by Katie Dowe
“About three weeks.” She took his hand and placed over her flat stomach. “This time I will not be climbing stairs or-” She broke off abruptly as he pulled her into his arms, fastening his mouth on hers in a kiss that stole her breath and had her clinging to him. “I take it you are happy?” she asked him huskily as he ended the kiss.
“Ecstatic,” he whispered.
*****
Princess Debbie made her way hurriedly as much as her big stomach would allow her as she hurried to meet her guests. She was wearing a strawberry colored dress with a fold around the waist and sleeves that came to her wrists. Her hair was secured on top of her head in an elegant chignon and her crown sat atop it. Diamonds glinted discreetly at her lobes and around her neck, the latest in the list of gifts she had gotten from her husband who walked on air especially since she had told him she was having their baby. A son! She glowed with pleasure and it was supposed to happen sometime this week. She had hoped it would be this weekend while her friends were here. The palace was a hive of activities and the excitement in the air was contagious.
“You look like a princess,” Leesa said with a grin as she hugged her friend tightly.
“So I keep hearing.” She greeted the women first and then their husbands and the children. “It is so good to see you. And, Olivia, you look well in spite of-” She broke off and hugged the girl. Her eyes flew to Blaine in his dad’s hands. “Oh my Lord, he is too beautiful!” she breathed as she took the baby in her arms. “Alexander is becoming a pest as the birth of our son draws nearer. He does not want me to lift a straw.”
“I heard that.” Prince Alexander’s deep voice sounded behind them. He reached out and took his wife into his arms. “You are not supposed to speak ill of your husband,”
“It is supposed to be the dead, darling,” she told him with a laugh. “Come on, let’s get everyone settled.”
*****
Olivia wandered around the throne room and looked at the treasures secured in glass cases with fascination. They had each been assigned a maid to help them out and to take care of the children, smiling natives with long black hair and olive skin. The women had gathered in one of the large sitting rooms and had chatted until it was time for dinner while the men had gone to the games room. She had met the king and queen officially and had fallen in love with them. They were so unlike royalties.
She had been given the tour of the place and had fallen in love with it.
“You are right it would be highly unaffordable,” she had told her husband. They had drunk the wine from the vineyards grown there but Olivia had opted for the fruity one.
“Oh, I forgot that you are still breastfeeding, darling,” Leesa said as she handed her the non-alcoholic wine.
“Actually, Garth and I have some good news too. I am pregnant.”
There had been congratulations all around.
Princess Debbie excused herself at ten the night saying that she was tired. Her husband followed her and closed the door of their suite behind them. “What is it?”
She turned around to face him. He was so beautiful that sometimes she cannot believe he was hers. “I feel slow and tired. I just want to go to bed early. We have to be up early for the celebrations, remember?” He looked at her for a moment before helping her to the bed where he started to help her off with her clothes. She had dismissed her maid refusing to have the woman hovering over her at this time of the night. She clutched his hand tightly as she felt a sharp pain.
“Debbie, what is it?”
“I think I am in labor,” she said in wonder.
“I am getting the doctor.”
“No.” She held his hand. “It is too soon.”
*****
Their son was born the next day at ten in the morning and the celebrations had to be shelved for the time being as both the prince and princess were unavailable.
The wives were crowded inside the large elegant room to look at the latest addition to the royal family. Word had leaked out and the press had found their way there to try and get a shot of the little prince.
“What’s his name?” Olivia asked, stroking his cheek softly.
“Alejandra,” his mother said softly as she looked up at her husband. “I am sorry about the celebration, guys.”
“What are you talking about?” Leesa called out. “It is still happening. The king and the queen are moving it into the throne room and you will be sitting on a very comfortable chair along with Alejandra and be catered to. Your husband will be right next to you.”
“I think I can manage that.”
*****
Olivia watched in fascination at the number of entertainment that were included in the night’s celebration. It ranged from songs, performances, juggling, and women who came up shyly to present their simple gifts to the new born prince. She saw Debbie blinking back tears and realized that the woman was beloved. She turned as her husband pulled her into his arms from behind and realized that in a world where marriages were disintegrating and people were hating each other, they had beaten the odds and found men who loved them with a love that was beyond explaining. “Tired?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.
“Not one bit.” She bent her head and kissed his lips. “I love this, Garth. It is so peaceful and beautiful here.”
“Bradley and I are commissioned to build several malls and houses for people who have decided to set up businesses here.”
“Is it going to change the landscape?”
“We will not let that happen and neither will the king and queen. Alexander warned me against that. We will be starting in January so I will be here often. How do you feel about traveling with me and being my assistant?”
She turned to look at him. “What about Blaine and our baby?”
“I will never leave our children, Olivia. We are a package deal and it remains that way.”
“Then I am sold.”
*****
“This is nice, isn’t it?” Olivia murmured as her husband circled her flat stomach with the sponge. Her cut was barely visible and had healed nicely. It was their last night at the palace and they would be leaving in the morning for now. “Being in this lovely place with friends and you and Blaine.”
“It is.” His hands lingered at her belly in wonder. He still could not believe she was carrying his second child. He had been afraid she would think it was too soon after having their son and after what she had been through.
“Don’t think about it,” she told him softly causing him to lift his head and look at her. The bath was large enough to hold several people and they were sitting face to face while he run the sponge over her body.
“How do you know what I am thinking?” he asked her lightly.
“I can read you, baby.” She placed her hand over his and stopped his movements. “I am okay and so is our son. I want you to focus on that and stop thinking about what nearly happened.”
“How can you not think about it?”
“Because if I do it is going to take away from how happy I am.” She squeezed his hands. “We are going to experience bad things, baby, but you know what gets me through the day? It is knowing that I love you and our son and I know you love me. It is not your money or your status in life but it has to do with being loved by you. That’s all that matters to me.”
“You are a better person than I am.”
She touched his stern jaw. “Your mother told me about your dad and Blake and what your grandfather did to them and ultimately what your dad did to you. You are not that person anymore, baby, and we both know it. You are a wonderful husband and father and I am proud to be your wife.”
“Are you trying to butter me up for something?” he asked her as he tried to clear the blockage from his throat.
“As a matter of fact I am. I have seen the cutest emerald necklace in one of the glass cases in the throne room and I am wondering if you could steal it for me.”
He looked at her and burst out laughing, the love and respect he had for her bursting forth. “Only y
ou would call a necklace like that cute.” His face sobered. “I would give you the world and beyond.”
“You have already done that,” she whispered as she went into his arms.
Chapter 12
“Don’t push again until I tell you to, Olivia,” Doctor Whittingham told her as she flopped back against her husband in exhaustion.
“You okay?” Garth whispered in her ear as he wiped the sweat from her face.
“Your daughter is being stubborn,” she said, looking up at him with a tender smile. She had been in labor for twelve hours now and he had been right behind her refusing to leave her side. They had celebrated their first anniversary last month and their daughter was making her appearance in the middle of the June heat wave. They had been back and forth from their home to Costa Land and she was enormous fun seeing the buildings rise from the ground up. She and Debbie had become fast friends and talked almost every day.
“I wonder who she got that from?” He kissed her cheek tenderly, his expression one of unbelievable love. He had come from being a very unhappy man who had cared more about a company to one with a wife he loved so much that he could never contain it! His son was a delight and had started walking when he was nine months old, toddling around on his chubby little legs and calling him Dada. He had a riot of blond curls and his eyes were still a mixture of brown and green.
“Okay, Olivia, let’s get this over with.” The doctor smiled at her and gestured to the nurses that he was ready. “Don’t push until I tell you.”
Garth reached around to hold her hands and she bore down tightly. “Breathe, baby.”
She did and gave a big push resting back against her husband with a tired smile as she heard the cries of her daughter. Tears gathered in her eyes as they brought the baby wrapped in a hospital blanket to her. Camille blinked as she looked at the beautiful child with her father’s blonde hair and his moss green eyes. She had nothing for Olivia and was a Heywood through and through. “It’s like looking in a mirror,” Garth said in amazement as he looked at his daughter. He kissed the top of his wife’s head as she cradled the baby in her arms. Olivia looked up at him and their eyes met. His eyes were wet as he stared at her. “Thank you,” he said his throat dry.
“You are most welcome,” she told him softly.
*****
“Where are we going?” Olivia asked curiously as they turned off from the direction that led to the apartment.
“You’ll see,” he told her mysteriously, sending her a glance. Their daughter was a month old and their son’s birthday was the end of the month. She looked out the window and noticed the familiar landscape. “Are we going to my parents’ place?”
“Isn’t it your place?”
“I have always thought of it as theirs,” she admitted as he pulled up at the gate. She had visited sometimes when she was pregnant with Ophelia and had taken Blaine there to tell him about his grandparents. He opened the door and got out coming around to help her out. She had gotten back her shape partly because she breastfed her daughter every chance she got and had been using the treadmill regularly. He took her hand as they walked up to the house. It had a faint air of neglect about it and made her felt a little sad. “Let’s go around to the back.”
“Then you will tell me what we are doing here?”
“Hmm.” He tucked her hand beneath his arm. The Saturday afternoon was relentless and hit them like a freight truck as they made their way around the back. “I figured a tree house could go here right in this tree where both kids could share. I was thinking of swings and putting in a pool at the far corner. It is going to be a major undertaking but I figured it would be ready by the end of the year for us to spend Christmas here.’
“Garth Heywood, you are being cryptic,” she said, turning to look at him.
“Am I?” He looked down at her, his eyes tender. “I thought I was being clear enough when I say that I want to renovate the place for us and our children to live here. You said you wanted them to be able to run around the yard so I figured we could add some more rooms and fix the place up a bit that is if you don’t mind.”
“Mind!” She looked at him with shiny dark brown eyes. “It’s perfect!” She jumped into his arms and he held her to him. “I have a few ideas myself.” She took his hand and led him around the side.
“Of course you do,” he said indulgently as he allowed himself to be led.
They went back inside quickly after to get out of the intense heat of the afternoon sun.
“How long have you been thinking about this?” Olivia asked him as she got two cans of fruit juice from the fridge and handed one to him.
“Ever since Blaine stubbed his toe on the end table.” He opened the can and took a swig of the juice.
“You know he is going to be getting a lot of those until he learns to control his awkwardness, right?” she asked him teasingly as she came and sat on his lap.
“I know, but I acquired that apartment with me alone in mind and now that I have a family I am looking in another direction.”
“Face it, mister, you are bent on spoiling those kids of ours,” she teased him.
“And what’s wrong with that?” he asked her defensively.
“Absolutely nothing but if you overboard by giving Ophelia diamonds for her first birthday then I am stepping in,” she warned him.
“I was thinking emeralds,” he told her with a glint in his eyes.
“Garth.” She gave him a warning look. Their daughter’s room was something out of a fairytale, literally with princesses and mythical animals decorating the frothy pink and white room and she had more clothes and toys than a baby her age would ever need to wear. Garth was a fool when it came to her and would rush home in the evenings and make a bee line for her room. Blaine belonged to her and Ophelia was his.
“I love you,” he said suddenly as his expression changed.
“I know.” She felt when the air around them changed and became sexually charged. She had been fortunate that she had not suffered from any of the feelings associated with women after giving birth. They had had their first sexual encounter a few days ago when she had been cleared and had been with each other every chance they got. Garth had wanted to hire another nanny but she had told him not yet. Besides his mother was over at their place almost every day and had Blaine over for most weekends. The woman looked happier than Olivia had ever seen her and doted on her grandkids.
His hands cupped her breasts in the casual cotton blouse she was wearing. She had fed her daughter just before she left and put her to sleep but she could feel her milk filling her breasts again. She moaned as he pulled the buttons and got to her bra. He unhooked the front hook and pushed both blouse and bra from her shoulders, his thumbs caressing the hardened nipples. “Garth,” she sighed as he dipped his head and stroked the nipple with his tongue. Her fingers went to his thick hair and dug in as he took her nipple between his teeth and sucked it into his mouth. Her head dropped back and her body combusted. She was wearing shorts and he eased his hand inside the waistband seeking for the warmth of her flesh. Olivia cried out sharply as he touched her mound dipping into her and stroking the inside slowly savoring the wetness there. His thrust picked up speed as he felt the tremors of her body. He was as hard as a rock but he wanted to give her pleasure first, that was what she deserved! Suddenly he stopped and got up hurriedly pulling off his clothes and then removing hers. He sat on the sofa and pulled her down onto him from behind, his hands kneading the small of her back as she sank down onto his erect penis crying out as he went in deep. He eased her forward gently, his hands going around to feel her nipples. His thrusts started out slowly at first as if testing to see whether she was ready for him and then becoming more demanding as she moved against him with an urgency that almost unseated them! He gave and she took and took some more until he was panting with the fire building up inside them both! She reared back and clasped her hands around his neck, her head twisting as she sought his lips with hers. He returned the
kiss savagely, his mouth devouring hers and his fingers going between them to finger her mound. Olivia sagged against him as the powerful orgasm crashed through her body lifting her up against him and boring her back down. Her mind was muddled and her body felt as if it did not belong to her! Garth held her steady as he drove in deep, his body stiffening as he came in the middle of her orgasm, his body molding itself to hers. He cried out her name as he tore his mouth from hers and spilled himself into her, giving her all of him!
*****
“What’s going on?” Olivia asked as she took off the light jacket she had been wearing as soon as she came into Kelsey’s fast food restaurant. It was the newest one to be opened on their side of town and Leesa had called them to a meeting at the restaurant. It was a beautiful August afternoon with a few clouds in the sky and a slight breeze.
They were all gathered except Kelsey herself who had gone to Japan and Debbie who was at her home thousands of miles away.
“I have cancer,” Leesa told them abruptly as soon as she made sure that they were all there.
“What?” Kelly stared at her very close friend in shock. She had noticed that Leesa had looked a little peaked and had even said it to Kane but had chalked it down to the hive of activities they had been having over the past three months. “How long?” she demanded.
“I just confirmed it a month ago but I-”
“And you never told me?” Kelly accused her.
Leesa reached over the table and took her hand in understanding. “I just told Bradley a week ago because I wanted to make sure and I knew he would not be able to cope.”
“How bad?” Carrie asked her quietly.
“Breast cancer and the doctors caught it just in time.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Brad is not speaking to me right now and I know it is because he is scared.” She looked around at the women who were married to powerful men in the country and realized that she had the support she needed. “It might need a mastectomy but we are not sure yet. I just wanted to let you know and as much as we try to keep these things out of the press, they eventually find a way around it.”