“Ryker, I’m not sure you really know what you feel,” Garland fired back. “I know that you’re attracted to me, but it’s not love. Each time we’ve made love, you tell me how much you want me, but what I really needed was to hear you tell me how much you loved me.” She sighed. “Those words never once came out of your mouth and it’s okay. I went into a physical relationship with you with my eyes wide-open, Ryker.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry I failed you, Garland. I am a deliberate man and I like to be sure before I make a declaration like that. I need you to hear me. Sweetheart, I love you and I don’t want to lose you.”
After a moment, she asked, “Are you sure? What about Angela?”
“I loved Angela and if she were still alive, I’d like to believe that we would still be together, but she’s gone,” Ryker admitted. “Part of me will always regret that she never met Amya or had a chance to be a mother, but I am so grateful to have you and Kai in my life. I am a lucky man because I have the three of you. Now, I need to know something from you. Do you love me, Garland?”
“I love you, Ryker. I’m just not sure it’s enough. I don’t want to experience this kind of heartache ever again.”
“Garland, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I really hope that you can forgive me and my mother for the hurt we’ve caused you. I promise I will spend the rest of my life making this up to you.”
She looked up at him with an expression of hope. “Do you mean what you just said?”
“Yes,” Ryker responded. “I love you so much.”
Garland fell into his arms, mumbling against his neck. “I should have trusted you. I’m so sorry I didn’t.”
“I can understand how upsetting it could be to see those documents, but I tore them up and ordered my mother to stop interfering in our marriage or she will risk not being able to see her grandchildren.”
Ryker slowly drew her more tightly into his arms.
“We should get back to the house,” Garland said, her heart bursting with pure happiness. “Trina’s dropping off Amya and I know she would love to see you.”
“I want to see her, too. The girls are too young to be bounced back and forth like this. We have to be in this marriage for better or worse, Garland. If you have any doubts about me or my feelings for you—now is the time to get them all out. I don’t want to put the girls through this a second time.”
She placed her hand in his. “I agree, Ryker.”
He kissed her. “I missed you so much, sweetheart. Kai missed you just as much. She kept looking for you. It broke my heart.”
“I’m sorry,” Garland murmured. “Running away was not the answer. If I wanted to leave, I never should’ve taken Amya with me, but I wanted to hurt you because I was hurting. It was childish and I hope you will be able to forgive me, Ryker.”
“There is nothing to forgive. We were both manipulated by my mother, but it won’t happen again.”
* * *
“Daddee,” Amya screamed when she saw him sitting in the living room. “Ooh Daddee...”
Garland’s eyes teared up at the sight of her daughter clinging to Ryker for dear life.
“Oh, sweet baby...” Ryker said. His watery gaze traveled to Garland.
Trina wrapped an arm around her friend and whispered, “You need to go back home, sweetie. You can’t work things out with Ryker if you’re here on Edisto Island and he’s in Charleston. I can see how much you two love each other. Go home with your husband.”
Garland nodded.
“I’ll pack a bag for Amya.”
They embraced. “Thanks, Trina.”
She walked over to Ryker and announced, “We’re coming back to the house. Trina’s packing a bag for Amya. Why don’t you take her with you and I’ll be there in about an hour? I need to take care of some things before I head back to Charleston.”
“Thank you,” he responded.
* * *
“I’m going to sleep in the guest room tonight,” she announced when she arrived at the house in Charleston.
“I’m just glad that you’re back home where you belong,” Ryker replied. “But you are not sleeping in the guest room. You are my wife and I want you sleeping beside me as it should be.”
“Are you sure about this?” she asked. Garland was surprised by Ryker’s willingness to just forgive her after she had taken his daughter away.
With so much weighing heavy on her mind, Garland figured she would climb into bed and lie there awake all night. Instead, her heavy eyes closed and oblivion quickly overtook her.
* * *
The next morning, Ryker surprised her with breakfast in bed.
She spied a small box on the tray. “What’s this?” Garland asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
“Open it.”
She did as he requested.
A gasp escaped her lips as she eyed the two-carat, cushion-cut engagement ring with a matching diamond-encrusted wedding band. “Ryker...it’s gorgeous.”
“You told me that you didn’t want me to give you a ring until our marriage was real. This is proof that what we share between us is real and proof that I am committed to you for all of eternity.” Placing the ring on her left hand, he said, “This is what this ring symbolizes.”
Garland smiled as she reached into the drawer on her nightstand and pulled out a black velvet box. “I bought this for you a couple of weeks ago. I was waiting for the right time.” She opened it to reveal a platinum and diamond wedding band. “I wanted to give this to you when you were ready to give your heart to me. A marriage cannot grow stronger and better without love.” She placed the ring on his finger.
“It’s not too late for me to give you the wedding of your dreams,” Ryker said.
Garland shook her head. “I’m perfectly satisfied with the ceremony we had. We don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on one day when we’ve got two daughters to send to college—at the same time, I might add.”
“Our daughters have trust funds,” Ryker told her. “We don’t have to worry about college tuition.”
Garland shrugged. “ Ryker, you’re my husband and as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t get any better than this. However, it might be nice to plan a honeymoon since we never really had one. Some place exotic and very romantic.”
He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
* * *
A week after they returned from their honeymoon in Aruba, Garland met Ryker at the firm for a lunch date. While she was there, Rochelle came to the office. Garland knew things were still very tense between her mother-in-law and husband.
As angry as she was with Rochelle, Garland also hated the gap in the mother and son’s once-close relationship.
Without glancing up from his computer monitor, he uttered, “Mom, what do you want? My wife and I are just about to head out for lunch.”
“I don’t intend to keep you long, but there’s something I need to say to you both.”
“What is it now?” he asked.
“Ryker, I came here to apologize to you,” she stated. “I heard everything you said and I was wrong for trying to break up you and Garland. I give you my word that I won’t interfere in your marriage ever again.”
He met her gaze straight on. “It’s a little too late, don’t you think?” he asked. “The damage has already been done. I’m just thankful I didn’t lose Garland.”
“Honey, I was only trying to look out for you. I did not realize that you had fallen in love with her.”
“How many times do I need to tell you that I don’t need you to protect me?” Ryker uttered. “I can take care of myself.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Rochelle responded. Turning to Garland, she said, “I hadn’t realized just how much you love my son.”
Garland met Rochelle’s gaze straight on. “Yes, I love him with everything that is in me.”
“Despite my actions, I’m glad that Ryker has found love again,” she said. “It’s all that I ever wanted for him and Aubry. I want my children to find the same kind of love that I share with their father.”
“I get it,” Garland told her. “But the heart chooses who it wants to love—not you.”
Rochelle nodded. “Once more, I just came here to apologize to you for my actions. I promise to stay out of your marriage and I mean it.”
“Mrs. DuGrandpre,” Garland began, “I need you to know that I have never been interested in the DuGrandpre’s money and I’m willing to sign a legal document stating as much. I love Ryker and our children—as long as we’re happy and healthy, that’s all that matters to me.”
Rochelle offered a tiny smile. “I have misjudged you, Garland, and I’m woman enough to admit when I’m wrong. I hope that you can one day forgive me.”
Garland smiled. “That day is today. I really would like for us to work on being friends, Mrs. DuGrandpre.”
“Honey, we are family, so no more of the formality. Call me Mom or Rochelle—whichever makes you comfortable.”
The two women embraced.
“How about I take you ladies to lunch?” Ryker suggested. “Aubry has a new test menu that she wants to try out on the family.”
“Sounds good to me,” Garland said with a smile.
* * *
Later that evening, she padded barefoot out of the bathroom, smelling of lavender.
Ryker eyed the silk boxer shorts and tank top she was wearing. He strode quickly, meeting her near the king-size bed.
“You won’t be needing these tonight.”
She gave him a sexy grin. “You won’t be needing anything on, either. Did you lock the door?”
Ryker nodded. “And I checked on the girls and they are fast asleep.”
Garland wrapped her arms around him and said, “I almost messed things up between us. I’m so glad you came after me.”
“How could I not?” he asked. “We vowed before God and our family that we were in this marriage together for better or for worse. I meant every word.”
“I have loved you for so long,” Garland whispered. “I just didn’t realize it until our wedding day.”
Epilogue
“I can’t believe that our daughters are four years old today,” Garland told Ryker as they prepared for Amya and Kai’s birthday celebration. She handed him a balloon to hang from the ceiling. “Our babies are growing up so fast.”
He agreed. “Amya told me this morning that she was not a baby anymore. She said that she’s a big girl now.” Ryker hung the last balloon and then followed his wife into the kitchen.
Garland laughed. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah. I was trying to help her with her backpack and she told me that she didn’t need my help. I have to be honest—my feelings were hurt just a little.”
Standing beside him, Garland openly admired Ryker as he removed the cupcakes from the oven. She loved Ryker more than life itself and never tired of looking at him. He was not only handsome and muscular, he also had a generous heart.
“Are you finished with the hamburger patties?” he asked.
“Almost,” she responded. Garland had forgotten what she was doing—she had gotten so caught up in eyeing her husband of nearly two years.
Smiling, she handed him the platter of raw meat. “All ready for the grill.”
“Thanks, sweetheart,” he responded. “I’ll take these out to Dad. He’s got it all fired up and ready.”
“When will your mother be back with the girls?” Garland’s relationship with her mother-in-law had improved as they found they had a lot in common, including their passion for the plight of disadvantaged children. In fact, she and Rochelle were working together to form a foundation to help promote foster parenting.
Jadin, Jordin and their parents arrived bearing birthday gifts for the girls.
“I told Ryker not to worry about making anything,” Aubry said when she walked into the kitchen. “Those cupcakes do look delicious, though.”
“When did you get here?” Garland asked.
“About ten minutes ago. I was on the patio talking to Daddy. I put the cake in the refrigerator.”
“Thanks for all of your help, Aubry. The girls are going to love the castle cake.”
“It’s almost time for Mom to bring them back,” she announced. “Angela’s parents are here and some of the kids from their school. You should go get dressed.”
“Ryker should be down in a few minutes,” Garland said before heading upstairs, humming softly.
Everything was going as planned. She wanted Amya and Kai to have the birthday party of their dreams. They both wanted a castle-shaped cake and everyone to dress like princes and princesses. Ryker and Garland were the king and queen.
She laughed at the thought. She doubted members of royalty dined on hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken.
Garland entered the master bedroom and burst into laughter.
“I can’t believe I have to wear this crown and cape thing,” Ryker said.
“At least you don’t have to wear tights,” she reminded him. “Although they would look much better with the boots than your jeans do.”
Ryker shook his head. “Tights are completely out of the question.”
Laughing, Garland quickly slipped into a purple gown with silver trim.
* * *
After they had served birthday cake to everyone, Garland walked up to her husband and handed him a cupcake with a candy pacifier on top of it.
“What’s this?” Ryker gazed into her eyes as they shared a meaningful look. “Are you...”
She nodded. “I am. We’re having a baby.”
They burst into joyous laughter.
“After all that’s happened, I’m thinking we should have this baby at home,” Ryker stated. “Don’t you agree?”
Garland shook her head. “We are going to have this baby in a hospital where they have lots of pain medication. I know they have the electronic bracelets that will lock down the hospital if someone tries to take the baby, but I don’t care. We are not going to let this child out of our sight.”
“Agreed,” he responded with a smile. Placing a hand to her stomach, he whispered, “Forever my baby.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460344767
Forever My Baby
Copyright © 2015 by Jacquelin Thomas
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