House Divided (16 page)

Oh, that reminded me so much of Brady. I
could picture it perfectly. It made me happy and terribly sad all at once.
Especially if she loved Mr. Jackson the way I loved Brady.

She continued on. “He asked me to junior
prom that year, but my daddy said I was too young to date, so Isaac didn’t go.
Instead, we sat on my back porch sipping sweet tea and playing checkers.”

Oh my goodness, that was adorable.

“I had my first kiss that night.”

I could see the pain in her face as she
spoke. She was still keeping her eyes closed.

“My daddy let me go the next year. It was
Isaac’s senior prom. He was the prom king, and we danced all night. He left
that fall for the University of Alabama. He loved that danged school. He came
home on the weekends and to see me compete in all my pageants. The day I
graduated from high school, Isaac asked me to marry him. I said no.”

“Why?”

She opened her eyes. “I was young and I
wanted to see where the pageant circuit would take me,” she said with regret.
“I knew I had a good shot at Miss Alabama the next year. Isaac said he would
wait, so I went off to Auburn. We wrote and met on the weekends when we could.
I won the Miss Alabama pageant the following summer. Isaac asked me to marry
him again. This time I agreed, but I was obligated to run in the Miss America
pageant. Isaac said he would wait again. I didn’t think we would have to wait
long. I didn’t think I had any chance of winning. In fact, I hoped I would
lose. I wanted nothing more than to become Mrs. Isaac Jackson. We had our whole
life planned.”

Her voice began to shake as I unrolled her
hair and began to comb out and style her curls. I started to tear up too. I
remembered doing the same with Brady, and I remembered the crushing weight I
felt when it didn’t happen.

“I was even going to transfer to that
school for him.”

“Really?”

“That never leaves this room, Ella Lu.”

I smiled. “My lips are sealed.”

I would have done the same for Brady.

“Everything was set for me to start school
there the next semester, but to my surprise I became Miss America. Who would
have thought a girl from Kaysville, Alabama would become Miss America? Isaac was so proud of me, even though he knew we would have to wait another year
to be married. We adjusted our plans. Isaac would finish his senior year, and I
would travel the country in my new role.”

I was done with her hair, so I sat back
down and held her hand. “So what went wrong?”

She closed her eyes again. She didn’t
speak for several minutes. I think she was trying to gain her composure. When
she reopened her eyes, she looked directly at me. “I’m not really sure. I was
traveling a lot because of my Miss America duties. Communication wasn’t as easy
as it is now. We mostly communicated by letters and postcards. Once in a while
we could talk on the phone, but it was very costly and unreliable. When I came
home for Christmas that year, everything seemed on track. We planned out our
wedding right down to the honeymoon. He was happy and as adoring of me as ever,
maybe even more so because we had missed each other so much. He never gave any
hint he was interested in Elizabeth, in fact he seemed bothered by her
presence. I think you know this, but she came back to Kaysville with me. She
didn’t have the best home situation, and we had become quite close, so I wanted
to help her. I was actually rooting for her to win Miss America;
it would have meant more to her. She was devastated when she didn’t win. Like I
said, she didn’t have much to go home to, so I helped her get a job as a teller
at the bank Isaac’s daddy started. She even lived with my momma and daddy.”

“Did you have any hint then that something
was going on between the two of them?”

“No, none at all. I’m not even sure if
there was at that time. If there was, they did an excellent job of covering it
up. Like I said, Isaac seemed not to like her much. I asked him why, but he
could never articulate it. He would just say there was something about her that
rubbed him the wrong way.” She clenched her fists. “Well, apparently she
learned to rub him the right way.”

I saw her face redden, and that worried
me. I didn’t want her to get worked up in her condition. I rubbed her hand.
“Maybe we should discuss this later.”

“No, sugar, this is a one-time-only
discussion. I don’t ever want to talk about that woman or that man again after
this day.”

That may be difficult if I marry their
son.

“Isaac went back to school, and I left to tour
some more, unaware of how different life would be when I returned in April to
visit.”

She looked out the window, off into the
distance, and sighed. “I was anxious to get back. I hadn’t heard from Isaac in
weeks. I figured he was busy with his last semester, and he never was the best
letter writer, but I wrote to him faithfully every week. I was also
corresponding with Elizabeth.” She said her name like it was manure in her
mouth. “I would ask her if she had seen Isaac, and she repeatedly told me no.
As soon as my plane touched down in Birmingham, I had my daddy drive me
straight to Tuscaloosa instead of home. I couldn’t wait to see Isaac, and I
wanted to surprise him. But it was me that was surprised.”

She continued to stare wistfully out the
window. I squeezed her hand and she squeezed back in response. I felt terrible
asking her to relive what was obviously a very painful moment for her.

She finally gained the courage she needed
to continue. “When he opened the door to his apartment, I could tell something
was wrong. His eyes were cold. I tried to embrace him, and he pushed me away. I
begged him to tell me what was wrong, but all he would say was, ‘You know very well
what’s wrong. Because of you everything is ruined.’ He slammed the door in my
face. I don’t even know how long I pounded on his door and cried, but he never
opened it. He sent back every letter and postcard I had ever written him and
never talked to me again.” Her voice began to crack. “I never knew what I did.
I went to his parents, and they didn’t know either. They were upset by it too,
they tried to get Isaac to talk to them, but he refused. But then they were
more upset when they found out Elizabeth was pregnant with Isaac’s child. There
she was, living with my parents, and sleeping with my fiancé. She even had the
gall to pretend to be happy when I came home, and she tried to comfort me, all
while she was carrying his son.”

“I’m so sorry, Aunt Lu. What did you and
your parents do?”

She looked at me with her hard-as-nails
look. “Well, first we sent the little tramp packing. She didn’t have far to go.
Isaac’s parents took her in. They weren’t happy about it; they loved me and I
loved them almost as much as my own parents. I couldn’t stand to be in Kaysville,
so I took some speaking engagements that I hadn’t originally planned on and
left as soon as I could, even though I cursed the day I ever decided to run. My
parents told me Isaac and Elizabeth married quickly and privately. I was
devastated.”

We were both quiet for a moment.

“I don’t get it, why was he upset with you
when he was so clearly in the wrong?”

She shook her head. “I just don’t know.
I’ve asked myself that a million times.” She tipped my chin up with her
manicured hands. “Sugar, just watch yourself around his momma.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice.

The rest of the conversation was a little
more pleasant. She told me how George Reed was so in love with her that after
they got married, they moved to Auburn so she could finish school. She was
probably the wealthiest coed that school has ever had. She and George traveled
the world, but they made home base in Kaysville. They built the mansion she now
lives in, and they became the center of attention. They threw grand, lavish
parties. The whole town, with the exception of the Isaac Jackson family, was
invited. Even Isaac’s parents came, but that began to divide the town. The Jacksons began to throw their own events, and everyone was forced to make a choice, just
like Alabama or Auburn. If you lived in Kaysville, you had to choose a side.

George died a year before I was born,
making my aunt and me into the wealthy women we were now. I didn’t know this
tidbit, but it was Isaac’s daddy that convinced my aunt to keep her money with
Kaysville National. Apparently he was still quite fond of my aunt. He helped
advise her after the passing of George. I could tell, as she talked about him,
how much she admired him. I bet that didn’t sit well with Brady’s momma.

We also talked about me entering her life.
She’d told me on many occasions that I was the best thing that had ever
happened to her. She had always wanted children, but she and George were never
able to have any. My aunt had suffered multiple miscarriages during their
marriage. She had suffered so much loss in her life, but yet she never felt
sorry for herself. Perhaps she was a little hardened by it, but she had been
nothing but tender and loving to me my whole life. She was also very generous.
Many in Kaysville owed their starts to her, and on our trips around the world,
we had toured and volunteered in several orphanages and hospitals, and I knew she
had donated millions over the years to various causes. She was my hero.

Now, yet again, she was trying to be
selfless by putting aside her feelings about the Jackson family, so that Brady
and I could have a second chance at love. I had no doubt she orchestrated that
first meeting of ours at the bank.

By mid-afternoon, we were both exhausted.
We both slept for a couple of hours. You know you’re tired when you can sleep
soundly on a couch in a hospital room. When I woke up, my aunt told me to go
home and get some real sleep and not to stay out all night again. I had to
chuckle at her attempts to parent me still.

I had lots to think about on my drive
home. My heart ached for my aunt. I knew how I had felt these last ten years
with no answers and no Brady; at least I had never been friends with Amber.

As soon as I got home, my phone rang.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“Hi.”

“I’ve missed you today.”

“Then maybe you should come over.”

“I was hoping you would say that. I’ll see
you in ten.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Doris
was still there.

“Feel free to leave early,” I told her.

She gave me a knowing smile. “Dinner’s in
the oven and there’s enough for two.” She winked.  

I smiled and thanked her. On her way out,
Brady pulled up. She beamed brightly at the both of us. “Mr. Brady, you better
treat our girl right,” she said as she walked off.

“Of course, ma’am,” he replied.  .

As soon as she left and the door was
closed, Brady wrapped me up in those arms of his and kissed me until I forgot I
was an Eaton, and for a minute I forgot what my first name was too.

“How was your day, darlin’?”

“It was interesting.”

He gave me an inquiring look.

“I’ll tell you over dinner,” I said in
response to his look. “How was work? Did you keep my money safe?”

He picked me up and swung me around. “Yes,
my heiress.” When he set me down, he looked at me somewhat seriously. “Will it
bother you that you have more money than me?”

“Brady Jackson, how could you think such a
thing? You know I don’t care about things like that. I didn’t even want my
aunt’s money in the first place. Does it bother you?”

He thought for a second. “No. I just want
the woman I love to know that I can take care of her.”

I winked at him. “She knows that.”

He kissed me quick. “That reminds me. I’ll
be right back.” He went out to his truck and brought back in a white box tied
with a red bow.

We walked back to the kitchen together and
then he handed it to me as we sat at the counter. I carefully slid the ribbon
off. I don’t know why, but I always liked to keep the ribbons and bows intact
if I could. I lifted the box lid and gently pulled back the tissue paper to find
a gorgeous cream colored wool coat and matching fur-lined leather gloves.

I pulled Brady close and kissed him
briefly. “I love them. Thank you.”

“As much as I love you wearing my coat, I
figured you could use one of your own.”

He was so thoughtful. I modeled the coat
for him. It fit perfectly.

Brady and I finished putting dinner
together while he told me about his day. Doris had left us lemon chicken. I
made a salad to go with it while Brady set the table and kissed me
intermittently. It was pretty much perfect. I could picture us doing that every
night for the rest of our lives. I knew all I had to do was say the word and
Brady would make that happen, but I still needed a little time.

Over dinner, I told him about the
conversation I had with my aunt. I obviously tried to be careful and not
interject my feelings about what unkind liars I thought his parents were. I
tried to keep it factual and not emotional or accusatory. It was difficult, but
I felt I pulled it off well, and Brady didn’t seem upset at all. We continued
discussing it as we cuddled on the family room couch together. “Did you know
our parents used to be neighbors? And your grandparents loved my aunt, and they
were the best of friends with my grandparents?” I asked him.

“I had no idea,” he said surprised. “My
grandparents died when I was a toddler. I don’t even remember them. He pulled
me closer. “Ellie, I know this sounds terrible, but I’m happy that our parents
didn’t end up together.”

I had the same thought earlier too, but I
felt so guilty about it. Isaac was my aunt’s Brady, and I knew she loved him
like I loved Brady.

“I know, but to hear her talk about your
daddy was heart wrenching. Has your daddy ever told you why?”

He kissed my head. “Darlin’, what’s all
this about? Does it really matter what happened all those years ago?”

“I just want to know why your parents hate
me so much.”

He turned so I could see his eyes and his
beautiful face with its five o’clock shadow. “Ellie, I told you they have no
bearing or sway about how I feel about you.”

“Brady, they’re your parents. Are you
really ready to cut them out of your life for me?”

“If I have to, yes. Ellie, I love you. I
want you to be my wife.”

I leaned my forehead against his. “Brady,
I love you too, but I’m scared. I don’t want a repeat of the last ten years.”

He took my face in his hands and gently
pulled my head back. I could see the love in his eyes. “Ellie, ten years from
now, you and I will be covered in children, our children.” A sexy grin crossed
his face. “And I’ll be trying to get them into their beds and fast asleep, so I
can seduce their momma.”

“Brady Jackson.”

He kissed me once, lightly on the lips.
“Ellie Eaton,” he whispered.

My name never sounded so good.

I leaned back against him and let the
sleep my body so desperately craved take over. I awoke sometime late in the
night to him leaving.

He kissed me gently on the lips and
grinned. “As much as I want to stay, I think I better go home. I don’t want to
start any rumors.”

“You don’t think people are already
talking about us?” I said sleepily.

He brushed my hair back with his hand.
“I’m sure they are darlin’, but I want to protect your reputation.”

Could he be any better?
“I think I may love you.”

“That’s good, because I know I love you.
And honestly, that’s the only thing that is making me leave you right now.”

He kissed me once on the lips. “Goodnight,
Ellie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“I dare anyone to try and keep me away
from you.”

With that, he got up and left. I sat on
the couch for several more minutes, reveling in the fact that Brady loved me. I
finally convinced myself I should sleep in my bed and maybe put on pajamas
instead of sleeping in my clothes.  As I walked up the stairs, I felt like I
was floating above them. A week ago I couldn’t imagine that I would be back in
Kaysville and just a word away from being engaged to Brady.

I spent the next day at the hospital. My
aunt was looking better, but feeling restless. She wanted to be home. The plan
was for her to come home Sunday. I was looking forward to it too. I felt like
once she was home, I could really feel like it was the holidays. Even though
the house was decorated, it just didn’t feel like Christmas without her there.

We spent the day working on story boards
for my new book. We didn’t talk about the Jacksons at all. She didn’t even ask
about Brady. I’m sure she knew how I was spending my evenings. I did hope that
Brady could eventually charm her and that we could all be a happy family
someday. I wasn’t as optimistic for his side. At least I would have Benjamin
and Kendra, and of course little Miss Caroline. Brady and I planned on taking
the little Miss to the movies the next night. I guess he and Caroline had a
standing Friday night date for over a year now. Brady asked if I minded. I
didn’t mind at all. If I had to share Brady with someone, she was my first
choice. My only choice. Brady hadn’t told her yet that we were a couple, so I
was anxious to see her reaction tomorrow night. I kept thinking about her sweet
prayer on Sunday.

Brady came over again and we had another
perfect, low key evening. It was nice to be with someone that you felt
completely comfortable with and who was just as happy as you with the idea of
just being at home with no pretense involved. He tried to help me wrap all the
gifts we had purchased the previous weekend. I knew my Aunt would expect that
business to all be settled by the time she got home. When I say he helped, I
meant he watched me and kept me company and very distracted as we got tangled
up in ribbon and wrapping paper. I’m sure it was the most fun I’ve ever had
wrapping gifts, but it was more than just fun. There was a moment when we were
sitting on the floor, surrounded by brightly colored paper, that I looked up at
him as he tried his hand at making bows and had this overwhelming feeling of
love come over me. He caught me staring at him, and I think he thought I was
going to make fun of his pitiful bows, but I just said, “I love you.” The smile
he gave me in return warmed my heart because I knew how happy that made him,
and I knew he felt the same way.

I realized after we were done wrapping all
the gifts, I still had to buy a gift for him and Benjamin. “What do you want for
Christmas?” I asked.

“You know what I want.”

“A puppy it is then,” I teased.

He pulled me on his lap. “The only soft,
warm creature I want on my lap is you.”

I snuggled in closer. “I don’t know. Just
think how happy you would make Caroline if you had a puppy at your house.”

“I think she would be happier if I had an
Aunt Ellie at my house.”

I liked the sound of being an aunt,
especially to Caroline. I liked the sound of being Brady’s wife even better,
but I still needed some time, and I needed to know for sure that my aunt could
accept and even possibly love Brady.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I have a plan for
how to win your aunt over.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate her.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate how serious I
am about making you my wife.”

I didn’t, and I knew how charming and
sweet Brady was, but I don’t think he realized the pain his parents had caused
my aunt and how hard she was trying not to let that get in the way of my
happiness, and even his.