Key To My Heart: Stay (12 page)

Gavin was asleep on the couch when she
passed by, and she made her way up the stairs quietly as not to
disturb him.

Garett was sitting up in bed, the TV
turned on low while he read a parenting book. He pulled her to him
as soon as she had closed the door behind her and gave her a gentle
kiss.

“
Hi baby. How was
work?”

“
Tiring as usual. How did
things go with Gavin and your dad?”

“
Neither of them would tell
me exactly what went down, but it couldn’t have been too bad. He
put Gavin to work.”

“
That’s good. Um, did you
know anything about Gavin asking my sister to marry
him?”

Garett bit his lip. “I did. I didn’t
want to mention it since you’ve already got so much on your mind.
I’m sorry baby.”

She sighed. “It’s all right. I’m
assuming that she told him ‘no’.”

“
I guess. He didn’t say much
about it. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk today at work, and
then we worked on the house for a while after dinner. The nursery
is almost finished.”

“
That’s great babe. I love
you.”

“
I love you too
sweetheart.”

They watched a rerun of a program that
they both enjoyed, and then they went to sleep.

Garett

It felt good to work with his brother
again, both for Black and Sons, and on his house. They were able to
accomplish so much more together, and Garett felt a little less
overwhelmed, at least as far as the house was concerned.

The wedding plans were moving along
smoothly as well. Acasia had found a dress she liked, and their
mothers had managed not to stray too far from what they had wanted
for their wedding as of yet, though he was sure that they would at
some point.

Rumors were still going around town
about not only Gavin and Demi, but about Jay and Nikki as well. Jay
was still hard to get a hold of, as was Nikki. Their silence on the
issue still had everyone wondering what was going on, but neither
of them seemed to want to talk to anyone in the family about
anything besides their daughter. His mother was getting more and
more upset every day and he was more sure than ever that an
intervention was coming. He hoped that his brother and Acasia’s
sister hadn’t chosen to give up on their marriage, but he knew that
their mothers wouldn’t let their relationship go down without at
least an attempt an attempt to fight.

One night while Acasia was at work, he
decided that it might be a good idea to have a man-to-man talk with
his brother, and he approached Gavin after dinner.

His brother looked up when he entered
the living room. “Hey little brother. What’s up?”

“
Can we talk?”

Gavin chuckled. “Sure. That phrase is a
lot scarier when it comes from parents and women. What do you want
to talk about?”

Garett sat down in the arm chair. “Can
I ask what’s going on between you and Demi?”

“
Nothing’s really going on.
I proposed and she said no. I left it up to her to make the
decision of whether she wants to give me another chance or
not.”

“
That seems
fair.”

“
Yeah. Is Acasia upset over
me being back? I know that she’s protective over Demi.”

“
Of course she is. She’s her
big sister. I don’t think she’s upset that you’re back
exactly.”

“
So then what is it bro? Has
she said something that makes you think that she doesn’t want me
here? I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”

“
It’s not that. I just
wonder sometimes if she. . “

“
If she what?”

Garett looked away. “If she still has
feelings for you.”

Gavin snorted. “I know that they say
love is blind, but you would have to be blind not to see that
Acasia only has eyes for you. What’s the real problem little
brother?”

He turned back to Gavin. “Jay and
Nikki. Doesn’t it scare you to think that their marriage might be
in trouble?”

“
No relationship is perfect.
I’m sure our brother is fine. Why are you so worried? You love
Acasia, and Acasia loves you.”

“
I know. But. .
.”

“
Are you worried that you’re
in over your head? You bought a big house that wasn’t in the best
shape, so yeah, it’s gonna be a lot of work to fix it up. But I
will help you. I’m happy to help you, even if it requires
up-all-nighters to get it ready before the baby gets here. You
shouldn’t worry about the business because business is booming.
Black and Sons probably has more work now than they’ve had in
years. Am I right?”

Garett nodded.

“
So what is there to worry
about? You’re going to be a great father and a great husband, the
house will be ready in time even if we have to hire some guys from
Dad’s crew to come and help us and as far as I know the moms
haven’t trampled on your wedding plans too much. Be happy little
brother.”

“
I am happy.”

“
Then there you have
it.”

“
Are you okay
Gavin?”

“
I am. I am the closest to
okay that I have been in a long time bro.”

“
I’m glad. I’m glad that
you’re here too.”

“
Me too. You wanna take
another look at that other bedroom?”

“
Sure. Thank you
Gavin.”

“
No need to thank me. You’re
my brother. I know that I haven’t always been the best brother and
haven’t always provided the best example for you and Jay, but
you’ve both done well for yourselves. Jay will talk to us when he’s
ready, and you and Acasia are going to do just fine. So try not to
worry so much okay?”

“
Okay.”

They went upstairs and spent the rest
of the time until Acasia got home from work working on the
bedroom.

Acasia

Acasia really needed to use the
restroom and though there were two and a half baths in the house,
only one was functional. The shower was running, but she figured
that it was Garett since she had seen Gavin downstairs a few
minutes before, so she opened the bathroom door without thinking.
And discovered that it was not her fiancé in the shower, but
Gavin.

Gavin looked at her over the shower
curtain. “Do you need to use the bathroom Cas? I’m almost
through.”

Her face bright red, she backed towards
the door. “I’m sorry Gavin. I thought it was Garett in the shower.
I do need to use the bathroom, but I can wait. I’m so
sorry.”

She opened the door, and exited the
room, closing the door behind her. Her face still felt like it was
on fire. But she realized that it had felt more like walking in on
her brother in the shower than anything, and she knew that whatever
romantic feelings she had ever had for Gavin were truly
gone.

She headed down the stairs and almost
collided with Garett. He gave her an amused smile. “You almost look
like you’re running away from something babe.”

“
I just walked in on Gavin
in the shower. I thought it was you. When are the other bathrooms
going to be finished?”

“
I’m sorry baby. We’ve been
working on the downstairs bathroom, and it’s mostly finished, but I
think we’re going to have to replace the toilet. I’ll make sure
that I get to it as soon as possible.”

“
Okay. Have you heard
anything from Jay?”

“
Not lately. I think he and
Nikki have started avoiding calls from everyone in the family. I
can’t blame them though. I’m sure that between our mothers they’ve
probably gotten about a thousand phone calls.”

“
Yeah. I think I’m going to
go visit Demi.”

“
Okay. Do you want me to
come with you?”

“
No.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I
see.”

She shook her head at him. “Sometimes
you are a very silly man Garett Black. I love you. I’ll be back in
a little while.”

“
I was teasing
Cas.”

“
I know.”

“
I love you too and I will
see you when you get home.”

She returned his embrace and his kiss,
and then grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

She was practically doing the childhood
“I have to pee” dance by the time her sister opened the door. Demi
gave her an amused smile.

“
Did you neglect to use the
bathroom before you left the house sis?”

“
Funny. I walked in on your
boyfriend in the shower.”

Demi said nothing and she made her way
to her sister’s downstairs bathroom to relieve her
bladder.

Demi was sitting on the couch when she
came out of the bathroom and Acasia curled up next to her sister
and gave her a hug.

“
How are you Demi? I mean
really.”

“
I’m fine Cas. I promise
you.”

“
So Gavin proposed
huh?”

Demi sighed. “Yeah.”

“
And you told him
no?”

“
Of course I told him no.
How could I say yes? It’s not as if anyone would really have wanted
me to say yes anyway. Even if Gavin is back home and working for
his dad again, people’s opinions don’t really seemed to have
changed of him very much.”

“
I’m sorry sis. I’m not
trying to be judgmental.”

Demi laughed. “Honey, think of who
you’re talking to.”

“
Hey. That wasn’t
nice.”

“
If the shoe fits. . . I’m
kidding Acasia. I know that you’re trying. I know that it has to be
driving you crazy that Nikki won’t talk to anyone.”

“
It is. I just want to help
her with whatever it is that’s going on.”

“
If she wants our help,
she’ll ask for it.”

“
Yeah. How did you feel when
Gavin proposed?”

“
Mixed feelings. A part of
me was thrilled. It was like a dream come true. I know that you
don’t want to hear that, but I can’t stop the way I feel for him. I
just can’t put my child in the middle of something that I’m not
sure of.”

“
You’re going to make an
amazing mother Dem.”

“
Thank you. And so are you.
You already have plenty of practice from being such a good big
sister.”

“
Thanks Dem. I love
you.”

“
I love you too. How’s the
house coming?”

“
Pretty good. But there’s
still a lot to do. At least the nursery is done. We really need
another working bathroom though, especially with three people in
the house.”

“
And one of them pregnant.
How are the wedding plans?”

“
Pretty good. There’s still
a lot to do.”

Demi nodded. “I’m sure there is. How’s
the baby?”

“
Good. Seems to be getting
bigger every day. I have to pee all the time already.”

Demi laughed. “Get used to it sis. It
gets even better.”

“
Right. How’s your
baby?”

“
She’s good.”

“
You’re having a little
girl?”

“
Yeah. I guess I forgot to
tell you last time we talked.”

“
It’s okay. Everyone has a
lot on their minds lately.”

“
True.”

“
Do you think that you and
Gavin will. . .”

“
I don’t know. I honestly
don’t.”

“
Well, you should do
whatever feels right for you, no matter what anyone else thinks.
People will get over it.”

Demi laughed. “Do those people include
you sis?”

“
I’m trying. Gavin seems to
be doing really well. He’s been a big help to Garett.”

“
I’m sure he has.” Demi
yawned.

“
I suppose I should let you
get some sleep.”

“
I’ll probably be up for a
while. Mom gave me more baby clothes. I have a dresser full and a
closet full already, plus half of the closet in my room has kids’
clothes in it, so I’m going to have to find somewhere to put the
newest batch.”

“
Yeah, she’s given me a
bunch of stuff too. I guess we shouldn’t complain
though.”

“
I think I’m going to end up
donating some of it. If you end up with stuff you don’t need let me
know and we’ll take it to that place downtown that helps out
families.”

“
Sure.”

They talked for another few minutes,
and then they both started to yawn so Acasia decided it was time to
go home. They said their goodbyes and then she headed home. She
felt better after talking to Demi. Whatever choice her sister made
where Gavin was concerned was going to be the choice that was right
for her, and in the end, that was what mattered.

Garett

He and Gavin made the bathrooms their
new priority, and both were up and running within a few days. The
house was coming together slowly but surely, and Garett was damned
proud of not only himself, but of his brother. He had a feeling
that it wouldn’t be too long before their father gave Gavin a
portion of the company as well. His father and his brother seemed
to be getting along better than they had in a long time, and his
mother was thrilled to have her wayward son back in
Clinton.