Six Shades of Romance

by Darling, P. K.

  Chapter 6 – 6 Months later

  I waddled into the birthing class, yes I said waddled. My center of gravity had definitely shifted as the little tyke inside me continued to grow. It gave me an excellent reason to eat at least two cupcakes every day but it didn’t help with the expanding situation. I had forgotten what my feet looked like. In four weeks, I’d have to find another excuse to eat so much. Did breastfeeding count?

  I sat on the floor mat, watching the other expectant mothers gracefully walk in with their partners. I was still waiting for mine. How was it that I had two partners and still neither one could turn up on time?

  Our situation was still tense but both Robert and Brady had worked on getting along. I was pretty certain they both hated me for putting them in that position. Yet I didn’t make the baby alone, I had help from one of them.

  Finally, they showed up together. I bet that was a fun elevator ride. They settled on either side of me just as the midwife started her speech. It was our first class so I really wanted to pay attention.

  I still had no idea what on earth I was doing. All I knew was that somehow this lump had to squeeze through a very small space and it was probably going to hurt like hell. As uncomfortable as it was, I wanted it to stay inside for as long as possible. Mama wasn’t ready to be a… mama yet.

  The midwife introduced us and gave us the basics of how the classes were structured. We would learn how to look after our bundle of joy, some first aid skills for infants, and how to pop the thing out. I silently prayed for the tyke to stay inside long enough for me to get through all the classes. I needed all the help I could get.

  During the break, they had some water and biscuits. My entourage and I lingered at the table and were quickly joined by the others in the group.

  “Do you know what you’re having?” A perky blonde on my right said. Her bump was a cute little lump, unlike my giant spread.

  “I’m hoping it’s a human,” I replied. I think my joke made her uncomfortable. “What about you?”

  “We’re having a boy. My husband is thrilled.” She eyed Brady and Robert, trying to work out what was going on. “You’re lucky to have two birthing partners. They say it’s good to have a backup.”

  “Yeah, a backup.” Ground, please open up and swallow me now.

  “I had to beg my husband to come with me.” Another mom, a redhead that was possibly the only other woman bigger than me joined in the conversation. “How did you get two to come?”

  I laughed nervously. “I, uh, they could both be the father.” When I panicked, I said whatever came to mind. Unfortunately, that meant the truth in that situation. Blondie and Red looked at me and then at them. I offered a smile but you could hear crickets chirping it was that awkwardly silent.

  “Oh,” Red replied before excusing herself to go to the bathroom. Blondie did the same. I was pretty sure they didn’t need to pee.

  The rest of the class was interminably long. I kept getting glances from the mom snobs with only one potential father. Four weeks, that’s all I needed to get through and then I’d know for sure. I could get back to a normal life without being constantly reminded what a terrible person I was.

  After the class, Brady had to run to catch a gig. That left me with Robert who insisted we go for a nutritious snack at the nearby café.

  “We have to talk about the living arrangements,” he started. Not that again.

  “I told you, I’m staying in my apartment.”

  “I will want to see the baby, I don’t want to have to travel downtown to do it.”

  My feet were swollen, my boobs hurt, and my back ached. Talking about his desires at that stage wasn’t high on my priority list. “We’ll talk about it later, there’s still a month to go.”

  “We have to prepare for these things now. When the baby comes, there will be no time. Newborns need a stable environment,” he insisted. “I’ve written a few notes down on things we’ll need to do.” Oh God, shoot me now, he pulled out his legal notebook.

  If there was one thing this baby was going to need to have, it was patience. If Robert was its father, it was going to have to sit through a lot of planning meetings. Just like I had.

  I tuned Robert out after hearing the top three of his concerns. When he started talking about enrolling in a good school to secure a place early, I switched off. He was probably already making college enquiries.

  When the list was done, I was allowed to go home. Robert walked me to my door and left. Finally, some peace and quiet. I showered and went to bed, exhausted from the long day. Having a baby was practically a full time job.

  I couldn’t settle all night. Finally, at two o’clock I couldn’t take it anymore and got up. My back was killing me, as were the Braxton Hicks that the doctor had warned me about. God, they hurt.

  I shuffled across the bathroom floor, wondering where my hot water bottle was. Some heat might help the back pain, I at least had to try.

  Then it happened. In one wet gush that started off as a drizzle, my waters broke. At first I thought I had wet myself but then the realization sunk in. This baby was coming and it was coming now.

  “No, no, it’s too early,” I whispered, willing it to go away and come back later.

  I hadn’t taken all the classes, I hadn’t learned how to give birth yet. The baby had to stay inside for another four weeks. It wasn’t time yet.

  Plus, I had work tomorrow, I had to open the store. My maternity leave hadn’t kicked in yet. I needed all the hours I could get.

  I raced for my phone, dialing Brady with a shaking hand. He answered after two rings and promised to come right over. The moment I hung up, I started packing a bag. I had no idea where my sudden calm came from, perhaps I was in denial about what was happening, but I changed and was ready by the door as Brady arrived.

  “Do you need an ambulance?” He asked, his first question.

  “No, we’ll just grab a cab. Babies take a while to come, that’s what the book said. I probably have hours to wait. Or it still could be a false alarm.” Why was I being so calm? I seriously didn’t know where my confidence was coming from.

  Brady helped me down to the street and hailed a cab. He was doing enough panicking for the two of us. We were halfway to the hospital when I remembered Robert. I gave him a quick call and got his voicemail. I left a message for him to meet us at the hospital. He’d have plenty of time to get there for the main event.

  The pain was unbearable, stabbing through me at intervals way too close together to be comfortable. I was quickly whisked through emergency and taken up to the maternity ward.

  Brady helped me onto the bed as nurses hooked me and my belly up to all kinds of machines. A doctor hovered over me. “You’re fully dilated. This baby is coming now.”

  Chapter 7

  I brought a little person into the world. The little tyke, the one that had kicked me and made me throw up so many times was in my arms. I could barely believe it.

  The room was completely silent, I’d kicked out both Brady and Robert – when he finally arrived – and the hospital staff had been distracted by someone else. It was just me and my daughter.

  She was perfect. Absolutely, unequivocally, perfect. Her gorgeous blue eyes stared up at me, her little pink mouth forming an O. I had spent six months worrying that I wouldn’t be good enough for her, but in that moment I knew I could do it. In that instant, I knew I would walk to the ends of the earth for her. I was her mother and I would have given my life for her.

  Now, if only I could give her a father. Robert peeked his head around the door. “Can I come in?” I nodded, I guessed I couldn’t keep her to myself forever. Or, was that an option?

  Robert and Brady walked in warily, taking a side of the bed each. I repositioned my daughter so they could get a better look at her. I was never going to get tired of saying my daughter.

  “She looks just like you,” Brady cooed.

  “She’s way more beautiful than me,” I replied. As I looked up, I realized
I really needed to have a definite answer about her paternity. It wasn’t fair to either of the men to delay it any longer. One of them needed to know they were a father. My daughter needed a daddy.

  “Has the doctor performed all the tests on her?” Robert asked.

  “She’s completely healthy.”

  They both sighed with relief. “Can I hold her?” Brady asked. I nodded and reluctantly handed her across. He handed her to Robert for his turn shortly afterwards.

  The moment I saw the doctor again, I requested the paternity test. A nurse returned with three swabs and took DNA samples from everyone except me. The results would take twenty-four hours.

  Robert and Brady were kicked out shortly afterwards as the nurse declared visiting time over. I was exhausted, ready for painkillers and sleep. My eyelids closed and all I could see was the face of my baby girl.

  I awoke early the next day with a body that felt like it had been run over – twice. Seeing my daughter made it all go away though. I spent the entire day getting to know her, falling in love over and over again.

  When the results were delivered, I felt sick. There would be only one name in the envelope and it terrified me to know who it was. Was it going to be Robert or Brady that I would be extrinsically linked to for the rest of my life? Which one of them would walk my baby girl down the aisle one day? Which one would tuck her in at night and scare off her boyfriends?

  Deep down, I think I knew who it would be without looking at the results. But I didn’t want to guess. If I were wrong, then I would be disappointed. But a part of me knew I wouldn’t be wrong. Call it my recently acquired mother’s intuition, but it was something deep inside that called to my daughter’s father. My heart felt it already.

  My shaking hand slid under the envelope and opened the flap. I pulled out the piece of paper that was going to change everything and unfolded it. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and read the results.

  Scanning the lines, my heart contracted as I read the name. There was almost one hundred percent accuracy, the test didn’t lie. The name of my daughter’s father was staring back at me in black and white. Six months of waiting and wondering was over.

  I anxiously waited until Brady and Robert both showed up and closed the door of my hospital room. Just holding up the envelope caused the air to buzz with nerves and anticipation.

  “Before I tell you the results, I really wanted to apologize to both of you for putting you through this. I was pretty mixed up when I met you both, the car accident had thrown my life into chaos,” I started, knowing it would probably be my last chance to have their combined attention. “Ever since the day I found out about the pregnancy, I’ve been a different person. She’s changed my life for the better. So, I’m sorry, really sorry for doing this to you.”

  “It’s okay, Care, it could happen to anyone,” Brady offered.

  Robert gritted his teeth together. “Just get on with it. Who is the father?”

  I guessed time for heartfelt sentiments were over. I pulled out the piece of paper, even though I didn’t need to see the name, and took a deep breath.

  Chapter 8

  “Brady, she’s yours,” I muttered. I scanned their faces, desperately needing to know what was going through their minds.

  Robert was the first to move. He let out the breath he was holding and visibly relaxed. “Thank God for that. Wow, dodged a bullet there. Good luck, Caroline.” He patted me on the shoulder and hurried out.

  I stood there, stunned. All those months where Robert had kept lists and reminded me to take my vitamins, and he was relieved not to be the father of my perfect baby girl? I knew I should have been happy that he wasn’t miserable over the fact, but it was still a little offensive.

  I didn’t have time to dwell on it as Brady’s arms wrapped around me. He pulled me close to him in a crushing bear hug. “Thank you, Care.”

  I hugged him back, still not entirely sure what he was thinking about the results. Brady was not the fatherly type, but I wasn’t the motherly type either. Together, I knew we’d figure it out somehow.

  When it came down to it, I realized I had always wanted Brady to be the father. We had a connection, a passion between us that burned far brighter than a million candles. I wanted our baby to have a messy childhood, full of music and laughter, with no lists in sight.

  He finally let me go and I noticed the tears in his eyes for the first time. That couldn’t be a good thing. “Brady, talk to me. If you don’t want this, I can do it on my own. I know you didn’t want any kind of commitment. We can-” He cut me off by placing a finger on my lips.

  “Shh. I want this more than I want to breathe.” His face broke out in a thousand-watt smile. “May I?” I nodded and watched as he picked up our daughter and cradled her to his chest. “What are you going to call her?”

  “There’s a few names I was thinking of.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “But I wanted to run it by her daddy before I decided.”

  “Daddy… I like the sound of that. What are they?”

  “I quite like Katherine, after my-”

  “Grandmother.” Brady smiled as he finished my sentence. “What about Katherine Ella? After the best-”

  “Singer in the world, Ella Fitzgerald. I think that’s perfect.” I stood next to him, Katherine Ella stared back at us with her little eyes wide open. We were going to be putty in her perfect little hands.

  That evening as I dozed, Brady was still holding Katherine in his arms and singing to her softly. He was reclining by the window, the last rays of the sun poking through the blinds.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you,” he said apologetically.

  I sat up, the sight bringing a smile to my lips. “No, you didn’t. Is she okay?”

  “She’s wonderful.” I wondered if I was ever going to get her back from him. I might have to pry her out of his arms. “I want you to know that I’ve got things under control.”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’ve started selling my songs, the royalties are going to give us a steady stream of income. Plus, our band are only going to play on weekends so I’ll be able to be at home most nights now.”

  Shut the front door. Brady was actually thinking about the future? Color me stunned. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to give up on your dream.”

  “My dream was always to be a songwriter, you know that. And I can still be in the band, just not every night. Plus, I’d rather spend time with my favorite two girls.” The contented look on his face told me he wasn’t lying. “Everything’s going to be fine. I want us to be a family. I’ve got this.”

  I didn’t doubt it. For once, I actually felt sure about the future. I just couldn’t believe it was Brady giving me the comfort and reassurance I needed. Miracles did happen. And people do surprise you. Who would have thought?

  Chapter 9 – 1 Month Later

  “Another one? Don’t you have enough already?” I giggled.

  Brady held the camera steady, aimed directly at Katherine and I. “I will never have enough photos of you two. Plus, my mom is practically begging for more. She likes to show them to all her friends and boast about what a beautiful granddaughter she has. Now, smile.”

  I smiled and I was certain Katherine knew exactly what was going on because she gave a little grin too. As it turned out, Brady’s mom was overjoyed about being a grandmother. She had helped out on more than one occasion when I had no clue what I was doing.

  Brady had been exemplary too. I was pretty certain he had changed more diapers than I had and always went to the store when we ran out of baby wipes. He never took a list with him, but he always returned with what we needed.

  My mother hadn’t reacted the way I thought she would when I told her there was a new Smith in the world. While she wasn’t as great as Brady’s mom, she still managed to pop over and see Katherine after I got home from the hospital. Who knows, perhaps my baby girl was the first step in a long road to repairing our relationship.

  “Now what are you d
oing?” I asked, bemused at Brady’s enthusiasm. It was supposed to be a quiet Friday night in front of the television, not a photo session.

  “I’m putting it on timer, I want to be in the photo too.” He fiddled with a few more buttons before hurrying over to us.

  Before I knew it, he was kneeling in front of me. Reaching into his pocket, he produced a box.

  Oh. My. God.

  He took my hand. “Caroline Smith, you have made me the happiest guy in the world. I want to spend the rest of my life with you raising our family. Will you marry me?”

  The flash went off, capturing my stunned mullet look for posterity.

  I started nodding. “Of course I will.”

  With shaking hands, he slid the ring onto my finger and sprung up to wrap his arms around Katherine and I. We were already a family, I didn’t need a wedding ring to know that. But it sure felt good having a sparkling engagement ring on my finger.

  Brady had surprised me yet again, I got the feeling that was going to happen a lot over the course of our lives together. And, as it turned out, I absolutely loved surprises.

  About Jamie Campbell

  Jamie Campbell discovered her love for writing when her school ‘What I did on the Weekend’ stories contained monsters and princesses – because what went on in her imagination was always more fun than boring reality. Primarily writing Young Adult Romances of all kinds, Jamie also delves into murder mysteries and ghost stories. Basically, whatever takes her fancy - she lets the characters decide

  Living on the Gold Coast in sunny Queensland, Australia, Jamie is constantly bossed around by her dog Sophie who is a very hard taskmaster and lives largely on sugar.

  Website

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Goodreads

  The Proxy

  by Andrea R. Cooper

  Caroline has found fault with all of her suitors. Even the nunnery sounds more appealing than marriage and children. She thinks she has escaped her duties, until a marriage by proxy arrives. Her future husband is too weak and old to travel. Now, she wishes she had become a nun. Nicholas, the proxy, marries Caroline as a stand-in for her new husband. Nicholas must tame this wild woman and help her to fall in love with the Baron’s character. When Caroline falls for the proxy, what will she do about the Baron? Especially, when she becomes pregnant with Nicholas’ child?