The One who got Away_A Second Chance Romance

by Mia Ford

“Since I started this job, there’s been something about this baby, Darren,” Sherry confessed.

  Darren sighed, a light chuckle slipping up out of his throat. “Since you started this job, there’s been something about you.”

  Sherry turned around to face Darren. “What do you mean?” She forced a smile, finally getting her emotions together. “Huh?”

  Darren smiled and grabbed Sherry’s hand. “I mean the reason I hired you is because of the way you held Gabriel and cared for him from the very beginning. Ever since then, I’ve been watching you and it looks so natural...you treated him like a mother would treat their child, even though as far as I knew, you didn’t have one.”

  Sherry chuckled. “Oh,” she said, smiling. “I only took care of him for three days, not to say it wasn’t an experience during those three days, but still...”

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” Darren said. “Then there was you.” He pushed some of her hair behind her ear. “Everything about you...a lot of the stuff I saw when you at the bar that night. The coincidence of it all, really, was probably what made me look a little closer. I’m looking int your eyes and then Gabriel's. My mother and Aunt Carol were right?”

  “Your mother and aunt were right about what?” Sherry’s heart thumped. “You didn’t tell them how you originally met me, did you? I only met your mother that one time, but I can see how she would react already.”

  Darren laughed. “No, no. She and Aunt Carol mentioned to me how much Gabriel looked like you.” Darren decided to leave his mother’s foreshadowing words out of the discussion. “At first, I didn’t see it. It was just odd they would say the baby looks like you then me.”

  Sherry cried a bit more, stepping up to the crib. She reached in and pulled some blankets over Gabriel's tiny body. “The more I think about it, Darren, I feel like it’s my child. I really feel like this my little boy.”

  Darren had never cared about a woman’s emotions and feelings the way he cared about Sherry’s right then. He felt his own heart breaking at just listening to and witnessing Sherry’s strife, even if it was well over a year after she gave the child up for adoption. He stepped forward and put his hands on her shoulder while her head dropped and she cried. “We will find out, Sherry. And I hope...” He paused and smiled, thinking about the great conversation he had with Sherry – how he loved to spend time with her, their competitiveness in cooking, their nights sitting out on the terrace. “I hope Gabriel is yours...ours.”

  Chapter 12

  Love blossomed in ways Sherry and Darren would never imagine in the days following that afternoon where Sherry divulged that she felt deep in her heart Gabriel was her child. The very next day, Darren made some calls to find out where to go for paternity and maternity testing. By the middle of next week, they had an appointment set for April 17th at 1 pm. No matter how busy life got for Darren, he always made time for Sherry. They made passionate love every few nights, and Sherry had gotten so used to sleeping in Darren’s room. And he liked her there. He enjoyed waking up out of his sleep to find Sherry creeping into the room then climbing into the bed with him.

  “Even if this child isn’t mine...” Darren began, realizing what he was going to say wouldn’t make sense. He drove the MKZ, curving with the road as it rounded a bend then crossed over a river. “I mean...”

  “If it’s not mine,” Sherry said, looking down at her twiddling thumbs. “Then nothing changes, I guess. I still won’t know where the baby I gave up for adoption is. And that’s okay, if that’s the case. Maybe that’s for the better.”

  As the MKZ turned off of the road and into the parking lot wedged between two generic looking, glass office buildings, both Sherry’s and Darren’s stomachs turned a little bit. If one was excited, the other was nervous. Should Sherry’s guilt come flooding back into her heart, Darren’s mind wrestled with the idea that this woman he hired to be the nanny to his adopted son may not only be the child’s mother, but the child may also be his as well. He parked then they headed inside. Their silence was so loud.

  Darren smiled then sighed when they got back out to the car. Sherry shuttered, the situation seeming so surreal. The test results came back within forty minutes. Darren’s adopted son Gabriel was not only the little boy Sherry had given up for adoption a little over a year ago, but he was also Darren’s child. He pulled out of the parking lot. He felt as if he were in some crazy dream and trying to make sense of it. Glancing over to Sherry, he could only imagine what she was thinking.

  “I had a child all his time?” Darren asked, talking to himself.

  Sherry looked over at Darren. She wondered what was going through this guy’s mind. “You all right?”

  Darren smiled. “What are the chances of adopting a child that winds up to be your own child that you didn’t even know existed?”

  “Hmph,” Sherry said under her breath. “What are the chances of getting a job as a nanny and it just so happens to be to the baby you gave up for adoption?” She looked down at her fingers, nervously fidgeting with her nails. “Never thought my life would turn out like this.”

  “Are you happy?” Darren asked. He wanted to hear about Sherry’s feelings before he voiced too much of his own. “I mean, what are you thinking about it? I can tell you’re excited, but...”

  “I don’t know what I am, really,” Sherry said. “Sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming of something. But...to answer your question...Of course, I’m happy… I would think I’m supposed to be. I love Gabriel more than anything in this world, but...”

  “But what?” Darren asked. The moment of silence at the end of Sherry’s statement lasted too long for him. “But what, Sherry?”

  “Still doesn’t change the guilt I feel,” Sherry finally admitted. “It’s not like I found my child by searching for him because the guilt got to be too much. I just sort of...sort of...”

  “Stumbled upon him?” Darren asked, finishing the statement.

  Sherry turned and looked into Darren’s eyes. “Yeah, basically. I was looking for a job...not looking for my child.”

  Darren nodded, pulling up to an intersection and turning after making sure the coast was clear. “I can imagine.”

  “What about you?” Sherry asked. “I mean, I know you might feel some kind of way about me now. I know how guys look at some women...at least, the guys around here. I probably could’ve looked around for your card or something, but I never did. My life was just so...so devastating then. I had just gotten that diagnosis and was scared for my life.”

  “Yeah, well I was coping with having this gnawing void,” Darren said. “Not that that’s anything compared to what you were feeling, as I’m sure it’s not. For me, it just blows my mind to know that all this time I’ve had a child and didn't even know it.” He thought back to the day where his own adoption case manager had showed him a few babies for him to basically pick from One of the requirements for Darren was that the child look somewhat like him. He wondered what it was about Gabriel that spoke to him. “How did I know without even knowing that I know?”

  Sherry listened as Darren explained the adoption process. Her heart went out to some of the stigma he faced trying to adopt a child. She admitted that a single, handsome man of means adopting a child with no wife certainly was a little strange. She scoffed. “If you were back in my hometown, people all over town would be talking about you. They would probably be staring at you when you come out of the post office on Main Street.”

  Darren laughed at Sherry’s sense of humor even in this emotional situation. He looked over Sherry. Of course, how he saw her changed at this point. She went from being the nanny he hooked up with one night a couple of years ago to the mother of his own child – his own flesh and blood. “Yeah, I could see that.”

  The sense of riding down the street like a couple rather than a boss and his employee was uncanny, but comfortable.

  “So, you never answered my question from a couple weeks ago,” Sherry said.

  “What question?” Darren asked. He tu
rned off of Broadway then drove slowly down the brick street leading back to his part of the neighborhood. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, I was waiting until we got the results to bring it back up,” Sherry said. “I mean, I think the results probably do affect the answer.” Deep down, she wondered if maybe Darren didn’t like the idea of her being the mother to a child that happened to also be his. Some of his comments about marriage and relationships certainly weren’t very optimistic. After all, this guy did go and adopt a child rather than get married and have one of his own. That must say something. “You never answered me when I asked you what are we?”

  Darren nodded, remembering the question very well. He turned toward Sherry and smiled. “Well, what do we feel like to you?”

  Sherry shrugged. “I don’t know.” She wished she could know what answer Darren was looking for. It had been so long since she’d been in the game when it came to dealing with men that some of her skills when it came to reading them needed to be sharpened up.

  “Why don’t we just be what we feel like?” Darren asked.

  Sherry then noticed Darren park out in front of the house. The last several minutes had been so lost in thought she hadn’t even realized the brick street they’d been driving down as the one where they lived. “Um, aren’t we gonna go get Gabriel? From the daycare? You didn’t forget, did you?”

  Darren chuckled, undoing his seat belt. “Remember when I used the bathroom once we came from getting the results? Well, while I was in there, I called the daycare and told them I wanted Gabriel to stay until later on. You know I’m good friends with the owner, so they agreed and I’ll just have to pay the balance later.”

  “Oh, okay,” Sherry said, having planned her afternoon as she would normally.

  “I figured it could be just you and me,” Darren said, raising his eyebrows. “And we don’t have to worry about a baby suddenly crying.”

  Darren led Sherry into the house. This time, their walking in together felt different. The results changed everything and neither of them wanted to derail the train. Quickly, Darren slammed the door shut then pulled Sherry close to him. They kissed, one confessing their love to the other. They kissed all the way down the hall until Darren’s lower back leaned into the kitchen island.

  Soon enough, Sherry dashed away to open one of the sets of French doors. By time she turned around, she discovered Darren was chasing her. A shrill slipped out of her lips and she jerked away. Darren unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off, tossing it to the side. He barely missed Sherry’s shirt then rushed around the other side of the kitchen island so he could cut her off.

  Sherry realized that Darren was probably going to catch up with her regardless. She stopped, grabbing her stomach in laughter. Darren rushed up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He laughed and squeezed then leaned Sherry’s head back so he could get a kiss. Sherry obliged, her emotions taking over inside. When she would look into Darren’s eyes, everything leading up to today clicked.

  When Darren finally let go of Sherry then leaned against the counter with interested eyes, Sherry put her hand into his. “Interesting how everything in life happens for a reason.”

  Darren stood straight up, putting his free hand in Sherry’s hand. He ran his fingers over her head. The silky texture of her golden blonde hair slipped through his fingers so easily. “Yeah, I think the same thing sometimes.” He looked away for a moment. “Well, a lot really.”

  A nice breeze whipped in through the french doors. Sherry closed her eyes for a moment then looked back into Darren’s eyes. The numerous events leading up to this day flashed through her mind like a slide show. It was unreal – unbelievable. Almost as if she were floating on thin air, She allowed Darren to pull her by the hand down to the dining room table. With an animalistic passion, Darren moved a dining room chair out of the way. Sherry giggled uncontrollably as Darren lifted her up onto the table. It seemed nearly effortless.

  “I love you,” Sherry said. The words slipped out of her mouth, almost as if she had no control. She chuckled nervously. What is he gonna say in return?

  Darren smiled and never broke eye contact with Sherry. “I love you too.” He kissed her. “I love you too, Sherry.”

  Sherry admired Darren for the man he was then commenced to finish kissing him passionately. They chuckled. Their embrace turned into playful wrestling at times. Darren overpowered Sherry, forcing to her to lay back when he pinned her down by her wrists. He then leaned over and pressed his teeth around her shirt collar, pulling it back then quickly sticking his chin under.

  “Just take the shirt off!” Sherry suggested then laughed.

  Darren slapped Sherry’s ass then did just that, lifting her shirt up over her head then tossing it to the side. Per usual, he pressed his face between her breasts, took a deep breath, then moved his head around. In the heat of the moment, he and Sherry then rushed to get all of their clothes off. Pants, shirts, and underwear flew in various directions. Sun rays reached into the dining room and spread across the carpet. Within minutes, Sherry lay on her back with her legs up. Darren positioned himself between her then pressed the head of his manhood toward the entrance to Sherry’s insides.

  The two lovers locked eyes for a long moment. Speaking wasn’t necessary, as their eyes said enough. Darren then smiled, slid his hand up to her neck and gently wrapped his hands around it. Sherry then winced, feeling Darren enter her. The initial stretch was just as powerful as it’d been the first time as well as every time since then. And Sherry loved it.

  “Darren,” Sherry said.

  Darren leaned over and kissed Sherry as he pressed all the way into it. Both his and her chests pumped as the pleasure overcame them both. Darren kissed Sherry’s forehead then closed his eyes, grunting softly before turning toward the french doors. New emotions he had never felt before flowed through his veins. He stroked deeply into Sherry; her warm thighs pressed against his sides.

  Sherry squealed and screamed as Darren worked his way up to vigorous pounding. With a good grip on Sherry’s neck, he thrust so wildly that her body jolted back and forth on the dining room table’s surface. Seeing his bouncing chest made his cock throb. When he finally slowed down, wiping the sweat on his forehead with his forearm, he stepped back. He could tell Sherry was ready for a new position. With his manhood standing tall in front of him, the 6’2”, in shape man helped Sherry down off of the table. I wonder where she’s going.

  Sherry looked back at Darren and smiled, telling him with her eyes that she wanted to do something they hadn’t don before. Neither of them paying any mind to the open French door, Sherry gripped the edge of the dining room table. She then arched her back, sticking her behind out as far as she could with her legs spread about. A wince slipped out of her mouth when Darren slapped her ass. He walked up, gripped her waist tightly, then pushed deep inside.

  The sound of Darren’s pelvis slamming against Sherry’s backside filled the room. It was methodical; the rhythm was perfect. Sherry had two orgasms and Darren was still holding his own. He looked into Sherry’s eyes when she looked back over her shoulder. Finding out that Gabriel is really his son, and that this wonderful woman he met in such a strange series of coincidences was his mother, has his heart filled with emotions that made Sherry the only woman he saw. This almost seemed like unbelievable dream. But Darren didn’t want to wake up.

  “I’m close,” Darren announced, breathing heavily. “Damn! Whew. I’m close.”

  Darren worked up to a steady, fast stroke then his body stiffened. He closed his eyes so hard that when he opened them, there was an unexplainable blurriness to the room. The warm breeze was the only thing he could process; the world outside didn’t matter. Darren held Sherry tightly in place until he too had his orgasm.

  Darren leaned over and wrapped his arms around Sherry. He licked her ear, telling her how much he loved her. Once he calmed down, he stood up and grabbed a kitchen towel to wipe his forehead. Before he could pull the towel a
way from his face, Sherry had pressed up against him. She kissed him while simultaneously fondling his softening manhood. Darren chuckled as he looked into her eyes again.

  “I’m happy with the results,” Darren said. He then opened his eyes a bit wider, indicating he wanted some sort of response from Sherry.

  Sherry nodded and smiled. Suddenly, for a variety of reasons, the guilt she felt from giving Gabriel up for adoption was masked by the ultimate outcome. “Yeah, I am too.” She giggled. “Who would've thought applying for a job would lead to this?”

  Darren chuckled. I have a child and didn’t even know it. “Yeah...and who thought one night of hot sex would lead to this? I’m a father… a father.”

  “I have my son,” Sherry said, glancing down at the floor. A stray tear rolled down her cheek. “And didn’t even know it.”

  ***

  Darren and Sherry went upstairs and enjoyed a nap in Darren’s bed. She was pleasantly awoken by his head as he wedged it between her legs. His tongue thrashed about, making Sherry to wake up and look down with confusion. She too wanted to take part in the festivities. As the sun descended out of the sky for the late afternoon, Sherry sat on Darren’s face. She then leaned forward and orally pleased him.

  Sherry lay in bed for nearly twenty minutes after their post-nap foreplay. Darren’s phone rang, him hearing it all the way from downstairs. He rushed to answer it, held a conversation, then climbed the steps looking down into his phone’s screen. Sherry watched him approach the bedroom doorway and pause.

  “Everything alright?” Sherry asked.

  Darren looked up at Sherry and smiled. “Yeah, I guess.” He bit his bottom lip in thought. “You know what we could do?”

  Sherry listened as Darren explained he was invited to a charity fundraiser up at the Wayne Banquet Hall and Conference Center. He knew it was a last-minute invitation, but he certainly wouldn’t mind going. Today’s events were so impacting that both he and Sherry admitted they would need time to process it – to come to grips with it being so real even though everything seemed so unreal. Darren proposed that he arrange for Gabriel to have have daycare this evening. He wanted to take Sherry to get a dress then they attend the event...as a couple. Sherry’s eyes bulged as Darren described what kind of shindig to expect. She quickly slid out of the bed then rushed into her room so she could throw on some clothes. “Sure, I’ll go… I’ll go.”