Henry (The Beck Brothers) (24 page)

"I've been trying
to tell you that she's working on changing. She wants to be part of our lives,
and she knows that the only way to do that is by changing her old habits. She's
been great with Claire. They'd even gone out to lunch a few times just the two
of them. Claire says mom has really opened up a lot to her about her feelings.
She's also been amazing with Ethan, loves him to death. She's been asking to
babysit him more and more."

Sebastian frowned.
"Really?
”
he asked,
hesitant to believe what Henry was telling him.

"I wouldn't lie
to you Sebastian, you know that. She misses you. She's desperate to apologize
to you and start over,
”
Henry said, leaning forward, propping his forearms on his knees. "Do you
think you could at least talk to her?"

"Fuck...I don't
know.
”
Sebastian sighed,
closing his eyes. "I want to stay mad at her, I want to make her suffer
for what she put us through, I want her to understand that I'm not a pushover
and I won't take her shit anymore."

"It's been four
months since you've talked to her. And believe me when I say that she's
suffered. I can't tell you how many times she's come crying to be because you
won't talk to her,
”
Henry
said softly.

Sebastian's eyes flew
open. "Crying?
”
he
asked, not sure he heard right.

"Yes, crying,
like tears running down her face."

Sebastian shook his
head. "Mom doesn't cry"

"She does now,
and it's killing her that you won't even let her apologize.
”
Henry sighed and stood.
 
“
I'm
not telling you what to do; I just think you should give her a chance. She does
love you, you're her son."

Sebastian took a deep
breath and blew it out. "I'll see how tonight goes, and then I'll think
about it,
”
he said.

Henry nodded.
"Fair enough,
”
he
said, moving towards the door.

Sebastian followed him
out and back into the kitchen. Quinn was walking in, a couple of store bought
pies in his hands. Quinn placed them on the counter, gave Claire a kiss on the
cheek, and Christian a handshake. Sebastian moved in to give Quinn a handshake,
but Henry forced him into a hug. Quinn wasn't an overly affectionate guy, and
he was far from emotional. The only time Sebastian saw Quinn show emotion was
when they thought Henry had perished in that plane crash. Sometimes Sebastian
got jealous of how well Quinn could hide everything. The rest of them wore
their hearts on the sleeves.

"Hey, dickhead,
”
Sebastian greeted him with a
smirk.

Quinn rolled his eyes.
"Can't you come up with something new?
”
he asked, his tone bored, his voice its usual deep rasp. He and Henry sounded a
lot alike. Henry's voice also had that rasp.

Sebastian chuckled.
"I'll work on it."

The corner of Quinn's
mouth lifted slightly, the only indication that he found that amusing.
Christian stepped up next to Quinn and gave Sebastian a wary glance. Sebastian
knew Christian was nervous about how he was going to be with their mother
there. This was the first time he'd seen her since blowing up on her. And
Christian, being the pacifist that he was, wanted everyone to get along.

"Don't worry
Chris; I'm on my best behavior tonight,
”
Sebastian said. He wasn't going to ruin Henry's night with being nasty to their
mother.

Christian nodded
slowly. "Maybe you shouldn't drink,
”
he said cautiously.

Sebastian sighed.
"I'll be fine."

Christian looked skeptical
but let it go. He knew he couldn't win an argument with him.

Sebastian helped
Claire put dinner on the table, while Henry got Ethan set up in his booster
seat. Everyone sat down and started passing around the amazing smelling food.
The conversations were light and happy, and Sebastian couldn't help but watch
his mother out of the corner of his eye throughout dinner. She joined in the
conversations, laughed, and seemed to really be enjoying herself. His father
was absolutely beaming. Sebastian hadn't seen his dad this happy in years.
Maybe his mom really had changed for the better.

Seeing his mom like
this really made it hard for him to hold onto his anger and his grudge. He
found himself engaging in the conversations she was in. Not that he talked to
her directly, but it was close. He had been sitting across from her, and next
to his father, who was at the end of the table. Ethan was on his other side.
His father more than once grabbed his forearm and gave him a squeeze, his eyes
letting Sebastian know that he appreciated the little bit of effort that he was
putting in towards his mother.

After dinner, they had
dessert and coffee. While Claire and his mother cleaned up, the men went into
the living room. Sebastian watched Henry pull Ethan onto his lap and talk
quietly to him. No doubt going over what he wanted Ethan to say to Claire for
the proposal. Sebastian knew that Henry had wanted Ethan to be part of it.
Sebastian felt a twinge of jealousy at what Henry was getting, a beautiful wife
and a wonderful son. That should be Sebastian. The thought made Sebastian hate
Victoria even more. She took everything away from him. Fucking bitch.

When Claire and Anne
came into the living room, Ethan went running to Claire. She picked him up and
moved closer to Henry, who was standing next to the tree. He didn't look
nervous at all. He had been simply smiling, all the love he held for Claire
brightening his already bright green eyes.

"Mommy! Look
present!
”
Ethan cried and
stretched to reach the little box that Henry had set on one of the higher
branches.

Claire looked
confused, but turned her back on the room, and lifted Ethan up a little higher
so that he could reach the box, just like Henry had planned. Sebastian smiled
and shook his head as Henry got down on one knee behind her. Sebastian saw his
mother's eyes widen as she slapped a hand over her mouth. His dad smiled wide
and pulled his wife into his arms. Claire's dad, Frank, went over and placed a
hand on his dad, Henry's, shoulder.
 
A warm smile broke out across his face.

After Ethan grabbed
the box, he squirmed to be put down. Claire obliged, setting him on his feet.
Ethan went to Henry, standing in his arms. Claire turned and flinched as if she
was slapped. Sebastian stifled a laugh. She looked so confused and shocked.
Ethan opened the ring box with Henry's help then held it up to his mother.

"Mommy, you mawee
Henwee?
”
Ethan asked
sweetly, still unable to pronounce his
“
r
’
s.
”

Sebastian blinked back
a rush of unexpected tears. What the hell? Ethan's little voice just tugged at
his heart, and he couldn't believe that he was actually getting choked up by
his brother's marriage proposal.

Claire gasped and
covered her nose and mouth with her hands. Sebastian could see the tears start
rolling down her face as she dropped to her knees in front of Henry and Ethan.
"Really?
”
she croaked,
covering Ethan's hands as he held the ring box.

"Really, Claire.
I love you with my whole heart and I want us to be a family. Will you marry me?
”
 
Henry asked, looking a little teary eyed himself.

"Oh my god, Yes,
Henry, Yes!" Claire cried, throwing her arms around to two of them.

Henry smiled as he
kissed her. Once Claire let them go, Henry pulled the ring out of the box and
slipped it onto her finger. Claire smiled shakily and looked down at the ring.
It was a gorgeous ring, Henry did a good job. Claire gave Ethan a kiss before
turning back to Henry for another kiss. After they got to their feet, everyone
gathered around to congratulate the couple. Sebastian was last.

Sebastian pulled
Claire into his arms. "Congrats, sister,
”
he murmured, kissing her cheek.

Claire laughed and
sniffed, wiping tears from her cheeks as she pulled away. "Thanks,
Sebastian."

Sebastian then pulled
Henry into a hug. "I'm glad you're happy, Henry,
”
he said quietly, kissing his brother's temple
before pulling away.

Henry smiled and
thanked him.

After popping open a
bottle of champagne and toasting the newly engaged couple, Sebastian went to
the bathroom. He finished drying his hands and opened the door to find his
mother pacing nervously in the hallway in front of the door; when she heard the
door open, her head shot up, and her eyes met his, as she twisted her hands
together.

Sebastian watched her
struggle to say something, so he waited.

"Sebastian...can
we...can we talk?
”
she
asked hesitantly.

The hope and
desperation in her eyes broke apart his resolve. He sighed heavily.
"Yeah."

His mother blinked
rapidly and gave him a watery smile. Sebastian went into Henry's office, and Anne
followed. Sebastian closed the door and went over to sit on the brown leather
couch. He leaned back into the corner, resting one arm across the back, and the
other on the arm of the couch. He knew he looked relaxed and nonchalant. But on
the inside, he was in turmoil. His stomach rolled uneasily, and his heart
raced.

His mom sat at the
other end of the couch, perched on the edge of the cushion, her hands clasped
together tightly. Sebastian watched her, his chest constricting with the need
to comfort her. It was easy to not care when he didn't see her, but she was his
mother, and he did love her. And seeing her so nervous and tense was bothering
him more then he wanted it to.

"Sebastian,
”
she started, looking over at
him, a tear streaming down her face. "I don't even know where to begin to
apologize for everything I put you through. I hate myself for the way I acted
and treated you and your brothers. I never ever wanted to push you away. I only
did what I thought would keep you close, not realizing that I was doing just
the opposite. I'm so sorry, and I can only hope that you can find it in your
heart to forgive me,
”
she
said, her voice trembling and cracking the whole time.

Sebastian stared at
her, trying to keep his face schooled. He didn't want her to know how torn up
he was inside. Part of him wanted to forgive her, but the other part wanted to
remain pissed at her. He didn't know what to do; he didn't know what to say.

"You don't have
to say anything,
”
Anne
said, as if hearing his thoughts.
“
I
just wanted the chance to apologize to you,
”
she murmured and stood, leaving the room quickly.

Sebastian closed his
eyes and dropped his head back. Well didn't he feel like the biggest dickhead
in the world now. Why was she getting to him like this? Because she had been
acting like a completely different person, that's why. She hadn't been a bitch
once. She had been acting like a normal loving mother and grandmother. It was
throwing Sebastian for a loop. He groaned and stood up, leaving the office to
join the rest of his family.

                                                 
~~~~~

Claire glanced at
Henry through the mirror as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail on top of
her head. Henry was brushing his teeth before bed. Her fianc
é
. She smiled softly to herself.
She never expected Henry to propose so soon, but she couldn't be happier. She
loved him and wanted to be with him forever. Even though they'd only been
together for four months, they'd known each other almost a year now.

Claire was already
thinking about the kind of wedding she wanted, just something small and simple.
She didn't have a lot of friends or family, so having some big event would be
silly. She also wanted to get married soon; there was no need for a long
engagement.

"So I was
thinking...
”
Henry started,
spitting toothpaste into the sink and rinsing his toothbrush.

"Okay."

Henry put his
toothbrush in the holder and leaned his hands on the counter, his intense green
gaze watching her through the mirror. "I was thinking that since we're
getting married, I should adopt Ethan. That way he doesn't ever have to
question who his father is."

It took a moment for
what Henry said to sink in, and when it did, Claire burst into tears. Claire
covered her face with her hands. Henry pulled her into his arms and kissed the
top of her head.

"Darlin
’
, these are happy tears right?
”
Henry murmured into her hair.

"Yes,
”
Claire hiccupped against his
chest.

Claire got herself
under control and moved out of Henry's embrace. She grabbed a tissue and blew
her nose and dried her face. She looked up at the incredible man standing half
naked in front of her. Claire shook her head; she could hardly believe this was
happening. She never thought she'd be lucky enough to find the love of her
life, let alone a man who loved her son like he was his own.