Accidental Parents

by Matthews, Evie

  Kendra was halfway through her chicken fajitas when Tyler decided to open the subject. “Hey Ken, I’m sorry about what happened this afternoon. Pete and I were both way out of line.” Tyler’s voice sounded gruff.

  Kendra simply shrugged. She still refused to look at him. Despite her anger, she could not ignore his clean, musky scent when he joined her in the dining room. He’d showered while they waited for the food to arrive.

  “I…I guess I’m desperate. Since Tim and Mel’s deaths, it seems like everything is spinning out of control. I’m struggling to keep up with all the changes of having a baby in my life and now this…” Tyler’s voice was thick with frustration.

  Heaving a deep sigh, Kendra deliberately put down her fork and knife and looked straight at him. “I know. I’m sorry for lashing out at you like that. But surely you can’t expect me to dive into an insane arrangement just because I feel sorry for you. It may be hard to look beyond the situation, but after all this, I too have a life to go back to. Anyway, I’m sure you can find someone willing to play house with you.”

  “Ken, believe it or not, I don’t take marriage lightly. I’ve seen firsthand how my parents grew more bitter and miserable with each passing year. The last thing I want is to chain in another person to a life of despair,” Tyler explained earnestly.

  “Maybe you want to talk to Mel’s aunt and settle the matter with her out of court?” Tyler shook his head vigorously even before Kendra finished her sentence.

  “Out of the question. I met her when the will was read and she was adamant. She’s not the type to be cajoled or bribed into changing her mind. I’ve been told that even her husband has no say about the custody claims.” Tyler shared as he stood up to put the dirty plates in the sink. As if on cue, they heard a soft gurgling sound on the baby monitor.

  “I’ll wash the dishes. You go ahead and check on Sophie.” Tyler offered.

  Sophie was already wide awake and playing with her toes when Kendra peered over the crib. Recognizing her, the baby immediately flashed a wide toothless grin and eyebrows moved up and down expressively as if trying to communicate with her.

  “Well, hello there, my little princess. And what do we have here, a soggy nappy…?” Kendra kept her voice soft as she entertained Sophie while she changed her diaper. Gently pulling the baby’s thumb out of her mouth, Kendra replaced it with a pacifier while she prepared her milk formula. She then carried the baby to the living room and placed Sophie in her pink rocker and gave her the bottle of milk. To keep the baby occupied, she turned on the television to Sophie’s favorite cartoon show.

  Upon seeing her Uncle Tyler walk into the living room to join them, Sophie pulled out her bottle and let out a loud shriek of delight. Kendra stepped back to allow the two to play and interact. It was pure joy just watching them together. It was evident Sophie belonged with Tyler. She knew losing Sophie would devastate Tyler beyond words but the price to keep the little girl proved to be too steep. She had never felt so helpless.

  All her life, Kendra has always been known as someone everyone can rely on—the ever-dependable person who would set things right. No one was surprised when she decided to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. It was natural for her to pacify, soothe and care for people around her.

  It was heartbreaking for her to even think of losing Sophie in a custody battle but it was one problem she could not help solve. Without meaning to, a tear slipped down her cheek, which she hastily wiped away.

  Upon hearing some sniffing sound, Tyler looked up to see Kendra looking at them with eyes brimming with sadness. Without speaking, he knew what was on her mind and gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not giving her up without a fight, you know. I love this kid too much,” Tyler’s voice was thick with emotion.

  “I know…There is no doubt in my mind you will take good care of her. It’s just that, I feel so helpless.” Kendra whispered her voice barely audible.

  “Aww, Ken, you have done more than enough. More than enough, you hear? This is my personal battle, something that I don’t intend to lose. I can never thank you enough for everything you have done for Sophie and me.” Tyler crossed the room and gave her a comforting hug.

  In his arms, Kendra had never felt more secure and safe. It’s as if their worries were insignificant. I could stay like this forever, wrapped up in his arms, Kendra mused. She hastily erased her wayward thoughts. They stood there for what seemed like hours, drawing comfort from each other.

  “We make great partners, you know….” Tyler pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. Kendra simply smiled in response. She could hardly think straight, not when Tyler was focusing all his attention on her and giving her that toe-curling stare.

  “Please think about it, Ken. We could make it work, I know it.” Tyler whispered persuasively, his warm breath caressed her cheeks.

  Kendra broke eye contact and gave herself a mental shake. She gently pulled back from his embrace. It was almost impossible to form a coherent thought with Tyler so close.

  “Call me traditional, Tyler but I refuse to make a mockery out of marriage. I…I still believe in happy endings,” Kendra gave Tyler a sad smile.

  “I know, Ken and I respect that. Think of it as a partnership. I am not proposing a 3-year or 5-year marriage here. I am offering you the real deal—a lifetime partnership,” Tyler declared, his voice slightly wavered.

  Kendra gasped in surprise. “Surely you can’t mean that. Why would you tie yourself to someone you don’t love?” her voice sounded small and breathless. Her mind was racing fast. Could it be possible Tyler felt something for her? No, not love. That was expecting too much, but something…anything.

  “Why not? There is no one person I would rather be married to right now than you. You are the only person I trust. There is no doubt in my mind you are a good person, Kendra. In fact, maybe too good for someone like me, but I want to take my chances,” Tyler said in a low, steady voice. He looked at her intensely, his eyes showing his sincerity.

  “But…you don’t love me…” Kendra said flatly. Like any woman, she longed to have a man declare his true, unwavering love. She could not believe Tyler was seriously proposing marriage to her. A small spark of hope flickered. Could it be Tyler had loved her all these years? A small part of her desperately wanted to believe.

  It was then she realized she had been in love with Tyler all these years. The realization left her reeling. All those years, she had carefully kept Tyler at arm’s length because she knew deep inside she was in serious danger of falling in love. All through the years, she had carefully tamped down her feelings because she knew she would just be an addition to the string of women he left behind without so much as a backward glance. And yet, she could not stop herself from hoping…

  “Love? Love is a fickle thing. It doesn’t last. Passion, it fizzles out after a while. I’ve heard far too many couple profess undying, unconditional love only to curse their partner’s very existence after a couple of years. Now friendship, respect and trust are what I value more, don’t you?” Tyler said, cynicism coating his words.

  Kendra turned her back on him and pretended to tend to Sophie, who just finished her milk. She could hear the sincerity and truth in his voice and yet, it cut her to the quick. Like any other woman, she expected more. She wanted more. His words were like cold water that doused her female fantasies and innermost longings.

  She forced out a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Careful Chadwick, you’re starting to sound like a man once burned by love.”

  Tyler let out a soft chuckle. “Nah, not me.” He was far from bitter. In fact, he loved women in general. But he preferred to avoid messy breakups and emotional confrontations. “But contrary to what other people say about me, all the women I have had an affair or relationship knew perfectly well what they were getting into. I liked to lay my cards on the table so they know exactly what they can expect and should not expect from me.”

  “Hmm… I see. Is that what you tell yourself t
o make you feel better?” Kendra quirked her eyebrows. Clearly, she did not believe him.

  “I don’t have anything to be guilty about. Despite what you may think, missy, I’ve never cheated on a woman before. Never. That’s one thing you can’t accuse me of. When things don’t work out, it’s either the girl calls it quits or I do. No overlapping.” Tyler sat down on the large leather sofa and placed his hands above his head, projecting confidence. But even with his light, seemingly nonchalant tone, Kendra knew she had struck a sensitive chord.

  So Tyler was fully aware what people were saying about him and his inability to commit to a long-term relationship. Kendra had seen him with so many women in the past, she’d lost track. But despite the long string of exes, she knew it was true Tyler never dated two women at the same time. The most disconcerting thing she noticed was how fast he was able to move from one relationship to another without any real downtime.

  “Well, let’s see. Remember Mary Beth back in high school. I was in a freshman then and you were both in your senior year,” Kendra asked, her eyes full of undisguised humor.

  “Oh God, that was decades ago. Don’t tell me you have been keeping count of the women I’ve dated.” Tyler chuckled, his tone challenging and teasing at the same time.

  “Don’t flatter yourself Chadwick. The reason why I remembered her is because I was among the crowd who witnessed how she made a total fool of herself when she had a royal meltdown. I think it was during lunch break, if I remember correctly.” Kendra felt a wave of satisfaction when she saw Tyler start to squirm uncomfortably in his seat.

  Like a predator preparing for the kill, she stood right in front of Tyler with her hands on her hips. “Well, you were obviously not there to watch the breakdown, but let me fill you in on the sordid details,” she smiled smugly.

  “Go on. I can see that you’re determined to rehash ancient history.” Tyler looked slightly amused despite the fact that specific memory still had the power to make him cringe but he is determined to feign nonchalance even if it killed her.

  “Well, I was happily munching my burger when suddenly Mary Beth came running and burst into tears. Not soft, dainty sobs, but bawling like crazy—as if someone in her family just died. Then she went on and on about how you broke up with her and how she absolutely could not live without you. Right in front of the entire school to witness! It was heart-wrenching, really.” Kendra recounted with relish. She realized she loved making Tyler uncomfortable.

  Expelling a harsh breath, he lightly massaged his temples with one hand. “Yeah, yeah. I’ve been told about it, far more times than I would have liked. If I remember correctly, I broke up with her because she was starting to be a bit spooky. She stalked me like crazy and had started to think we were already together.”

  “So that was the reason behind the breakup. Principal McAllister had to drag her to the clinic because she was very distraught—but not before she fainted right in the middle of the cafeteria!” By the time Kendra finished, she had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. It was probably one of the funniest memories she had of high school. It was also that very moment when she developed a general disdain for women like Mary Beth—the clingy and helpless type—and vowed never to be like that for any man.

  “You found that funny, huh? I’m glad I was able to entertain prissy little Kendra Simmons back then.” Tyler chuckled sardonically. He was too caught up with girls and football back then, he could not quite remember the younger version of Kendra. He just remembered a tomboy who seemed to act high and mighty even around people older than her. Who knew she would grow up to be such a fine-looking woman with curves in all the right places?

  Tyler frowned when he realized the direction of his thoughts. He did find Kendra attractive but had never really thought about it. Now watching her play with Sophie, he wondered why he had never seen men lurking around after that jerk Michael left her. She was an attractive woman, he could not believe no one had managed to snag her.

  Chapter Nine

  “What’s with the look? Are you plotting murder?” Kendra teased. Tyler’s expression suddenly turned sour.

  “Nah, I just can’t not believe you’re not married yet or at least in a relationship. If I’m not mistaken, that Michael guy was your last, right? And that was, what? Three years ago?” Tyler looked puzzled.

  “And you only wondered that now? Four years, actually. Unlike you, I don’t jump from one relationship to another.” Kendra kept her voice neutral. She didn’t want to sound defensive.

  “So— are you saying you’re holding out for Mr. Right?” Tyler teased, grinning lopsidedly.

  “And if I am?” she challenged.

  “Well… who knows? I could be your Mr. Right?” Tyler asked his voice suddenly low and husky. Despite her resolve, Kendra unconsciously held her breath. Tyler’s charm could be lethal and he had learned to use it to perfection.

  “Funny. Do you expect me to swoon like the others?” Kendra asked mockingly. She picked up Sophie and placed her over her shoulder to burp.

  “Think about it, Ken. You and me. We’ve been great friends all these years and you practically know me inside and out. Marriage would simply seal the deal and I bet people would not be surprised at the sudden turn of events.” Tyler pointed out persuasively.

  “I thought we already had this discussion? I meant what I said, Ty. I’m sorry but I have no plans of becoming your wife just because it’s the convenient solution at the moment.” Kendra spat out. She had to concentrate on keeping her voice even so as not to alarm the baby.

  “I am not proposing a fixed-term marriage, Ken. I am ready to take the plunge and give you the real deal. Be my wife in every sense of the word. There’s no one else I would rather spend my whole life with.” Tyler leaned forward and looked straight into her eyes.

  “Please don’t expect me to be flattered. I am just baffled by your arrogance. Just because you decided you want to settle down doesn’t mean every woman would readily jump at the chance! I have a newsflash for you—I am not one of your bimbos, okay? Count me out.” Kendra lashed out. She left the room with Sophie in her arms.

  After closing the door behind her, it was only then that Kendra became aware of her rapid breathing. Sophie stared at her with questioning eyes. When Kendra smiled down at her reassuringly, she beamed back with her thumb still in her mouth.

  Oh, how she loved this little girl. Sophie always had a calming effect on her nerves and could bring the world back to its axis.

  “It’s time for your warm bath, sweetheart.” Kendra said softly.

  “Ba-bath Sop.” Sophie babbled enthusiastically. The little one loved playing in the bathtub.

  “Yes, sweetie. Bath time for Sophie,” Kendra crooned as she wiggled her eyebrows comically. It drew out a laugh from Sophie.

  Kendra prepared Sophie’s bath and made sure the water was just the right temperature. She allowed the little girl to play in her portable tub for twenty minutes. The entire time, her earlier conversation with Tyler kept running around her mind. She somehow felt guilty of her adamant refusal to be a part of the farce called marriage. Sophie needed them to be there for her but sadly, it could also mean risking getting her heart broken and putting her life on hold.

  She’d had a tenuous grasp on her emotions the past few weeks. Aside from fighting off the attraction with Tyler, it was getting more and more difficult to separate reality from her make-believe life inside Tyler’s home. It was so easy to pretend she was Sophie's mother and Tyler’s wife. By the time she got the baby from the tub, she was already slightly drowsy. Kendra put her to bed before deciding to take a cold, brisk shower to clear her head.

  When she headed towards the bathroom, she saw Tyler in his office nursing a drink. He would probably be working throughout the night, as he normally did, she surmised.

  Never had a bath felt so welcome and restorative. The hot water and her lavender scented soap eased away the tension from her body and soothed her frazzled nerves.

  As
the water trickled down her body, she could not erase Tyler’s forlorn look as he went through some documents. It was as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. During her short stay in his home, she had seen how hard he worked and often extended up to the wee hours of morning.

  To the rest of the world, Tyler looked every inch a successful tycoon who was used to getting his way with clients, partners, employees and women. But she knew better. Beneath the cool and confident facade was a man who’d worked his way to the top.

  * * * *

  Tyler’s mouth tightened into a stern line as he recalled his conversation with Kendra. It was clear she was not sold on the idea of marrying him. Far from it. He found the knowledge highly disconcerting simply because no woman had ever turned him down in the past.

  Sure, he could easily get one of his female friends, even Bianca would jump at the chance. But since the idea hd come up, he could not think of any other person he would want to marry other than Kendra. That knowledge made him more uncomfortable than the rejection.

  Was it the challenge of making her say yes? He silently berated himself. At thirty five, he was too old to play that kind of game. Sure, he was attracted to Kendra, that he can openly concede. But since the accident, he’d started to see her in a whole new light. Not just as a dependable friend but as a woman—as a hot, attractive woman.

  He knew she too must have felt something. In fact, he was sure of it. But the more he opened his mind about marriage, the more he was convinced Kendra was the perfect woman. Aside from the burning attraction between them that they both tried to ignore, there was no other person he trusted explicitly. Friendship and attraction seemed to be a great, solid foundation for marriage, he mused. One way or another, he would get Kendra to agree to the arrangement. It was just a matter of time.

  Kendra reluctantly stepped out of the shower and reached for the towel, wrapping it around her damp body sarong-style. She realized she had forgotten to bring her robe with her.