Grace walked around the toys and gifts all over the living room. She turned to Ari with a look of pain Ari had never seen before.
“Grace, are you okay?”
“I’m so sorry,” she choked out. “I never meant to hurt you. I just didn’t really think you wanted your marriage with Nick to work out.”
Her chest squeezed around the feelings of inadequacy Grace had always brought out in her. “Why wouldn’t I, Grace? I love Nick with all my heart.”
Grace nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. “You were so involved in your career. I was raised to believe that family came first. So it was clear that if you put your job ahead of Nick that must mean you didn’t really love him.”
Oh boy. Generational gap for sure.
“Please, sit down.” She hoped it would help Grace relax a bit. She moved a baby blanket from a sofa and faced Grace. “I was born to a family that believes we must work hard to succeed, Grace.”
“I understand.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think you do. Your family has been successful for…forever. So when I wanted something, like to go to college, I had to get scholarships. I had to work hard. I had to sacrifice things to move forward. It wasn’t easy. But having Nick by my side helped me deal with it.” She swallowed hard. “I knew we came from different backgrounds, but that didn’t matter, because when we’re together all that matters is making each other happy. Nick’s drive helped me focus on what I wanted. I wanted to be independently successful.”
Grace frowned. “But you’ve done that already. I didn’t think you would ever put the career to the side and focus on your family.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. My family has been my priority from the beginning. But just like Nick wanted to be a success in his own right, I wanted to be on equal footing with him. It wasn’t about who had the most money. It was about knowing I could bring something of value to this relationship too. I would give up my company in a second for Nick if I had to. But he loves me enough to never ask me to do that.”
“I’m sorry, Ariana. I didn’t realize what I said had such an effect to the point it sent you to the hospital.” She glanced down at her hands. “The last thing I would want is to hurt you or Nick. Seeing him at the hospital, looking so lost, it made me realize I need to understand you are the woman he loves and nothing will ever change that.”
Hearing Grace speak of something she hadn’t witnessed made the time in the hospital even more difficult to cope with. Nick had suffered while she’d been asleep. He’d been hurting for the pain she’d been in and nothing could ever change that.
“I love Nick. I always will.”
Grace stood and sat next to her. “I am so sorry for causing you pain and distress. Please forgive me. I can only hope you understand I was only thinking of Nick’s happiness. But now that I see his happiness is you, I won’t ever interfere again.”
She patted Grace’s perfectly manicured fisted hands. “I forgive you on one condition.”
“What?”
“That you spend more time with us now. I’m not the enemy. We’re all family.”
Grace smiled through her tears. “I will. I promise.”
Kayden’s cry broke through the quiet house. “In that case, let’s go get the little guy so he can spend some time with his grandmother. What do you say?”
“Thank you, Ariana.”
“It’s okay, Grace. I’m a mom too. I also want the best for my boy.”
She’d known Grace hadn’t tried to be deliberately mean. She had wanted Nick’s happiness. It was why it was easier for Ari to forgive her. She wanted Nicks’ happiness too. And she knew if she distanced Grace, Nick and Kayden would end up hurt in the process. All they had was each other. And family came first. Always would.
Ari watched Nick stroll down the street with Harley’s leash on one hand, and Kayden on the other. Their little boy was a miniature version of Nick. He stumbled on his chubby little legs and glanced up at his father. Nick smiled, said something, and picked up their son. Kayden immediately dropped his head into the curve of his father’s shoulder and held on to Nick’s jacket.
When they reached the door, she held out her hands for Kayden, but instead Nick passed her Harley’s leash.
“I got him.”
He cuddled Kayden closer, patting him in the back with care.
The father and son had a beautiful bond. She hoped the news she had would mean a new bond for their family. While Kayden was their second chance at the child they’d wanted so badly and hadn’t been able to have for years, she wanted Kayden to have the love of siblings.