Christmas With The Houstons (Acceptance #4) (17 page)

“Tell me what the fuck is going on, April,” he demands through gritted teeth.

“Do you want some coffee or tea?”

“No, stop stalling. I want some god damned answers.”

“You need to talk to Jake.”

“I’m pretty sure I can talk to you just fine considering you know more about what’s going on than I do.”

“It’s not my place to scold you, Connor, but enough is enough. My husband has been picking up your slack at work for months. He’s saying he might not be able to take leave when Jaxson comes because things are so messed up.”

“What? Why didn’t he say anything?”

“Because he didn’t want to hurt you? Because he knows you’re new and you’re helping Kate and adjusting to fatherhood. I’ve been begging him to talk to you for months!”

“He didn’t say a word, but don’t worry because I’m not a pussy. I’ll go to work and talk to Jake so we can figure this out.”

Without another word, he storms out of the house and a sense of doom settles over me. Jake is never going to forgive me for this.

Jake

I’m exhausted and on my third cup of coffee since I got here this morning. Leaving April curled up in bed alone again killed me today. I think it’s going to be worth it, though; I’ve finally got these proposals almost finished.

Once I’m done, all I need to do is finally talk to Connor and get him on board with my idea. If I can do that, hooking my dad should be a piece of cake.

Then I can finally spend some time with my gorgeous wife and get ready for our family to arrive. I’ve got the documents printing so I can give them the final once over when Connor storms into my office madder than I’ve ever seen him.

“Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on? Your wife is so angry with me and up until this morning, I had no idea she had anything to be angry with me about!”

Stay calm, he can’t be talking about work. April wouldn’t betray me like that.

But from the hurt look on his face, I know she did exactly that.

She betrayed me.

“Sit down, Connor.”

He plops down in the seat across from me and crosses his arms over his chest. His rage is evident and I can’t say I blame him. We should have talked about this a long time ago.

“What did April say?”

“Forget what she said. Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on?”

“Just tell me what she said so I know where to start.” There’s not enough coffee in the world to deal with this today.

“Essentially, she said for the last six months you’ve been doing enough work for the both of us and she’s sick and fucking tired of you taunting her with the chance you can’t take leave because of it when the baby is born. What the fuck, Jake?”

Pushing my chair back, I get up and go to the bar, pouring a shot of whiskey in my coffee.

She betrayed me.

Fucking hell.

“Look, Connor, I was going to come and talk to you about this when I got home. I just finished a plan I think will help and I wanted your help talking to Dad about it.”

“Just fucking spit it out, Jake.”

“Fine,” I snap at him. “I’ve been pissed at you for months because I’ve been working my ass off while you’ve been working half days and working your ass off for Lila’s Place not giving a fuck about what you don’t do here falling into my lap.”

“You arrogant fucking prick! Is that what you really think is going on?”

Sitting back down in my chair, I grab the papers from my printer and put them on my desk. “No, it’s not, and I’m sorry I believed the worst in you for the past year. The truth is, it wasn’t until we decided to move closer to you did I realize you weren’t working half days, you were spending all your time commuting.”

“Damn straight I was.”

“Connor, all the work you
don’t
get done while commuting is falling in my lap. We need help around here. At first, I was happy to pick up the slack because of Jess and the babies, but then I started to get resentful.”

“Why?”

“That’s such a loaded question. I thought you knew I was picking up your slack and eventually, you started to take it for granted. As you started working for Kate, you brought in a shit ton of new clients. You’re fucking brilliant, Connor, seriously.”

“Thanks?” he questions, and I laugh.

“I know it sounds like a backhanded compliment but take it as a true one. Over the past few weeks, I’ve begun to realize all the work I thought you were ditching out on is really all the new clients. We just don’t have the manpower to keep up with right now.”

“So if you’ve been so pissed off at me all this time, why the hell are you letting your marriage suffer? Why wouldn’t you just say something to me, Jake? I don’t want to cause trouble with the two of you.”

“Honestly, I think April and I have deeper problems than you, Connor.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“I mean she betrayed me by talking to you today.”

“Don’t be mad about that, Jake. Honestly, she looked like she didn’t feel very well and I think she had just woken up when I got there. She was pissed, but I also pushed the truth out of her.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll deal with all that later, I guess.”

He cocks an eyebrow, looking like he wants to say something and then thinks better of it.

Smart.

“Alright, so why didn’t you tell me?”

“At first, I thought it was a learning curve because you didn’t exactly get the kind of training I did. That coupled with being a newlywed and the twins, I thought I was helping you. I was happy to help you but the longer it went on, the more pissed off I got. I didn’t want to be the asshole who couldn’t help his brother.”

“So, instead, you sucked it up and let your marriage suffer. Not too smart, Jake.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Look, I know I should be thankful because that was a sweet, brotherly love kind of thing to do, but…”

“I’m listening.”

He leans across my desk and grabs my wedding photo and points to April.

“This woman right here has been the constant in my life since I was twelve years old. You are conceited, arrogant, and a serious fucking douche at times, but she loves you in spite of your personality flaws.”

“Way to make me feel warm and loved, asswipe.”

“See, that’s the shit I’m talking about, Jake. Last night when you were with Mia and Hannah, you were incredible. April makes you happy and when she’s around, she knocks your big head down a notch or two so you’re tolerable to the rest of the world.”

“Nice to know how you really feel about me.”

“Well, it’s my duty as your brother to pull your head out of your ass every now and then. Without April, you’d be a miserable fuck with a serious attitude problem. Do you honestly think she’d betray you in any way that mattered?”

“
This
mattered, Connor!
Fuck!
This mattered
a lot
and she
promised
me!” My fist pounds into the desk and he leans back in his chair with a cocky look on his face.

“That’s exactly the shit I’m talking about. April makes you better. You fight for her and for things you think will be good for the two of you. When she isn’t around or you’re fighting, you let your anger get the best of you.”

“So you wouldn’t be mad if Jess told me
your
secrets?”

“About something like this? If it was impacting our marriage negatively? No, I wouldn’t. Or I’d try not to be, anyway. Get over yourself, Jake, this was bound to come out. Anyway, you said you were coming to talk to me.”

“I was, but…”

“But nothing, Jake, don’t be a dick. It took us ten minutes to talk out something that has been bugging you for over half a year. April had every right to tell me. She’s been getting the shit end of the stick for way too long. How do you propose we fix this with Dad so you can get your marriage back on track?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that, as well,” Dad’s voice booms.

Fuck me.

My dad pins his gaze first on me and then on Connor as he takes the seat next to my brother.

“What did you hear, Dad?” Connor asks with his normal curiosity.

“All of it. I walked in right behind you, son. You were just too pissed to notice.”

Connor shrugs an apology to me as I rub my temples with my fingers. I’ve got a massive fucking headache all of a sudden.

“Look, you two, I’m not going to put you through the ringer about this because I’ve got some things I need to talk to you both about. It’s why I’m here.”

“What’s going on, Dad?”

“I’m retiring.”

“But you’re not even old!” Connor spits out, and my dad chuckles.

“Actually, that’s the point. Your mother and I are ready to see the rest of the world. It’s been our plan all along to retire when we were young enough to enjoy life and spend time with our grandkids while we’re active. We’re excited for this next phase of our life.”

“I’m happy for you, Dad, for both of you. You deserve to enjoy life even more.” Connor pats Dad on the back and they turn back to me.

God, I hope this doesn’t mean I have to take over this company. I just can’t handle it right now.

“Congratulations, Dad. So when is this happening?”

“Well, that depends on the two of you. We’ve got some decisions to make, boys. How about we order in some lunch, have a few drinks, and talk this through?”

Within a few minutes, lunch has been ordered and drinks have been poured and my dad nails me with a question I’m not quite ready to answer. I’m completely caught off guard; it was supposed to be a surprise for them until everything was finalized.

“Jake, who are Mia and Hannah?”

“Busted,” Connor remarks dryly.

“April and I are trying to adopt two girls out of foster care.”

“You think you can take on two young girls, a baby,
and
a puppy at the same time? All while both working full-time?

“Well, not exactly, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Actually, it’s what
we
wanted to talk to you about.”

“Answer this for me. Does your move have anything to do with these girls?”

“No. April wasn’t happy in our house and she wanted Jaxson to be raised with his family.”

“I see. When I started this company, I did it with the intention of it growing into a family business, which I’m proud to say it has. Both of you boys showed an interest in the company from a young age and it was never my goal to have either of you working here unhappily.”

“Dad, we’re not unhappy. At least I’m not,” Connor says, throwing the blame my way.

“I’m good at my job and I’ve never been unhappy until lately. The company is thriving and we’re too short-staffed.”

Dad nods in agreement.

“I’ve noticed. One of the things I’ve been the proudest of is this company has always been mine. I’ve never had to answer to a board of directors or had any of my decisions questioned. Being your own boss definitely has its advantages.”

“Connor, I know Kate has been trying to pull you over to her foundation for a full-time position. Be honest with me… If you didn’t feel obligated to stay here, would you take it?”

“Dad, I don’t feel obligated. The drive is a bitch but other than that, I like it here.”

“Yes, you like it, but would you like it there or would you
love
it?”

“I’d love it,” he answers softly.

The ice clinks in my dad’s glass as he pours himself a refill.

“Boys, life is about passion. If you aren’t passionate about something you should rethink what you’re doing with your life. Connor, you light up when you talk about Lila’s Place and the funding you’re securing for them. That’s your
passion
, this is your
job
. There’s a huge difference.”

When was the last time I was passionate about something?

“Jake, you have passion oozing from your pores.”

What the hell? Is he reading my mind?

“I’m not so sure about that, Dad.”

“Passion isn’t always about a job, Jake. Some people have a passion for life, for love. That’s you, Jake, and it always has been. The passion you have for April, for your marriage, for your unborn child, it’s inspiring and always how I hoped you would be. Both of you.”

“Yeah, well being passionate about family isn’t exactly a career.”

“It could be. It could be anything you want it to be, Jake. The world is your oyster. I’ve worked my entire life building an empire, amassing a personal wealth which will take care of my family for years after I’m gone. My work was my passion, but so was my family, which is why I worked so damn hard to build trust funds for the two of you.”

“Were you happy, Dad?” Connor asks.

“As long as I have your mother by my side, I’ll always be happy. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, proud of the family I’ve raised, of the men you’ve become. I’m damn proud to be a doting grandfather for
all
of your children.”

He looks directly at me as he emphasizes his words.

“I’ve been offered a substantial amount of money to sell the business.”