Page 2 of Because You Loved Me

He remembered. He’d been on a date and had just gotten back to his suite in the lodge when their little sister Kat called him to let him know that Charli and Symon were rushing to the hospital. Poppy Angela Scott was born only three hours later.

“She won’t break, Asher.”

He wasn’t convinced. “Next time.” He jammed his hands into his pockets. “I haven’t washed my hands.”

Charli shook her head but thankfully didn’t push. “It looks amazing in here, Asher. You’ve done a great job.”

“I have a great staff.” He brushed off the compliment, but it always meant a lot more than he let on when one of his siblings praised his work for the family company. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Not that it’s not great to see you both, but…”

He already knew what Charli was going to say. He’d been expecting it ever since Poppy was born. William Evans, the family’s lawyer, had given them all a reprieve while they were waiting for the baby to be born, but he wasn’t surprised that their little break was now over.

“It’s time, Asher,” Charli confirmed. “The family meeting was called for tonight.”

“Tonight?”

She nodded.

“That’s kind of fast.”

“Is it?”

It wasn’t. It had already been almost two years since their father had passed away and left them all with their very owntasksto carry out as stipulations to his last will and testament. His older stepbrother and sister had taken their turns first, and in a twist, Craig, his younger brother, had recently had his turn. It was only himself and his baby sister Kat left.

“I suppose I’ll finally find out my fate.” To his surprise, Asher didn’t feel any particular way about it. Not that it would matter if he did, because there was nothing to be done about it except doing whatever his father had dreamed up for him. It was either that or his family lost everything. And that would never be an option.

“You don’t know it’s your turn.”

He raised his eyebrow, and Charli shrugged. They both knew that Michael Carlson would keep his baby girl for last. Kat was the youngest and although they’d all had their own special relationships with their father, the connection between their father and his youngest child had been extra special.

“Seven?”

Charli nodded. “At the big house. We’ll have dinner first if you can make it.”

“I’ll do my best.” He kissed his sister on the cheek and gazed down at the still-sleeping bundle in her arms. “She really is beautiful, sis.”

* * *

Torture. That’s what it was. Torture.

There was no other word to describe being twisted and turned around and around while cousins and family members you didn’t even know existed wrapped you up in toilet paper, of all things.

As far as traditions went, Noa Briggs was pretty sure this was the stupidest one there was.

“Turn!”

Noa turned.

“Not that way.” Her cousin Sarah’s hand reached out and spun her around. “This way. Hurry,” she hollered. “They’re beating us.”

Noa forced herself to feign interest in the activity. “I didn’t realize it was a race.”

Sarah froze, a roll in her hands, and stared at her. “Noa.Everythingis a race.”

She laughed, but quickly swallowed it when she realized Sarah was completely serious. Her elder cousin had always been hyper-competitive when it came to games growing up. Still. It was a ridiculous bridal shower game.

She tipped her head back and gazed up at the ceiling of the meeting room that all the female wedding guests had been stuffed into for the last few hours for the traditionally themed bridal shower. Noa was very quickly hitting her limit with the festivities.

“Five more minutes!” Jeannie, the mother of the groom, yelled out from somewhere across the room. “Make your brides beautiful.”

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