Finding Ronan’s Heart by Melanie Moreland

Chapter Twenty-Five

Beth

Itried not to take out my sour mood on the customers on Wednesday. Ronan had been right. The principal offered little in the way of help, informing me that they had a zero tolerance for bullying, but Evan had never complained and no one had seen what occurred. I argued that my brother never lied and the principal needed to question the boys. He informed me they came from very good families, and he was certain there was a simple misunderstanding.

“It is slick on the grass. Perhaps Evan’s crutches simply slipped,”he said, his voice condescending. I disliked him immensely. Evan was just another kid. He’d given me little assistance with Evan’s disability, never tried to help or make things easier for him, and always turned a blind eye to my complaints. I had no doubt it was because of who we were. Or, more importantly, were not. I wasn’t rich, influential, or important. Therefore, neither was Evan. It angered me, but that was the only school in the district Evan could attend. Until I was done with school and got a full-time job, living with Paige was the only place we could afford.

Sometimes, life sucked.

Ronan had come in from talking to Evan, carrying two bags of Chinese food. Liam showed up, and dinner was good. Evan even smiled and laughed. After dinner, the two men sat with him again, talking, and Paige and I stayed away, giving Evan the time he wanted with them. I assumed whatever they said encouraged him, and he’d gone to school the last couple of days without complaint, and nothing seemed to happen. Still, I worried.

Earlier that afternoon, I’d gotten a message from Mr. Humphries, asking if I could come to the school tomorrow morning at eleven and meet with him. I was glad it was a light day and I could do my schoolwork from home, so I replied and said yes.

The bell jingled, and I looked up, smiling when I saw it was Ronan. He was alone tonight, and he waited by his booth until I came over and accepted his kiss.

“How’s Evan?”

“Fine. I’m not sure if it bothers me more that it happened or that he has just accepted it,” I admitted. “But his teacher Mr. Humphries asked to see me tomorrow, so I’m hoping he can help in some fashion. He has always been good to Evan.”

He nodded slowly. “Excellent.”

“Hungry?” I inquired with a grin.

He flashed me a grin. “As if you had to ask. Hit me with the special.”

“Coming right up.”

Ronan drove me home but didn’t come in. I knew he didn’t want to make a habit of sleeping over with the kids around, although I was certain neither would be surprised nor object to finding him there. He kissed me long and hard at the front door, telling me he would see me tomorrow. He held me tight, pressing a lingering kiss to my head. “Everything is going to be fine, Beth.”

“Doesn’t feel like it,” I admitted, upset I couldn’t make this better for Evan.

He drew back, touching the end of my nose playfully. “You know, Nan always says it’ll be fine in the end. If it’s not, then it’s not over yet.”

Then he bounded down the stairs and waited until I went inside. I had a feeling he was up to something, but what, I had no idea.

I supposed I would find out soon.

But nothing prepared me for what he had up his sleeve.

* * *

I weaved my way through the busy halls of the school, heading for Mr. Humphries’s room, where he’d asked me to meet him. I recognized many of the kids, who seemed to be headed in the opposite direction, and I was puzzled. They were in Evan’s grade, most of them in his class. I paused at his door, making sure my dress was smooth. I caught sight of myself in the glass window and I wished my hair could be controlled, but I had long given up on that happening. I lifted my hand, knocked, and walked in, surprised to see Evan sitting there. And Ronan. My breath caught as he stood. Dressed in a navy suit, a richly patterned tie, and his shoes glossy under the lights, he looked every inch the rich businessman he was. How I had thought him a trainer or construction worker seemed ludicrous now.

“Ronan?” I asked, confused.

Mr. Humphries stepped forward and shook my hand. “Thanks for meeting me here. I wanted to say hello before the presentation.”

“Presentation,” I repeated.

He nodded. “In the gym. We have a special guest meeting with us today.”

It clicked. Ronan was the special guest. He was going to talk to the school, proving that Evan hadn’t been lying.

“I thought we’d walk down together,” Mr. Humphries added.

“Um, sure.”

Ronan smiled at me with a wink, remaining uncharacteristically silent. He held open the door, waiting until Evan and his teacher walked through. He caught my elbow and bent close to my ear. “See, it wasn’t finished yet.”

I turned and pressed my lips to his. “I love you.”

His smile was wide. “I know.”

We were the last into the gym. Ronan squeezed my arm and followed Mr. Humphries to the stage. He spoke for a moment about the class he was teaching and how excited he had been when a member of the very company they were discussing reached out and offered to come in and talk to the school about their company and what it stood for. He introduced Ronan, who stepped up to the microphone amid the applause in the room. He waved, confident and sure of himself.

“Thanks to Mr. Humphries for allowing me here today. More importantly, I’d like to bring a friend of mine up here with me. He inspires me every day to be a better man. He’s smart, funny, and we have a blast building Lego together. Evan Jones, come on up here, bud.”

All eyes were on Evan as he made his way to the front. I saw the kids turning to one another in disbelief, one small group seemingly especially animated, their heads bent together as they talked to one another. Paige suddenly appeared by my side.

“Did you know?” I asked, my eyes on Evan.

“Liam told me this morning. I hurried over—like I would miss this.” She clasped my arm. “You have no idea,” she breathed out.

Ronan high-fived Evan and turned back to the microphone. “Now, I’m just an architect. I draw the buildings for ABC, and I have a hand in a lot of the BAM work these days. But I think you should hear about the companies and the projects from the men who oversee it all. So, without further ado, kids, I give you—BAM and ABC.”

From the side where I hadn’t noticed, Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox walked to the center. Behind them were the members of ABC—all of them. I gaped at the show of solidarity. Ronan had done this for Evan. For me.

They were a formidable group. The men tall and confident. The women intelligent and well-spoken. It was an impressive sight, and Paige was correct. I had no idea.

I listened as they all talked, starting with Bentley. None talked long, but they spoke of the company, the buildings, their vision. Paul spoke about the green project he was in charge of and answered a few questions. Each company member had insight to offer and kept it entertaining and motivational. It moved to education, to friendship, and by the time Aiden came to the microphone, I knew how it was going to end.

He was tall and strong in front of the kids. He talked of his childhood, meeting the men he, to this day, called his best friends later in life. He spoke about his dyslexia and how it shaped him. How they accepted him and helped him.

“They never looked down on me,” he said. “Life is too short to be a dick,” he said, staring across the sea of upturned faces. “We need to help one another. Be kind. We run our business that way, and we live it too.” He shook his head. “That shit is free, so you need to spread it around.”

I saw Bentley drop his head to his chest with a sigh. Maddox’s shoulders were shaking with unreleased mirth. All of Aiden’s kids were trying not to laugh, but it was perfect. These kids understood that lingo.

Aiden lifted his shoulders, knowing he had crossed a line and not caring. “It’s just as easy to lift a person up as to put them down. Easier, in fact. You’d be shocked how good it makes you feel inside. Remember—how you treat someone reflects on you, not them. Making someone else feel less is not going to help you feel better.”

There was silence in the room.

“Bullying is not cool. Learning, helping, being a decent human being is. Trust me, I know.”

He stepped back, stopping in front of Evan and giving him a high five then a fast hug. He stood next to him, a silent warrior. It occurred to me the entire family was circling around Evan. My heart was full seeing it, and I had to wipe my eyes more than once.

Bentley returned to the microphone and finished off the talk. He thanked the school and the principal for allowing them to break up a school day, then announced they would take questions. Hands went up, and for the next hour, they listened and answered every single one. Never impatient or rushed, they took their time, only cutting it off when signaled to do so, and even then, Aiden snuck in the last hands that were raised. Bentley made one last announcement.

“BAM and ABC Corp have sponsored a help line. If you need someone to talk to, if you’re having problems at home, being bullied, or just need a friendly voice, you can call and talk to someone. It’s open twenty-four hours a day and is completely confidential.” He paused, casting his intense gaze around the room. “No one has to be alone. Pick up the phone and call.” He smiled. “There are handouts on your way out, or ask one of your teachers. They all have the information. Remember what Aiden said.” A smile tugged on his mouth. “Maybe without the cursing. Be kind.”

The members of the company remained where they were as the school filed from the room, talking among themselves. They had applauded loudly at the end, a few whoops and cheers shouted.

I approached the group, unsure what to say, how to say it, or even if I could. The principal stepped in front of me, looking shell-shocked. His forehead glistened with sweat, and his voice was overly friendly.

“Miss Jones,” he began. “I believe we need a private word.”

Ronan appeared by my side. “Later.”

“Of course,” he muttered. “Whenever is convenient.” He paused, obviously hoping for something else, but I remained silent, and he turned and walked away. Ronan led me to his family, and I looked at all of them with gratitude. “Thank you. For what you did for Evan, thank you.”

Liam huffed. “We couldn’t let them get away with calling him a liar.”

“Or hurting him,” Aiden added, his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “Not happening again.”

“The help line was very generous,” Paige said.

Bentley smiled. “We sponsor a lot of help lines and programs. We do it for Aiden and kids like him. So they know they aren’t as alone as it seems.”

His words touched my soul. The stern businessman with a heart of gold. All of them.

“Do you think it will make a difference?” I asked quietly to Ronan.

He grinned. “All the firepower of BAM and ABC claiming Evan as one of ours? Absolutely. I think the little fuckers will think twice about bullying anyone.”

“Ronan,” Bentley hissed. “We’re in a school, for heaven’s sake. With kids. Watch the language.”

“If my dad can do it, so can I,” he protested. “Besides, there’re no kids around.”

“Evan is here,” I pointed out dryly.

“Evan isn’t a kid. He’s family,” Ronan stated firmly, erasing any lingering doubt I had left about our place in his life.

He was all in.

And so was I.

* * *

Ronan took Evan and me to lunch. Liam and Paige disappeared together, and I didn’t ask where they were headed. She deserved a little alone time with him.

Evan sat with Ronan, talking to him, thanking him.

“How did you do this?” I asked.

Ronan smiled. “I contacted Mr. Humphries. Told him who I was and that we wanted to come in and talk to his class. He asked if we’d talk to everyone that he taught since they were all learning about green building and the future. I told him to open it to anyone at the school he wanted, but it had to be fast. He arranged it. I talked to my dad, and he got everyone on board.” He shrugged. “Simple.”

I laughed. “Yes, so simple.”

He leaned forward, his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “It’s not going to solve everything. I know school is almost done for the year, but maybe they’ll think about it over the summer. Come back as decent little humans instead of little shits that like to kick out the crutches of someone struggling. Maybe they’ll think twice before they knock someone down.”

“Maybe they’ll help someone up,” Evan added.

Ronan high-fived him. “That’s the plan.”

I smiled watching them. “What your family did was incredible.”

Ronan met my eyes. “They did it for me. For you and Evan. Because they know how much you both mean to me.”

My throat felt thick, and I could only nod.

Ronan turned to Evan. “I saw your girl. She’s cute. I like the red hair.”

I had spoken with Jenny too. She was a sweet girl, too thin and too serious, but I knew how much Evan liked her. I had a feeling the serious part was due to her life, not her personality.

“What does her mother do?” Ronan asked. “Do you know?”

“She works at a hotel. She works until six every day.” Evan looked sad. “Jenny is alone until she gets home.”

I frowned. “You never mentioned that before, Evan.”

“You have enough to deal with,” he said. “I can’t go home with her because I can’t walk home after. She can’t come with me because she can’t go on the bus.” He shrugged. “Telling you wouldn’t help because I know you’d only worry.”

“What will she do all summer?” Ronan asked.

“Last summer, she stayed home most of the time. She walked to the park sometimes, but her mom was always worried. She went to a couple of free camps, but otherwise, she was on her own.”

“Maybe we can do something this year,” I told him. “We can help. I’ll call her mom.”

“That would be awesome.” He looked at the clock. “I have to get back to school.”

Ronan grabbed the bill. “Okay, bud. Gimme a minute.”

Evan watched him walk away. “He is the best guy, Beth. We’re so lucky.”

“Yeah, we are.”

* * *

After we dropped Evan back at school, Ronan glanced at his watch. “You have a couple of hours until you have to be at work. Are you wanting to go home, or can I keep you?”

“You can keep me if you want.”

“Awesome.”

He drove us to his condo, leaving me in the living room as he went to change. I looked outside at the people on the street below, rushing to get somewhere. To work, home, errands, appointments. The city always seemed busy. I sighed, suddenly tired as the day and the emotions hit me. What Ronan and his family had done for Evan. What a difference Ronan made in my life. Our lives. Evan adored him. He was right. We were incredibly lucky. He gave so much.

What did I have to offer him in return?

Ronan wrapped his arms around me, pulling me back to his chest.

“What are you thinking about? You look so serious.”

“What you did today, Ronan… How can I ever repay you?”

He stiffened. “I don’t expect payment, Beth. That’s not how this works.”

“I can’t compete. I can’t do what you do. You belong to this huge, wonderful family.” I was horrified to feel tears filling my eyes. “Why do you love me? I’m a poor, struggling student with way too many responsibilities. I can barely keep up, and you just keep being more amazing.” I sniffled. “I don’t know where I belong,” I added quietly.

He hugged me back, sitting on his chair and keeping me locked tight to his chest.

“I don’t know where this is coming from, but let’s address it, okay?” he murmured in my ear.

“I love you for many reasons. I don’t give a shit if you’re poor or how many responsibilities you have. You’re strong, capable, talented, smart, and loving. You go to school, look after your brother. Help Paige raise Lucy. You work, study, bake, you look after everyone around you, and you never ask for anything in return.” He shook his head. “You don’t see yourself the way I see you. You have a beautiful soul that draws people to you.”

“You might get tired of—”

He cut me off, turning me so I saw the intense, serious expression on his face. “Your life doesn’t scare me, Beth. If anything, mine should scare you. My huge family, the company, the need I feel for you.” He held my face. “That should scare you. Fuck, it scares me. I have never needed anyone the way I need you.”

“Why?” I whispered. “I’m just me. Plain, chubby, overdone Beth.”

He sat back in shock. “Surely to God you know that isn’t true. You are none of those things.”

I looked away, and he slipped his fingers under my chin. “Today was hard for you, wasn’t it? Letting go of the reins. Letting me and my family step in and take a little responsibility off your shoulders.”

I blinked at his words. Was that why I was feeling so overwhelmed suddenly? So unsure of myself?

He smiled, his voice gentle. “It’s okay to need help. It’s okay to accept help. Especially from me. I want to help you in every way I can, because unlike what you think, you give it right back. You make me feel loved, Beth. Needed. Wanted. Just for me. When you show me this side of you, it shows me how much you trust me. But I need you to understand something.”

I couldn’t look away from his gaze. “What?”

He ran his finger down my cheek. “You are not plain. You are intoxicatingly lovely. Your hair, your face—everything about you pleases me.” He smiled as he traced over the line of freckles on my nose. “Do you know you have a matching line of freckles, just like this, on the back of your neck?”

I shook my head. “No one ever told me that.”

“I don’t think you could see them unless you were looking. I love kissing both. Knowing I discovered it—like my own little secret about you.” He ran his hand along my leg. “You aren’t chubby. You have curves. I love every one of them. The way your waist indents above your hips. Your gorgeous breasts. And your ass.” He dropped his voice. “It’s spectacular.”

He wrapped his hand around mine, pressing it to his erection. “I’m hard just thinking about you, little bird. I can’t fake that.”

“Oh,” I breathed out, curling my hand around him.

He dropped his head for a moment, his breathing getting faster. He lifted his chin, meeting my eyes. “As for being overdone, you are anything but. You are easygoing and wonderful. Your heart is a gift. The fact that you love me is a treasure I will never take for granted.”

He brushed a curl off my cheek. “Whatever brought up these worries, forget them, Beth. I’m yours. I adore everything about you. I want to mesh my life with yours not because I have to but because I want to. Maybe if we share our worlds, both of us will be happier.” He smiled. “I will never get tired of looking after you, because I know you’re doing the same right back to me.” He studied me intently. “As for belonging, I’ll say this. Yes, I have a big family I’m part of. Just like Evan is your brother, so he is part of you. But if you’re wondering where you belong? You’re looking at him. You belong to me. If you’re ever lost and can’t remember your place, look at me. You’re mine.” He cupped my neck, holding me close. “We belong to each other, and together with Evan, we’ll make our own family. That’s where you belong, Beth. With me. Never doubt it, and never forget it.”

Something eased inside my chest. A loosening of doubt I hadn’t known I was carrying broke away and vanished. “I love you,” I whispered. “I can’t imagine my life without you anymore.”

“Good. Because you’re stuck with me.”

He stood, lifting me, and for once, I didn’t worry about how I felt to him. I could sense his love in his touch, feel his strength. It was as if he had been made for me.

And as he laid me on his bed and gazed down at me, I knew.

I had been made for him, too.