33 Forgiveness

{P.O.V. Jennifer Ross-Ryans}

A Few Months Later - March...

These last few months have been amazing, and they have had their challenges with Kendrick and the baby. Why Kendrick? Simple really Kendrick is still a hard man to understand sometimes. Why the baby? Because pregnancy isn't as easy as some believe it is. Pregnancy has a few challenges of its own. Other than that, the baby is just fine. Another thing that has happened during these months my B&B is done. By done, I mean all built and decorated on the inside. The timing couldn't have been better. With spring approaching, people will want to get out and go on vacations or even honeymoons. Also because my due date is May 30th, and soon my baby will be here. I want to get the B&B up going before she comes.

That where I am now at my B&B, making sure the inventory is stocked and ready to go for opening day, which is on April 1st, and that is in a week and a half sitting at my desk. My front desk guy and my cook come in.

"Everything in the food pantry, fridges, and freezers are ready, Mrs. Ryans, along with the menus for opening week." Chef Loius says.

"That fantastic what about the rooms and the front desk?" Praising my chef and asking my front desk man.

"All the rooms are stocked along with the housekeeping closet. The front desk is ready to go as well. the housekeeping has the honeymoon cabins left to clean, and they will have that done by the end of the week, mam." Mr. Kanes says

"Perfect. Has anyone seen Miss Fredrickson? I need her report on the horse barn."

"I saw her riding one of the horses." Mr. Kanes tells me.

"Thank you both. If everything is ready, you both may go and finish what you were doing." Both of them say goodbye and leaves my office. Getting up out of my chair, I go outside to find Miss Fredrickson. Finding her inside the barn, she was brushing a horse.

"Mrs. Ryans, what can I do for you?" Miss Fredrickson asks.

"I need your weekly report on the inventory." Telling her.

"Of course, everything is stock except we will need some more grain. I got that order, and it will be here by the end of the week. "

"Perfect, and the vet came by and gave them exams?"

"Yes, they all have their exams, and there are healthy and are ready for riding."

"Wonderful. That is all I needed to know for now. I will let you get back to what you were doing."

Leaving the barn and walking back to the B&B, a man walked out of the building and was looking around, and when his eyes landed on me, it made my skin crawl. It made me remember the night he forced that kiss upon me.

"Carson, what are you doing here?" Asking the man

"I came to see you. I wanted to apologize for my actions at the charity ball."

"Well, that isn't necessary. Please leave."

"It is necessary I was told false information about your marriage, and I thought I could be the knight in shining armor that could save you. I believed that if I kissed you that you would realize what we had and would want to have it back as it did. I let old feelings and memories get the best of me, and I am truly sorry." Looking at my watch, it was almost 5 p.m.

"It all in the past. Please, I need you to leave."

"Please, Jenna, don't hate me for what I did."

"I don't hate you. But I don't want to be around you anymore either."

"Can't leave without knowing that we are okay?"

"We're fine, and all is forgiven, but you need to leave. Kendrick will be here any minute now, and he really doesn't like you. I really don't want him breaking your noise again or do anything worst."

"Alright, I get the message but answer me this one question. Does he make you happy and treat you right?"

"Yes, he does." Telling him with a huge smile on my face, just thinking of Kendrick. Carson nods his head.

"I'm glad. Well, I guess this is goodbye."

"Goodbye, Carson." He walks away to his car, and good timing to a black car pulls up, and a man got out of the back of the car. He was wearing a dark black suit, dark red tie, and a white shirt.

"What was Mr. Jackson doing here?" Kendrick asks me with a hint of tense in his voice.

"Apologizing about what happened at the charity ball."

"Hmm.."

"What?"

"I don't like the guy," Kendricks says honestly.

"I know." Wrapping my arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around my lower back. Placing my lips on his, he kisses me back. After kissing for a few minutes, I could feel his body relax. pulling my lips from his. "I gotta get my purse, and then we can go home."

"Alright, hurry, I made us some dinner reservation."

"Alright." Giving him a quick kiss, I go to grab my purse.

[P.O.V. Kendrick Ryans]

The Second Week Of April...

The day of Jennifer B&B's opening went well. Many people complimented many things about the place and the staff. There one thing that has been worrying me since it has opened that she will be overworking herself. Especially with how close she is to her due date. Because of this worry, we both agree that she will only work from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 pm. just until the baby is here.

It's a Saturday, and Jennifer is at the B&B doing a few things. While waiting for her to get home, I am in the backyard throwing a ball for Rhea while Duke laid on the ground next to me. Duke pops his head up and starts to bark and wag his tail. Looking behind me to see what he was barking at, my father walked towards me while holding something in his hand. It was surprising to see him here. This is the third time he has been to my house.

"What are you doing here, dad?" Asking him.

"I came to talk to you, Kendrick."

"About what?" Rhea drops the ball at my feet. Picking it up, I throw it for her. My dad stands next to me and gives a Duke a small pet.

"I don't want to fight Kendrick. I am sure we both are tired of fighting with each other."

"Just tell me what you want, dad."

"I have been doing a lot of thinking from our last conversation. I don't want to lose the chance of meeting my granddaughter, and neither do I want to lose my oldest son. I know I am a hard man to live with as well as to be around. I was taught the things I have been trying so hard to put on you. You remind me quite a bit of myself, Kendrick, as Nathanial reminds me quite a bit of your mother... When I was younger, about when I was Nate's age, I to fell in love with a low-class woman. My father was against it; he knew that this lower case woman was using me for my riches, and he didn't want me to get hurt. I didn't care what he said, and I wouldn't believe him, so I kept rebelling. The short version is my father was right, and I learned my lesson. I didn't want you to get hurt, Kendrick. I thought by insulting her, and she would show her true colors to you. But in the end, I was wrong. She nothing like the lower class woman I met. What I am saying, son, I apologize for the way I have treated Jennifer... I was also taught that women couldn't run companies that they were meant to stay home to attend to the house and children. That and it was the Ryans legacy to have a firstborn heir, not an heiress, to run the companies. You are right when you said it is the 21st century, and women are all doing all things like this. I apologize for what I said about your daughter running the company..."

"Dad..."

"Let me finish.." Keeping my mouth shut. "Most of all, in our conversation, you mention that I wasn't proud of you. That you believed you were a shame to me and the Ryans' name. Well, your wrong, Kendrick. I am most proud of you, and your not a shame to me or the family name. In fact, your twice the man I ever was. I gave you the companies to take over, but I never officially let you. I think it is time we made it officially yours." He hands me the folder in his hand, grabbing my reading glasses out of my pocket and putting them on. Opening the folder, it was the deeds and contracts to the family company.

"Dad..I.." I didn't even know what to say to him.

"All you have to do is sign and make it officially yours. Then when your daughter old enough, they will be hers if that is what you choose."

"Thank you, sir."

"Kendrick?!" I could hear Jennifer yelling for me. Looking back at the sliding door, she stood there. She looks beautiful with her hair waving as the light breeze passed through it.

"Get it signed, and I will see you guys tomorrow for dinner." My Father says.

"Yes, sir." He nods his head and pats me on the back, and takes his leave. On his way, he stops in front of Jennifer and says something while holding her hand. After few secs Jennifer smiles, and he leaves.

"What was that about?" Jennifer asks.

"He gave me legal ownership of the company. As well apologize for what he said about you and the baby."

"Congrats, babe, and it also explains why he just apologized to me."

"..Yea... How was work?" Changing the subject. Taking her hand, we go inside while she tells me about her day.