Family Pieces (44 page)

Karsen left the ballroom in search of Addison. She found her secluded, nestled in the furthest corner of the patio by the fire pit. The structure was impressive, surrounded by hand stacked stone. Two oversized wrought iron patio chairs and one loveseat faced the fire. Addison sipped her wine and allowed the soft crackles of the fire soothe her.

“Care for company?” Karsen interrupted the silence.

Addison glanced over her shoulder and shrugged. “Sure.”

Karsen squeezed in next to her on the small couch. “I talked to Russell. I don’t know if he’s going to come around.”

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I know, but that’s what sisters do, right?” Karsen paused. “I’m sorry if it seems childish. I just wanted to help.”

Addison laid her head on Karsen’s shoulder. They sat together quietly, soaking in the fire’s warmth.

“Thank you for tonight, Addison.” Karsen said. “I feel like Cinderella at the ball. Although, I hope I don’t lose one of my new Prada shoes.” She giggled. “Think I’ll still be able to wear them when I’m fat and swollen being prego in a hundred and ten degree heat?”

Addison finally smiled. “You might want to put them away until after the baby arrives.”

“Will you come visit? I mean, when the baby comes?”

“I’d love to. I love Arizona. The Aji spa is my absolute favorite. Maybe I can treat you to a postpartum retreat.”

“Sounds wonderful, but I’m not sure I’ll be living in Arizona once the baby arrives. I’ll probably have to move back in with my dad and I don’t know what spas are like in Middlebury, Indiana. There’s a great Amish restaurant that has pies that are to die for, though.”

“Mmmm. I love pie. Do I get the whole pie or just a piece?”

“I’ll take one piece, you can have the rest. How’s that for sharing?”

Addison straightened up. She pulled the clip securing her hair and allowed it to flow down gracefully over her shoulders. The night was ending. Russell had departed without saying goodbye. There was little reason to remain all gussied up.

“Karsen?”

“Yeah?”

Addison’s face lit up. “Why not come to New York?”

“New York?” Karsen repeated, a bit surprised. “I couldn’t afford to live here. I figure I can live with Dad and get a job locally. Maybe take some classes if I can fit them in. I want to finish school, someday at least.”

“Taking money out of the equation, what would you do?” Addison asked.

“I don’t know. Finish school for sure. Then find a job that would support the baby and me.”

“You’re degree is in communications, right?”

“It will be.”

Addison paused. Karsen had answered her questions unaware of where precisely she was going.

“What if you came and lived with me?”

“What?”

“You can finish school at NYU, or Berkeley for that matter, and work for
Urbane
. I have more than enough room for you and the baby, and with my help you’ll be more flexible with time, or I can pay for a nanny if needed.”

Karsen stared in disbelief at Addison. Had she heard right?

“Addison, I appreciate the gesture…you don’t know how much I do, but I could never impose on you like that.”

“Nonsense. You wouldn’t be. I’m going to need all the help I can find to get
Urbane
back up and running. And, I want to be a part of my niece or nephew’s life. It’s win-win.”

“Really?”

“Really, Karsen, I know rationally moving across the country to live with someone you’ve just met may seem foolish, and me, of all people. Typically I never act in such an illogical manner. If anyone asked me last week if I’d be considering this, I would tell them that they were insane. But, it feels right. Let me help you. What do you say?”

Karsen sat contemplating, her face momentarily void of emotion. She looked steadily at Addison, waiting for her to waiver, to change her mind. She released a breath, half sigh, half laugh as a smile perked across her lips.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but let’s do it. I’m going to move to New York!”

30

T
he next morning Karsen bounded out of bed. The dark cloud she’d had hovering above her the last few months had lifted. Within her brewed a sensation that she hadn’t felt for a long time. Hope. She looked in the mirror and smiled.
Thank you, Mom. I know you’d be here if you could. Maybe there is a reason for all of this after all.

“Hey, sunshine,” Brad called from the porch.

“Good morning!” Karsen grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured herself some orange juice before joining him. “Coffee smells wonderful. Drink some for me, would ya?”

“I’ll buy you a stash of decaf when we get back to Arizona.”

“Can you make it a small stash?”

“Why’s that?”

“Don’t freak out, okay?”

“Uh-oh. Here we go again. What’s up now, Karsen?”
What could she possibly be thinking?
He thought, though he noted a happy note to her voice that had been absent for far too long.

“Addison asked me to move to New York.”

“What?”

“Before you get your feathers all ruffled, hear me out. The semester is over in four weeks. I can finish my classes then transfer here for the fall. Addison offered me a position at
Urbane
. That would have been a dream job for me before. Do you know how hard it is to get hired by a major publication? The experience alone is priceless.”

Brad understood the appeal. “But what about the baby? I’m not going to be close enough to help if you need it.”

“Brad. I love you and I appreciate everything you do for me. I do. But I need to stand on my own two feet. I can do this. I can help Addison rebuild
Urbane
. I can finish my degree and raise this child. I’m not expecting it to be an easy road. But sometimes you have to choose the path less taken, right?”

He set his coffee down on the table. His fingers intertwined and he lifted his hands in thought to his lips. He struggled to find the right words to say. He knew she was strong enough to succeed. Protecting her had become part of his own identity, but deep down he knew she was right. He needed to let it go.

“Karsen?”

“Yes?” she said tentatively, awaiting his response. Her mind was made up no matter what he thought, still she longed for his approval.

“I’m proud of you.”

The late risers eventually staggered down one after another, muttering groggy but cordial greetings until their first cup of coffee kicked in. Addison’s parents arranged an elaborate spread of food, putting the buffets at most five-star resorts to shame. Everyone gathered around the kitchen table.

“Thank you so much for having us,” Karsen said to Mrs. Reynolds.

“I hear you’ll be returning,” she said smiling.

Karsen couldn’t help the grin that stretched across her face. “Yes. In a month.”

“I’m glad. Come by anytime.”

Addison finished a bite of eggs benedict and reminded the group that they needed to be packed and ready to go in one hour. She’d arranged for her corporate jet to fly them back to Arizona. They joked about how it wouldn’t take long to get ready since all of them had traveled so light. Through the chatter, they heard the doorbell ring.

“I’ll get it,” Addison’s mother said, rising from her seat. She entered the foyer and opened the front door.

“Is Addison available?” a male voice asked. The voice sounded oddly familiar to Karsen.

“Certainly. Please come in.”

He wiped his feet on the doormat before he entered then followed Mrs. Reynolds down the hall into the kitchen.

“Hello, Jacob. What are you doing here?” Addison asked with a bewildered expression.

Jacob lifted his laptop bag off of his shoulder and placed it on the table, all eyes following his movements in amused anticipation.

“Work, what else?” He grinned with pride. “I’ve got this month’s issue of
Urbane
proofed, formatted and ready to go. Luckily, I had saved a copy on my laptop and grabbed it before I left. At any rate, Brand-son Publishing has offered to lend their services. We can have the issue printed and on shelves in only a week past its usual publication date.”

“Are you serious?” Addison asked in amazement.

“Absolutely. I just need your approval.”

“Wow!” she screamed. “You are unbelievable! I can’t thank you enough!” She scrambled to her feet and threw her arms around Jacob, knocking him off balance.

“He probably deserves a raise,” Brad chimed in.

“I’ll see what I can do about that.” Addison bounced up and down more like a schoolgirl than an executive. She could hardly contain her excitement.

Pride radiated from Jacob’s face, his eyes twinkled as he laughed.

“Just doing my job,” he winked.

“Well then, you’ve certainly impressed the boss.” Addison smiled then turned back toward the table. “While you’re here, let me introduce you to everyone. This is my mother, Annabelle, and my father, Bryce.”

Bryce stood and shook Jacob’s hand. Jacob’s face glazed over in a star-struck kind of way.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Reynolds.”

“The pleasure is all mine. You’ve certainly worked a miracle for my...,” he paused, “my daughter’s magazine,” he corrected himself with a nod to Addison.