by Lee, Groovy
“Sorry to disappoint you. I know how much you want out of this farce of a marriage.”
“That’s not true, Michael,” she countered softly.
He stiffened, as if wondering if he heard correctly, then he turned. “What’s not true?”
She held her purse to her even tighter for support. Now’s the moment to say those well-prepared words she’s been rehearsing the entire time here. “I—I don’t want this marriage to end, I never have. And, I didn‘t want you to go back to Karen.”
His brows drew into a puzzled crimp.
She cleared her throat before saying those three words she’s been dying to shout to the world since they married. “I love you, Michael.”
He looked as if he’d stopped breathing. She wondered desperately what he could be thinking. And, why won’t he say something, anything?
His eyelids half lowered suspiciously. “Why are you saying this? Did you talk to Chris? Is that how you found me? He told you everything, and now you feel as if you have to say that?”
“No,” her voice began to break under the emotional pressure. “I do love you, you have to believe me. But, how could I tell you when all you saw was Karen?”
Deep torment shadowed across his face. “I paid no attention to her. You were the one who practically threw me in her arms when she returned. You were the one who said there was nothing holding us together, and who was so willing to walk away from us.”
“I only said what I thought you felt.”
“You didn’t give me a chance to tell you what I really felt, did you? After she and Raven left that night, I came into the kitchen to tell you that her coming back meant nothing to me. That I Ioved you, and wanted to be with you. But, you just stood and relegated what we had to a deal. My whole world began collapsing in on me. I couldn’t believe it.” He sighed, shook his head, and stared into the fireplace. “Finally, I couldn’t take your rejection anymore, so I came here to think.”
She wanted to go to him, pull him in her arms and never let go, but was too afraid he wouldn’t accept her. “I’m sorry, Michael. I was so convinced that you still loved her. You weren’t the only one hurting, you know.”
He turned and closed the space between them. “Taryn, I never meant to hurt you. I love you. And, I made Karen well aware of that when she came into my office with hopes of us getting back together.” A painful smile appeared. “I love you so much, it hurts.”
“Michael,” she barely whispered. “You mean it?”
“Yes,” his hands came up and cupped her face so he could shower it with kisses. “With all my heart.”
She threw her arms around his waist and held him. “I just knew I’d lost you when she came back. After all, you once loved her enough to want to spend the rest of your life with her.”
“I thought I loved her, too—until I met you.” Pain gave way to sheer happiness as he studied her face. “I’ll be eternally grateful to Remi for smashing my sunglasses. I looked up, and the most exciting, most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen was rushing toward me. I couldn’t let you disappear out of my life, so I grabbed your invitation to share your lunch, and worked from there.” His thumbs began rubbing back and forth on her neck in soft motions. “Then after a month of being away from you, I couldn’t stand it any longer. So, I flew all the way to Nashville just to see you. When you told me about your dilemma with your father-in-law, it presented me with the perfect opportunity to forge a life with you.”
“So, it wasn’t really about your clients’ approval?”
“Not really. Although, that was the added bonus I needed. I wanted to make a life with you and the girls. I was beside myself when you chose to marry me instead of going to court. You had given me a chance and I was going to make it work.
But, you always seem to push me away. You wouldn’t respond to me no matter how hard I tried. I had no idea that all this time you actually felt the same way.”
“I don’t know when I first realized it. It could have been when we were on the beach; Or when you showed up on my doorstep that day. All I know, is that I was never the same once I met you. I went into this marriage with every intent of keeping myself emotionally detached, but with each day that passed, you made it harder and harder. I wanted to tell you how I felt, but was too afraid. Then you became distant, and I thought you had regretted marrying me.”
“I had to pretend indifference. I couldn’t expose my true feelings for you. Not until I was sure you felt something, anything, for me. Then that night we first made love, I knew there was no turning back. I was in heaven, and you were right there with me.” There was a short somber pause. “Then Karen came back and almost ruined everything. I was so angry with her; And Raven came close to a quick death.”
“We’re together, now. And, that’s all that matters.”
“Forever, now,” he added and kissed her. After a long, passionate minute, they finally pulled apart. “Who’s watching the girls?” he asked, striving to control his desire to kiss her again.
“Chris.”
“Then they’re in good hands. We’d better turn in, don’t you think? We have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Michael,” she nudged him. “Bedtime is hours away.”
“I didn’t say we had to sleep, did I?” he shot her a wicked grin.
A heated shyness enveloped her when she realized what he had in mind. She laid her head into his shoulder. “Michael.”
He swooped her up into his arms and carried her away to the bedroom.
EPILOGUE
Taryn found the keys in her purse and opened the cabin door. The musty air that hit her the moment she stepped inside was a reminder to open all the windows. She took one moment to stand silently and look around. Every year, when they come here on vacation, she’s moved to just stand and give way to that sentimental nudge prompting her to remember, that six years ago, she and Michael declared their love for one another.
“Mom.”
“Yes, Remi,”she turned to the fourteen year-old girl, now almost as tall as she. The tomboyish, easy-to-get-in-trouble, Remi has discovered boys, fashion, and anything to do with the Japanese culture.
“Where do you want me to put these?” she was referring to the plastic sacks of groceries dangling from every finger.
“Follow me into the kitchen, please.”
Rachel wasn’t far behind carrying her own load, also into boys, hip-hop, and clothes, of course. The girls deposited the sacks on the counter and put a few of the canned goods away before abandoning that chore to ask the most important question of the day.
“Mom,” Rachel touched at her latest hairdo of the month, having replaced her curls with straight hair and bangs; Next month it’ll probably be a Mohawk. “Can we ride our bikes over to the Houston’s to see if they’ve arrived, yet?”
“We brought everything in from the car,” Remi added.
They were referring to the family that just built a cabin through the woods. They would often share nights bar-b-cueing, and days sitting by the banks of the clear stream until they were all tempted to wade and discover the strange life swimming around them. Their sixteen year-old son, Avery, is the reason for their eager hospitality.
“You’ll have to ask your father,” she pulled out some air freshener to spray the cabin later. “If he says it’s okay, then you can go.”
“Daddy,” they scooted from the room.
Taryn regretted she didn’t make them stay and help her clean up first; Nora and her crew will be here in a couple of hours.
“Taryn.”
She was putting the last of the groceries in the refrigerator when she heard her name urgently called from the front room. She stopped in the narrow hallway by the cobblestone fireplace and leaned against it, a warm smile creasing her lips.
Michael was seated on the couch trying without success to console their six month old son with dark hair just like his father, Michael Vande-xx the third, Mickey for short.
“Taryn, sweetheart,”
Michael looked up when he noticed her standing there. “He’s hungry and impatient. You should come feed him.”
It was hard keeping her smile from widening at the touching scene of him trying to rock the round infant while it sucked and pulled at his father’s handsome face.
“Taryn, baby,” he begged her to come. “He needs you.”
It was the proudest day of his life when his son was born. And, he’s been an absolute wonderful father to Remi and Rachel, whom he adopted; His budding Cleopatra’s he calls them. Chris fell in love two years ago; Remi and Rachel were bridesmaids at his wedding. Along with his one year-old daughter, he has two queens, now.
“Taryn, you’re not moving,” he said after one of Mickey’s screams.
Her life began six years ago on that Florida beach. That day she invited him to share her lunch; And from then on, he’s invited her to take possession of his love.
“Taryn.”
THANK YOU. AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED INVITATION TO LOVE
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