After The Fall

by Ariadne Wayne

  “Mummy loves you Aaron,” I whispered and kissed his head. I fed him his dinner and dressed him for bed. And then we sat while I rocked him to sleep and soon his little head was resting on my breast, his eyes too heavy to stay open.

  I stroked his little face and gently lowered him into his cot. My chest felt like it had bricks covering it, the weight of my misery piling on top of me. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks and I watched my baby boy’s chest rise and fall as he slept, so content and loved.

  The phone was ringing again and this time it was even worse.

  “What’s going on Natalie? Mum picked up her magazines this week and I see you and Alex are apart. When were you going to tell us?” Dad asked.

  I was barely holding it together now but I had to or my Dad would get on a plane and come for me. “It’s not true Dad. Alex and I are still together. He’s been entertaining clients while his father is on his honeymoon. There’s nothing in it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure,” I said. I had never been less sure of anything.

  “If you need anything Natalie, we’re here. I hope you remember that.”

  “Of course I do Dad,” I said, “and we’re fine. You know these stupid magazines and their gossip. It’s not true.”

  Dinner was forgotten as somehow I knew Alex wouldn’t come home for it. Instead I went to the bathroom and ran a bath to try to relax. It was scalding hot, just as I liked it and I missed Alex more than anything as so many times in our place in Auckland we had sat in the bath together, soaking and planning the rest of our life together.

  After I climbed out and towelled myself down, I looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes looked as though I had been crying for hours. There was no way it could all be over was there? We had been in the US for eight weeks and my whole world felt like it had fallen apart.

  The knock on the door caught me by surprise, I couldn’t think who it could be as Alex would have let himself in surely? Seeing Damian Mercer through the door gave me a surprise, I didn’t think he would be back for some time. Random thoughts went through my head. Was this Alex getting out the easy way and getting his father to do the dirty work?

  Whatever it was the senior Mercer was on the other side of the door and I took a deep breath before opening it. He was shocked when he saw me. I could tell from the look on his face and I must have looked a sight with red puffy eyes but this was me, his gold digging daughter in law from New Zealand.

  “Natalie,” he said, voice full of concern.

  “Coffee?” I asked. I could do with one, preferably with a drop of something stronger but we didn’t have anything in the house.

  “Sure,” he said. He handed me a parcel. “This is for Aaron, I had hoped to get here early enough to give it to him myself but I’m assuming he’s in bed. Natalie, Colton called me. He’s been worried about you two and from what I have been told there is some cause for concern about you and Alex.”

  “Aaron is in bed,” I said, “we had a big day of hanging around the apartment together and a visit to the park.” There was no way I could respond to the rest of what he had said as I knew talking about it would make me cry all over again.

  I walked into the kitchen and he followed me, watching as I made sure there was water enough to boil and getting the cups ready.

  When I was done I stood and waiting for the water to finish boiling in silence. I had nothing to say to him, I didn’t even know whether we had anything in common or not so it was just easier to be quiet and not try to make any small talk.

  I felt his hand touch my shoulder. “Natalie, I never did say sorry for what I said to you that day in Roger’s offices. I am sorry. You’ve more than shown how much you care about my son. You have been the family provider and given me my gorgeous grandson. I’m not sure how bad it is but if there is anything I can do to make things better.”

  Turning, I saw the concern in his eyes and the tears started to flow again. “I don’t know if there is anything that can make this better,” I said, “I appreciate your kind words though, and I’m glad you can see just how much I love Alex.”

  “And he loves you,” he said, “I’ve never seen that boy so crazy about anyone. I should have known better than to push him into anything with Lisa, the way he moped around when he came back home after being with you it was obvious how he felt.”

  I looked away and closed my eyes. “I don’t think he feels that way anymore. The more I think about it, the more I wonder how happy he was with me in New Zealand given how desperate he is to impress you.”

  “What makes you say that?” he asked.

  “He has been working all day, every day for weeks. Then he goes out in the evenings and doesn’t come home until after midnight. Today was the first time all week that I’ve managed to catch a glimpse of him and that was only in passing. I can never call him and get hold of him during the day, I even threatened Lisa’s PA today with setting you on her because I was do desperate just to talk to him. I feel like my life is falling apart and I can’t do a damn thing to stop it. Then, as if I need my face rubbed in it he’s featured in some magazine where they tear our relationship to bits and say he’s with Lisa.”

  All he could do was look at me, I think he was completely lost for words so he responded by holding his arms out to me and enveloping me in them. It felt so safe standing in the kitchen like that and all I could think about was how much I missed my dad.

  I cried and he held me. “Shhh Natalie, things can’t be that bad. We’ll sort it all out, I swear,” he said.

  “What the hell is going on here,” Alex’s voice came from the doorway.

  “Alex,” his father said, “Natalie is very upset and for some reason I’m here instead of you. I should ask you what is going on.

  “What do you mean?” Alex said, “I’m doing everything I’ve been asked to do and come home to find my wife in the arms of my father.”

  “Seriously?” I cried out, “You neglect me for weeks and now you get upset by anyone else being near me. It’s bad enough you accused me of carrying on with Colton. I could have had 20 lovers round here and you wouldn’t have even noticed. But no, I’ve been the one here, raising your child while you do whatever with whoever.”

  My heart was pounding in my chest as he stared at me.

  “You know what I’ve been doing, working to prove myself to him.”

  “Is that why I can never get hold of you? Why I have to leave you voicemails, why Lisa’s PA won’t put calls through, why you’re never here with me and Aaron. And by the way he said his first word today which I thought you might want to know about but yet again you were in meetings with Lisa. So shouldn’t I be the suspicious one? Especially with that article about you.”

  His face fell. “Natalie, I would never cheat on you.”

  Something caught my eye on his shirt and I could feel the heat rise in me. “Then why the fuck is there lipstick on the collar of your shirt? I trusted you, brought my baby all this way here from home because I thought you wanted what I did but you turned your back on me as soon as we got here.”

  “No, I swear there’s nothing going on. When I got the the restaurant tonight to meet the clients, Lisa kissed me on the cheek. I can only think that her lipstick smudged,” he said.

  “Yeah right,” I said.

  We stared at each other for a moment before Damian intervened.

  “Tell me what is going on Alex. Take a seat Natalie and calm down.” I did as I was told.

  “You put me in a position where I take orders from Lisa, who keeps me in the office as long as humanly possible working on various projects and insists in wining and dining clients in the evenings. I didn’t want to complain because I want to prove to you that I’m back and committed to the company but I hate it Dad. I hate being away from Natalie and Aaron and if I have to take my family back to New Zealand then I will,” Alex said, looking at me as he said the final words.

  “I see. I didn’t mean for this situation to arise.
Lisa kept her job as part of the merger after I forced it through and although I thought it would be good for you to work your way up again I didn’t think about her taking advantage in that way.”

  Alex turned to me. “I came home because partway through the evening I remembered I told you I would be home for dinner. I’m sorry Natalie, I’m so tired I feel like I’ve been the walking dead lately. To tell you the truth I left Lisa at the restaurant with the clients.”

  “You walked out on her?”

  “Well not exactly, I’m currently on an extended bathroom break though she’ll work it out soon enough,” he said with a grin.

  Alex came closer and sat on the couch beside me. “So what’s this about Aaron saying his first word?”

  “He said Dad today. I called but I was told you were in a meeting with Lisa so I threatened to turn up and shove the phone down her PA’s throat.”

  Damian Mercer laughed. “I’m sure she was suitably horrified.”

  “I even pulled out the I am Damian Mercer’s daughter in law line but she hung up on me.”

  At that his face clouded in anger. “No one does that to my family, not in my company. I’ll deal with it Natalie, and Alex, take the rest of the week off. Don’t come back to work until Monday and spend the next few days with your family. And for heaven’s sake, make love to your wife. I think she needs it.”

  I burst out laughing and Alex blushed. “Thanks Dad.”

  “I wish you had told me there was a problem, I would have hated to lose my amazing daughter in law and grandson because of this. You’re so proud Alex, too proud at times.”

  “I wonder where he gets that from,” I said.

  He grinned. “And you, take care of yourself and I will be back sometime tomorrow to make sure my grandson gets his present.”

  I nodded. “Of course, I’ll hold onto it until you get here.”

  “I’ll get going but you two kiss and make up, I don’t want to see you parted.”

  “Thanks Dad,” said Alex.

  He came over to me and kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow Mrs Mercer.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “It’s all right, I’ll take care of everything,” he said with a wink.

  Alex showed him to the door to say goodbye and returned to my side, putting his arm around me. “Did you really think I was cheating on you?”

  “I didn’t know what to think,” I said, “I haven’t seen you for any length of time for what feels like forever and then there’s this.” I pointed at the computer screen and he looked horrified.

  “None of it’s true Nat, I’ll make them print a retraction, I swear to you. There’s no one else, only you. Only ever you.”

  “I love you, but you’re an asshole at times. Even when you’re not meaning to be.”

  “I know,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Tell me about our boy, did he really talk today?”

  “He said Dad and he was so proud of himself Alex, it was amazing to see. All I could think about was that day when he was trying to crawl and you called me at work to tell me to come home.”

  He looked sad. “I know and I’m sorry. I wish I had known.”

  I stood up. “I’m going to bed, I’m tired.”

  Alex followed me into the bedroom and I dropped my bathrobe on the floor, crawling into bed. He slid between the sheets behind me and cuddled up behind me. “I love you so much Natalie,” he said.

  Pushing the hair from my neck, he kissed his way down until he reached the junction where it met my shoulder knowing it made me gasp and when it did he nuzzled my neck with his nose. Pulling me onto my back until I faced him he looked into my eyes.

  “My beautiful Natalie. Boy did I fall hard for you. There is no one else and there never will be for me. Only you. With those lovely eyes of yours that look a different colour every time I see them, that cute nose and those ever so kissable lips. I am yours forever and I hope you know that.”

  “I’m sorry for doubting you,” I said, “I’m not sure what I was supposed to think when you were never here.”

  “I promise I will make it up to you,” he said, “every day for the rest of my life. I’ve been such an ass thinking I was doing the responsible thing and wanting my father’s approval when I had it all along.”

  I rolled back onto my side. “I’m really tired Alex, right now I just want to get some sleep. We can talk some more in the morning.”

  He went back to nuzzling my neck, planting gentle kisses that grew more forceful as they went on. “Alex,” I murmured as he almost bit down on my neck and it took a moment to work out what he was doing. “What are you? 16?” I said with a laugh.

  I knew I would be left with a decent love bite with that effort. “What the hell was that for?” I said, rolling onto my back again.

  “Marking my woman,” he said.

  I laughed. “You are crazy.”

  “Crazy about you,” he said, “let’s face it Natalie, no one knows how to touch you like I do.” His warm hand stroked my breasts briefly before moving down between my legs. Pulling my nightgown up until he found what he was looking for, he made me gasp with the attention of his fingers.

  “I had almost forgotten what that felt like,” I said.

  “There’s a lot of things I have to make up for,” he said, “and my wife’s orgasms are at the top of my list.”

  I laughed, maybe things would be all right after all.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Lisa Visits

  She called just after midnight. I know because I was the one who answered the phone. It must have taken her that long to get away from her dinner guests.

  When Alex’s mobile rang he told me to ignore it but it was just too much of a temptation, especially when I saw who was calling. Besides, he couldn’t really argue pinned to the bed as he was. I sat astride him, impaled on his cock and showing off my now impressive pelvic floor muscles. There had not been much else to do since we had arrived in New York so I had been doing the exercises my midwife had told me to do when I’d had Aaron. Needless to say, my husband was very impressed.

  I picked up the phone and smiled when I saw who was calling, but before I got a chance to even say hello she had launched into a tirade. “Where the hell did you go, leaving me with that client. Once he realised you weren’t there he was all hands and not much business.”

  “I’m sorry Lisa but you will have to take a raincheck on this conversation,” I said.

  She paused. “Put Alex on.”

  “I’m sorry Lisa, my husband is currently indisposed. In fact you could say he’s stuck to the bed right now.” I wiggled my hips and squeezed my muscles. Despite desperately trying to contain the sound, Alex moaned and I grinned.

  “Now if you could excuse me,” I said, “I believe my husband is about to come in me. It’s not really a good time for me to chat.” I hung up the call and put the phone back on the bedside cabinet.

  “You are trouble Mrs Mercer,” said Alex with a grin.”I can’t believe you just did that.”

  “Just defending what is mine.” I said.

  I rolled off him and he pulled me into his arms. “I love you Natalie, I’m so sorry again for all I’ve put you through. I thought when Dad came back he would see all the work I’d done and sort things out so I could spend more time at home. Though I guess that’s exactly what has happened.”

  “I’ve just missed you so much,” I said, tearing up again and stroking his face.

  “Everything will be better now,” he said, “I promise. Even if I do have to pack up and move us all back to New Zealand.”

  “Whatever happens I don’t care where we are as long as we’re together,” I said.

  “That’s how I feel too babe. You and Aaron are what matter to me. I just got lost for a while. I promise it will never happen again.”

  In the morning I heard Aaron and brought him back to bed with me. “Dad,” he exclaimed as Alex took him into his arms and hugged him tight.

  �
��Good boy,” said Alex, grinning at him. “Now say it again.”

  His dad came back the following afternoon and sat with Aaron on the floor, helping him open his present. It was a toy tool set and I laughed as the CEO of the big property development company sat and played with his grandson. Aaron laughed and laughed, he was such a happy little boy and Alex and I sat, arms wrapped around each other watching our boy.

  “Can you ever really forgive me?” Alex murmured in my ear.

  “I don’t know Alex. I felt like you were turning your back on us and everything we have. It hurt so much because I love you, and for just one brief moment I didn’t think you loved me,” I whispered.

  “Oh babe,” he said, “I promised to love you my whole life and I will.” He took my hand in his and put it to his chest. “Do you feel that Natalie? It beats for you and you alone. For all the rest of my days I will do whatever I can to make you know that.”

  He kissed me and his tongue gently massaged my own before we heard a sound from the floor. “Ahem.”

  We jumped. Being so wound up in each other it appeared we had both forgotten where we were and that Damian was watching us; a big grin on his face.

  Alex laughed. “Sorry Dad. I am just reassuring my wife that I won’t neglect her again.” He looked at me, and his eyes confirmed everything he had just said. “Natalie and Aaron come first and I am sorry if it means you are disappointed in me but I can’t do this to them ever again. No matter how much I want your respect.”

  “Alex. You have my respect,” his father said, “despite my initial disappointment, the fact that you made a stand and left the company and me to be with the woman you love stands you in good stead. I am so very proud of the family that you and Natalie have created.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Alex said.