“We asked,” Tyler said. “Don’t be mad at Aston.”
Aston gave me his version of puppy-dog eyes. “Look, I have the room. Eventually, I’d like to get a bigger place, but I was thinking that this works for now. For all of us. We’re not going to be apart.”
“What else were you thinking about? I’m afraid to ask.”
“We could sell your place and put the money in a college fund for Tyler and Piper. You won’t need the money to live on now, and this will be good for them. I assume you got it in the divorce.”
I dropped my head on Aston’s shoulder. “Oh God, let’s go to our celebratory dinner first. My head feels like it’s going to explode from how much you thought this through.”
Mara ran in place, glowing with excitement. “Wait until you see the ring, Bexley! I love it! Dad let me try it on. It’s soooo sparkly. Can I call you Mom like Little A does? Can I?”
I felt my heart grow larger, so big it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. “Sure, Mar. Anything you want. If it makes you happy, then you can do it. You know why? I love your daddy and you and Little A.”
“And Piper and Tyler,” she said, nodding.
“Of course.” A bittersweet shiver ran through me. I wouldn’t want my kids choosing a new mom, but I wasn’t Cass. That much was clear.
Aston pulled me into his side and kissed the top of my head. “Come on, gang. Let’s go home and change.”
The kids bopped excitedly in front of us as we left the fair. Mara held Piper’s hand, and the boys were busy trying to trip each other.
“Getting married,” Aston said close to my ear. “Can you believe it?”
“You think this is smart? It’s been quick, you know?”
Aston stopped in his tracks. Turning me to face him, he tucked his index finger under my chin. “I’m sure. I’ve been waiting too long for this.”
Then he kissed me in broad daylight, for the world to see. The richie and the girl from the other side of town were finally getting their happily-ever-after. It was a sweet, chaste kiss with the kids impatiently waiting nearby.
“I forgot to mention,” Aston said, breaking free from my lips. “Movers are coming in the morning to pack up your stuff.”
“Oh my God, Aston. You don’t give a person a chance, do you?”
“No, I don’t. Come on.”
Two nights later, I climbed into Aston’s ginormous bed, which he’d told me was new since he divorced Cass. In fact, all the furniture was new.
“Thanks, the kids loved that,” Aston said to me, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“It was pizza dough. Seriously, no big deal.”
“Well, they’ve never done that before. We’ve never done it.”
“I think you’re going to need to adjust your life a bit. We can’t be fancy all the time. Plus, Denise doesn’t have to work twenty-four/seven. She needs a vacation.”
Gathering me in his arms, Aston settled me on my side, turning to face me. His palm ran over my cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Whatever you want. But that job, it’s not safe, and I need you with me on this project. Please?”
“Aston, I’ve been at the job a long time. They depend on me. I’m good at helping those women.”
“Give them notice. Help train the next person.”
Tilting my head to look at him, I spoke quietly. “Look at Milly. She gave up everything about herself to be some new person, and she wasn’t exactly happy. I don’t want to be that person. I’m not a society lady.”
This got me a laugh from Aston. “I’m not asking you to plan parties. I need your expertise, your good judgment when it comes to hiring people. I don’t want you to be anyone else.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Now let’s think about something else.”
