling something.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure? Maybe I could just listen while you talk through it.”
As much as I wanted to talk it over with Gigi, I was worried it would be too much for her after the day she had.
“It’s okay. I’ll get it all sorted.”
For the remainder of the trip to Ashfield, I answered her questions about the town. What restaurant was my favorite? The Purple Goat. What shop did I frequent the most? The local distillery’s tasting room, Sip and Sit. What did Aurora and I do in our spare time?
I refused to answer that question, and it earned me a surprisingly strong slap on my bicep.
Gigi gazed out the window like a child at Disney World when we drove into town. It was just about 5:00 p.m., so people were bustling around the sidewalks. They waved at the vehicle blindly, but Gigi ate it up, waving back as if she knew every single person.
“We’re about twenty minutes from the bed-and-breakfast,” I told her as we passed through the far end of Ashfield.
“It’s so pretty here. I can see why no one wants to leave.” Gigi’s voice was solemn, not filled with the excitement I expected.
As we passed Aurora’s street, I debated turning around and seeing her, but I wouldn’t want to leave. Though she might very well kick me out when I explained what was happening. I clenched the steering wheel in frustration as I continued down the main road, maneuvering the truck around the sharp corner with ease, as if I lived here my entire life. Up on the hill, I pointed out the bed-and-breakfast to Gigi. Not only was she excited to meet Colton, but she was also a huge history buff. I knew she was going to keep Autumn busy with all the ancestral details she’d want to know about the house.
When I called Autumn to make the reservation for Gigi, I explained the situation with my uncle, and she made sure there would be space available to her for as long as she needed. She hired a chef, and dinner preparations were underway for all the guests, so it was no sweat to add one more.
“I can come back later tonight,” I offered Gigi, standing inside her room, and she looked at me over her shoulder as she started unpacking her suitcase.
“You need to take care of your wife. I’m sure if I need anything, Colton will come to my rescue,” she said devilishly.
“All right. I’ll head out then.” I walked over and kissed her on the top of her gray head of hair. “I love you, Gigi,” I told her, something I didn’t say nearly enough.
“Oh, dear boy. I love you too. This is a special place. I’m glad you’ve found it.”
I left Gigi as her melancholy words lingered. This little blip on the map had more of an impact on me in the last couple of months than all my years away at boarding school and in Miami combined. The only other time I’d been as affected was the short three years with my mother, though I couldn’t remember that time anymore.
I spoke with Autumn and Colton momentarily as I thanked them for the last-minute reservation. The duo offeredtheir condolences over my grandfather’s death. Gigi and he had already begun compiling his funeral arrangements when his health took a nosedive. So, after the autopsy was complete, he’d been cremated. Gigi didn’t want any fanfare, not even holding a wake or funeral. He made more enemies than friends during his lifetime. The reading of the will was scheduled to happen next month. That gave her time to grieve and be out of the public eye.
The trek to Aurora’s house seemed infinitely longer than I remembered. By the time I pulled the SUV into her driveway, I was antsy as hell to get inside. Thankfully, her car was parked, and I hoped that meant she was home.
I slid my trusty key into the knob, only to find the door already unlocked.
“Aurora! I’m home!” I called out, anticipating her running into my arms. Until I walked into the house, I hadn’t truly realizedhow muchI missed her.
Draco greeted me as he swirled around my legs.
“Hey, bud. Where’s your momma?” I asked the cat as I lifted him and nuzzled his face. I’d never been a pet person. I spent too much time travelling and at work to take care of an animal properly. But I loved this little dude.
The toilet flushed down the hall, so I made my way toward the bathroom. I stood just outside the door, excited to hold Aurora in my arms. But when she opened the door, I was surprised to find her wiping tears from beneath her eyes. At her shocked expression, I could tell she hadn’t heard me calling her name.
“Talon?” she asked as I set Draco on the floor.
“Aurora, what’s wrong?”
“I…,” she began, and then she sniffled. “I lost my job today.”
“What?” I shouted. Her losing her position at the school had never crossed my mind as an outcome of our contract. Igrabbed her hand and guided her over to the couch, silently begging her to divulge everything. Her grip tightened as we sat down.
“Yeah… um… I guess the administrator found out about your uncle and grandfather. Then today, it was all the kids were talking about it. He called my personal life a distraction and let me go.”
“That’s wrongful termination.”
