26 - Edward and Ted

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The morning of the ball Mia had a knock at her back door. She expected it to be Ted although she hadn't seen him since he had asked her to dance. To her surprise, it was her brother.

"Aidan!"

"Hey.  I thought maybe we could have lunch and then I'd take you to get ready with Sage."

"What's the occasion?" She loved her brother, but they weren't in the habit of going to lunch together without Sage.

"Can't I miss my sister?"

She sighed. Convinced he was up to something, she'd put demands on him. "I'll go to lunch with you, but I want some information first."

"It's only lunch."

"I want to know if Sage is pregnant."

His eyes avoided her. "Why would you think that?"

"I knew it!"

"Knew what?"

"You can't fool me. Spill! Aidan Reilly!"

"No one is supposed to know."

"Does Bea know?" He looked down. "Does Brenna know?" Again he looked down. "Do Mom and Dad know?" This time he shook his head. "You had better tell them or they'll be hurt."

"All right point taken." Apparently since she ambushed him, he decided to do the same for her. "So I heard you saw Derek. What did he want?"

Only one other person knew about Derek's visit. "Why was Edward Calhoun talking to you about me?"

"He was concerned. He didn't think you invited him over and..."

"He was worried about me. The man should worry about his own personal life not mine."

"Mia, he's my friend and you're my sister. Plus, you two are friends."

"Who said that?"

Aidan looked confused. "He did. Aren't you friends?"

"With that man, I have no idea. A faucet goes from cold to hot to cold again less often than Ted."

"He wears a mask, but the real Ted is a great guy."

Mia found it hard not to smirk at the comment about him wearing a mask. Unfortunately Aidan misread her smirk. "You like him!"

She tried to deflect. "What about lunch?"

"Pack up what you need to get ready and Bea said you can stay the night or if you prefer to come home, I'll put you in an Uber."

She left him waiting when she walked upstairs. Should she confide in her brother? He married into Ted's world, but then she realized how crazy she sounded. She loved Ted, and he might even like her, but he would only break her heart. She needed to stop loving him. She loved her apartment, but was contemplating moving.

She hoped he'd forget he promised her a dance, because she still remembered every detail of their first dance so a second may take a lifetime to forget.

Mia saw Ted looking at her with a half smile as she descended the stairs. The man was always thinking about something else. Could his business keep him that preoccupied?

By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, he had disappeared into the crowd. Celia met her and bombarded her with demands including thanking some key donors, including Walter Leonard and Edward Calhoun. She refrained from telling her she had already thanked Mr. Calhoun.

She bit the bullet and approached Mr. Leonard with the beautiful Elaine Calhoun on his arm. She smiled. "Mr. Leonard on behalf of Celia and the foundation, I wanted to thank you for coming tonight and for your generosity."

Elaine said, "Look at you. You almost fit in."

Mia smiled. "Thank you and you make a gorgeous couple."

Truthfully, they didn't because he was not very attractive, but Elaine liked the compliment. She moved away quickly and saw Ted watching her from the corner of her eye. She thanked other guests and finally made her way to Ted.

She smiled at him. "Celia asked me to thank some key contributors. You were on the list, so..."

"I believe you already thanked me, but you promised one dance which I intend to collect."

She nodded and walked away. She hadn't gone far when she found Tori and Sloane. Smiling, she knew she'd enjoy the evening in their company, especially after Tori told her about Sloane calling Ted names at the breakfast table. Eventually, the dancing began, and she wondered when Ted would approach her. She saw him dance with his mother and even Sage. She felt her nervousness increasing. How could she repeat a perfect dance?

It was almost the end of the evening when she watched him make his way to her. His face was Edward's — too serious. He planned to tell her he couldn't dance with her.

He approached her. "Ms. Reilly."

"Mr. Calhoun."

He reached out his hand and handed her a piece of paper then turned and walked away. Her heart sank. He must have changed her mind. She unfolded the paper and in his own hand he wrote, Meet me by the fountain in ten minutes.

Her heart leapt, and she felt it take off like a racehorse. Checking the time, she found a glass of champagne hoping it would calm her nerves. Each minute felt like five. Eventually she retraced the steps she had taken on a different night in a different gown. Could he know? How could he? He probably just didn't want anyone to see him dancing with her.

When she approached the fountain, he was waiting for her. He held out a coin. "Do you want to make a wish?" She nodded and her fingers burned where they touch his hand when retrieving the coin. "Watch for fish!" He added, and she gasped.

She shut her eyes and wished he loved her. When she opened them he was smiling. It was dark, but she could see his face better, because she knew it so well.

His voice was soft. "I have something for you."

He reached into his pocket and placed something on her outstretched palm. It was the gold ribbon from her mask.

"How? When did you know?"

"I fixed your leaking pipe. I saw the mask and knew. For so long I wondered who you were. Please don't run away." He pulled her into his arms.

Mia felt a myriad of emotions, as they danced with her head against his shoulder. It was as good as the first, if not better because of the years of longing. When he loosened his grip, she shook her head.

"What?"

"I can't. It will hurt too much."

"What will?"

"Not being able to be with you. I can't do it a second time. I can't watch you find a woman who's right for you."

"I found her. You're my unicorn. My magical unicorn. I don't care what anyone says. You are meant for me."

"You say that now but your father."

"My father married for love. Deep down he regrets forcing my marriage. He likes you. Mia. I like you. Both of me, Edward and Ted. In fact, Ted is pretty sure he loves you." Mia gasped. He smiled. "What was your wish that first night?"

"To find true love." She knew she was blushing.

"And tonight?"

"For you to love me."

He smiled. "See magic fountain and magic unicorn."

Before she could respond his lips captured hers. He tasted and smelled exactly as she remembered. His kiss was full of passion and she had to lean against him for support.

"I love you, Mia Reilly."

"I have loved you for over six years Ted Calhoun."

"I want to dance with you in public for everyone to see."

"You mean all the people who told me you would use me until you had enough and..."

"Who aside from my ex?"

"Taylor, even my ex."

"Why was he there?"

"I don't know. I think he was looking for forgiveness either that or he was having second thoughts about being engaged. I didn't care enough to find out. He was never my wish." Thinking about Derek's visit she added. "You know I love your son."

Ted nodded. "He loves you. Leonard doesn't want a child. If she stays with him, then I think my champ will live with me most of the time. Are you alright with that?"

Mia smiled. "You deserve to raise your son."

"I brought him to make a wish. I think he wished for cookies every day."

Mia laughed. "That could be arranged. You know when I brought Brenna, she hit a fish and the fountain brought her and Noah together."

"I was with Sage when she made the wish that sealed her fate with Aidan."

"I thought they were love at first sight."

"Aidan was. Sage was confused."

Mia didn't want to think about Sage's secrets. She was in Ted's arms.

He kissed her again and then took her hand and led her out of the garden. She stopped short. "You aren't just telling me what you think I want to hear."

"I love you. When I brought little Ed, I wished to find you, the woman I kissed. I'm not losing you now."

"You don't know me."

"Yes, I do. I've been getting to know you for months and the rest I've learned from everyone else who loves you."

"Who?"

"Everyone who knows you. Tori, Mrs. Rodriguez, Sage, Aidan. Need I go on?"

They reached the doors and stepped inside. Ted pulled her in his arms. She looked up at him and smiled. In the light, she saw his gray-blue eyes.

"You have Ted's eyes."

He smiled. "I threw them away. I am only Ted from now on."

He pulled her close, and they danced for two songs. Mia saw people staring. Some had smiles like Tori and Sloane and Sage. Others were glaring like Taylor and Elaine.

Grace Calhoun was smiling, but Mia wasn't sure if her smile was for her son or for Elaine who was obviously unhappy with the scene Ted created by dancing with Mia.

"How long do you have to stay? You can ride home with me."

"In your truck?"

"No, I remembered to hire a car."

Mia's belly dipped with excitement. She was going home with Ted and this time she'd be in the backseat with him.

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