by Hayes, S. I.
She held up the front of the gown, with a smirk, arching her back, for him. “If you must, but after you’ve gotta ravage me like it’s last time you’ll ever see me.” She tossed a pillow at him as he began to smile.
“I think I can handle that.”
***
Matthew awoke to his cellphone vibrating off the nightstand. He picked it up seeing his mother’s number. “Yeah?” He mumbled getting up, not wanting to wake Donnella who was fast asleep next to him. “What’s the matter Ma?” He asked going into the bathroom.
“It took you long enough, I’ve only called a dozen times in the past six hours!” She reprimanded him sternly.
“Sorry, wedding night and all.” He chuckled. “What’s up, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I finally got a response from that Loretto School in Scotland. They apologized for taking so long but assured me that Alexander is quite safe, and sound. That they did not answer sooner because they had to verify the information about Harmon’s death and Ella’s being the birth mother before they would talk to us. Apparently upon Harmon’s death custody of Alexander returned to her. Matthew she can go get him whenever she chooses. Although of course the school believes it in the child’s best interest he finish his schooling. But you know how schools are…” Her voice was excited.
“That’s… That’s awesome. I’ve got to tell her. Ma. Thank you. You don’t know what this is going to mean to her. I gotta go. I love you.”
“You’re welcome sweetie. Give Ella my love.”
Matthew hung up the phone going back into the bedroom. He looked down at Donnella, who was curled up in the center of the bed like a kitten. He slipped in next to her, wrapping his arms around her gently kissing her shoulder. She stirred, wiggling her backside against his groin. He laughed. “Not what I had in mind, but I like the way you’re thinking.” He whispered, as she reached behind and stroked him with a sigh.
“Why not? I’m still horny.”
“I’ll gladly take care of that in a few if you still want me to after I tell you something.”
“No… Now.” She grasped him stroking him hard.
He groaned, pulling her hand away. “I’m serious, baby. It’s about Scotland.”
She bolted upright. Looking at him, with hopeful eyes.
“I thought that would get your attention.” He chuckled. “My mother heard back. They have him. He’s fine and he’s yours.”
“What do you mean he’s mine? I gave him up. Don’t I have to apply for custody and all of that?”
“Apparently from what my mother said it sounds like you only signed over temporary custody to your father. Didn’t you read the documents?”
“I was such a mess in the hospital I just signed the papers and they took him away.” She pulled her legs up under her. “So he’s okay? I mean he’s doing well? Even with my dad gone?”
“Apparently they didn’t even know.”
“He must have had the school paid in advance, and only gone up there once in a while.” She got up. “I want to go see him. Not necessarily take him. But to see him. Talk to him a bit. Would that be wrong?”
“No, not at all.”
“But I want to do it soon.”
“Well…” He climbed from the bed and wrapped his arms around her. “Why don’t we trade our Mediterranean Honeymoon in for a European one? Starting in East Lothian?” He smiled widely.
“Would you really be willing to do that?”
“For you? Anything. I’ve told you that. Besides it’s not like we can’t go some other time. It will be there.”
She jumped up into his arms and he caught her as she kissed him all over his face. “Thank you. Thank you. You are the greatest husband in the history of husbands.”
“Wow, and it’s only my first night.” He smirked. “So are you still horny?”
She gyrated in his hands. “For you the horniest.”
***
The drive from Edinburgh was short and it didn’t take long before Donnella was escorted into the court yard of the Boarding Schools facility. As they felt it would be an environment in which Alexander would feel safe. Having never met his mother he had been brought in to the Headmaster’s office and it was explained to him that she would be coming for a visit. The boy seemed happy but reserved over the news. He took the death of his Grandfather with a tear and a nod. The boys were taught well. The British and Scottish customs of boys to be men instilled. He was a smart boy, if not a little rambunctious. He excelled in sports which helped to quell his excess of energy.
***
Donnella sat in the open courtyard surrounded by brick and mortar buildings in grey stone and goldenrod, a circle of English lavender all around her. Matthew stood off to one side of the court, reading and re-reading a plaque, he looked up as a woman came outside with a boy in a red blazer with dark blue short pants on. His hair was not as dark as it appeared in the pictures in the outdoor light bits of red highlighted it on the top from days spent in the sun.
Donnella stood perfectly still. Although she could feel her entire body shake as they approached. Alexander held tightly to his knapsack as the woman, called Miss Abigail smiled.
“Alexander, this is the person I was telling you about. Is it okay if I leave you here with her for a little while? I’ll be just over there.” She pointed to the other side of the garden.
He nodded quietly, gripping the bag. Not looking up.
Donnella shifted in place. Not sure what to say. He broke the silence.
“You’re my mum?” He said quietly, his tone hinting at a mild English accent from years in the school as he looked up. His seafoam green eyes meeting hers.
“Yes.” She swallowed hard. “I am. I-”
“I have pictures of you… He added, pulling his bag to his front. He pulled out a book letting the rest of the bag fall discarded to the ground. Flipping it open he showed her, proudly.
She took the book. It was filled with photographs of her growing up. Some she remembered, other’s seemed to have been taken from afar without her knowledge. All her father’s doing she was sure. There were even photos of her as an adult. From after Alexander had been born. Also newspaper clippings from her years of growing in the corporate world.
“You’ve followed my career?” She asked confused.
“Grandpa said work kept you away. I wanted to understand. I understand it’s a big job running such a large company. There just wasn’t time for a little kid and that in your head. Grandpa said it made you sick.”
She sat down and he followed her. She sighed. “It did make me sick. For a long time. But I’m much better now.”
“What does that mean for me?” He asked hope in his tiny voice. “Does that mean you want me again?”
“I never didn’t want you. I just couldn’t keep you. I was too young. Too stupid to understand how important you were to me. I didn’t know grandpa had you.”
He nodded. “I know… He told me last time I saw him. Just before he went to see you. He said that he was sorry for not telling you but that he was going to.”
“I’d have come sooner, but grandpa… He died before telling me. I only found you through papers. I got lucky.”
“I guess we both did.”
“What do you want to do? Do you want to stay here? I know you’ve been here a long time. You have a lot of friends? Miss Abigail told me. You play cricket and golf. You do well with your studies.” She picked at her nails as he fidgeted in his seat.
He moved closer to her. “I’d like to see New York, for real. Maybe spend some time there with you and your husband.”
“I think I’d like that. She scooted closer to him. “Can I hug you?”
He instantly slammed into her arms, wrapping his tiny fingers into her hair. He breathed her in, smelling the lilies on her skin. She choked, a sob bubbling up from her. “Don’t cry mommy.” He whispered. “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
***
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
> “Fuck!” Donnella cried out. “Is it too late to ask for that epidural thingy?” She panted as she sat upright, her legs in the stirrups. She’d been in labor for almost seven hours and the baby was just beginning to crown. “Matthew when we’re done with this you are never coming in me again! You hear me! Never!”
Doctor Tonka laughed. “Well that’s one way to put it. C’mon, Ella, you can do this, on three, gimmie a big push. One. Two. Three.”
“Baby it’s okay, just remember to breathe.” He chuckled snapping a picture of her.
Donnella screamed as she pushed again. “Okay… Okay… I’m done… So fuckin’ done… And you with that fuckin’ camera!”
“That’s it, Ella, now I promise you. Just one more I’ve got the head, but we gotta get the rest of your baby out. So just one more.”
“That’s what you said, last time.” She whined. Her hair matted against her head. Her chest heaving as she breathed in short and aggravated little spurts. “I call bullshit! This better be it.” She leaned forward again, pushing as hard as she could, feeling her insides as they expanded and her muscles contracted pushing the weight of the baby out of her. She called out, collapsing as Doctor Tonka exclaimed.
“Congratulations! It’s a girl!”
Matthew looked over Donnella’s legs, seeing the wriggling little creature as they offered her to him to cut the cord. He hesitated but they assured him it was safe. He did so and they took her away to be cleaned up as she let out a strong cry. A few moments later and they were handing her to a much calmer Donnella. She sat up with Matthew’s help holding the little girl in her arms. Matthew couldn’t hold back the tears that had surfaced in his eyes as he leaned down and kissed Donnella on the forehead.
“Hey, Mister Mayfield?” She asked sternly, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. “That’s all I get after what I just went through?” She kissed him on the mouth parting his lips with her tongue, the heat of it, making the nurses watching blush.
“Now remember you two need to wait at least six weeks before you do anything below these knees.” Doctor Tonka deadpanned, closing Donnella’s legs.
“We know.” Matthew answered, pulling away clearing his throat. “Can I?” He asked putting his arms out to the baby.
“Of course daddy.” Donnella beamed.
“What are you going to call her?” Doctor Tonka asked.
“I was thinking Lilly…” Matthew smiled looking at her, he ran his fingers across her nose.
“Yeah. I like that.”
“She has your freckles.” He smiled, snapping a picture.
“I’m glad you brought the camera.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because this is one tiger who’s going to know the value of her stripes.”
~The End~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shannon (S. I.) Hayes has been telling tales for so long as she has been able to talk, and began writing them down shortly thereafter. She is the singular author of the In Dreams... Series, and a Paranormal Historical Romance called Centuries Of Blood: Becoming. Shannon is the Co-Author to Awakenings: The Wrath Saga, a Paranormal Drama likened to Big Brother meets The Real World of the Preternatural, as well as several blogs and host to her own website. S.I.Hayes.com.
In her own words... I have a mind that is easily distracted and prone to wandering. Tangents are my forte, and if you think my characters are going to fit a cookie cutter shape of any kind, think again. They live, they love, they eat, sleep and fuck. I believe that people are inherently sexual creatures and my characters be they human or something altogether else are no exception.
I don't adhere to a single genera, I toe the line on several and wouldn't presume to be a master of any. So I suppose you could call me jack-of-all-trade-paperbacks.
I am a truth seeker, in my life, in my work. I’d apologize for it, but I kinda cannot help m’self. It is my best and worst personality trait, well mostly, being Bi-Polar I guess you could say that is the worse. But I believe that the disorder has made me, well... Me.
I have taken this life and twisted, carved, shaped and molded it in to the worlds of my characters. Albeit with a chainsaw, and it has made all the difference.
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