Ruin The Wedding (The Murphy Brothers #1)

𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

A couple of months passed by since their phone call. It was the end of the summer, things were different and life had continued as if nothing bad had happened.

Juliet had turned three months old and so far there hadn't been anything serious changes in her health besides an ear infection and a little bit of fever which was why they stayed in the hospital for a couple of days again.

On the other hand, Aurora had become a more and more stubborn, temperamental toddler who knew what she wanted and didn't settle down for anything else. He loved that about her and wished that she would never lose that spark.

They had continued their arrangement with Charlie's parents who took turns to babysit the children five days a week - sometimes four if either of them had a day off - while she worked which had, surprisingly, benefited everyone and not only Charlie. He had enjoyed watching as she slowly but surely started accepting help.

Charlie clearly loved her work, she had confessed that it was everything she had wanted to do since she was about fourteen and now she was doing it. The smile on her face made him smile like a maniac.

One day she had even admitted that she dreamed of opening her own tattoo shop one day and he had immediately offered her help - both financial and practical help such as looking for a place to rent - and she had stopped him.

She had wanted to do it all alone without anyone's help in her own speed and while it was slower that way, Fabian couldn't help but admire her determination. And although he would have given her millions of dollars in a heartbeat if she had only accepted that, now his parents wouldn't start talking about her being a gold digger again.

Not that accepting his money would make her a gold digger. In fact, he would much rather make her take it than make her work nonstop for years but she had her pride and he had to respect that.

Slowly but surely, his parents had started to accept her and the girls. Well, maybe not accept but at least they didn't speak badly about her every time they talked. One day his mother had even asked about how the girls were doing, meaning Aurora and Juliet. It seemed that while she had trouble accepting Charlie, she had a soft spot for her children.

As soon as he and Charlie talked on the phone about what had happened with his parents and Nora, Fabian had shouted at his parents and cursed them to the hell and back for doing such a thing behind his back.

"I'm telling you, you either accept Lottie and the girls or you'll lose me as your son. No more tricks or other women or other bullshit. I mean, seriously? Did you think that I would magically love Nora after being tricked there? I'm not playing around. So what's it gonna be?" Fabian had demanded, standing in their kitchen and looked at them without blinking as if he was the owner of the house.

His father frowned, looking like he was going to fight back and lose his oldest son while doing it but then his mother grabbed him by the hand. Fabian looked in silence as she squeezed her husband's hand, looked at him in the eyes and nodded.

"We're sorry for how we've behaved in the past and I can't apologize enough for it. We can only wish that you and your girlfriend will forgive us one day. Please tell her that we're sorry," she said, looking like she had trouble getting the words out of her mouth. Fabian's father nodded, agreeing with her but didn't say anything.

But it was a start. One day they might even smile at Charlie.

They had continued their lives that way, both adults working while taking care of children together and yet still living separately.

Fabian felt guilty for working so much and for leaving early in the morning and coming back in the evening when Aurora and Juliet were sleeping already. It was the same problems that he had with Nora but much to his surprise, she was only understanding and patient.