Building Something Hot Read online

  Briella and Mila laughed and started going through the magazines. Charlee took out a pad of paper, and started making lists of things that they liked. The fact that Charlee was so sick was quickly forgotten in the excitement of planning for something so wonderful. By the end of the day, they had the china and silver picked out, as well as the bridesmaid’s gowns. Mila was asked to be the maid of honor, which she readily accepted.

  Briella listed three other friends from home to serve as her bridesmaids. A rough guest list was made out for Briella’s side, just to have an estimate of how many people would be there. All in all, it was a very productive day, and just what Briella needed to get her more excited about the upcoming wedding. It was just what Mila needed to find more hope, and just what Charlee needed to soothe her worries.

  Kason and Dexter showed up a few hours later. The nurse came into the room shortly after that and gave them all a look that said it was time to leave. They all kissed Charlee and told her to get rest, and they would see her in the morning.

  As they were walking down the hall, Briella stopped. “Hey, can you guys wait for a second? I need to ask my mom a question.”

  Everyone watched as Briella ran back to her mother’s room.

  Charlee was surprised to see Briella back already. “Hey Mom, I have a quick question. Do you think that you have a spot for me and Mila in your company? I know we’re going to run it while you’re in here, but once you get out, will you still have room for us?”

  “Of course! Why are you asking?”

  “Well, I just think it will be easier to finally take the plunge and move down here. I don’t think I can be away from Kason anymore, and I want to be closer to you again. I wanted to make sure that we’ll have jobs before I call my boss and tell him I’m resigning.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Briella realized that it would really happen. She would really move to Texas, a place she had once reviled. She smiled at the realization as Charlee smiled back.

  “You know I will always have a job for you, honey! Besides, if I get out of here, I’ll need a few months to recover, and I don’t know if I will ever want to go back to work full time. So just get used to running the company, okay?”

  “You’ll get out of here, and be back to your old self in no time!” Briella kissed her mom’s cheek. “Thank you, I love you, and gotta run!”

  Charlee laughed as Briella walked out of the room. She was happy that Briella had finally made the decision to leave New York and move down to Texas. Charlee took a deep breath and lay back against the pillows. She couldn’t stop smiling. She finally knew her daughter would be fine - she had chosen love over work, and she had chosen well.

  “What was that about?” Kason asked when he saw the smile on Briella’s face.

  “Oh, just a little business to take care of,” Briella said.

  When the group got home, Briella pulled Mila aside and told her that she planned on quitting her job to stay in Texas.

  “Oh, thank God! I’ve decided to do the same. When are we going to do this?” Mila asked, dancing around giddily.

  “Well, I’m going to call our boss after I talk to Kason. I don’t want to make this decision final without his input,” Briella said.

  “Okay, let me know so that I can be there when you call,” Mila said, and went in search of Dexter to tell him the good news.

  Briella found Kason in the study looking over some of his designs.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked him.

  He nodded and made room for her on his cluttered couch. Briella sat down and looked at him. “Well, I was just thinking, Mom is going to need my help around the office for a while, and even if she is ever able to go back to work, she will still need me down here. How practical would it be for me to move here?”

  Kason didn’t say anything for a moment. It felt as though his heart had stopped, and it was hard to breathe. His eyes searched Briella’s face, trying to read her mind.

  “Are you joking about this?” he asked.

  “No, I’m serious. I mean, we’re going to be married soon, and I know you don’t really want to go to New York. Yes, it’ll take me some time to get used to the culture down here, but with you by my side, it’ll be worth it. Besides, New York isn’t all that appealing anymore,” Briella shrugged.

  Kason smiled. “I’m only going to ask one more time. Are you sure about this?”

  Briella took some time with her answer. Was she sure? There were few things in her life that had ever felt so right, so she looked at him with the honest truth. “I am beyond ready, Country Boy. In fact, I’m so ready that I’m going to call my boss as soon as I can.”

  Kason burst into laughter and danced around the room. “You have just made me so happy! Call your boss. Tell him you’re done!” he said, shouting with laughter. “Pinch me. Am I dreaming?”

  Briella laughed at Kason’s happiness. Once he calmed down, she said, “One more thing. Do you want me to live with my mother?”

  “Girl, get real. You’re never leaving this house! I want this to be our home, the one that we raise our family in. It seems so cold and empty without you here. I want you to stay here with me from this day forward, for the rest of our lives!”

  “Okay, that’s settled,” Briella said, amazed at how easy it was to let go of everything she knew and start fresh with the man she loved. Let’s go find Mila so we can quit our jobs!”

  They found Dexter and Mila in the kitchen. Mila knew from Briella’s smile that everything was going to be just fine.

  “Kason, is it alright if I stay here with all of you until we get our own place?” Mila asked.

  “You are welcome to stay as long as you want, as long as it’s okay with Briella, since this is her house now too.” Kason told her.

  “Well, no need to ask, but I would like for you to stay here,” Briella said. “We’re making a big change together. It makes sense that we both make that transition together, don’t you think?”

  “Dial that phone, girl!” Mila laughed. “Let’s do this!”

  An hour later, it was done. Their boss wasn’t happy about losing both of them, and tried to make them offers that they couldn’t refuse. But the fact of Charlee’s illness meant that he didn’t really try too hard. He understood the draw of family. He told them that if they changed their minds he would have jobs for them. Briella and Mila thanked him and hung up the phone.

  When the guys heard how much they were offered, they were pleased to know they were worth more to the girls than a lot of money. Kason went to sleep that night happier than he’d ever been.

  The next morning, Briella and Kason got up early to interview the candidates for the maid position. Raelynn had done a fine job narrowing the field down, and they had a tough time deciding between the final three.

  They settled on a woman who was in her late 50s. Stella was a widow with three grown children. She came with glowing references and was able to begin the next day. As she left the house, she thanked Briella and Kason and told them how much she appreciated the opportunity they were giving her.

  Briella smiled at Stella. “Well, as long as you don’t try to kiss my fiance like the last one did, I don’t foresee any problems.”

  Stella laughed, and even blushed a little. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. He’s all yours, and any woman who can’t see that is a fool. Have a good day.” She turned and walked to her car, giving a final wave before she left.

  An hour later, the group headed to the hospital. Charlee’s condition hadn’t changed much from the day before, and she was still in good spirits. She spent time with Briella and Mila, telling them what they needed to know about the upcoming week at the firm. The girls assured her that everything would be taken care of.

  A few hours later, an older gentleman poked his head into Charlee’s room. A smile spread across Charlee’s face when she saw who it was. She introduced the man to everyone as her ‘friend’ Tony.

  Then she said, “Not to be rude
, but would you guys mind going home? Tony and I have a date.”

  Briella looked shocked by her mother’s request. She stared at Tony with wide eyes. “A date?” she almost screeched.

  Charlee shrugged. “Sorry, that didn’t come out right. Go out and have some fun. Celebrate Briella’s birthday, or celebrate the engagement. Whatever you do, just have fun. You’ve all been too worried about me. Come back tomorrow after you get out of work. If I need anything, I’ll call, okay?”

  They all retreated toward the door, Briella casting questioning looks at Tony all the while. Kason put his arm around her as they walked out the door. “Looks like your Mom is doing just fine,” he teased her, and Briella smiled a little.

  “Let’s go home,” she said. “I’m hungry.”

  The next morning, Briella called a meeting as soon as they got into work. Once everyone was in the conference room, Briella took the floor to inform the employees as to what was happening. “As most of you know, Kason and I had to rush my mother to the hospital on Friday night. The doctors found a tear in her aorta, which they feel can be mended through surgery. Unfortunately, she isn’t strong enough to undergo the surgery at this time, so she is in the hospital trying to regain her strength. After the surgery, she will have a long road to recovery ahead of her. Until Mom is able to come back to work, Mila and I will be running the company. If during this time you have any questions or concerns, please speak directly to Mila or myself. Now, that being said, does anyone have any questions?”

  “Will Charlee be okay?” one man asked.

  “From what the doctors say, yes. They told us the worst case scenario would be a heart transplant,” Briella responded.

  “Who will our clients meet with?” a woman asked.

  “Well, that will depend on the nature of the business. Most likely, they will meet with both Mila and me. I know many of our clients don’t welcome outsiders, in which case Kason will be included until they get used to dealing with us,” Briella stated. “Any other questions?”

  “Are you and Kason engaged now?” the same woman asked.

  Briella looked at Kason and smiled. “Well, it’s not really something that needs to be discussed at work, but if it will stop the rumors from flying, I’ll tell you. Yes, Kason and I are engaged, and the wedding is set for November. Now, are there any more work related questions?”

  No one spoke up.

  “You are all free to go. Please be professional about all of this. We know what goes on here, and what needs to happen. Get your work done and we won’t have any problems.” Everyone stood up and made their way out of the conference room. Briella and Mila headed to Charlee’s office to get some work done.

  Throughout the day people kept stopping in to see Briella and Mila to ask questions and to get help on designs. The girls were so busy that the day flew by.

  Before they knew it, it was time to leave and head to the hospital. When they got to Charlee’s room, they saw her doctor was with her.

  When the doctor saw them, he waved them into the room. He told them that Charlee was finally strong enough to undergo the operation, and they had scheduled it for the morning. The surgery would take about two hours, and then she would be in recovery for another four hours. She would need to stay in the hospital for at least a week after the surgery, depending on how her body reacted.

  Briella thanked him and then he left the room.

  “So, are you ready for all this?” Briella asked her mom.

  “I am. Will you all head home and come back in the morning before my surgery? The doctor gave me something to help me sleep tonight, and I’m having trouble staying awake. Go home and come back tomorrow,” Charlee said and closed her eyes. Before the girls were out of the room, she was snoring.

  The next morning, the group showed up at the hospital bright and early. The nurses were bustling around, getting Charlee ready for surgery, so Briella stayed in the room while the other three wished Charlee luck and kissed her, one by one, before they left the room. When it was almost time to go into surgery, Briella tearfully told her mom how much she loved her, and how much she meant to her. Charlee took her daughter’s hand.

  “Honey, I’m in a lot of pain, and I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the surgery,” she whispered, eerily calm. “I need you to be strong and accept it if it’s my time to go.”

  “Mom! That won’t happen!”

  Charlee continued on as if she hadn’t heard her. “Please don’t dwell on the loss, but go on with your life and be happy. I’ll always be watching over you and Kason and the beautiful family you’re going to have. I have had a great life in the time I’ve been here. I can’t tell you enough how much I love you and how proud I am of you.”

  “Mom, stop. Stop, please.”

  “I know it’ll upset you. But don’t allow the grief to take over your life. Take a few days to mourn, then get on with your life. I am fine with it, and I’m asking you to be fine with it too. If it’s my time, then it’s my time.” Charlee squeezed Briella’s hand. “I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too Mom…”

  “Will you do ask I ask?”

  “I’ll try…”

  “No, promise me,” Charlee said sternly.

  Briella looked at her mom through her tears. She wasn’t sure if she could promise something like that, but she knew her mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Okay, I promise you.”

  “You better mean it to or else I will haunt you from the grave,” Charlee said, only slightly joking.

  The nurses walked in at that moment, and Briella had to leave. But before she did, she leaned over the bed and hugged her mother with a fierce strength. Her mother hugged her back, her arms surprisingly strong.

  “Go, and be good,” her mother whispered. Then the nurses wheeled her bed out of the room, and she was gone.

  Two hours later the doctor came into the waiting room. Briella was pacing the floor, waiting for him. There was no preamble - he got straight to the point. “Your mother made it through the surgery, but it was worse than we thought. Her blood pressure is very low right now, and we are trying everything we can to bring it back up. If we can’t stabilize her in the next few hours, then we will need to put her on a machine to keep her heart beating. I will keep you updated on her progress.”

  Briella felt as if she was punched in the stomach. She sat down in the nearest chair, certain her legs were going to fail her. She thought about the things her mother had said. Had Charlee known this would happen?

  Briella burst into tears when the doctor left. Kason sat beside her, holding her tight. She sat in the chair, watching the door, waiting for more news.

  It came in an hour.

  “I’m sorry, but her blood pressure just won’t come back up. Her chart says that she refuses to be put on life support, and that would be the only way we can keep her alive,” the doctor said gently.

  “You mean…”

  “Your mother is very sick, Ms. Fox. Without life support, she will not survive. She doesn’t want to be on life support, but as the next of kin, that is your call to make. I’m sorry, but I need a decision now.”

  Briella took a deep breath. This was the nightmare her mother had warned her about. But her mother had been crystal clear in what her choices were, and no matter how Briella felt, she would respect her mother as she always had. “Let her go,” she whispered, and the tears started to flow again. She looked the doctor right in the eye. “Let her go,” she said, her voice strong and sure.

  “Do you want to see her?” the doctor asked. “Do you want to be there?”

  Briella remembered her mother’s radiant smile. She remembered the strength of that final hug they had shared. She shook her head.

  “No,” she said. “My mother left me with what I need.”

  Briella then stood up and turned to Kason. Without a word, she took his hand and headed for the door. Dexter and Mila followed. The grieving couples were riding in the elevator when the doctor went back int
o the recovery room and nodded at the nurses. They were in the parking lot when the nurses turned off the machines.

  They were almost home when Charlee took her last breath. They were walking through the door at 11:52 AM, as the doctor pronounced Charlee Fox dead.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Everything after that seemed to pass in a blur for Briella. There was so much to do, and that helped keep her from breaking down with grief. She notified all of Charlee’s friends, then went to the funeral home to make arrangements. She chose a casket and headstone and made plans for the wake, all the while running on autopilot.

  She was okay until she went to her mother’s house to choose the outfit Charlee would be buried in. She walked through the house and left Kason downstairs, so that she could have some time alone among her mother’s things. In Charlee’s bedroom, she ran her hands over the clothes in the closet, pulling out a few things she knew her mother liked.

  Briella finally left the closet and lay on her mother’s bed. She put her head on the pillow and smelled her mother’s scent. That’s when the first wave of tears came, burning hot, from deep inside. She pushed her face into the pillow and sobbed until she had to fight for breath, then she rolled over and sat up, trying to calm her racing heart.

  When she was steadier, Briella walked to her mother’s armoire and opened it. Inside was a small key hanging from one of the pegs, right where she knew it would be. Briella took the key and went to her mother’s safe. She unlocked the safe and removed her mother’s jewelry. Every piece brought back memories for Briella, like the ring her dad had given her mom on their twentieth anniversary, and the locket Briella had bought her mother when her father died. It was all in there.

  Briella picked up the box of jewelry and brought it downstairs with her. Kason was cleaning out the fridge and taking out the garbage.

  “You guys don’t have to do that,” Briella said. “I’ll have a maid come in and clean everything up.”