by Marie Ahls
“You’re still coming to the show, right?” I questioned, worried that he might reconsider whatever this was between us.
“We’ll see,” he responded as he walked away and out of the house.
Chapter Eight
The night of the show was here before I knew it. I never even had time to think about what had gone down with Alec on the night he had brought dinner over. Trina had agreed to be my assistant for the night of the show since I couldn’t afford one, and she was the only one keeping me sane.
The models were lined up and ready to take on the runway. I did a last-minute check on the designs and made sure the accessories were the way I wanted them to be, and then I took a moment to stand back and take in the moment. I had done this. I had made all the outfits these fabulous ladies were about to show off.
“Here we go!” I announced and took my spot right where the models would enter the runway so that I could make sure everything was perfect as I sent each woman out there.
From my vantage point, I could see the audience and their reactions as each model took the runway. The applause made an enormous sound throughout the room, and a smile spread over my face in response to their reaction.
My nerves were beyond frayed by the end of it all. It had gone better than expected, and I had been able to secure a meeting with an exclusive boutique about running my line.
My things were packed away and ready to be rolled to the car and then to the reception that followed the show. Trina was off talking with one of the other designers, always a flirt, when the curtain fluttered open, and there was Alec with a huge bouquet of white lilies. He was beaming, but I could only stare blankly at him; I didn’t know for sure what to think after our last interaction. I didn’t even know if he would be here tonight, and I couldn’t process my emotions.
In three large steps, he was in front of me, sweeping me up. He twirled around with me in his arms and excitedly exclaimed, “You looked beautiful up there!” He was referring to the end of my showcase when the designer was introduced, and I had to take a bow on the stage. “You were amazing! Your designs are fabulous! You’re going to have every buyer knocking on your door!” He stopped twirling, his grip loosened, and I slid down his body until my feet were once again on the floor. Then softly he continued. “I’m so proud of you. You’re amazing, Addie. I love you.”
Shocked, I couldn’t even respond. I stared up into his beaming, handsome face. His eyes were bright with anticipation and pride. My heart swelled, knowing that I loved him too. I pulled him towards me and met his lips with my own. When the kiss broke, I whispered against his mouth, “I love you too, Alec.”
He suddenly blurted out, “Let’s get married!”
“What?” I questioned, surprised.
“I know it sounds crazy, but we love each other, and I don’t want to spend another moment without you. We’ve had too many moments apart, and I don’t want to spend one more second away from you. Life’s too short for us to waste any more time. We both know how short life is,” he rambled on. “We could go to Vegas. Tonight. I can fly us there. Let’s do it, Addie. What do you say?” His eyes sought an answer.
I don’t know if it was the emotions of the moment, the adrenaline from the show, or that I was just that crazy, but I agreed, and that’s exactly what we did before we could second guess ourselves. He flew us to Vegas, and we got married in some cheap chapel and rented a motel room down the block to spend our wedding night. Looking back, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I thought for sure the next morning would be filled with regret about this spontaneous decision, but instead there was everything, but regret written all over Alec’s face and in my heart.
***
The next few months were a whirlwind of activity. Alec moved back into the house, we announced to our family and friends that we got remarried, I met with the boutique and signed a contract for pieces for their store, and Alec and I found some time to take a proper honeymoon, which was something we missed doing the first time around. He took me to my dream bucket-list spot: Jamaica.
It was on one of those quiet honeymoon afternoons walking through the resort’s lush garden that Alec picked a flower and placed it behind my left ear. “There is a saying that if you wear a flower behind you right ear, you’re available, and if you wear it on your left side, your heart is taken. You deserve to be loved fiercely, and I intend to do that every day.” He placed the flower behind my left ear, cementing us together and securing another memory in my heart.
When we returned from the honeymoon, there was still one thing we needed to do. I was dreading this moment since we hadn’t done it together since the funeral. We needed to visit Caleb’s grave together.
The drive to the cemetery was quiet, both of us lost in thought. It started to sprinkle as we walked hand in hand from the car to the gravesite; fitting for our somber mood. I cleaned the old, dried flowers off of the tombstone, pulled the weeds from around it, and lay the new flowers down. Alec’s head hung low, and his shoulders trembled. It was the first time I had seen him cry for our son. Our baby. I went to him and wrapped my arms around him. I just let him cry into me.
“Addie. We didn’t do our son’s life justice by letting things fall apart. He would be so disappointed in his dad.”
“He would have been disappointed in us both.” I lifted his face, so his eyes met mine. “Both of us,” I told Alec in a no-nonsense tone. It had been both of us, which I fully understand now. Then, delicately, I added, “We have a lifetime to make it up to Caleb.”
Alec looked me straight in the eye and nodded, both of us knowing how a lifetime could change in a moment's time. That’s what had happened to our lives; they changed in a moment on the day Trina knocked on our door with a baby boy in her arms, and again on the day we buried our son. And then came the day Trina knocked again.
Chapter Nine
The three of us were seated around the dining room table, enjoying the steaks Alec had grilled, when Trina told us she had an announcement. I thought she was finally going to tell us she was getting serious with someone, but she surprised me. “I’m going to dive right in since I don’t know how to bring this up. Caleb’s biological mother came to me a few weeks ago. She’s pregnant again. With a baby girl. She wants you two to take the baby.” Trina paused to take a sip of her water. “I know it’s a little unorthodox and not how things are normally done, but I was able to pull some strings, and she’s yours if you want her.” She finished her announcement to stunned silence. When we had adopted Caleb, we had an open adoption, but his biological mother only wanted pictures and updates. She never came to visit.
“I don’t understand,” I replied finally, looking across the table toward Alec. Our eyes met, and he looked just as astonished as I felt.
“The baby is yours if you want her. Caleb’s sister could be your child.” Trina said this matter of factly, knowing perfectly well what she was saying.
Tears sprang to my eyes. Alec and I hadn’t discussed children since we had remarried a few months before. We were enjoying each other, but this was a second chance for our family, and it would be Caleb’s sister.
Before I could say anything else, Alec spoke up, addressing Trina, though the whole time his eyes never left mine. “I can’t speak for Addie, but hell yes we want her.” He was at my side before I could respond, whispering in my ear, “We can do this. It’s a second chance. A way to honor our son.”
“You really want this?” I asked, feeling like this was a dream.
“Yes. Hell yes!” he yelled, and I threw my arms around his neck. I wanted that baby girl more than anything else in the world.
Epilogue
It was six weeks after Trina had announced that we could adopt Caleb’s sister. We had spent the time putting together a nursery, and as hard as it was to be in Caleb’s room again, there seemed to be a new brightness in our house; I knew in my heart that he approved of what we were doing.
We were on our way to the hos
pital to see our baby girl. She had been born only hours before. I was nervous and excited all in one, hoping that this time around I could be a better person for our family. Alec put on a brave face, but I knew he was feeling apprehensive as well. Nervous about what this time around would bring for us and whether we were strong enough to handle what life might throw at us.
Trina met us to escort us when we arrived at the hospital. We both fell in love with the baby girl the instant we saw her in the hospital nursery.
“What should we call her?” I asked Alec when the nurse placed the baby in my arms.
He gazed down at her in wonder and replied, “She looks like a Cora.”
“Cora, huh? Do you want to be a Cora?” I cooed to her, and her eyes popped open at that moment. We laughed at the response to her name. “Cora it is!” Alec declared.
Cora had to spend the night in the hospital, and since I couldn’t bear to leave her, I stayed. Alec returned shortly before the baby was being discharged, and as we walked down the hall together, baby Cora in her car seat, and out the doors of the hospital, I turned to Alec and asked, “What’s next?”
“We go home and raise this baby together.”
About the Author
Marie is a Midwestern, born and raised, who enjoys reading, writing, and good wine. She's married and a mother of two boys. A teacher by day and a writer by night, she enjoys writing characters who find their own happily ever after but not to say they don't have their ups and down along the way. Writing was a lifelong goal of hers and she finally took the plunge when she was inspired by some other amazing authors and their words.
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Perfectly Imperfect
by Kimberley O'Malley
Daisey had everything she ever thought she wanted. Great job as a vet, running her own thriving practice. Check. Loyal best friend since childhood. Check. Great boyfriend who’s about to propose to her. Uh, maybe. The one thing Daisey lacks is the ability to have children, thanks to a childhood spent battling leukemia.
Now her oh-so-terrific boyfriend may not be so perfect. Will Caleb, who’s stood by her through it all, finally find the courage to tell her how he feels? Will Daisey give up on love altogether? Will love save the day?
Author's Dedication
To my children, Jordan Anastasia and Lucas Alexander. We built our family via international adoption and couldn’t be happier. Being a Mom is about emotional ties, not biological ones.
Perfectly Imperfect
by Kimberley O'Malley
Chapter One
Daisey gnawed on the end of her pen and stared out the window, not noticing the beautiful late spring day. The time had come to tell Carter, her boyfriend, she couldn’t have children. Ever. She’d put it off as long as possible, but today had to be the day. They’d started dating a year ago. Today actually. And he was taking her to Chez Philippe’s for dinner. Had something important to ask her, he’d hinted.
An incoming text alert dragged her from her thoughts.
“Have you done the deed?”
The words made her laugh out loud, despite the seriousness of her thoughts. But that was Caleb. He could always make her laugh. Friends since the very first day of kindergarten, more than two decades ago, Caleb was her rock. And tormenter. Whichever hat he felt like wearing that day. His irreverent humor kept her in stitches, even when the topic was far from funny.
She picked up her phone and dashed off a quick “No!”
“Dr. Sherman, your next patient is in room three,” announced her assistant over the PA. She shrugged off her gloomy thoughts of Carter and donned her white coat. A basket full of Golden Retriever puppies would cure her blues.
Several hours later, Daisey dashed into her house to get ready for her big date. Carter Andrews Bradshaw was the only son of the Charleston Bradshaws. Caleb referred to him as ‘the golden child’. Although she’d grown up comfortably, her family paled in comparison to his. But Daisey didn’t care about money. She loved Carter for who he was. An up and coming lawyer in the family firm, Carter had gone to all the right schools, studied all the right things. Dated all the right girls as well. But still chose her. A fact which left her mind boggled when she stopped to consider it. If his parents didn’t exactly approve of her career choice…well, that was their problem. She loved being a vet. And Carter fully supported and defended her to his family.
They’d met by accident. Literally. She’d slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a dog who’d dashed into the road. Carter, driving his convertible behind her, hadn’t stopped in time, ramming her serviceable Volkswagen. The accident-causing dog vanished, leaving her to explain to a rather irate but handsome man why she’d braked so hard. But, as he like to tell it, her dark hair and eyes mesmerized him from the start. Prevented him from even staying angry with her.
She shook her head at the memory and jumped into the shower. Washing away the day’s total of fur and body fluids, she thought about what to wear. After all, if he popped the question, she’d want to wear something nice. Something that would look good in photos. Which brought a frown. The vast majority of her wardrobe consisted of work scrubs and then very casual clothing. Caleb like to remind her she couldn’t get married in flip flops, her favorite choice of shoes.
She sighed as she rinsed shampoo from her hair. That was another bone of contention in her life. Her two favorite men despised each other. To the point they rarely met anymore. In the beginning of her relationship, she’d tried to get the two men to like each other. With dismal results. Caleb pretty much hated Carter on sight, calling him an arrogant, spoiled brat. And Carter tended to look at Caleb like something scraped off the bottom of his Italian loafer. As the year passed, she’d given up on the two becoming friends. She and Caleb saw each other when she wasn’t with Carter. His career at the family firm kept him busy. He was up for partner soon after all. But marrying Carter would seriously cut into their time together. Something Caleb loved to remind her of.
Her phone rang as she toweled herself dry. She answered without looking, worrying Carter might be on his way. “I’m almost ready, honey.”
“I didn’t know you cared,” came Caleb’s deep baritone.
“I thought you were Carter.”
“I get that a lot,” he answered in his dry humor.
“Very funny. Was there something you wanted? I’m already late. Emergency surgery kept me past closing.”
“Just wanted to wish you luck.”
“Say it like you mean it.”
“I do. If this, if Carter, is what you really want.”
“Of course, he is. Can’t you be happy for me?”
“I am. Or I would be if I thought you meant it. Deep down. But you have to tell him. Tonight. Before he asks you, uh, anything.”
She closed her eyes on the wave of pain sweeping through her. This moment had been coming for a long time. Ever since leukemia and the ensuing rounds of chemo had robbed her of her ability to conceive. She’d always known this day would arrive, and still she wasn’t ready for it.
“He’ll understand,” she whispered, hoping the words sounded more convincing to him than they did to herself.
“He’d better,” Caleb growled across the space between them. “If he doesn’t, then he has me to answer to.”
“I know, and I love you for it.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Now I have to go make myself presentable.” She hung up before he could say anything else.
***
Several miles away, Caleb clutched the phone in his hand and listened to the silence. He threw it on the couch next to him. Carter Bradshaw wasn’t good enough to empty her trash, yet Daisey didn’t seem to understand. The man was a jerk, wrapped up in a pretty package. The few times he’d seen them together, he’d been less than impressed with how the other man treated his best friend. His…well there wasn’t any point in going there. He blew out a long breath, trying to rid
himself of the growing sense of unease. Carter was going to ask her to marry him. He knew it in his churning gut. And Daisey would say yes. What woman wouldn’t?
He jumped up and paced the length of his living room. Harley, his ancient Bloodhound, whined from his dog bed in the corner, as if sensing his mood. He crossed the room, running a hand over the dog’s head. “Don’t mind me. Just woman trouble.” The hound yawned and lowered his head onto his front paws as if to say, “You’re on your own with that one.”
“Thanks,” he muttered before resuming his pacing. He and Daisey were meant to be together. Why couldn’t she see? They’d already spent a lifetime together. Last year, he was away for a week at a work conference. Thousands of IT professionals in a huge hotel in Vegas. Vegas! A place he’d always wanted to see. A place they’d plan to see together. But he spent the week missing her. And strengthening his resolve. He would tell her, finally, how he felt about her. As soon as he got home. He’d gotten a bit inebriated one night and almost called her. But he wanted this conversation to happen in person. When he was stone, cold sober. He’d waited this ling. What was a few more days? He’d spent the rest of his time there on pins and needles, waiting to get home. Waiting to tell her he loved her. Had been in love with her for years.
And she’d met him at the airport. In a rush of giggles, she told him about the man she’d met. Carter Andrews Bradshaw. And just like that, his dreams had crashed around him. But he was also her best friend. So, he pasted on a fake smile and listened to every agonizing detail. While he silently berated himself for letting this woman slip away from him. He was a fool who had only himself to blame.
***
Daisey couldn’t blink fast enough to hold back the gathering tears. She glanced around the crowded, fancy dining room, thankful the other patrons seemed engrossed in their own meals. The tears weren’t happy ones though. She’d finally told Carter her deep, dark secret. And watched the smile slide from his face as his eyes shuttered. She reached a hand across the table towards him but let it drop when he flinched.