Acts of Redemption: Chapter 23

“Mimosas!” The one named Cassie dances as she moves around the living area with a bottle of Champaign. “Well, except for the bride. She gets virgin mimosas.” Blowing Bella a kiss, she giggles.

“Morning everyone.” I walk in, hesitant to join in on their fun.

“Charlotte!” Bella waddles toward me. “I swear. I wanted to put the wedding off until after the baby, but William was adamant about all of us having the same last name when Alexander arrives.” Grabbing hold of my arm, she pulls me toward the center of the room, depositing me down into a cream sofa.

Ashley plops down next to me, apparently already having downed most of her drink. “You got here just in time. Cassie brought over the bridesmaid dresses, and although you’re not officially in the wedding, she brought you a couple of dresses in the same color scheme as the rest of us.”

My chest squeezes and my face flushes. The inclusion these ladies are offering me is something I’ve never experienced before. Not in my family, and certainly not in the stuffy social circles I’m accustomed to. I smile, turning toward Cassie, “Thank you. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

“None whatsoever. Aiden had already given me your sizes, so it was no big deal to pull a couple of extra dresses.” She hands me a flute full of the bubbly drink and winks. “Besides, he gave me his black charge card and told me to go wild shopping for you. How could I say no to that?”

Now I know my cheeks are blazing red. Taking a sip of my drink, I choose to plead the fifth in regard to Aiden. Especially in front of his daughter.

“Oh, stop. Can’t you see she’s bashful?” Ashley chastises Cassie, but she just brushes her off.

“She needs to get used to us. Now that she’s part of the fam-bam she’ll be seeing a lot of us and you know there are no secrets between the ladies of WRATH.”

Hudson’s little stepsister, Alyssa, spits into her glass while Bella pats her back. “You okay, sweetie?”

“She probably freaked out about the secret thing, didn’t you doll? It’s okay, I meant between us. We keep plenty of secrets from the men.” She cackles as she throws back some more of her drink. “Don’t worry. We won’t be telling Hudson we let you drink. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s taken on this overprotective role a little too seriously.”

“A little too seriously is putting it mildly,” Ashley mumbles into her drink, but she doesn’t comment any further.

“Okay, let’s get down to business. We have a couple of things to go through, but just as an FYI, we are adding you to our spa appointments later in the week.” Cassie points at me before continuing. “For now, we have to finalize the guest list and table settings.”

“Oh, I want Charlotte at the head table with us.” Bella purses her lips, trying to bite back a full grin. “If the sounds coming out of your room this morning are any indication, it won’t be long before all of us are sitting at your head table.”

That’s it. Earth, swallow me whole please. I. Am. Mortified.

Ashley grabs my hand and squeezes. “It’s part of the hazing process. They’re like sharks, these ones. If you show them a drop of blood, they’ll be out for more.” Patting my hand, she attempts to temper my embarrassment. “Best to remain stoic, not show them any emotion.”

“Is that what you think you do?” Bella shoots Ashley a megawatt grin. “Don’t think we aren’t on to you and that not-so-mystery man of yours.”

“I thought there were no secrets?” Alyssa asks innocently.

“That’s right. So why don’t you fess up already. It’s not as if we don’t already know what’s up.” Cassie raises a brow, staring down poor Ashley.

“Well, it’s not a secret if you claim to already know, is it?” Ashley spits back with a cock of her own brow.

“But it’s not as fun if it doesn’t come from you.” Cassie pouts as she rolls out a rack full of beautiful dresses. They’re all a beautiful pale shade of pink. They have a fitted corset that’s ruched with delicate organza and cuts off at the waist before flowing down into the most beautiful skirt.

Cassie pulls a dress off the rack and walks it to me. “This is my first pick for you! Aiden’s jaw will drop as soon as he sees you in it.”

“Oh, we’re not together.” My face heats for the fifty millionth time today as I try to brush off what they must all be thinking. “He’s my sister’s ex-boyfriend. We just go way back, but there’s nothing there romantically.”

“Sure thing, darling. That moaning we all heard must have been you playing porno on the television.” Cassie purses her lips as her brows lift. “Just so you know, your room butts right against this one and y’all weren’t exactly trying to be quiet.”

Okay, I’m full on hyperventilating at this point. Aiden’s daughter is sitting right across from me and I can’t bear to look at her directly.

“Oh my god, I’m going to pee myself if you don’t stop making me laugh!” Bella squeaks out between full bellied laughs. “I see that you’re horrified at the idea of being heard, but years with Cassie has chiseled away at whatever sexual waspiness I once possessed.”

“I’m not sure waspiness is a word.” Alyssa’s brows furrow and the sight is enough to break me out of whatever shame I was feeling. This conversation is just too awkwardly funny, I can’t help but giggle, the other women following suit.

“You get the picture,” Bella finally manages out, dabbing at the corner of her eyes. “But seriously, no secrets and no shame here. Ever.”

Raising my glass, I toast, “Well, it seems like all of my laundry has been aired out. So cheers to that!”

“Cheers!” Our glasses raised and our hearts warmed, I think I’ve found a new family in these ladies and I love it.

Aiden

By the time I make it back to the house, it’s well past noon. Searching out the women, I find them all in the media room.

The boys are playing video games meanwhile the women are cooing over Harper and her princess dress.

“Hey, Daddy.” Bella beams up at me as she twirls Harper. “Isn’t her flower dress too stinkin cute?!”

“She really is adorable, sweetie.” A vision of Charlotte holding a little girl of our own flashes before me and my breathing picks up. Thanks to my carelessness, that could very well be a possibility.

“You okay?” Charlotte’s furrowed brows are aimed right at me, concern riddling her face.

The fact that she is so in tune with me, that she catches the slight shift in my breathing, is telling. We really are connected. “Yes, I’m fine. Though I do need to talk to you about something when you get a chance.”

All the women glance back and forth between themselves, and I wonder what they’ve been talking about while I’ve been gone.

“Sure. Is there any news?” Charlotte rises from her place between Bella and Ashley, hesitantly making her way toward me.

“Yes.” As soon as we’ve stepped out into the hallway, I let her in on my concerns. “I’m not sure if you’ve checked your email today, but Preston’s counsel sent out a letter directed to me but listed you in the CC.”

“No, I haven’t checked. I’ve been so caught up with the ladies today that I haven’t had a chance to deal with any of that.” She blows out a breath as she rolls her eyes. “Let me guess, he’s not agreeing to an uncontested divorce.”

I snort at the idea that Preston would willingly let her go without a fight. “That man doesn’t know the meaning of the word uncontested. He’d fight his own shadow if he thought it didn’t kiss his ass enough.”

“You’re definitely right about that.” Raising a brow, she shakes her head. “So what did the email say?”

Pushing the door open to her room, I take her hand and walk her to the chaise. I’m glad she didn’t let me sleep on this thing. We barely fit sitting down.

“He wants to negotiate the terms, see if you can come to some sort of agreement.”

She chews on her bottom lip and I have the urge to pluck it from her teeth, soothing the bruised areas with my tongue.

“I don’t know if seeing him is such a good idea. Can’t we negotiate through our attorneys, and why wasn’t Thompson the one they emailed instead of me?”

“Those are very good questions. I think they were trying to send a message, implicating that you and I have something going on, maybe possibly give him the upper hand somehow.” Her cheeks flush with that beautiful rose color, making me reach out and pull her into an embrace. “Don’t worry, they have no basis to use that against you. Your petition was filed under the grounds of insupportability and you didn’t have a prenup. As long as you remain adamant that there is no hope of reconciliation, then you don’t have to worry about him trying to use a possible relationship against you.”

“I don’t know Aiden. Even if it won’t give him the legal upper hand, he’s a vindictive man. He’d find a way to use it somehow.”

“Well, if he wants to play dirty then we can air out his dirty laundry, letting the courts see exactly what type of man he is.”

Her body stills as she chews on the inside of her cheek. “So tell me again why we have to meet in person?”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Especially with your history together. If you choose to meet in person, then I will be there with you along with Thompson.” I raise my hand, rubbing slow circles on her back, trying to impart as much comfort as possible through my touch. “But you know that sooner or later you’ll have to see him. Just know that whatever happens, I’ll be there by your side.”

Her glassy eyes blink, a single tear falling down her rosy cheek. “Aiden, I—” her voice trembles and I’m overcome with the need to hold her.

Pulling her into my chest, I whisper against her hair. “Shhh. It’s all going to be okay. We will get through this. You’ve always been a fighter, Charlotte. This is no different.”

Her face tilts toward mine, her breath mingling with mine and drawing me in. I press my lips to hers into a slow and sensual kiss.

Her mouth parts and my tongue glides across her lips before entering its home.

“You lovebirds done in there? Dinner is ready.” William’s knocking on the door breaks our kiss and I groan.

“Coming.” I shout, before mumbling under my breath, “but not the fun kind.”