Page 14 of Conflagration
His words echo in my brain, the words that were the final nail in the coffin. Yet, funny enough, they weren’t the first time I’d heard them. The memory of a drunken, slurring Branson grabbing hold of my hand to study the gaudy and ostentatious ring with disgust as he compared it to that of his ex-wife’s. The night he told me, a complete stranger, that I was setting out to make the biggest mistake of my life. He had taken one look at that ring and known exactly what Benjamin wanted.
Shaking my head, I try to erase the memory, not wanting to think about Benjamin, the wedding, or even that night I met Branson. I pull my paperback out of my purse and settle into my wheelchair, only letting my hand leave Branson’s to turn the page. I’m completely enthralled in this romantic suspense novel when I hear commotion just outside the room.
“He’s resting at the moment, thanks to the pain medication. I’ll see if I can fetch the doctor so he can apprise you of your son’s condition. In the meantime, his fiancée’s in there right now and I’m sure she’d love to have family with her. You can go in now,” a familiar voice—Kim’s, I think—says.
Oh shit.
“His what?!” I hear an incredulous female voice ask.
Oh shit.
Before I can react, a whole slew of people enter the room, filing in one after the other. Three sets of couples, it looks like. Like a scene out of While You Were Sleeping, six pairs of shocked eyes look from Branson to me and then to my hand holding his. My left hand. The hand that’s sporting a huge rock on my ring finger.
Oh shit.
“Oh my God. Are you okay?” a pretty brunette asks as she rushes over to me, breaking the silence.
She’s asking me if I’m okay when Branson’s the one lying in bed with much more serious injuries? What the hell?
“Umm... yes, for the most part. Just a bit banged up, but nothing too serious,” I answer, my voice still sounding a little hoarse. “Thanks to him, of course. Umm…I’m Ari, by the way,” I tell her, figuring I might as well introduce myself since Kim already broke the joyous news to them.
She gives me a warm smile then looks back at the others, who are watching us curiously. “Wow. Well, this is certainly one hell of a way to meet the family,” she says, and I have to agree. If, you know, there were actually a reason for me to meet the family. “We came as soon as we heard. We’d have been here sooner, but we were moving Cohen to Memphis and didn’t get word until a couple of hours ago. I’m Charlie, Branson’s soon-to-be sister-in-law. That one, the one with the perpetual scowl, Knox, is mine. Cohen, the youngest brother, and his girlfriend, Andi. And Knox and Amelia, Branson’s parents.”
As she makes the introductions, I realize that his whole family is here—the brother he swore hated him, the parents he let down, and the little brother he hoped would grow up to be anything but like him. It’s slightly shocking, because he made it seem like he was completely on the outs with his family, that they wanted nothing to do with him. Yet they’re all here. And I see genuine concern etched on each of their faces.
Swallowing hard, I nod towards them, feeling awkward and guiltier than ever. With one last look at Branson, I squeeze his fingers and then remove my hand. Turning my wheelchair towards the door, I’m more than ready to make a quick exit. With one last smile, I try to escape. “It was nice to meet you all. I’ll let you have some time with him. I’m sure the doctor will be in soon to answer any questions you have. They didn’t really give me all the details of his injuries. But they did say he woke up earlier, so that’s a good sign.” The room remains silent, and I take that as my cue to hightail it out of here. “Okay, I’m sure I’ll see y’all later.”
Before I can leave the room, however, Charlie steps in front of my chair, stopping me in my tracks. She bends down until we’re eye level, and I have to fight the urge to look away. Her gaze is unnerving, and for a split second, I wonder if she can read through my lies.
“Ari, stay. Until Branson wakes back up, there’s nothing for any of us to do. So we might as well get to know the woman he’s engaged to. Especially since he’s kept you such a well-hidden secret,” she says, her eyebrows cocked with piqued interest.
I now remember when he told me about this woman. His brother’s perfect match, strong-willed and stubborn. His lamentations were that he’d never find a love like that. Even more so that he’d never deserve a love like theirs.
The older woman, Branson’s mother, steps forward and extends her hand, which I willingly take. “Yes. Please stay,” she insists, and I’m surprised when I see tears welling in her eyes. “I haven’t seen my son smile in a very long time, but if you’ve managed to make him happy, then by all means, I want to get to know my Branson’s fiancée.”
Before I can answer her, I hear a throat clear, and a scratchy voice breaks the silence of the room. “My what?” he croaks out, and I whip around, both ecstatic that he’s awake yet horrified that he just overheard what his mother said.
Amelia drops my hand and rushes to the hospital bed, where Branson is now fully awake, his eyes firmly planted on mine even though his mother is hovering over him. Unable to hold his scrutinizing gaze, my eyes fall to my lap for a split second before looking back up at him.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so glad you’re awake. I was a nervous wreck when we got the call and we couldn’t get an update on your condition. I’m just glad you weren’t alone, that you had Ari here with you until we could be.”
He finally looks at Amelia. “My fiancée.” He tries the words out, and it’s a statement, not a question. I want to sigh with relief that he’s not calling for hospital security to drag me away—not that I’d blame him.
“Yes, honey, and don’t think you’re going to get away with keeping her hidden from us. Once you’re out of that hospital bed, I’ll give you the smack you deserve. Until then, you just focus on healing, honey.” Amelia wipes away a fresh set of tears.
Branson’s eyes soften when he sees them. “Mom, I’m okay. I may have a little trouble getting around for a while, but I’ll be back in fighting shape in no time. I promise,” he tells her.
“Of course you will be. I’m just happy for you.” She sniffles and looks around the room at each of her boys before smiling down at him. “All my sons happy and in love. It’s what every mother wishes for.”
Branson’s eyes widen and then narrow as they fall on me. I can feel the heat creeping up my neck, the blush on my cheeks at her implication. I think he’s about to blow my cover when a small smile breaks out on his face and he looks at her adoringly.
Wow. What I wouldn’t give to be on the receiving end of one of those looks.
“Of course, Mom, I’m sorry. It was kind of a whirlwind. Hell, I’m not even sure I know how or when it happened.” His voice is tight, but it’s obvious what he’s doing.
His mom’s radiating warmth and happiness even though he’s lying in a hospital bed, and instead of calling me out, he’s not going to be the one to break her heart.
Amelia claps her hands together, looking at her son tenderly. This is far from the dynamic I expected. “Well, tell me everything. How’d you meet? When did you propose? When’s the wedding?”
