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“And how can she afford such extravagance, Mr. St. Claire? Please do tell since you have invited yourself to our family dinner,” Lane’s mother says flatly.
“Mother. Stop it and leave her alone,” Exie chides.
What a bitch. I want to claw her eyes out, but that’s what she wants. She wants me to make a scene.
Kalum chuckles. “Why are you so worried about Aura’s finances and where she is living instead of how she is doing? She is caring for your grandchild after your son’s death? It has been almost a year, and you haven’t visited her or made an attempt. I know this because I was the one who gifted her the estate.”
My mind is going a hundred miles an hour, like one of Lane’s cars. What is he doing? I can see his side profile; he is calm and collected, but I know this side of Kalum. The lethal side I have witnessed living with him at his family’s home when he strikes.
Everyone’s eyebrows rise at his admission of the gift. Who gifts an estate to a woman unless they are… together. Friends. No, not friends. Lovers
“Are you trying to say what I think you’re saying, young man?” Lane’s father asks.
Exie looks at me with a grin. Dex looks at Exie. Camila smiles at Kalum like he hung the moon.
“I’m taking responsibility for Aura and LJ.,” Kalum admits and gets up from the table.
“What would your mother say?” Lane’s mother says accusingly.
“What can she say? She was voted out of the company, along with my father. Early retirement,” he adds, “I own it all.”
Silence blankets the room.
“If you’ll excuse me. LJ and Aura have a flight to catch. This has been fun, but under the circumstances, you understand that New York is getting cooler, and Aura and LJ need to stay warm, and my plane is waiting.”
Relieved, I stand, and we say our farewells.
Exie gives me a hug and whispers, “Get the hell out of here. I’m sorry my parents are such assholes, but I need you to give that man a chance.”
My eyes lower because I’m not sure I can.
48
AURA
Iwake up in my bed with the sound of little feet running on the hardwood floors to the main bedroom. Kalum is staying in one of the guest rooms at his own request. I’m relieved because I don’t want to confuse LJ. I look out the bedroom window, and it’s still dark outside.
My bedroom door is pushed open. “Mommy. It died,” LJ says, as he jumps on the bed.
Tears are streaming down his face making a wet spot on his car pajamas.
“What died?” I ask worriedly. My heart pounds with dread.
“My iPad with the sound of the engine. I forgot to charge it on the plane, and I can’t sleep. I need to hear it.” He makes a motion to his ears.
His body shakes with a sob, and my heart breaks.
“Let’s charge it.”
“No, it takes too long, and the battery will not hold for me to hear it, Mommy. I’m sorry for crying and waking you up. I’m so sorry.”
My eyes sting as a single tear slides down my cheek. I don’t have one of Lane’s cars here in New York. They are locked up in the garage in Lane’s shop.
“What’s wrong?” Kalum’s voice filters from the open doorway.
“Um… his iPad died, and he can’t hear the recording. I think the dinner with his grandparents stirred up feelings, and he just needed to calm down and get to sleep. It happens. The track and the car. The dinner and everything that was said. I think it was too much for him.”
Kalum walks farther into the room with his sweatpants slung low on his hips and his hard chest.
