“They disinherited you?” he said, stunned.
Rebecca shrugged. She assumed they had made good on the repeated threat. An overabundance of pride kept her from confirming it, though. There was no way she would attempt to touch a penny of the massive trust that had been set up in her name since birth. Whether or not her father had actually frozen the assets was irrelevant. She kept her end of the bargain, choosing to no longer be a part of the Harrison family, and in her mind, that included Harrison money as well.
“There is very little I regret,” Aidan said somberly, “but my silence that day is a glaring exception.”
Rebecca knew exactly what day he was talking about – the day their father gave her the ultimatum: conform or be cast out. Rebecca left and never looked back. It had probably stunned them all; not one of them believed she would actually follow through, but she did.
“Do they know you’re back?”
Rebecca shook her head. “No. And before you say anything, I’d like to keep it that way.”
“But Becca - ”
“No buts, Aidan. They made it very clear that I had to make a choice, and I did. I don’t regret it.” Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She’d missed them, especially Aidan, though she knew she’d make the same choices over and over again.
“You are still their daughter.”
Aidan didn’t understand. He was barely sixteen when she’d left, just coming into his manhood.
“Not in their eyes, Aidan. I’m not like you. I cannot be who they want me to be.”
She’d tried. For years she’d let them dress her up and put her on display, the perfect Southern belle debutante. But it wasn’t enough. Rebecca wasn’t content to sit back and look pretty. She desired more than a life of luxury and a wealthy husband. She wanted to live life, make a difference, get her hands dirty. On her eighteenth birthday she’d had enough and announced that she wanted to attend college for her teaching degree. She might as well have announced she wanted to open up a whorehouse on the family estate for the sudden and vehement reaction she received.
“Won’t you at least try? It’s been a long time. We’re family...”
“You’re my family.”
“But - ”
“Enough. It is what it is, Aidan. No more talk of the parents, or I’m on the first bus out of here once the waters recede.”
“Alright,” he agreed, but his grimace let her know he wasn’t happy about it.
“Good. Now tell me all about what you’ve been up to.”
Aidan sighed, but relented as she had hoped. He told her all about his business partner and master chef – Lexi Callaghan - and the creation of the Celtic Goddess restaurant line, including the story of how he had left their southern family stronghold and based himself in this little corner of northeastern Pennsylvania.
“So Lexi’s husband, Ian, is one of the infamous Callaghans?” Even in her short time in Pine Ridge it became clear that the family was well-known by the locals. More than a few women had confided their envy that she was working so closely with the gorgeous doc Michael, even though he was very obviously devoted to his wife and son.
“Afraid so.”
Rebecca laughed softly. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
“No, not really. I wasn’t too sure at first, but I have to say, Ian’s entire world revolves around Lexi. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. And to be truthful, they do kind of grow on you after a while. Not to mention they’re definitely good men to have on your side. You already know Michael from the shelter.”
“Yes. I’ve met a few of the others, too. Sean, Kieran, and Kane.”
Aidan looked up in wary surprise. “You’ve met Kane? Actually spoken to him?”
“Yes. On several occasions, actually. You seemed surprised. Why?”
Aidan hesitated. “Kane isn’t really all that social. Even as much as I’ve been around the family I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him speak, just growl occasionally. When he is around – and that’s not all that often – he just tends to stand back in the shadows glowering at everyone.”
Rebecca had no trouble imagining the eldest Callaghan doing just that – standing back against the wall, watching and being acutely aware of everything around him, with that sexy hard-assed look about him and those penetrating eyes that made her insides go all soft when they locked on her. The thought made her smile slightly.
“He’s been very nice to me.”
“Well, then you’re the first as far as I know. The others – they all seem to lead fairly regular lives, but him? Not so much.”