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“Elliot, what’s up?” Reid says from behind his desk, turning away from the computer.
“I’ve got the preliminary report on Goth Gardens, Inc. initial trading price. I think you both need to see it.”
I frown. Elliot would make a fantastic poker player because it’s impossible to tell from his voice or expression whether it’s good news or bad.
Not that I’m terribly worried. Business is business, and family is far more important. That’s something I’ve learned and something I know in my heart to be true. Happy endings do happen, because I’m living proof. I have Reid. I know that whatever happens, he’s here for me.
And, well, that’s not all.
It wasn’t long after he took my cherry that I realized I was running late for my period. I was nervous at first, not knowing how he would react to the news, and didn’t even tell him until I was certain.
Big mistake.
Reid was so happy, I don’t think anyone in the world didn’t know about it. Nine months later, little Rose was born, and impossibly I found myself feeling even happier than I did already. I didn’t sleep for a week, just spending every night watching her, and Reid was exactly the same. I’m not going to say it was the easiest birth. My body isn’t exactly delivery-room ready, being as small as I am, but I got there in the end. I didn’t even curse.
God, who am I kidding? I turned the air blue.
But Rose was worth all the pain, and it hasn’t put me off having another. We’re trying again already, and when it happens I’ll be just as happy.
As for my dad and Stacie, well…
Amazingly, I think they’re really good for each other. When Reid and I gave them the tough-love treatment, I was worried it might drive them apart.
Absolutely not.
Instead, it forced them to admit some truths to themselves and get over their own problems as they worked for their own happy ending. Stacie is actually kind of amazing, and I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve grown to love her. She stuck by my dad, working hard, and together they managed to start an actual business planning big, over the top weddings and receptions, ones that make the bride and groom the absolute center of attention. It’s been hard work for them, sure, but it’s also made my dad see that there’s no easy fix, no quick buck to be made.
They’ve still living here to North Carolina, and have taken on a couple of employees to deal with the day-to-day, but there’s a way to go yet. We split our time between the offices here and New York, though I work from home a lot now to take care of the baby.
“Okay, something wrong?” Reid says, holding out his hand.
Elliot hands him the report. “No, sir. Just that the bank is putting the price at—”
“Holy shit…” Reid glances up at Elliot, then starts to laugh as he turns to me. “Baby, you’re going to want to read this report. There’s been a bit of early interest, seems your company is still riding a bit of a wave.”
I reach across. My own desk is right next to his, where we can spend every day together. I take the folder from his hand, open it up, and then draw a deep breath. “This number at the bottom here…”
“That’s the projected profit from all sales of shares. Of course, leaving you and Mr. Andrew as the primary shareholders on fifty-one percent.”
Elliot doesn’t even blink. It’s as if this is just a normal number, not one of the largest I’ve ever seen printed on a page.
“If you want, I can offer more for sale and you can cash out, but Mr. Andrew said—”
“No, we’ll keep control of the business. For now at least.” I smile as I put the page back in the folder and hand it back to Elliot. As he walks out of the office, I turn to my husband. “What a year it’s been.”
Reid grins, nodding as he shuts down his computer. “A good year,” he says. “The best. And it’s only going to get better. You wanna be my Valentine? I’ve heard there’s a great hotel that serves cheeseburgers, fries and cherry pie late into the night.”
“You booked us at the same hotel?”
“I booked us the same room, baby. Come on, we’ve got some celebrating to do.”
