Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(129)
Once my shoes are on, Joe escorts me down to his black Rolls Royce Phantom. We slide into the back seats with Sadie first, followed by me and then Joe. Joe’s driver temporarily pulls into his building for us to drop off Sadie; Anna is watching her for the night.
Walking into the Mondrian lobby, Joe and I are greeted by the manager immediately. Before following the manager to Skybar that is located on the roof, I inform him that I need to take care of something first and I’ll meet him there in approximately twenty minutes.
Getting into the elevator, Joe steadies me as we rise to the sixth floor. I’m excited and nervous at what is about to happen.
“You ready?” Joe breathes into my ear.
“Mmm hmm,” I return as my heart beats faster.
This is it. Hesitating for a moment, I breathe in deeply to relax my jitters. Joe’s hand raises slowly and knocks.
“Coming,” is faintly said on the other side of the door. The door opens and we’re greeted by a smiling, older gentleman with salt and pepper hair and dark amber eyes. “You must be Emma,” his raspy, sweet voice announces. He delicately takes my right hand in his and kisses my knuckles. “You’re more beautiful than I expected from the photos on your website.”
“Thanks,” I accept as he steps in to hug me. I return the sentiment to easy both our nerves.
“You must be Joseph,” he adds extending his hand forward. “Emma’s boyfriend, I presume.”
“Just friends,” Joe corrects with a grin.
“Looks like you’re working on fixing that from the looks of it,” the older gentleman replies.
I nudge Joe at his open response that is smeared all over his face. “May we come in,” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“Yes, yes. Please come in. Where are my manners?!”
Joe remains standing as I sit in one of the small chairs by a round table.
“Mr. Frasier . . .” I begin.
“Please, call me Aaron,” he insists.
“Mr. . . . Aaron. It’s so nice to finally meet you,” I continue.
“Likewise, Emma. You don’t know what this all means to me,” his voice cracks as he sits on the edge of the bed.
“I just hope that our efforts aren’t for nothing,” I admit sheepishly.
“Just to be able to see him again will bring peace to my heart, even if he wants nothing to do with me,” the older man sitting in front of me reveals. “If Jared is the person you say he has become, all we can do is believe in him.”
“I agree.” Checking the clock on my phone, I explain, “Everyone is scheduled to be here within the next half hour. I have to meet with the manager upstairs to review a few things, but you are more than welcome to join Joe and me instead of staying here, if you’d like.”
“Sure, that would be lovely. What time is Jared supposed to get here?”
“Not until around five,” I report.
The three of us head up to Skybar and I’m very pleased to find that the staff has provided everything that was requested and the decor is more beautiful than I expected. As the manager and I wrap up our conversation, Maggie, Henry and the rest of the Li family are ushered in minus the children. Jimmy and Allen arrive five minutes later along with Mr. and Mrs. Wú.
Joe and I make introductions with our friends and family to Mr. Aaron Frasier before the rest of the invited guests are allowed to join us. Maggie immediately cries when she meets Mr. Frasier and the entire family openly accepts him. I only hope that Jared does the same.
By the time all of the guests have arrived, I get a text from Nathan that he and Jared are just five minutes away. I instruct everyone to take their seats at the dining tables around the room. Maggie, Joe, Henry, Jimmy, Allen, the Li family and I hover near the main entrance before all the lights, but a few hanging Christmas style lights, are turned off.
As the door is held open for Nathan and Jared to enter, the main lights are switched on and everyone shouts “Happy Birthday!”
With tears forming in his eyes, Jared greets everyone who comes up to him.
We’ve finally surprised him for his birthday. Aside from our immediate family, I’ve invited a large group of friends and acquaintances Jared has made over the years. Molly, Garrett, Sophie, Ian and his wife, Vanessa and her boyfriend, and Connor and his boyfriend are with us just to name a few of the hundred people we invited.
As cocktails and hors d’oeuvres begin to be served, I lead Mr. Frasier over to Jared. The look of shock consumes Jared’s face as the awareness of whom I’m with sets in. To preface everything before anything happens, I address Jared and take full responsibility. “Jared if you’re going to be mad at anyone, please only be mad at me.”
“Jared,” Mr. Frasier musters, holding back sobs.
“Pop-Pop?!” Jared mumbles. “Is it really you?”
“Yes, my dear boy. I’ve missed you so much,” Mr. Frasier confirms, reaching forward to Jared.
Within a blink of an eye, Jared rushes towards his grandfather and hugs him. My anxiety dissipates at seeing the warm and happy reunion , and I fight the urge to cry myself. Maggie wraps her arms around me as we stand and watch our best friend reunite with a long lost family member.
Jared’s Pop-Pop, Mr. Aaron Frasier reached out to me online in March through Naturally Me. It took me two weeks before I sent a reply because I was nervous and not sure what to do. I initially avoided telling Nathan and Maggie because I wasn’t sure if Mr. Frasier was telling the truth.