“Yes, because I needed a neutral party who doesn’t work in the business and a jaded one, like my father, who warned me about Fiona from the beginning.”
“That’s kind of smart. How come you didn’t ask me?”
“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d want to touch that process even if there was an ocean between you and the potential candidates. And some of them would have been very problematic for you.” I raised a brow at his admission. “They were immediately dismissed, but I did not want to put you through that stress.”
“Don’t leave me in suspense here, who did you end up choosing?”
“My new assistant is forty-three years old with a life partner who he has been with for the past fourteen years. They have two adopted children, and I think I’ll pay anything to keep him on, because so far, he’s been a life saver.”
“Ridge, you buried the lead on that one a little bit.”
“Yeah, I did, sweets. Rest assured, though, I’m not making any decisions without you in mind ever again. Keeping our peace is my top priority.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I felt like a bit of an asshole bringing all this up. I never wanted to be the jealous, bitter wife.”
“As long as you want to be my wife again one day, I don’t care what other adjectives you place before it.” Ridge winked as he teased me, but I knew at least part of what he said was true. He wanted me to marry him again but hadn’t officially asked yet. Up until recently, I wasn’t sure what I would say if he did, but he just annihilated the last of my fears and I didn’t think there was anything else to hold me back.
Chapter 30
Ridge
“Your birthday is in a week; do you have any plans?” I could tell that DD didn’t mean anything by it, but the way Violet went pale made me angry with her best friend for bringing it up. We had brought DD, Moreland, and Gabby over to see the new house and were all seated in the backyard around the pool. My mom had Liam at her house, so we could get a few things set up here.
“I’m not celebrating my birthday anymore.”
Violet spun toward me and scoffed. “What in the hell do you mean you’re not celebrating it anymore? You can’t ignore the day you were born, the day we met, or our original anniversary.”
“I can. We can have new special days, but that one is tainted.”
Violet looked at DD and narrowed her eyes on her friend. “I didn’t tell him shit, this time, I swear,” her friend announced.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Your woman here said the same thing yesterday when I asked if you two were planning anything.” DD huffed and then mocked Violet, “I can’t bring myself to even think about that day without wanting to throw up.”
Well, that felt like a kick to the balls. I moved my attention to my woman and watched as she blanched and looked away guiltily. I hated that she couldn’t express to me how she felt. I understood, but that didn’t change the fact that what was once our special day was now ruined.
“We will have more special days. Your birthday, Liam’s, our next wedding, and the day we move into this house officially. Those are things to celebrate.”
“You being alive for another year is also worth celebrating,” Vi argued, though her voice was soft and distant.
“And we will, but on a different day. It’s nothing really. Loads of people celebrate their birthdays on another day. Maybe because they’re waiting for the weekend or time off from work or whatever. We’ll pick a different day. No big deal.”
Moreland and Gabby remained silent. Aunt Gayle had their son for a visit, probably at my mom’s house so the two munchkins could play together.
“For now, we should go up and see where we’re putting all Liam’s stuff and get to it before he wears Mom out.”
We managed to get Liam’s room, the master bedroom, and bathroom straightened out. The movers had brought most of it over, but the day-to-day things like clothes and toys and blankets, and all the baby paraphernalia were brought over in our vehicles. My birthday was only a few days away, but the real celebration was that Violet agreed to live with me in our new house as a family. I wouldn’t have to go somewhere else at night anymore. I could wake up with my son whenever he had trouble sleeping. I could snuggle the love of my life without fear that she was going to kick me out and make me go to a different home. We might have been taking baby steps to get where we were, but I was okay with that because it meant being there with my family would feel that much sweeter.
We still had one more night left in the apartment because I didn’t want to move my family into the new house until the security system was up and running. So, that night we went back and laid our son down in his portable crib for the night.
“I don’t want to leave tonight,” I told Violet once Liam was down for the count.
“You don’t have to,” she said.
We took advantage of our time together and even fell asleep for an hour or so before our boy startled awake. I went to take care of him before he woke Violet. It was probably the happiest night of my life. I made love to my wife. Slept in a bed with her - even if it was just a futon mattress on the floor. And I got to get up with my son in the middle of the night for the first time.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t get too comfortable in this tiny room, buddy. I have big plans for us as a family, and it requires a lot more space. Mommy finally realized she can trust me with her heart again, and that’s a big step. I promise you; I will never do anything to break her trust or her heart again. She’s my everything. Besides, I need to set a good example for you to live by when you grow up. One day, you’re going to love a woman so completely that you can’t imagine taking a single breath without her in your life. Someone will be jealous and try to ruin what you have. I don’t want you to learn your lessons the way I did. My lessons hurt your mother. I want you to know from the beginning that you have to have absolute faith in your person, just like they do in you. That is what will get you past all the bumps in your road. That is what will keep you out of trouble and loving your person for eternity. I will never take my lessons for granted because it almost cost me your mom and you. I never want that to be a burden that you have to bear.”
