Belong (Seven Year Itch #3)(55)

“I’m not sure. Why don’t you go find her?”

I waited until she’d left to speak to Ronald. “Can you give us a minute?”

He slid an envelope over to Rachel. “Sure. There are a couple other charities we need go through and some paperwork to sign.”

“We’ll get to it in a bit. Just give us a couple minutes.”

He left the paperwork on the table and exited the room, closing the door behind him. Being a lawyer, I was sure he’d seen a fair share of affairs. He probably suspected the worse, when Rachel and I were pretty innocent when it came to being illicit. It wasn’t like we’d been in a happy relationship and sought out a little extra on the side.

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I began thinking about the last time I’d spoken to my grandfather, and the cryptic message in his final words. “Damn. I should have known.”

“Known what?”

“In the hospital last week my grandfather said something, and at the time I thought it was gibberish. Now I get it. He said three words. Happy – Home – and the last one he couldn’t get out completely. It was like a Ra sound. Now I know what it is. Rachel. He wanted me to come home to you.”

I could hardly accept it.

“That’s crazy. I mean, I know Charles means well, but how would this benefit either of us?”

“Well, he didn’t know Veronica was pregnant, so maybe he thought if I had this place I’d be forced to reconnect with you.”

“This is insane, Chad. I’ll sign it over to you. I’d never take something like that from your family.”

“No.” I let out an air-filled laugh. “Don’t do anything.” Suddenly I realized how this could help us. “We can’t get into the details here, but I need to meet you later. I’ll call you when I can get away. I think this could be the way out I’ve been looking for.”

Rachel wasn’t following. “How? You’re married and live in California, now you’re forced to own a property with me, who you’re supposed to be severing ties with.”

I reached across the table and took her hands. “There’s not going to be a reason for us to sever ties, Rach. I have an idea, and if I’m right, I may not have to go back to California, at least not permanently.”

“Your family is there. Harper.”

I smiled. “Trust me. Just trust me.”

“I do. I always have.”

“Rach, I need you to know, this isn’t about being with you physically. I’d be happy knowing you loved me forever, even if we were miles apart. Being with you is the complete package. You drive me to be better. I’ve spent my life doing things in hopes that I could impress you, even after we were together before. In the back of my mind I wondered if you’d be proud of my accomplishments. Maybe I was blind, or just plain na?ve to my own needs. I feel like we have a second chance at this. I want this life with you, more than the business, or anything else standing in our way. I can’t walk away from you again. I won’t do it.”

“There will be consequences.”

“I’m fully aware. Let’s get this paperwork done so I’m able to get away from Veronica, and then I’ll explain. I promise.”

“Okay.” She nodded when she said it.

“Assure me this is what you want. If it’s not I’ll walk away. I’ll leave you to live your life with your grandchild and daughter. We can pretend this never happened. Assure me this is exactly what you want.”

“You don’t have to ask, Chad. Isn’t it obvious how much I love you? Of course I want a life with you. I want you to be a part of my family.”

My stomach knotted up when she said it. It was something Rachel had always kept separate. Now she’d included me, and I was determined to make it happen, no matter how many bridges I had to burn.

“How soon can you move into the mansion?”

she laughed through her tears, which I hoped were out of happiness. “Seriously? Can I have a few minutes to comprehend all of this?”

“Only a couple. Screw it, take your time. We have our whole lives to be together.”

When she snickered I knew it was because we’d gone from fearing that we’d lost our chance at happiness, to having an opportunity to make it all work out, thanks to my crazy grandfather and his ability to see what I’d been denying for far too long.





Chapter 29


There were a bunch of important factors running through my head at once, though my main concern was to be as close to Rachel as I could. Nothing I could do would make up for the pain I’d caused her for the second time, so it was important she knew it wasn’t going to happen again.

If I knew my wife at all, my plan would work. I’d be able to have a life with Rachel, while being able to see my daughter every single day.

Before stepping out of the office to fetch the attorney, I walked around to the opposite side of the table and pulled Rachel into my arms. “It won’t be long now.”

“You think this plan of yours is going to work?”

“The other night when I had to leave you, I tried thinking of every single reason to turn around and drive back, but my conscience wouldn’t let it happen. I’ve been waiting for the moment where I could find a way out of this conundrum. It’s going to take me a few months to prepare, and maybe even longer for it to all fall into place, but I can promise you I’m coming home.”