“You remember that guy that I told you about?”
“The doctor who was helping you write the book?”
“Yes. Well, we’re in a relationship…a serious relationship. And we’re about to have a baby.”
“Like in the next couple of months? Oh my goodness. I have to get to Seattle.”
“No,” Stacey laughed. “I have like a little less than nine months.”
“How do you feel about this? I mean, from my opinion of your writing, this man has transformed you. This is ten times better than Love Knocks.”
“Val, why ask me how do I feel about something and then tell me how I should feel about something?” Stacey put Rapture down. She hunched her shoulders. “I’m happy. I am so…scared,” she said with a frown. The truth blurted out like bad gas. “I’m scared too, Val.” She didn’t know why she was telling her this, but she needed to confess it to someone.
“It’s normal, dear. None of us are promised tomorrow, and no one knows that better than you. So, there is going to be a certain amount of hesitation on your part to open up. But you have to give yourself over to love in order for it to work. There is no holding back, because you wouldn’t want him to hold back from you. It has to be an equal distribution of understanding, commitment, forgiveness and most of all trust.”
“Wow, I didn’t realize that you were so deep,” Stacey said, feeling somewhat motivated.
“Actually, I just started representing Dr. Gail Zawoka, and she’s a relationship therapist. I just finished her book.”
“Sounds good,” Stacey said nodding.
“It is. I’ll send you a signed copy. About the other news. ParaWorld has agreed to six point five million to buy the rights to Love Knocks. I think that we should finally move on their offer.”
Stacey snapped back to business. She hummed. Six point five sounded like a nice number. “Okay, get the lawyer and do what you do best. I’ll fly in for the meeting.”
“Wait. You’ll what? Stacey, you haven’t budged, have not given an interview in Seattle except once, and I had to have the news crew come to you. You haven’t done a book tour, a phone interview…anything since Drew died. And don’t get me wrong, your unorthodox behavior is part of the formula that made you the author that you have become. However, you’re telling me that all of a sudden you don’t mind getting on a plane?”
“It’s new. I know,” Stacey said, realizing that she had overloaded Valerie with way too much information in one day. “But Hunter has made me realize that I have to get back in the swing of things if I want to offer our child a full life. So, yes, if he’ll fly with me, then I’ll fly to New York.” She sighed. “Maybe we can stop and see my dad too. I think it’s time that they met.”
Valerie was speechless but only for a minute. “You realize that this opens up all sorts of possibilities for your brand.”
Stacey cut her off. “Val, I’m pregnant, and after I give birth, I’ll be a mother. Don’t get too creative with my schedule, because nothing is going to come before this baby,” she said, looking down at her stomach. “Am I making myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Valerie said, ignoring her. “Expect a call from me in twenty four hours about ParaWorld. They will be thrilled to know that you’re ready to play ball.”
“Okay. And one more thing. I’d like to make a sizeable donation to an organization called Soilder’s Angels. They help the families of wounded military personnel. I was hoping that you could get in touch with them so that we could make a check presentation of some type.”
“I’m very familiar with them,” Valerie said impressed. “Wow, you really have changed lady. Never in a million years have I expected to hear such wonderful news.”
“Yeah, well he’s growing on me,” Stacey said proudly.
“Sounds like a great guy.”
“He is. Anyway, I have to go. Bye Val,” Stacey said, hanging up the phone. Checking her pulse, she realized that her heart rate had shot up dramatically with just a fifteen-minute conversation with her agent.
The sun was setting on the horizon, bright with hues of yellow and gold against the blue waters and the green landscape. Taking in the beauty of God’s work, she thought about what Valerie had said. She did need to open herself up to love and not be so afraid. Sure, she had torn down wall after wall to love Hunter, but how many more were still standing? She didn’t want those walls to be the things that kept either of them from happiness together.
Hearing the door close, she pulled herself away from her thoughts and went to greet Hunter. “Hey,” she said, noticing something instantly different about him. “What’s going on?”
“We’ve passed the two-month, three day mourning period. You’re officially finished with your novel,” he nodded. “And I couldn’t stop thinking today about our original arrangement.”
Stacey nearly fell over. Feeling for the sofa, she leaned against it. “And what were your thoughts about it.”
“Does it still stand?” he asked with a frown.
“Which part?”
“The part of walking away if we…you know…no hard feelings.” He could barely say the words.
Stacey refused to cry even though it felt as though her heart had suddenly broken. Nodding, she finally mustered enough strength to answer him. “Yes, it still stands.”
Hunter rolled his eyes. “So, what would it take to obliterate our original arrangement forever? I mean, what if I want to make sure that it never…” He was lost for words. Feeling his pocket, he walked over to her. “I can’t lose you,” he bit out with a growl. “I can’t, and the idea of you meeting my family scares the shit out of me. It’s this Sunday you know. It’s like…” He counted on his fingers. “It’s two days away.”
Sighing a deep breath of relief, she grabbed his face and laughed. “Boy, didn’t we go over this the first time that we made love? Oh my God. I thought you were breaking up with me!”
Confused, Hunter frowned. “What? No. I’m trying to make sure that you don’t break up with me.” He laughed. “Why would I leave you? You’re my girl.”
“Hunter, you have to stop worrying about your family. I’m a grown woman. I think I can handle them.”
“You’ve haven’t met them yet.”
“What’s in your pocket?” she asked, looking down.
He rubbed his hand over it again and finally pulled out a piece of paper. “This is my attempt to salvage whatever they may damage.” He took her hand and walked her over to the kitchen table.
Sitting down, he showed her the receipt. “It’s two first-class tickets to Athens. I booked us a suite at an amazing resort right in the middle of the city, but I also plan to take you out to the countryside. I want to show you the true beauty of Greek culture and why I’m so proud of it, and why you’ll be proud of it. Especially since your first interaction with Greeks probably won’t be a pleasant one.”
“You’re so dramatic,” she said, taking the paper. “Let me see. When is this?”
“It’s in a couple of months. Right after we do the check up for the second trimester. I was hoping we could get away for a while. I haven’t taken a vacation since I took off to mourn Corina. This could be good for the both of us. You’ve been working none stop on the book. You need the rest as much or more than I do.” He begged her to say yes.
Stacey smoothed her hand over the paper and smiled. “I’ve never to been to Greece.”
“It’s beautiful. It’s like no other place on the entire face of the planet.”
She raised her brow. He was sure enthusiastic about it. “Okay. I’d love to go to Greece and see what you see.” Reaching out, she touched his face. “And relax. Mother’s Day won’t be a disaster. I won’t let it be. Trust me.”
Hunter kissed her delicate hand. “You’re so sexy right now.”
She giggled.
“I’m serious,” he said, standing up. Walking over to her side, he scooped her up in his arms.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he traile
d a kiss down her neck.
“We’re going to have as much sex in the next two days and humanly possible, just in case you do decide to break up with me.”
Stacey laughed out loud as he carried her to the bedroom.
“Laugh now. Cry later,” he taunted as he closed the bedroom door behind him.
***
Hunter always marveled at how completely content they could be without doing anything at all. As they lay in bed together, he played with her hair in his fingers and watched the ceiling fan whirl above him. Stacey picked his brain about birthing techniques and tried to plead her case for naming their child a name that wasn’t Greek.
“The first and last names have to be Greek. You can give the middle name,” he said with authority in his languid voice.
“Says who?” she asked with her eyes narrowed on him.
He looked down and smiled. “Says daddy,” he answered.
She liked the way that the title sounded. Resting her case, she ran her hand over his chest. “On another note, I have news.”
He waited with his eyes moving back to the ceiling fan.
She continued. “I talked to Val today, and we’ve agreed on a number with ParaWorld.”
“What’s the number?” he asked, proud for her already.
Love Knocks was a huge hit. It was the first book he saw when he went into bookstores, and there was always someone in the checkout line with a copy of the plum-colored paperback. The big hook that kept the readers and media enthralled was Stacey’s horrid backstory and her refusal to travel or do any interviews. She was a conversation piece for most people – aloof and mysterious.
“Six point five million dollars,” she said triumphantly. “I told you that it was a good idea to wait it out.”
“Why aren’t we celebrating?” he said, sitting up. “You’re about to make more on one project than I have made in my entire career, and you’re sitting in bed like nothing has happened.”
Stacey raised her brow. “I’m happy.” Her voice didn’t reflect it. “I mean, who wouldn’t be? But I’ve gotten used to the money. To me, it really is just a means to an end. All the money in the world didn’t save Drew. It didn’t take away the anxiety. It did little to nothing for my sanity. I had to move out of my house for goodness sake, into this place, because it just seemed so big after he was gone.”
Hunter knew the feeling. Rubbing her forehead, he digested her words. “Wait, you have a house?” She had never mentioned that before.
“Right outside of Seattle. Drew and I bought it when we first moved here.”
“There is still so much we don’t know about each other,” Hunter lamented.
“I know. It could take a lifetime.”
That gave him hope. Pulling her close to him, he kissed her lips. “Is that a proposal?” he asked, hoping that she’d given some thought to his desire to marry before the baby was born.
Stacey didn’t seem too put off by the thought. Hunching her slim shoulders, she pursed her lips. “I’m not old school. I think that we should get through this before we dive into marriage. Drew and I dated for three years before we got married. You and Corina dated for two. Don’t you think we should at least celebrate our first anniversary together before we seriously consider marriage?”
Hunter didn’t know if time mattered when it came to them. Rubbing his stubby beard, he pushed his back against the headboard. “I don’t want to rush you, but I could get married tomorrow.”
Stacey knew that he would, but there was so much to consider, and she didn’t want to ruin tonight getting into a big fat Greek argument with him.
However, Hunter wanted answers. “Is it because I’m not good enough for you?” he asked sincerely.
“Hunter…no,” she said in a strained voice as she sat up. “Why would you say something like that?” She searched his face.
“Because I’m not an astrophysicist,” he said with a smirk. “Because I’m not black. Because I’m not as wealthy as you? Because I’m too spontaneous? Because I’m Greek, and my mother hasn’t cut the umbilical cord.”
“You said that. I didn’t.” Stacey had to be honest. Pulling the covers from her legs, she ran her hand through her dreads. “What if I said it was because of all those things?”
His mouth dropped. Talk about being blunt.
She raised both her hand in protest. “Not one of those reasons alone is enough for me to…say no. But all of those things together could make for a very tumultuous relationship where we are constantly pit against each other.”
Hunter sank into the bed. “So what do I have to do to change your mind? You are carrying my child. We’re going to be in each other’s lives regardless for the rest of our lives.”
Stacey instantly felt guilty about the baby part. “I’m not saying no,” she said, putting her hand on his exposed thigh. Looking down, she tried to find the right words. “I’m simply saying that we have to plan…discuss all of those things that you just mentioned and more. We have to be a team, because when I do this - when I marry this time - I want it to be for the rest of my life.”
“So do I,” he said, throwing the covers off his body. “You talk like I haven’t thought about any of this?”
“I never said that you didn’t.”
“Well then, give me some credit. Tell me what I need to do to get through that damned wall of yours.”
“I don’t have any walls, Hunter.” Inwardly, she knew that she did, but she refused to lose the argument.
“You’re holding back. I can see it. I can feel it,” he grunted.
Stacey wiped her face. “You can’t rush…”
“I’m not trying to rush you. I’m trying to love you.”
“Yeah, well, have you thought about the fact that I’m a little scared? Why you aren’t scared is beyond me. But I am. And my feelings count as much as yours.”
“I would never hurt you,” he promised, touching his chest.
“Maybe not intentionally.” She looked away from him.
“Not at all,” he corrected her. “I don’t’ get it. You were in a good relationship with Drew. It’s not like you’re some scorned woman. You may have experienced tragedy in your life, but is it really worth losing what’s real right now?”
She didn’t answer quickly. “I don’t want to rush things just because of this baby. This child was my doing.”
Her statement confused him. Wasn’t he the one who impregnated her, not the other way around? Standing up, he scratched the nape of his neck and looked around. “Look, I’m going to take a shower and head home. I just need to think for a while.”
“Is walking away going to solve anything?” She didn’t want him to go, but her pride prevented her from saying so.
“If you won’t open up to the possibilities, is staying going to solve anything?”
She didn’t answer.
Hunter shook his head. Stacey was obviously not going to give him what he wanted this time. Frustrated, he walked into the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.
Chapter Twelve
The pub, TJ Milligans, was jammed packed at happy hour on Friday night. Sitting at the bar, however, Hunter didn’t notice the crowd as he slammed his shots back-to-back. It had been a day since he had seen Stacey – the longest of their relationship- but it felt like a lifetime. And the torture of their separation was killing him.
However, he knew that if he said how he really felt to her, he would destroy everything that he had worked so hard to build with the only woman alive who seemed to bring him peace. So, he had stayed away, tried to clear his head. Called a friend. Did all the things that reasonable people do.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the very place that Stacey had sat the night that he had approached her. Who knew fast forwarding a few months later that he’d be the father of her first child? “But not good enough to marry,” he reminded himself aloud as he raised his finger to order another scotch. “Because I’m not a fucking black, rich, astrophysicist,�
� he blurted out.
The people sitting around him looked over curiously, but he ignored them. Screw them all. What did they know? He thought to himself. What did they know about love or lost?
At that very moment, all he wanted to do was get shit-faced and crawl into a cab and go home alone – only because he would never go to Stacey like this. That would just be one more reason to not marry him. No, he couldn’t risk it.
A hand gently patted his back from behind, and then the wooden stool beside him pulled back. Looking over, he saw that John had finally arrived.
“What’s up, man?” Hunter asked with a lushy grin.
Finding Opa! Page 11