Accidental Parents

by Matthews, Evie

  “In the bedroom. Martha is putting Sophie down for a nap.” Kendra said as she pulled up a chair and joined Tyler.

  “Aren’t you having any?” he asked when he noticed she did not have a plate in front of her.

  “Nah, I’ve already eaten. Peter was going on and on how delicious it was, I had some myself.” She was all too happy to simply watch Tyler eat.

  “Oh,” was his only short response. “So, what did you two cover?” he asked trying to feign indifference.

  “Well, there were just a couple of questions mainly how long I’ve known you and how long have we been living together, that sort of stuff. Peter had to do so, he said he will just drop by some other time to discuss other things with me,” Kendra shared.

  “Hmm...,” Tyler made a noncommittal sound. “Now, this is by far the best lasagna I’ve ever had, sweetheart and my mom used to make a mean one.”

  Kendra glowed at his compliment. It was in her nature to nurture and serve people and one of the skills she had picked up through the years is cooking and some baking. While her culinary skills were not really extensive, she had been known to serve some incredible dishes when the occasion called for it.

  “Why, thank you, Mr. Chadwick. I believe that’s one of the best compliments I have received from you,” Kendra grinned.

  Tyler narrowed his eyes and feigned indignation, “What? Is that you’re way of telling me I have been remiss in showering my wife with compliments? What a poor husband you must have thought me.”

  “We-ll, now that you have mentioned it, it would be wonderful to hear them more often,” Kendra said candidly with an impish smile.

  “Wait till we’re in bed, I’ll show you just how much I appreciate you,” he winked wolfishly.

  By now Kendra thought she was quite immune to his teasing, but apparently not. As if on cue, her brain did a mental flashback of their lovemaking, which immediately triggered a deep, seemingly insatiable yearning inside her.

  “That’s a wonderful thought,” Kendra smiled coyly.

  And Tyler did just that. He took his time and made love to every inch of her body like a slave worshipping his goddess. Just when Kendra thought nothing could top their previous lovemaking, Tyler showed her there was so much more left to be explored.

  There was no denying the fact they were good in bed and they also made a good team out of it. But would that be enough to keep a marriage going? Kendra tried to impatiently tamp down the pessimistic thoughts that continued to hound her but her confusion and insecurities were slowly eating her up inside.

  Before she closed her eyes, she made a promise to herself to cherish every moment she spent with Sophie and Tyler. If things didn’t work out, she would always have memories to comfort and keep her company all throughout the cold, lonely nights ahead.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Peter visited her again twice that same week. They spent hours going over some details about her relationship with Tyler and her friendship with Sophie’s parents. She was also asked to gather photos and evidences to prove her association with the couple as well as establish how long she had known Tyler. Neither one was too difficult to prove as she had copies of their occasional gatherings, along with special events that she and Tyler had attended such as Melissa and Tim’s wedding and Sophie’s christening.

  She found it easier to open up to Peter, knowing he already knew her secret. Over the past few days, they have struck up an unusual friendship, for which Kendra was truly grateful. She never realized just how much she missed Mel—the one person she would always run to and confide to about anything and everything.

  While she had a number of good friends at the hospital, the last thing she wanted was to open Pandora’s Box. People were bound to talk, even the most well-meaning ones. And she is quite familiar with the hospital grapevine which could be deadly. She was careful not to expose Sophie and Tyler to any gossip that could potentially hurt their custody case.

  “You’re an extraordinary woman, you know that?” Peter said while they were talking in the living room. “Tyler is lucky to have you.”

  “And I have to agree,” Tyler chimed in as he walked into the living. Kendra was not expecting him to be home at this hour. Her thoughts raced as she tried to recount her earlier conversation with Peter. They had talked openly about her relationship with Tyler.

  Tyler tried to act nonchalant at the startled expressions of the two when he walked in. The truth is, he was planning to invite Kendra out for a quick lunch since he had a couple of hours free. He could not reach Kendra’s mobile phone so he was forced to call Martha. He was informed that the nanny and Sophie were out on a stroll at a nearby park and that Miss Kendra is having a meeting with the lawyer at the house.

  It was a seemingly innocent setup but Tyler had observed the unusual closeness of the two. Not that he didn’t trust Kendra, but it was the thought of Peter spending more time with his wife than usual that concerned him. Peter also had a reputation of a ladies’ man. His easy-going nature and great sense of humor drew women to him like moths to a flame.

  Despite his uneasiness, he didn’t plan to confront Peter about it. It was simply not his style. Besides, he wouldn’t want to appear to be a jealous and overprotective husband.

  “Ty, it’s great you’re here. I need to go over a few things with you both,” Peter said brightly—a little too brightly for Tyler.

  “Well, I was just about drop by and pick up Kendra for lunch, why don’t you join us?” Tyler casually invited. He then turned to Kendra and smiled at her, “I have a couple of hours free, how about lunch at Tijuana’s?”

  “Oh. Give me five minutes to get changed. Pete, please come with us. You mentioned earlier you needed to discuss a few things with both of us.” She excused herself and went to the bedroom to change.

  “So, how’s it going?” Tyler joined Peter in the living room. He stretched out his arms over the back of the chair he was sitting in, subtly claiming dominance.

  Peter has played out this game far too many times not to read between the lines. His mischievous side wanted to see just how far he could goad Tyler. It was easy to see the couple was crazy for each other, they just hadn’tt come to terms with it and perhaps didn’t even have a clue how to go about it. He found himself smiling at the thought. It seems like the great Tyler Chadwick had finally met his match and he had played cupid to make it happen.

  Peter tried to bite back a grin and keep a straight face. “Well, as I was telling Kendra earlier, I plan to present supporting documents to prove to the court there is really no case to speak of. You were given guardianship by Sophie’s parents in the event of their untimely death and you have the financial capacity and marital stability to provide the baby a nurturing environment.”

  “You mean, it’s possible we can skip the hearings and nullify Mel’s aunt’s custody claim?” Tyler leaned forward and asked.

  “Yes. Everything seems to be in our favor. I think the other side plans to use your bachelorhood and lifestyle to question your capacity to be a fit father for Sophie. Given the recent developments, I don’t think this will even merit a day in court.” Peter said.

  “That’s great news!” Tyler said enthusiastically, his earlier annoyance seemed to have been forgotten.

  Their conversation was cut short when Kendra arrived, drawing admiring looks from both men. She was wearing a simple, tight-fitting plaid dress, which showed off her beautifully sculpted legs. Tyler was quick to notice Peter was also watching Kendra intently and openly admired her.

  At that instant, Tyler felt the insane urge to punch the appreciative look off his friend’s face. While it may have appeared to him that theirs was an arranged marriage, Tyler certainly didn’t have any plans of sharing his wife with anyone. Unconsciously, he was scowling while he watched her approach, which earned him a questioning look from her

  Kendra had picked out a dress with care, hoping to please Tyler. Despite her earlier nonchalance, she appreciated the fact Tyler had thought of
taking her out to lunch. But based on his facial expression, it seems like her efforts were apparently not to his satisfaction, which was the exact opposite to Peter’s reaction, who openly gawked at her.

  “Shall we go?” she asked with a slight hesitation. Her insecurities returned full force. She knew a number of people would question Tyler’s choice of a wife. His dark look certainly did nothing to boost her confidence.

  Peter followed them to Tijuana’s. The two men effortlessly drew admiring glances from women as they walked towards their table and Kendra had to withstand curious stares. Being a woman herself, she was fully aware what went through the female brain as they sized up their competition. She would just have to learn to live with it.

  While waiting for their food to arrive, Kendra called Martha to check on Sophie. She found out the two had already returned from the park and Sophie was already sound asleep. Martha laughingly told her the little girl had a blast chasing butterflies around the park. The thought made her smile. Sophie was growing up so fast. Kendra made a mental note to accompany them to the park one of these days. With the pleasant weather the past few days, spending a few hours playing and walking around the park had become a part of Sophie’s daily routine.

  When she finally hung up the phone, she realized that the two men were discussing the custody claim. Peter once again expressed confidence in having the case dismissed, which was better than the custody battle they had anticipated. Peter had already submitted the motion to quash a couple of days ago and they will simply have to wait for the court’s ruling over the next two weeks.

  Just then, the two men stopped talking and stared at someone behind Kendra. Without thinking, she turned her head to check what caused the sudden silence.

  “Tyler, darling. How are you?” The sultry voice came from a tall, stunningly beautiful woman.

  Tyler stood up and smiled. “Bianca. I didn’t know you’re back in town.”

  So this was Bianca, Kendra thought as she watched the two talk, oblivious to her and Peter’s presence. She knew Bianca was Tyler’s ex, a fashion model and socialite but it was her first time seeing her up close and personal.

  “I just got back yesterday and I just heard the most outrageous gossip,” she says as she possessively laid a hand on Tyler’s chest. The action of course did not escape Kendra. She knew Bianca was probably unaware of her existence. She caught the concerned look Peter threw at her after he watched the exchange. In response, Kendra put up a brave front and gave him a tight smile.

  “And what might that be?” Tyler raised his eyebrows.

  “That you got married! Such preposterous news!” Bianca gushed out loud. Her perfectly penciled eyebrows revealed her reaction to what it seemed was an outrageous idea.

  Peter cleared his throat loudly to draw their attention to him. Kendra felt a surge of panic as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. Right then and there, she wished the floor would swallow her whole.

  “Bianca, you look lovely as ever,” Peter chimed in. “Let me introduce to you Tyler’s better half. This is Mrs. Kendra Simmons-Chadwick, Tyler’s better half and a good friend of mine.”

  Kendra watched as Tyler’s expression turned sour at Peter’s impertinent interference and Bianca’s gasped of utter shock. Everyone was silent.

  “I... Hi. I’m Kendra,” she tried to smile warmly to put everyone at ease.

  “Oh... I’m so sorry,” Bianca looked flustered. “I remember you. You’re a friend of Melissa’s, right? I think I saw you at the funeral.” Despite her attempt to recover from the faux pas, her wobbly voice revealed her hurt.

  “Kendra is a good friend of the family. I’ve known her from way back.” Tyler said as he placed one arm around Kendra’s shoulder and gave it a small squeeze.

  Great. Just what Kendra needed. Tyler’s words projected the idea she was a trusty old pal or a loyal dog, not a wife he was truly proud of. Against her will, her body stiffened at his words.

  She knew Tyler didn’t mean anything by it but the words cut her to the quick. It somehow revealed what he really thought of her. She was nothing but a trusted and reliable friend who had come to his rescue when he needed someone. In short, she was a convenient solution.

  What had she expected, she silently berated herself. She was not conned into entering into a marriage of convenience. She agreed with her eyes wide open and Tyler’s cards were laid out on the table.

  There was no broken promises or betrayal to speak of. But why did it feel like her world had just been ripped apart quite viciously? Barely a month into their marriage, the reality came back with jarring force. Despite her niggling pessimism, she had started to believe there was hope for them.

  Through half-lidded eyes, Kendra tried to valiantly conceal the hurt and act casual. But she knew she could not hide anything from Peter’s probing gaze. She knew he was surreptitiously observing her from the corner of his eye. Bianca hurriedly excused herself and threw an apologetic smile to Kendra.

  They continued with their lunch in awkward silence. Peter proceeded to discuss the custody with them but it was clear the couple were lost in their own thoughts. After lunch, Kendra insisted she take a cab back to the house so the two would not have to go out of the way. She just wanted to escape and be alone with her jumbled thoughts.

  “What were you thinking, man?” Peter confronted Tyler as soon as Kendra’s cab drove away.

  “What do you mean?” Tyler demanded. He still looked distracted.

  “Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but you just introduced your wife like she was a loyal old dog, to your ex who just happens to be a supermodel.” His voiced revealed his disgust. Despite the short time he had known Kendra, he had come to know the beautiful and exceptional woman behind the simple facade. Sure, she didn’t have the looks to match the likes of Bianca, but she was considered a prime catch among many.

  Tyler was taken aback by Peter’s words. He did not mean for the introductions to come across like that. He was too preoccupied thinking about the implications of Bianca’s return. It was bad timing, especially with the custody case at hand. He had known her to be slightly vindictive and brazen enough to go after what she wanted. He just wanted to maintain a neutral ground. At this point, he didn’t want to risk anything—not Sophie’s custody nor his relationship with Kendra.

  “Oh. So that explains she was cold and distant the entire time,” Tyler voiced his thoughts out loud.

  “At least you noticed,” he shrugged. “Look man, I’m not sure what is going on between the two of you, and it’s not really my thing to stick my nose on other people’s business.”

  “But?” Tyler prompted.

  “Well, any guy would have to be blind not to see Kendra is an amazing woman and I know you’re crazy about her. Otherwise, you wouldn’t give me that dagger look you are giving me just now,” Peter chuckled. “I just hope you are not too cynical to recognize the real thing when it’s right under your nose.”

  Tyler was quiet as he mulled over Peter’s words. Despite his carefree attitude, he could always count on his friend to talk sense into him when he needed it most.

  It was clear he had been a total ass and he felt ashamed by his callousness. Kendra had done so much for him and Sophie without expecting anything in return. She was such a natural giver—nurturing and loving. After all he had done in the past, he had come to realize she was too good for him. He didn’t deserve her but he could only thank his lucky stars and fate that conspired to aid him.

  This is it, Chadwick. Don’t mess it up.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kendra went home with a heavy heart. All throughout the cab ride, she had been struggling with the temptation to just pack up and leave—to simply stop caring and get away from everything and everyone.

  She had always tried to be there for everyone around her. Despite her anger at Tyler, common sense prevailed. She took time to question who was she really mad at? Tyler hadn’t done anything to intentionally hurt or offend her, except revealed t
hat for him, she was more as ‘good old dependable Kendra’ than a ravishing wife he could be proud of.

  What’s new? She had always been everyone’s favorite go-to girl. Most of her life, she relished the idea of feeling needed by people around her. But today, it served as a huge wakeup call for her.

  What could she possibly expect from a self-confessed playboy like Tyler? It wasn’t as if he professed undying love for her when he married her. Yes, they’ve shared a bed, but it didn’t come with any strings. In fact, it was she who clearly stated he can go and have an affair as long as he was discreet about it.

  After an hour of mulling and processing her feelings, she came to realize she was angrier at herself for putting her in this vulnerable position. Now, she can either grit her teeth and deal with it or walk out in a huff.

  She, of course, chose to do the former.

  * * * *

  Tyler arrived home in time for dinner. He was fully expecting to find Kendra sulking in one corner or fuming mad. To his surprise, he found her in the kitchen setting the table.

  “Good evening,” Tyler greeted cautiously, trying to test the waters so to speak.

  Kendra looked up and gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hi there. I’m about to serve dinner. Are you hungry?”

  “Famished,” Tyler responded as he walked up to check what she was cooking. “Is that scampi?”

  “Yes,” Kendra replied as she moved the pan from the stove.

  “I love that dish!” Tyler declared, his stomach growled in agreement. “I’ll just go and get changed and I’ll join you guys.”

  When Tyler finally went back to the dining area several minutes later, Sophie and Kendra were already waiting for him. She placed the little girl in her high chair and fed her with mashed mixed veggies.

  “Hi, my princess. How was your day?” Tyler cooed as he stole a kiss from Sophie’s pudgy cheek before taking his seat.