Page 95 of Keep On Loving You
Steven stood quietly for a moment as if he were taking it all in before he clapped his hands together and turned to William, who sat ready to read out the details of their father’s estate once and for all.
Chapter Thirty-One
It had been a long night,and an even longer day. More than anything, Andy wanted to take Kat back to her apartment, run a bubble bath, and soak away the stress of the last few days with a glass of wine.
The meeting hadn’t taken long. Michael Carlson’s estate was divided up very equitably among the children, with generous amounts going to charity and trusts set up for his grandchildren, both living and future.
Andy, as well as the other spouses and partners, excused themselves as soon as it made sense, to give the siblings a chance to finish things up with William and Steven. Instead of joining the others in the kitchen, Andy snuck out to the backyard to get some air.
Things were still tense with the family, and it wasn’t a situation Andy saw resolving itself anytime soon. He also had no plans to push the agenda. He’d meant what he said to Kat. He wasn’t going anywhere. If that meant that Craig,Asher, Chase, and any of the others were mad, that was on them. He loved Kat more than anything else in the world, and he was not going to put that aside just because they couldn’t seem to get over themselves.
“Hey. Can I interrupt?”
Andy looked over his shoulder to see Symon with baby Poppy in his arms.
“She just woke up from a nap, which means she is not to be contained.” Symon laughed and put the baby on the grass with a selection of toys.
Andy couldn’t help but smile at the baby girl. She truly was a spot of sunshine in all their lives.
Maybe one day, there’d be a little red-headed girl crawling around too?
The idea of having a baby with Kat made him smile. No matter how far off in the future it was, it was definitely in their future.
“Shouldn’t you be in Switzerland?”
“Just like you.” Symon chuckled. “I pushed it by a few days. I get it if you need a few more. The team will be fine.”
“I appreciate it.” Andy nodded and leaned back on the grass. “I’m sure I’ll be able to take off soon. I just couldn’t go while she was…”
“I get it, Andy.” Symon nodded. “I wouldn’t have left either.”
“What we do for love, right?”
“So you do love her?”
It was Craig who asked the question. Andy turned to see him standing behind them.
“Can I sit?”
Symon jumped up and grabbed Poppy, who squawked in protest. “I was just heading in.” He was gone with the baby before Andy could object.
A moment later, Craig took his place on the grass next to him.
They sat in silence for a minute before Andy answered his question. “More than life itself, Craig.” He didn’t face him as he spoke. “I think there’s always been some part of me that’s loved her, but over the last few years, it grew to the point where I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”
“And you really went up the mountain in the middle of the storm for her? Hell, we didn’t even know she was in danger.”
Andy nodded. “I’d die before I’d let anything happen to her.”
Next to him, Craig made a grunting noise. After another moment of silence, he said, “I know that feeling.” He spoke softly. “That’s how I feel about Lucy and Meri. I get it. I owe you, man.”
“You don’t.”
Finally, Andy glanced over at his friend. They locked eyes, and Craig nodded before looking down again.
“I’m sorry I punched you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about us sooner. I should have told you how I felt about her. Hell, I should have toldhersooner.”
