As Ainsley met Ian's team, she tried to ignore all the reasons she was stressed. She hadn't fully recovered from being sick and could easily go to sleep at eight every night. She enjoyed chatting with Ellen, one of the few women. Ainsley smiled because she was no nonsense like Nancy. It was cute how she mothered Ian, but said she was too young to be his mother in the next breath. Ainsley could see the result of fostering a team.

She sat up a little when Xander walked in. He looked good, but Ian's shoulder against her felt right. Her biggest regret about kissing him was the germs. After all, she had kissed countless men, when she was single.

Ian leaned into her neck. "Is that him?"

She nodded and watched him meet a petite girl with long straight mane of brown hair. Watching a blind date turned out to be more entertaining than having one. As Ian's team left one by one to their wives and whomever else, Xander and his date ordered a second round, which was always a good sign.

Ian pointed towards Xander's table. "Did you want to pull up a chair?"

She snickered. "No, but it's going well." She stifled a yawn.

"Let's go. You're tired and I'm hungry."

She winked. "That's a problem."

He chuckled. "I meant food. You need sleep."

She could argue but he was right. They had the entire weekend. "What are we eating?"

"Leftovers. Quick and easy."

She winked. "Sounds dirty."

He nuzzled her neck. "Don't start." She felt his laughter vibrate off her skin. As she looked up, Xander winked at her. She waved. His date turned to look.

"We've been spotted. Let's say hello."

Ian sighed. "I'll be nice."

The last of his team were two men having their own conversation. Ian said, "Bye, guys. Have a good weekend."

They waved and Ian followed close behind as she walked to her friend's table. "Fancy seeing you here."

He smiled. "It's nice to see both of you. This is Alison. Ainsley and..."

"Ian. We're leaving. Somehow I picked up a nasty bug and I'm still recovering."

Xander frowned but waved as Ian led her out. "He found your replacement."

"What?" Ainsley stopped abruptly.

"Short and has an 'A' name."

She laughed. "You're insane and jealous."

Ainsley rested her head against his shoulder on the train. Then she went to feed Gunther and change. When she entered his apartment, he had the food warmed. Once he sat down, his face tensed.

"What is it?" Anxiousness gripped her. She ignored similar looks and hadn't let him tell her about the jerk.

"My father..." Not what she expected. "... sent a summons. Family brunch tomorrow at his house. My grandparents are there."

"Family? Entire family?"

"Yup. Both Gillespie bros."

"But also Brooke. It's fine she'll protect me."

Ian rolled his eyes. "At my expense."

Ainsley felt her insides churn. "Your father knows the truth."

"About Xander?"

She nodded. "Everything."

Ian nodded. "He knows I messed up big time, and you took me back. Don't worry. He likes you."

She yawned. "I need sleep."

"I'll tuck you in."

Her heart melted. Never had she expected him to take such good care of her. Morning came, and she woke to Ian asleep next to her. He had rubbed her back as she drifted off. If he got out of bed, she slept through it. She snuggled in and fell back to sleep only to wake when he stirred.

"Mornin. What time s'it?"

She looked. "Delivery in an hour."

"Good." He reached up and caressed her cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"I think so. This thing walloped me."

"We can take it easy this weekend and next week is only three days."

"Thanksgiving might be exhausting."

Ian groaned. "You were the calm one."

"My mother is always trying."

Ainsley stifled Ian's laugh with her lips. She didn't want to think of anything but the warm man in the bed.

While Ian went for the order, she looked at her phone. She needed to shower after they put the food away.

She smiled at Xander's text. Thanks for asking, my date went great. I didn't mention my mother.

She replied. Don't bait and switch.

He sent laughing emojis, but she had been serious. Ian looked different from how I expected.

It was her turn to smile. Not like you.

After a pause, he sent another text. Are you okay? I fully recovered. I'm not tired at all.

She frowned just as Ian walked in. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Xander had a nice date." She tapped her thumbs. I'm overworked too. While Ian watched her, she put her phone down. "He liked you."

Ian smirked and shook his head. "I hope his date works out, because he likes you."

Ainsley kissed his cheek. "Don't worry. He wants the picket fence and kids."

They worked together like a well-oiled machine. She felt equally at home as in her own tiny kitchen. When she finished, she pointed to the door. "I have to go make myself beautiful."

"You're beautiful already."

She laughed as she walked out the door. She had a bedhead and dark shadows around her eyes. Hopefully, she could catch up on her sleep over the weekend. Still, she had slept ten hours the night before. Xander wasn't exhausted. Was something else wrong with her? Stress?

Ian tried to convince her she was the better candidate, but she didn't want to take her foot off the gas and rest on her laurels. That was Henry's style. She almost felt sorry for him. He was so convinced he had the job he'd be shocked if she won. Ansley would be extremely disappointed if it was Henry, but wouldn't move to Alaska. Only because Ian wouldn't leave his family and she was attached to Brooke.

Ainsley dressed differently to go to brunch with Ian's family than her own. She passed over her jeans for nice pants and a sweater. The forecast was for cold temperatures and flurries. She picked a pair of ankle boots; her legs were too short for long ones like Lilli wore. They had a small heel so she could walk.

Ian knocked on her door wearing his work clothes. She tugged on his scarf and kissed his lips taking in his just shaved scent. "Are we walking?"

"No time. It's best not to give anyone ammunition by being late."

She laughed. "Only Violet would accuse me of being late because I was having sex."

"My uncle, Aunt, and father would have no problem watching me blush."

"It's okay." She squeezed his hand.

"My nana is there."

Ainsley laughed. "Poor Ian."

He pulled on her hand. "It would be you too." She stopped laughing.

David and his family hadn't arrived yet. Andrew met them in the hall. "I'm happy to see you both."

Ainsley smiled. Andrew's warm eyes eased her discomfort. She had expected frail grandparents like hers had been. Nana Gillespie was spry as she jumped up and hugged Ian. Ainsley wasn't ready for a hug, but nana gave her a squeeze. Pop didn't hug, but shook Ian's hand. Both looked healthy like they spent time on a tennis court.

Ian looked around. "Where's Margot?"

Andrew cleared his throat. "She'll be here."

Nana said, "She's staying at her place. I'm not stupid." She pointed at Ian.

Ian looked around. "What did I do?" She shook her head causing Ian to squirm like a child who cut into a just baked cake.

"Mom, Margot wanted to let us visit." Andrew looked at Ian.

"That was nice of her but don't hide what you're up to because of me."

Ian winked. "Nana, I never heard about how you learned about me."

"Oh, for goodness' sake. You still act like a boy then I look at you and wonder how you got so old. I remember thinking I was too young to have a grandbaby. Then I had to wait twenty-five years for the next one. Where are they?"

"David texted. Rose had to go check on a patient, they'll be here."

Ian sat next to Ainsley and flung his arm around her. "Before Brooke steals you."

Andrew laughed. "Brooke loves Ainsley."

"She needs a cousin. What a handsome couple, you'll make beautiful babies."

"Nana! I don't even want a baby. Neither of us do."

"You'll change your mind. Your uncle did."

Ian looked at his father. "Did Uncle David not want kids?"

"No, it was Rose's career."

Ainsley watched the interaction, like a movie, glad the heat wasn't directly on her.

"I assume you have a career. I watch the news about men taking advantage of women. In my day, it happened all the time."

Ian squeezed Ainsley's shoulder. "Nana, companies go to great lengths to train employees."

"It was the sexual revolution, all the career girls were on the pill."

Ainsley looked down. Was she supposed to admit she had been taking a pill every night since she was seventeen? She froze and felt the blood rush from her face.

For two days, she was too sick to get out of bed. She excused herself and went to the bathroom. Once alone she opened the calendar on her phone. It was day thirty. She was late, but she also took a real pill on day twenty-nine. Occasionally, on nights she drank too much when she was younger she would take it in the morning, but she had never missed pills before. She had never missed a whole day before.

Sweat formed under her arms as she googled. Should she take her last real pill? Should she take a pregnancy test? Ainsley had never needed one in her life. What would she tell Ian? She couldn't stay hidden. As she used the bathroom, she hoped for blood, but there was none. Convinced her tiredness could only mean one thing, she pasted on a smile and left the bathroom.

Brooke ran to her. "Ainsley!"

They hugged. She tried to focus her thoughts away from the choices she would have to consider. Ian looked at her with raised brows. She nodded and walked over to him. When his arm went around her, she leaned into him. As she felt his support she heard the comments all around them. Look. So cute. Perfect couple.

Perfect was a tall order. They had proven how imperfect they were. Her mind played in a loop. No more secrets. She had to tell him. They would face it together.

Just when things were going well ⭐️⭐️⭐️