Page 103 of Game Change

Her hand and breath tremble while she looks at it.

“I didn’t get you a diamond,” I say. “Everyone has a diamond. I got you this ruby because, just like you, they’re rare. They are vibrant and represent passion and love, which is what I feel for you.”

She wipes a tear and says, “I love it. It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.”

She stands and jumps in my arms. I wasn’t expecting that move, so I lose my balance and fall into the pool.

“Oh my God,” she sputters when we come up.

She’s still wrapped around me, and I take her in a kiss.

“Well, you look like a well-rested man,” Uncle Milton says.

The truth is, I’m exhausted. We arrived back this morning, and since we had decided to stay an extra day, the family's plane wasn’t available, and our commercial flight was delayed. We have to be at work in the morning when all I want is one more day to rest, but we’ve been gone for too long, and Uncle Milton has been at the office every day since we left, much to Heath’s annoyance. According to him, Uncle Milton is all up in his business at work, and he’s tired of him telling him what to do. He much prefers my hands-off approach.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” I say. He looks up from his newspaper and waits. “I’m getting married.” He takes his reading glasses off and looks at me.

“To Brynne?” he asks.

“No. To a stranger I met on the plane,” I respond with an eye-roll.

He stands and says, “Well, my boy, get over here.” He opens his arms, and I walk in. “I’m happy for you, and Brynne is a good woman. Even though she’s still pissed at me. Can you fix that before you get married? If I’m going to be your best man, I can’t have the bride mad at me.” He messes my hair like he did when I was a kid. “This is cause for celebration. We haven’t had a wedding in this family in years, and I think you’ll be the Kincaid who finally gets it right.”

“Thank you, Uncle Milton, but there’s something else I want to talk to you about. I want to buy Kincaid Architecture from you.”

At that, he plops himself back in his seat.

“Paddy, you dummy, this business is not for sale.” He leans back and sighs. “But between you and me, I’ve left it to you in my will. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, so you’ll have to wait. And I know you want it so you can give it to Brynne, but she can wait until I’m dead too.”

My uncle has never been stupid a day in his life.

“Uncle Milton, listen—"

“No, you listen. Brynne is a good woman and about to be a Kincaid, but she’s not a Kincaid by blood.” He points in my face. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

He sighs, and I wait to hear what he says next. “I suggest that when this becomes yours, you run it together. Make her an equal partner. I don’t care how you do it. Figure it out, but it’s you and her, not just her, do you hear me?”

“If it’s mine, why can’t I do whatever I want with it?” I ask.

“And here I thought you were the smart one. I have stipulations in my will that say you can’t give it away or sell it.” He taps his temple with his finger. “I’m one step ahead of you. At most, it will be yoursandhers. If you try and change that, it goes to your brother. It’s in the will. Deal with it.”

“I know you’re bluffing about leaving it to Colin the First.”

“Fine. I’ll leave it to Heath.” Now, he might dothat, and Heath would have no issues parading around here like a boss when, in reality, he’s clueless.

“I accept your terms.”

“And what a way to get her to stay.” He claps his hands together. “You put a couple of Kincaid babies in her right away, you hear me? Hot damn, if I had known, I would have introduced you two years ago. I would have brought her to San Diego under the guise of business. That would have gotten your ass back here sooner. Now, I’m kicking myself.” He goes on until the housekeeper comes with two flutes of champagne.

My mood sours when I step outside Uncle Milton’s house and see my brother leaning against his Maserati. Someone should tell him that, Maserati or not, he’s still an uptight, stiff jackass.

I told Uncle Milton not to send a family text announcing my engagement, but he told me he was the head of the family, and I needed to shut up. Thankfully, I had already told Lisa.

“You’re going to pretend you don’t see me?” he asks.

I have my back to him and my hand on my door, but I decide to face him. He’s called me every day for the past week, and I haven’t answered.

“Fine,” I concede. “You look stupid leaning against that car.”

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