by Ewing, A. B.
“I know I shouldn’t worry, but I can’t help it. I want this to be a success. This new wing at the hospital will be able to help so many grieving mothers.” Circling, she gathered her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Raphael, for doing this for me, for helping me to help these women. Sean, too, has already done so much.”
Gazing down at her beautiful face, sadness clouded his eyes as that familiar guilt snuck in, “I was not there to provide the support you needed, my sweet, but I hope to do my best now. This fundraiser to construct the new wing at Mercy West Hospital is only the beginning.”
His hand moved forward to cover her belly once again. Sensing his concern Dahlia assured him, “Don’t worry, Raphael. I will be more careful this time.” Her hand covered his. “I know you are worried about us, but please don’t be. We are fine.”
Her words made sense but still he worried. Losing their son had almost destroyed her…destroyed them. He prayed that she would never have to go through that again. “I know, my sweet.” Placing a kiss on her lips, he detangled himself from her, giving her some space to finish dressing, but not even space could calm his raging testosterones.
“I spoke with Constance today.” She was saying.
Trying to concentrate, he looked on as she continued to fidget with the earrings. “How is she?”
“She is doing fine. Natasha is helping her get settled in.” She informed him.
“That is good,” he responded absent mindedly. This woman did not know the power she held over him. Still unable to decide on which earrings to wear, she stood with both at her ears, her teeth worrying her bottom lips. Dios, he could go mad just by looking at her.
Bending forward to put her face closer to the mirror, that delectable bottom taunted him like a child in a candy store. “Which one do you think will be perfect?”
Outwardly groaning, Rafe covered the space between them. Grasping her roughly around the waist he pulled her back against his arousal. “You should know better than to bend over like that in front of me, Mujer. You should know by now, how weak a man I am when it comes to your body.”
To prove his point, he began a slow, enticing movement of his lower body. Dahlia flattened her palm against the dresser top in an effort to steady herself. Feral hunger flashed in her eyes as she welcomed his touch by matching his rhythm. Placing a large palm on her back, he pressed her further down until her tight little bottom fitted perfectly on his groin area.
“You want perfection, Amor? Let me show you perfection. I will show you how perfect we fit together.” Rafe was well aware that giving in to this weakness meant that they would be late, but right now that was the least of his concerns. Right now he needed his wife.
Catching the material at her thighs, he crumpled the fabric, easing it up her legs until it was bunched around her waist. Still, his seeking fingers glided along her silky skin until he found what he was searching for.
Perfection!
###
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“Winning Back His Wife”
Chapter 1
Caleb glared as the battered blue Ford SUV driving in front of him swerved dangerously into the oncoming traffic. He was in no mood for this. All he wanted to do was get home and get a drink. Today had been gruesome enough, and he did not have the energy or patience to deal with this idiot.
Glancing into his side mirror, he listened to the other motorists honking their horns, signaling their annoyance at the driver holding up the traffic. Where was the police when you needed them? Caleb put on his indicator then jerked his vehicle to the right but to his annoyance, the SUV swerved right also, blocking him. He slammed on his brakes and jammed the car horn, BEEEEP! He tried to pass the SUV, but once again, he was blocked. Growing angrier, he swore loudly, pounding his fist on the horn again, this time longer than the first.
“Caleb, please let him be. We will arrive home soon enough.” His sister, Daphne tried to reason with him.
Loosening his grip on the steering wheel, he glanced at the woman in the passenger seat next to him. It was amazing how much alike they looked. She had the same dark-blonde curly hair, same milky white skin, same facial features, just softer. She was beautiful, as were all the women in the Wilder clan. Caleb glimpsed his sister sleeping in the back seat. KC was just as beautiful but chose not to emphasize it. Her pouted lips, painted black, were relaxed and the ghastly earring that was linked to her nose by a silver chain was now draped across her closed eye. Her blonde hair with short, red, streaks looked like an erupting volcano. It drove their mother crazy. At nineteen, she adopted the gothic look and always wore black, baggy clothing and heavy black lipstick. Caleb loved KC, but if she didn’t change soon she would be the death of his parents.
“Daphne, this guy is driving like a maniac. He’s going to kill someone.” Caleb looked down at his sister’s stomach, her large, round belly was emphasized by the tight wool sweater she wore.
“Look I just want to get you home to Stuart and KC home to mom so I can go home and get some rest. This psycho is holding up the traffic.”
At the mention of her name, the girl in the back seat woke from her nap.
“Aren’t we home as yet? Caleb, can’t you make this thing go any faster?” KC whined.
“Shut up KC! I am no happier to be stuck with you in this car than you are to be with me, so zip it!” Caleb snapped.
“Caleb, please! I know you’re tired and I’m sure KC doesn’t mean to be ungrateful, but I don’t like it when you shout.” Daphne O’Connor said placing her hand gently on her brother’s arm.
She was looking at him, and Caleb could see that look of concern in her eyes. That look she got anytime she was around him.
“What’s wrong now, Daphe?”
“You used to be so carefree; so happy. What happened to you? It’s been five years. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped punishing yourself for her leaving…”
“I’m sorry sis, but this has nothing… sweet mother of God!” Caleb cried out as Daphne turned back to the road. They stared in utter horror as the blue SUV in front, veered left and crossed the median, pummeling front first into a red minivan. Skidding as if the road had black ice, the minivan rammed into another vehicle to drop side first into the incline on the other side of the road.
Caleb could hear the screeching of tires all around as terrified motorists swerved to avoid being a part of the wreck. He brought the GMC Sierra to a safe stop, then turned to his sisters.
“Daphne, Kace, are you guys alright?”
“We’re fine!” They answered in unison.
He quickly surveyed his sisters and when he was sure they were okay, he scrambled out of his car and raced toward the overturned minivan.
Caleb maneuvered his way through the stalled cars, crossing the highway with KC and Daphne following more carefully behind.
A large crowd had already gathered when he reached the other side of the highway. Above the inaudible murmurs, he heard the faint screams of a child. Straining his ear, his head began to pound when he realized that the screams were coming from the overturned vehicle that lay at the bottom of the incline. Peering over the edge Caleb saw the minivan turned on its side about twenty feet below. On impulse, he hoisted his weight over the severed railing and edged his way along a protruding rock towards it.
“Hey buddy where do you think you’re going?” One guy yelled, stretching a hand to halt Caleb.
“To do what no one else is doing.” Caleb replied, shooting the guy a move-or-else glance.
“Caleb, Caleb, wait!”
Ignoring Daphne’s pleas, he focused on his descent down the slope. It had been years since he left the fire service but the years he served as one of Washington’s finest were imprinted in his brain. He was more than capable of doing this.
He could hear Daphne addressing the onlookers, her voice fading as he climbed further down.
“He knows what he’s doing; he used to be a firefighter. I am Dr. O’Connor.
Does anybody here have any medical training? You check the driver of the SUV. You two come with me. I need you…”
When his feet hit ground, he did what any firefighter would do, scan the area for possible danger. The side where the SUV had collided with it was folded in as if a wrecking ball smashed into it. All around the vehicle was shattered glass, the wheels were still spinning and smoke was rising from the hood. The child’s screams were replaced by a mere whimper and something parallel to fear made his heart accelerate. Hold on little one, hold on. The smell of leaking gas cut through the air and Caleb knew how fatal that could be. One spark and the entire vehicle could go up in flames. Hurrying to the crumpled hood, he assessed the interior looking for any signs of sparks. There wasn’t any. After disconnecting the battery cables and making sure that there was no imminent danger, he went around to the side. Peering into the front he could see the driver, a woman, slumped against the driver’s side door. She was not wearing her seat belt. Her face was hidden by a matte of curly hair fused with blood. In the back seat, he saw what he was looking for. The child! The little girl cries had died down and he strained to hear her soft cries. She was calling out for her mother.
“Hush little one. I’ve got you!’ he whispered as he reached into the vehicle unhooking the straps that held her to the car seat. At least the mother was wise enough to strap her in. Gently, he eased the child through the shattered car glass. She was no older than three, maybe four years.
She buried her little head in the crook of his neck, her sobs muffled by his shirt. Her mop of curly black hair had a familiar scent, but he couldn’t tell what it was.
“Shhh little one you’re safe now….Shhh!”
Others were at his side trying to pry open the front passenger door to get to the driver. He tried handing the child over to one of the by standers, but she clasped her tiny hands around his neck tighter. Caleb heart warmed at the thought of the child feeling safe with him. Standing nearby he waited for the men to get the door open. When he was sure they could get to the woman, he started up the hill. If the mother was dead, he didn’t want the little girl to witness that.
Daphne was waiting at the top for him.
“Let me take a look at her. How many more people are there in the car?” Daphne questioned, quickly examining the girl as best as she could. It was difficult doing so because she refused to let go of Caleb.
Choosing his words carefully he looked over the little girls head. “There is only the mother in car. I’m not sure how she is,” he responded. Daphne nodded in understanding. He didn’t want to say anything that would upset the little girl.
“She seems to be okay, just confused. Why don’t you sit over there with her?” Daphne pointed to a spot a little distance from where she was standing.
KC was at his side bending where he sat cradling the child in his arms all the while murmuring soft, comforting words. She placed a hand around his shoulder to comfort him.
Someone had called 911. In the distance, he could hear the wailing of the sirens as it pierced through the air. Help was on the way. The paramedics would help the mother but Daphne would assist until the ambulance arrived.
He heard a commotion from down the incline and watched as two of the men that he had left below struggled to get the unconscious woman over the barrier. Daphne pushed her way through the crowd that gathered to get a better view.
“Please make some room!” Daphne was shouting and sure enough, the people scattered. The men were over the barrier now and they placed the woman on a spot Daphne was pointing to. He watched as his sister knelt gingerly at the woman’s side and pushed the hair away from her face. Daphne gasped, went still then covered her mouth stifling a cry. Something was wrong. She looked up at him and from the short distance, he saw that his sister’s face was as pale as if she’d seen a ghost. Something was wrong. Quickly she drew her gaze away from him and resumed examining the woman.
He handed the little girl over to KC then moved forward, his feet reluctantly taking toward his sister. As he drew nearer, he surveyed the unconscious woman’s face, and then froze.
No it couldn’t be. God no! It couldn’t be. His knees buckled causing him to stumble backward. He crumpled to the grass not believing what he was seeing.
“Caleb, I need you to keep it together. Please Caleb, keep it together. She’s alive. She’s still alive.”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. His tongue felt heavy. His sister glanced at him again. The woman who lay fighting for her life before her was Caleb’s wife, Neela Wilder.
***
Caleb looked on helplessly as Daphne focused her attention on his wife. She was still kneeling next to Neela, her pregnant stomach making the task a little more difficult than usual. She ripped open Neela’s blood stained T shirt and placed an ear to her chest. She quickly probed Neela’s body, starting at her chest, then lower to her feet searching for broken bones or punctured organs. She examined the wound on her head pressing her hand to stem the flow of blood.
Caleb heard the wail of the ambulance siren as it drew closer. The knot in his stomach loosen a little with relief. Daphne may be a doctor but there was only so much she could do without any medical equipment. She just needed to keep Neela breathing until the ambulance arrived. What the hell was taking them so long?
On trembling arms and legs, he crawled the few feet that separated him from his wife. This woman he had not seen in five years, the woman who haunted his dreams for all that time. Was she really lying here? Where had she been all these years? He had so many questions.
He ached to touch her and not even hounds from hell could stop him. When he raised his hand it was only then did he realize how much he was shaking. Gently, oh so gently, he touched her face. Caleb felt emotions so strong rise up in him that it made him lighted headed; hurt, anger, pain, fear… love.
Yes love! Here in front of him lay the only women he ever loved, the woman who owned the rights to his heart, whose heart he once held. Her skin was even softer than he remembered, her cinnamon colored skin stood out in comparison to his pale, milky one. Her eyes which he distinctly remembered being brown, were hidden behind closed lids, lids that were accented by long curling lashes. Long black curly hair now tainted in blood, was fanned out below her head and her lips, those lips that he had kissed so many times were slightly parted. Caleb could not stop his finger from gently tracing the outline. Drawing in a long breath, he felt his lung constrict. God this could not be real.
“Caleb, Caleb... Caleb. Please look at me!
He dragged his gaze away from his wife long enough to look at his sister.
“She’s okay. She’s okay, Caleb. There doesn’t seem to be anything broken, and her breathing is stable. I don’t know if there are any internal injuries but she seems okay. I know it looks bad but the blood isn’t that much. Caleb, are you listening to me?”
He must have nodded because she continued talking.
“I need you to stay with her; I need to talk to KC.”
Stay with her? There was no way in hell he was ever leaving her side again. The devil himself couldn’t pry him away.
What did she need to speak to KC about? What she needed to do was let KC take the child to the hospital and… The child! He swung around to where his two sisters stood and once again Caleb felt breathing was the most difficult thing to do. The girl had called out for her mother. She was Neela’s daughter. The baby she was carrying when she left?
Daphne was saying something to KC and it must have been about him because she looked at him and then to the little girl in her arms; and, as recognition dawned, her body started shaking. Daphne reached her hand out to wipe a tear from her sister’s face and said something to her again. KC nodded and walked away from her.
Slowly, she came towards him, carrying the sleeping child and without being prompted Caleb opened his arms to receive his daughter.
Sitting next to his wife he held her limp hand in one of his and cradled his daughter in the other.
At the thought of how close he came to losing his wife and the daughter he didn’t know existed, Caleb Seth Wilder sat at the side of the road on a wet June afternoon and cried his heart out.