“No, I’m going to wait and see what Shane wants.”
“Understandable,” Andy nodded. “He’s your son, no matter what his last name is.”
“I agree. Still. I like Shane Edward Ford much better.”
Andy laughs. “As do I, little brother.”
“Don’t start, Andy.”
Kendra smiled as she walked in the den in front of her son, holding his hand behind her. He tightened his grip and walked in, standing just to her right. Kendra pulled him in front of her and placed her arms around his shoulders. She pressed herself into him, giving him silent support as she kissed the back of his head. Shane smiled. Not because of the kiss, but because his brother was poking his back through his Mom’s belly.
Les and Andy turned at the same time and gasped at Shane, both stunned at how much that picture did not do the resemblance justice. This young man could be their triplet. He was definitely them, feature wise. He was just a shade or two darker and his hair was curly. Other than that, Shane was them twenty-four years ago.
“Shane,” Kendra said behind him. “This is your father, Charles Christian Ford. Les, this is Shane Edward Atkins.”
“Hello, sir,” Shane smiled and held out his hand.
“Shane,” Les grinned at his son as he took his offered hand. “It’s great to finally see you in person.”
“You, too, sir.”
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you very much. I thought you forgot it this year but my mom says you’re my present this year.”
Les smiled at Kendra, happy she put it like that to him, even though he felt Shane was his present today. “I am, son. Are you surprised?”
“I am,” Shane nodded. “Really surprised but in a good way.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Did your Mom tell you that I plan to make this permanent?”
Shane frowned. “Permanent, sir?”
“I’m not leaving again, Shane. I’d like to be in your life, you and your brother’s.”
“Oh. Yes, I would like that. Mom’s never getting married and I want a father. I like Gramps but I want my own dad but I promise to share you with my brother when he comes out of my mom’s belly.”
Andy laughed along with Les who nodded at his son. “Good, because I want to be shared between you two, as well. I’m your father and I will always be around for you and your brother from now on,” Les said then looked up at Kendra. “I promise that to you, Shane.”
Les wanted to reach out and hug him, but it felt too soon. Kendra saw the want in his eyes and bent to Shane’s ear and whispered it was okay to hug him if he wanted to.
“It is?” Shane asked, his eyes wide and bright.
“It is, baby, I promise,” Kendra nodded, taking her arms from Shane’s shoulders.
Shane looked back at a confused-looking Les then slowly took a step, then a second. Shane barely got his arms half way up before he found himself tightly embraced in his father’s arms.
After Les held him for a few moments, Kendra, her back hurting her again, grabbed more tissues and moved to the recliner. She was grateful when Andy offered his hand. She took it then lowered herself in the recliner and watched her son and his father bond. When they finally released one another, Les’ eyes were watered as well.
“Speaking of brothers, Shane,” Les smiled. “I’d like you to meet mine.”
Shane turned and held out his hand to Andy, a warm smile planted on his face. Andy smiled as he took Shane’s hand.
“I’m David Andrew Ford. Call me Uncle Andy.”
Shane frowned. “If your name is David, why are you ‘Uncle Andy’?”
Everyone laughed at his question. The kid was quick and Andy had a feeling he’ll run Ford Investments before he or Les would.
“I’m named after your grandfather, my father. His name is David, too, so everyone calls me Andy.”
“Oh. Okay. I’m Shane Edward Atkins. I’m named after my other grandfather. His name is Shane Edward Atkins, too, but everyone calls him Sed. ‘Cept me. I call him Gramps. Hi, Uncle Andy.”
“Hello, Shane,” Andy grinned. “He’s us all over again, Les.”
“Indeed he is, Andy,” Les nodded.
“I am?”
“Yes, Shane. You look a lot like Andy and I when we were your age.”
“Really? Cool,” Shane grinned.
“Yes, that’s cool, Shane, but now you have to go to bed. It’s late and you have school in the morning.”
“Okay, Mom,” Shane said then walked over to kiss his mother’s cheek. He smiled as he walked to the door then froze in the doorway. He looked back to Les and frowned. “Uh… when will I see you again, Mr. Ford?”
“Shane,” Andy frowned. “This is your father. You can’t call him ‘Mr. Ford’.”
“Do I call him Les, Uncle Andy?”
Les walked over to Shane and smiled. “What would you like to call me, Shane?”
“I like ‘Dad’. Is that okay?”
“It is and I’d be more than happy if that’s what you chose to call me.”
Shane flushed then softly said, “When am I going to see you again, Dad?”
“Uh,” Les said, pretending to think, as he tried to control his emotions. “How about I swing by here and take you to school in the morning?”
“Cool! Can he, Mom?”
“Sure, Shane. I know you and your father would love that. Now off to bed.”
“Okay. Night, Mom! Night, Uncle Andy! Night, Dad! See you in the morning!”
The three of them watched as Shane took off and heard his feet barreling up the stairs. Kendra sighed and shook her head as she attempted to stand.
“I’m going to bed, too. This kid wears me out.”
“What time should I be back in the morning, Kendra?”
“Shane starts at eight, so we usually leave by seven-thirty at the latest. He likes to have breakfast with his classmates.”
“Great. I’ll be here at seven, then.”
“He’ll be dressed and ready. He’s looking forward to it,” Kendra nodded then walked the Ford brothers to the door. Andy smiled at Kendra and kissed her cheek.
“Thanks for this, Kendra. You will never be disappointed in trusting us. Good night.”
“I don’t think I will either, Andy. Good night.”
Andy smiled again then walked to their rental car as Les lingered.
“Thank you for trusting me, honey,” Les whispered as he caressed her cheek. “I promise I won’t hurt him or you.”
Kendra nodded then sighed. “I know that now. You already have love for Shane.”
Les smiled and caressed her belly. “I do and I have it for this little one, too.”
“Good. I’ll see you at seven.”
“Seven,” Les confirmed then bent and softly kissed her lips. He was pleasantly surprised she kissed him back. He turned and grinned as he walked to the car. Nothing could spoil his good mood he thought when he got in the car and Andy drove to their nearby hotel. Nothing at all.
Chapter FOURTEEN
Now You
“Thanks for today. I’m sure Shane enjoyed being with you and Andy. He looked happy just now, as he has every day since meeting the two of you.”
Kendra sat in a stool at her kitchen’s breakfast bar, mauling a bag of cheddar and caramel popcorn and a tall glass of apple juice. Since there was no school that day, Les and Andy picked up Shane and spent the day with him, along with their parents and his sister’s little girl. Randa, the twins’ sister, couldn’t make it and Les said she was very disappointed, but she’d just found out she was pregnant again and her husband didn’t want her to travel. Shane and Kendra understood.
“The pleasure was ours, Kendra. You and your parents have done an excellent job with Shane.”
“Thanks,” Kendra grinned then went to the freezer and pulled out Chunky Monkey ice cream. Les’ eyes widened when she poured apple juice in the carton and started eating.
“No thanks needed. I’m only speaking the tr
uth. He’s a delight and is well mannered. My parents are in love already. As is Nicola. She didn’t want to go back to the hotel but she was falling asleep on her feet.”
Kendra smiled. Yes, Shane was well-mannered and it didn’t take a lot of work to get him that way. He’d always been a quiet child, eager to learn and to please his mom and grandparents, who rewarded his behavior handsomely.
“Speaking of parents,” Kendra said after a satisfied groan. “I cannot believe Melina the Diva is your mother. You look nothing like her. I never would have guessed that.”
“Like Shane, Andy and I are pure Ford,” Les chuckled.
“Indeed,” Kendra sighed. “If I’d met David before, I think I would have figured out your name a long time ago.”
Les nodded and smiled as he sat next to Kendra, watching her devour her treat.
“Kendra, have you thought anymore about our conversation from last night?”
“No,” Kendra smirked, shaking her head at her rapidly dwindling treat.
“No you haven’t thought about it or no to living with me?”
“No to everything,” Kendra snorted. “If you’re serious about not trying to take our sons away from me, then we can work out a schedule. I won’t be stingy with it. You can have all the access you want with them. Shared custody, if you’d like. I’m sure Shane and this one would love that.”
Les’ eyes travelled down to her expanding stomach then back up to her beautiful face. He studied Kendra as she practically shoveled spoon after spoon of that disgusting snack. She has to be thinking all he wants is sex with her. He had to figure out a way to show her otherwise; not only to show but to prove that she is wanted, that she was and is loved by him for ten, almost eleven years and now that she was back in his life, he wanted her at his side. Forever.
Question was: how? What was it going to take for him to convince her? He wouldn’t threaten her. No. She’d run again and do a better job at hiding and he could not risk losing her, Shane or his new son. Shane was ten and he already missed all those years. And so did his family and they were already in complete love with Shane and would not want to let him go ever.
Bribery? No. Kendra did not give Les the impression she was materialistic in any way and she appeared to love to work. Though he knew he was richer than she was, he knew there was nothing in his portfolio that she wanted.
Perhaps emotional bribery would work. Yeah, Les felt he could share a couple of tears if need be. He was still raw at the knowledge he missed Shane’s first ten years and the fear of missing another minute or any minute of his new son’s life made the ache even worse. And the thought of losing Kendra again… well, that just gutted him.
No, he sighed as he thought. He was going to be honest and then beg. He wanted her, needed her and he always would. There was no else out there for him and he needed her to see that there never would be. He would try to get her to fall for him. He wasn’t a bad catch, after all. He was a good-looking man. Rich. Single and ready to commit. To her. Only her.
It was time to try. Now. He turned in his seat to look at her straight on. Let the begging begin.
“Kendra, please.”
“No, Les. It’s not going to happen!”
“Why?”
Kendra snorted and shook her head. “Because I’m not moving in with a man I’m not married to, I don’t care how many children we have together!”
“Then marry me.”
“Huh?” Kendra gasped long. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“I don’t know,” Les shrugged. “Maybe because you love me?”
“What?”
“I love you.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
“That’s not funny, Les!”
“Do you hear me laughing?”
“But… but… damn it, Les! You don’t even know me!”
“I know enough and what I know, I love. Marry me.”
“I can’t do that, Les.”
“Why?”
“I want things.”
“What do you want, Kendra?”
“I want… to keep working.”
“Okay, work. No one’s stopping you and no one will… ever.”
“I want more kids.”
“A dozen sounds good to me.”
“I don’t ever want to live far from my parents.”
“I can’t wait to meet them. When we look for a home, I’ll make sure there’s enough room for them whenever they want to come around. It’ll be far from our bedroom. Wouldn’t want to embarrass them when I make you happy in our bedroom.”
Kendra sighed and shook her head, noting how much she liked the thought of him making her happy anywhere.
“I want to see the world.”
“I can well afford that and a nanny. She’ll come with us.”
“Damn it, Les!”
“What, honey?” Les said softly.
“Stop agreeing with me,” Kendra cried and threw her spoon on the counter. “You don’t want me!”
Les’ head tilted in confusion. “I don’t want you? Are you serious? Why… why the tears, Kendra?”
“You don’t want me! I’m a normal, healthy woman and I want to be loved; I want to be wanted for something other than… something other than having a vagina!”
Les stared at Kendra. She had to be kidding! Wanted? Loved? She had that from him and always would. How the hell will he convince her of that? Think…
Les smirked then walked to the hall and shouted out, “ANDY!”
“What?!” Andy shouted back, sounding completely frustrated. “You’re distracting me, Les! Shane’s kicking my ass in this game! Damn, he’s good with this!”
“Two bucks, Uncle Andy!”
“Great! And now you’ve cost me two bucks, Les!”
Les dropped his head and shook it, convinced Shane was actually his twin and Andy was his son. Andy had bought a Wii and every evening him and Shane disappeared in the den and played with it while Kendra and Les planned and executed dinner. After they ate, Les and Andy went over his homework with him then Shane ran for his bath. Les had hired someone to do the majority of the cleaning so Kendra could relax and work from the den. As soon as Shane was done with his bath, he ran to the den then he and Andy jumped on the Wii, riveting Kendra and Les with their loud and boisterous play. Andy was no match for Shane, no matter what the game.
Kendra was glad they’d gotten Shane outside today, he needed the outing as well as the meeting with his other grandparents. When they returned, Shane was full of stories of how his grandpa David beat him and Uncle Andy at bowling and how his cousin Nicola held his hand the entire day. Shane indeed had a wonderful day.
“Get in here, Andy!”
“Fine! I’ll be there… damn! Another knock out! One minute, Les! I gotta get up my aim right. Shane’s going the right way for TKO!”
Les shook his head again then turned back to Kendra. “You should know, Kendra, that Shane asked me why he doesn’t have the same last name as Andy and me. He wants it changed.”
“He wants to be Shane Edward…Ford?”
“He does. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“I guess,” Kendra shrugged.
“Kendra Nichelle Ford sounds even better.”
Kendra shook her head and sighed. “Damn it, Les! Not again!”
Les frowned but inside he enjoyed seeing the beautiful pout and exaggerated sigh that escaped her delicious looking mouth. They’d been in town almost a week and he still hadn’t touched her, outside an occasional soft kiss, like the one he gave her when he showed up at her home that first night. He missed her and his body frequently reminded him of it. Les was aching to be inside her. It got worse for him every day, especially with her being so close to him and, what he felt, unreachable.
“What?” Les asked softly. “Not again, what?”
“Will you stop asking? It’s not going to happen! I will not be tied to a man just because we have kids together. I want and need more.”<
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“Fine,” Les murmured then shouted, “Just wait. Andy! Now!”
“All right!” Andy shouted back. He appeared in the kitchen two seconds later and went straight to the swear jar and deposited a twenty. “I got a little carried away in there,” Andy said sheepishly. “Okay, I’m here, Les. Where’s the fire?”
“She says I don’t want her,” Les replied quietly.
“Has she seen her belly?” Andy chuckles. “She’s still aware you did that to her, right?”
Kendra snorted and waved him off. “Yeah, I’m aware and that was my fault. I basically threw myself at him.”
“I bet that’s not true,” Andy scoffed, shaking his head.
“What does that mean, Mr. Ford?”
“Stop with the stink-eyes and the formality, woman. I’m Andy, remember?”
“Fine. What does that statement mean, Andy?”
“It means this guy has been pining for you ever since the encounter in Daytona, 2007. When he saw you in that bar, he was dumbstruck and stupid. He never shut up after you parted and I had to kick him out of the offices Friday of your date because he was too wound up and nuts. He was driving everyone bonkers with his anxiety. How many times did you change your suit before that date, Les?”
“Eleven,” Les confirmed.
Andy smirked. “See?”
Kendra let out a long gasp. “You changed your suit eleven times? For me?”
“I did. And I damn near went insane when you were late.”
“You did?”
“I did.”
Kendra’s eyes welled, realization syncing in. Charles Christian Ford… was in love with her. Shock was not the right word. She was… astonished… stunned… confused… dumbfounded… shocked… flabbergasted? All of the above. A man loved her, not just what her body had to offer. He wanted to marry her and wouldn’t make any demands on her. He wanted her to be his and he was offering himself in return. This rich, handsome, generous man wanted to be with her and all she had to do was marry him.
Kendra lowered her head as the tears pooled in her eyes. Les moved in front of her, one hand on the counter the other on her thigh, gently rubbing as he lowered his own head, trying to get a look in her eyes.
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