by Cee, DW
“Anyhow, Donovan came to his senses and moved his life to Europe for me, and soon after, I ended my relationship with Michael. After a tumultuous few weeks, we began our courtship, he de-virginized me and impregnated me, and married me all within weeks. He worked fast.”
“Yeah, you did. Was it hard when you first married?” I asked both Taylors.
“It was a dream when Donovan would let me breathe.” Our faces must have had a huge question mark on them. She explained, “He was crazy overprotective. But, he understood quickly and loosened up, at times. You see that hut with the gigantic slide from the second story into the ocean?”
“Yeah. We noticed it coming in. We commented that’s the perfect room for this island.”
“Well, Chloe, you’re in luck!” Laney grinned. “That was our honeymoon suite and our second honeymoon love nest for the next five days. We can have a contest to see who can come down the fastest.”
“So Donovan rented that hut for you so you can have some fun?”
“Exactly, Chloe. At first, he wouldn’t let me do anything but sit. Once he realized how stifled I was, he adjusted. I guess the theme of our marriage is adjusting to the curve balls life throws at us.”
“Examples?” Michael asked.
“Well, there was you.” Donovan answered. “Once I realized what you had to offer Delaney, I needed to change tactics.”
“This is news. Explain, Hubby.”
“Before I chased you down in Europe, Roland told me that Michael was not only rich, titled, and respected, but he was an all-around good guy. Roland was impressed with Michael. That woke me up to the fact that there were other men who could love the woman I wanted to marry just as deeply as I could. I wasn’t as great as I thought I was; there were others, possibly, even better than I.”
“No!” Michael kidded.
“We were also crazed with the babies arriving as I started my second year of med school. I don’t know how we survived those years. If it wasn’t for our parents and extended family, we couldn’t have made it.”
“It’s beyond understanding how you could become a doctor, raise three kids, support a husband in his successful law practice, and still be a wonderful mother and wife.” I truly admired Laney. “You are amazing.”
“Pshaw! I’m not amazing. Look at Emily with four kids and a culinary degree. Bee has two kids and a very successful company she started from ground up. Jane has three boys and she’s the other half of the law firm and Max’s biggest cheerleader. We all have a role and we play our parts with joy.”
“Can we talk privately?” I asked Laney abruptly before turning to Michael and mouthing, “We’ll be right back.” Plucking Laney out of her seat, she had no choice but to follow.
“Where’s the fire and what’s the secret?” Laney asked when we were far enough away.
“I feel terribly silly, but I want to apologize to you.”
“For what?”
“All these years, I harbored ugly, ugly sentiments toward you. I don’t know if anyone ever told you that the day you met Michael at Heathrow was also the day he was supposed to pick me up from the same said airport.”
“No!”
“Yep. At the time, we were only friends, but the way we were headed, I thought a reconciliation was possible. Instead of becoming Michael’s girlfriend, he and I didn’t speak to one another for months. First, he was too busy courting you and then he was too busy getting over you. I saw him for the first time at the Bennington Villa when Bee, Nick, Jane, and Max were his guests.”
“Oh my gosh! Seriously? What a jerk! No wonder you were pissed with me.”
“No need to hash out all my long ago grievances. What I wanted to say is that I’m sorry I ever felt anything but pride for calling you my friend.”
“We are not just friends, Chloe. We are family in heart and will soon be family in name. The matriarch of the Reid family just became a Bennington. As soon as you say, ‘yes,’ a party will be thrown in both your honors.”
“Thank you, Laney. I’m happy you’re here with us.”
“It’s our pleasure, Chloe. Now, I’ll race you to the slide!”
Laney Taylor was off and running.
Michael: Celebration of A Genius Mind
“Amsterdam, too?” Chloe asked the three of us as we were on our way to landing at Schipol Airport. “I love Amsterdam. This has to be one of the most romantic cities.”
“I love it here, too.” Chloe and Laney gazed out the windows at all the canals. “This is where Donovan brought me when he began the chase.”
“Oh and what a merry chase that was,” he answered with heavy sarcasm. “I uproot myself so I can woo a woman who decides to move back home because I pissed her off.”
Laney groaned. “I’ll never hear the end of this.”
“What did you do to upset her, Donovan?”
“Thank you for asking, Your Grace.” The sarcasm continued. “I went to Germany to court a potential buyer and to buy my future bride a brilliant pink diamond!” The indignation in his voice had me in stitches.
“Oh yes. I remember that conversation where she told you to screw yourself. I believe Rubes, Niles, Laney, and I were on our way to Stonehenge?”
My comment pissed off an already irritated Donovan Taylor. It was too easy and too much fun to upset this man. Laney’s comment made the situation worse. “I think it was Bath, Michael. Stonehenge was hours before. Do you still have that Rolls Royce convertible? Or was it a Bentley? Or are they one in the same?”
Before I could answer, Donovan roared, “Do I get to finish my story?”
“Oh dear. I think we’ve upset my husband. Michael, do stop reminiscing with me.” As perturbed as he was, Donovan couldn’t help finding his wife adorable. He leaned over and kissed her.
“So my woman left me, enrolled in med school, and started living her life without me. She’s as bull-headed as they come, but I wouldn’t have her any other way.” Donovan’s love for his wife was loud and clear. It made me feel good to know that Laney had found a good man.
“What’s the plan here, Gentlemen?” My soon-to-be bride asked with great enthusiasm.
“Before I answer that, I need to ask if any of the places we’ve visited so far strike your fancy as a wedding location.”
Chloe watched and waited—for what, I didn’t know. When the expected words? comments? reactions? didn’t happen, she shook her head no. “As much as I loved every single location, it doesn’t feel like our place. Sorry. Am I being a pain, Michael?”
“Not in the least. I want you to be happy. I want you to find that perfect place you want to have your dream wedding, with all our families and friends.”
So the next two days, we went around Amsterdam visiting beautiful churches and party venues. The Taylors were great help and a fun addition. Watching Laney and Donovan was like watching a slapstick comedy at times. Maybe it was the age difference—there was a generation gap in their ways of thinking, often.
For myself, I couldn’t thank them enough for encouraging my future bride to take that final step and marry me, her childhood sweetheart. I was grateful to all the couples who had come to our aid, and to the many more who would do the same. By example, they were convincing my future bride how wonderful marriage could be.
Since our first night in Japan, I knew Chloe believed what I understood to be true; we were meant to create a family. That night felt like the first of forever and it solidified what I’d always believed. We had a connection like no other. We had always enjoyed sex. Hell, who didn’t enjoy sex? With Chloe, though, it wasn’t just sex. Every act was a celebration of love.
I’d come to realize, understand, and accept that I’d always been in love with Chloe as she had been with me. We grew up loving one another. That never changed, regardless of the people in our lives. There was a period I thought Laney Reid would replace Chloe. Then I replaced her with Alexandra and Victoria. As I finally matured, I understood that n
o one could break our bond. Chloe and I were meant to be husband and wife. I’d declare my love to her soon and we’d be wed at her destination of choice.
“Where’d the ladies go?” I looked up from my daydreaming and it was just me and Donovan at the lunch table.
“They went shopping for who knows what.” Donovan shook his head. “Knowing Laney, she’ll buy a ton of everything for the kids, especially our precious daughter.”
I chuckled. “Do the boys ever complain that you favor Lilah?”
“They have such healthy egos, they don’t even notice.”
“Like father, like sons, huh?”
“Exactly.” Donovan raised his mug of beer and I joined him in the toast. “Have you decided where you’re getting married?”
“Chloe hasn’t, but I have. When you get back home, I need to ask you for a favor.”
“Sure. What do you need? Auntie Bee tells me you have her designing a dress already.”
“Yep. It was designed, approved, and now we’re discussing fabric.”
“Talk about a hands-on groom.”
“I was told you planned most of the wedding by yourself while selling Roland’s company.”
“Damn.” Donovan went back to his beer. “I should’ve just had a simple beach wedding. I wanted everything perfect for my princess. I lost too many nights of sleep worrying about the damn Cinderella carriage.”
I laughed. “The carriage was a sight to behold—though it couldn’t hold a candle to your bride.”
“I knew you were there. Now aren’t you glad I married Laney? You see, I saved you from yourself.” He laughed at his lame reasoning. “Chloe is the woman for you. When a man finally opens his eyes, there are no doubts.”
“You’re right. I am glad you stopped me from moving any further with Laney, and Chloe is a dream come true.”
“You want your ring back?” I wanted not to understand what he was saying, but neither of us was stupid. “From the looks of it, that gimmel ring had to have been in your family for centuries. I don’t think Laney should wear it, but I also don’t know if you should give it to your bride after having given it to another woman. Shit, Michael. You’ve created a damn mess.”
Donovan was right. I gave away something that should’ve been saved for my bride. “Oh well, I’ll have to compensate with a bigger diamond.” I tried to make light of the situation.
“I can be such a genius at times!” Donovan suddenly declared. Talk about a healthy ego... “I have a brilliant idea.”
“Another one?” Two words filled with heavy sarcasm had Donovan wondering if he should divulge his brilliant idea.
“You’re lucky I’m in such a good mood. The first time I came to Amsterdam with Delaney, she gave me a hell of a runaround, but this was also where she first admitted she loved me. We come here as often as we can because it holds such fond memories for us.”
“Is that your brilliant idea? To rub it in that the woman who told you she was in love with you, was also the same woman who had a boyfriend—namely me!?!”
“Sensitive...” Donovan and I were having a good laugh over this conversation. “All right. Here’s my idea. Why don’t you leave the center ring with my wife, especially since it’s engraved with her initials, and have a new center ring made to symbolize your relationship with Chloe? Don’t you English do useless things like that? Family crest. Motto. Long, unintelligible words to a fight song—come up with something that’s uniquely you and Chloe. As soon as I get home, I’ll express mail the two outside rings.”
“Damn, Donovan. You are a genius. I’m glad we’re no longer on opposite sides.”
“Stick with me young padawan, and you will learn much.”
“Fantastic. I’ll get on that. Maybe while the ladies are shopping, we can visit a few high end jewelry stores and they can send us in the right direction.”
“Why don’t you ask the duke about his jeweler? With all the sparklers he brought with him, he must have a trusted man, woman, or army.”
“I really had no chance with Laney, did I? With your savvy, you’ll conquer the world.”
“Thank you. Thank you.” He stood up and took a bow. “Since I contributed all the brain power, why don’t you contribute your financial power and pay for lunch?”
“That’s the least I can do.” I put out my hand and said, “Thanks, Donovan.”
“You’re welcome, Michael. Now let’s go see about a piece of jewelry for my woman. I need a little incentive for her to give into my persuasion.”
“And what would that be?”
“Another baby. I’m doing my damnedest to create another one while we’re out here. She’s doing her damnedest to thwart my attempts. I need to put her in a good mood.” I chuckled at his scheming. “If I were you, I’d make sure your woman wasn’t on the pill. You needed to start trying for a baby like yesterday.”
“What the hell would I do without you, Donovan? After our trip to the jeweler, why don’t we part for the day?” We shook hands and I added, “See you in the restaurant for a late breakfast?”
“First good idea you’ve had all day, Your Grace.”
How did a once-enemy turn into my new best friend?
Chloe: Conjugal Celebration
“I’m pretty sure I know where we’re off to next,” I mentioned in between the barrage of kisses Michael was placing all over my body.
“Yeah? Where?” he mumbled.
“To the Bennington Villa with Max and Jane, huh?”
“Smart wench.”
“Horny wench or smart wench?”
“Yes.” That was the end of talking for a long while.
I didn’t know what had gotten into Michael but it has been nonstop sex since Amsterdam. He even changed our plane to one with a bedroom. Not that I was complaining, but I needed to know what was going on.
“Um...Michael...?” Concentrating was difficult when Michael started going south again.
“Yeah?”
“First of all, you need to come up for air. I need a break and so do you.”
“I don’t, but if you must, we can resume at the villa.”
“What’s going on here?”
“Which part are you asking about? I thought I explained we’re on the hunt for a wedding location. Your every wish is my command. After waiting till our mid-thirties to marry, I think we deserve everything our hearts desire.”
“No, I’m talking about the marathon sex.”
“You have complaints? I’m not performing up to standard or expectations?” he kidded.
“You are going above and beyond expectations and standards, Michael Bennington. If you were any more capable, I’d die mid-orgasm.”
“We couldn’t have that now, could we?” He landed a few more well placed kisses. “What about feeling good don’t you like?”
“There’s nothing I don’t like about feeling good, but it’s more than our usual. I think I’ve had more orgasms in the past three days than I’ve had in like ten years.”
“I’m trying to make up for lost time.” Somehow, I didn’t think that was the answer.
“All right. Spill it. What’s really going on?”
“Are you on any form of birth control?”
That was a random and very personal question; it was also a topic of discussion long overdue.
“I am not. I haven’t been with anyone in I don’t know how long. There was no need to control anything.”
“How would you feel about standing proud and pregnant at the altar?”
“What altar? Will I be standing at an altar before I die?”
Michael wasn’t amused. “Are you still not convinced where my heart is right now?”
“I see it, feel it, but I haven’t heard it. I prefer not to beg for it.”
He was even less amused. “Let’s talk about babies first and feelings later. You do want at least one baby?” He was actually worried I might not want kids.
“
I want more than one baby. You do want more than one baby?” I asked in the same tone.
“You can be barefoot and pregnant as many times as you like, Chlo-No. What I want to know is whether you want to be barefoot and pregnant now. We’re both getting along in age and this was something we should have done five years ago. Do you agree?”
“I do agree, but I’m concerned about being pregnant in my wedding pictures. I don’t want to have to explain that to my kids.”
Michael couldn’t contain the laughter. “I think between the next two locations, we’ll be married.”