Forever After: Book Five in the Unrestrained Series

by S. E. Lund

  “She’s having a hard time nursing,” Kate said and looked at me in alarm.

  I took Sophie once more and suctioned her nose again, before handing her back and sure enough, that worked. Sophie was now able to nurse without any problem. The two settled in and Kate began to rock back and forth slowly. I watched for a while, then went back to the bedroom and pulled on my robe and watch, and retrieved my cell. I went back to check on them, as Kate was changing breasts, and I stood in the doorway.

  “Do you want me to get you anything to drink?”

  Kate glanced up. “What time is it?”

  I checked my watch. “Four-thirty.”

  “Maybe some water,” Kate said. “She’ll go back to sleep soon.”

  I went downstairs to the kitchen and poured Kate a glass of water and decided to stop and check my emails on my cell. I had twenty-two new emails.

  I checked the main email for my Drake Morgan, MD account and there, the second from the bottom, was an email from Maureen’s mom, Brenda Becker.

  FROM: Becker, Brenda

  TO: Morgan, Drake MD

  RE: Visit

  Hey, Drake, hope this finds you well. Maureen is out of town and will be away for the next week if you want to come by and spend some time with Liam. Call me.

  Brenda

  I replied right away even though I knew Brenda wouldn't see it until later in the morning.

  FROM: Morgan, Drake MD

  TO: Becker, Brenda

  RE: RE: Visit

  Hi, Brenda – thanks so much for writing and offering. I would love to spend some time with Liam. At the moment, Sophie's sick with a cold so Kate will probably stay home with her, but I'll be glad to pop by. Where’s Maureen?

  Cheers,

  Drake

  Then, I sent it off, glad at the chance to see Liam. I hoped to be able to spend time with him, but Maureen seemed reluctant to arrange anything in advance. I wondered if she had gone to Borneo to be with Chris, which meant that she wanted to get back together with him. I hoped not – I did not want her taking Liam out of the country, especially not to a place like Borneo.

  I was reluctant to go the legal route, wanting to create as much good will with Maureen as possible and I didn’t think forcing the issue was the way to do that. So, I held off applying for shared custody.

  I may have to rethink it if Maureen was even seriously thinking of moving to Borneo to be with Chris.

  There was nothing to do about it until Brenda returned my email, so I went back upstairs to Sophie’s room. Kate was laying her back down in her crib, and Sophie had her pacifier in her mouth and was sucking away much more easily, her eyes closed already. Kate tucked the light blanket around Sophie and then glanced quickly at me.

  “That’s not too warm, is it? That blanket?”

  I shook my head and leaned down beside Kate, helping to tuck in the blanket.

  “No, she should be fine. The Tylenol will kick in soon and she has only a light onesie on. We don’t want her to be cold. If she has a fever, she’ll feel chilled and will be uncomfortable. The light blanket will keep her warm enough.”

  Kate nodded and together, we stood and watched in the dim bedroom lit only by a Peter Pan nightlight, stars twinkling on the ceiling from the lampshade. I took Kate’s arm and pulled her out of the room. She stopped me in the doorway, and I knew she was reluctant to leave.

  “She’s fine,” I said, trying to comfort Kate, whom I knew would be on high alert because of Sophie’s fever.

  “I know,” Kate replied, her voice soft. “I’m anxious because she’s a preemie. I read that their immune systems are often underdeveloped.”

  “She’s not a preemie anymore. She’s now officially an infant instead of a neonate. Babies get fevers all the time in their first couple of years, as their bodies encounter and fight off every virus that circulates in the population.”

  She nodded, but remained in the doorway, her arms folded around herself.

  I took her in my arms and we embraced, both of us watching Sophie from the door. I was sure that this one was no different from any other rhinovirus, and that in a few days, her nose would be clear again. I’d keep a close watch on her fever and check her ears and throat for any signs of infection, but I fully expected she’d be better in a matter of days.

  “Let’s go back to bed,” I said softly, pulling Kate down the hallway. “You need to sleep. We both need the rest.”

  Kate sighed heavily. “I’m afraid she’ll have trouble breathing,” she said, her voice wavering.

  “We’ll hear every little sound on the monitor,” I said and pulled Kate a little more firmly down the hall. “I promise she’ll sleep well for the next few hours and so should you so you can be refreshed for the day ahead.”

  “Okay, doctor,” she said finally, following me when I took her hand in mine. “You’re the boss.”

  “I am,” I said in an officious voice. “Oh, yeah,” I said, remembering Brenda’s email. “I got an email from Brenda inviting me to come by and visit with Liam. I guess Maureen’s out of town and so the coast is clear…”

  Kate crawled into bed beside me as I held open the coverlet so she could slip underneath.

  “You’ll have to go by yourself,” she said, her voice doubtful. “I can’t take Sophie out when she’s sick.” Kate lay on her side, her back to me.

  “Of course,” I said and pulled Kate against me so we spooned together. “I’ll go by myself. I haven’t seen Liam since Christmas. I want to be more than a stranger to him so I’m glad Brenda contacted me.”

  “Me, too,” Kate said and yawned. “You have to file for shared custody. You know my dad would help with his contacts.”

  “I know,” I said and snuggled down, closing my eyes. “We’ll play it by ear.”

  I lay beside Kate and wondered what the morning would bring, how Sophie would be and whether Liam would be receptive to seeing me.

  I fell back asleep with thoughts of what kind of gift I could get him, struggling to choose between an action figure or a Lego set.

  A couple of hours later, I got up and went to check on Sophie, careful not to wake up Kate. I checked her throat, her ear and her eyes, as well as taking her temperature, which – thankfully – was down to almost normal.

  When I returned to bed, Kate stirred.

  "Did you check on Sophie?" she asked and rubbed her eyes.

  "Yes. She still has a bit of a fever, but it’s being controlled with the Tylenol, so if we give her a regular dose, she should be fine,” I said, trying to calm Kate, who still had wide eyes. “I don’t see any sign of an ear infection or throat infection, so she’s probably brewing a virus.”

  “I hope so,” Kate said.

  Later, we both got up and while Kate gave Sophie a sponge bath, I put my medical kit away. Kate got Sophie dressed in a clean pair of pajamas after putting on a fresh diaper, and then carried her downstairs. I had a quick shower and went to check my email to see if Brenda had replied. Sure enough, there was a response waiting in my inbox.

  FROM: Becker, Brenda

  TO: Morgan, Drake MD

  RE: RE: RE: Visit

  Come on by this morning whenever you can. Liam has a doctor's appointment this afternoon so we'll be out then. Liam's home and is bored, so now would be a good time for you to pop by. Maureen is in Borneo with Chris, apparently trying to work things out. Looks like they might get back together and Chris is considering moving back to California. I'm not too happy about them leaving, but if Maureen's happy, I'm happy. I'm sure you won't like it, but Chris is all Liam has known in his life and he misses Chris a great deal as you can imagine.

  Talk to you this morning,

  Brenda

  I replied that I'd be over in a short time and got dressed, and went to the kitchen island to drink my coffee and down a bowl of oatmeal.

  “You going out?” Kate asked, Sophie in her arms.

  “Yes,” I said and handed her a mug of decaf coffee. I bent down and kissed Sophie on th
e cheek. “I’m going to run to the drug store and get a toy for Liam. I saw it there the other day. Brenda replied to my email, inviting me over for coffee this morning. I guess Liam has a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so the morning works out best.”

  “It’s so nice of her to offer,” Kate said and smiled, no doubt amused at how eager I was to see my son. “I hope Maureen’s willing to let you see Liam more.”

  I sighed. “She’s in Borneo with Chris, so I guess they’re reconciling. Chris wants to move back to California.”

  “Oh, Drake, you didn’t say anything about that,” Kate said, frowning. “That's too bad for you. Here I thought you and Liam would be able to establish a relationship.”

  I shrugged and put my empty bowl in the dishwasher. “I don't want to deny Liam access to Chris. He's the only father Liam has known.”

  I went over and kissed Kate while she put Sophie in her high chair. On her part, Sophie was a bit fussier than usual, but that was to be expected. The Tylenol seemed to keep her more comfortable so I checked the time.

  “Can you give her another dose of Tylenol?”

  Kate nodded. “Yes, she’s due.”

  I went to the door and started to pull on my boots, eager to go to the store and buy Liam a toy.

  Kate took the bottle of Tylenol and measured out a dose and Sophie was only too happy to suck it down out of the dropper. When she was done, Kate left her and came to the door to say goodbye.

  “Say hello to Brenda for me,” she said after we kissed.

  “I will, and thank you,” I said as I pulled on my coat and scarf.

  “You don't have to thank me,” Kate said, adjusting my scarf.

  “I do. You contacted Brenda back before Christmas.” I smiled and I remembered Christmas Day when I could see Liam. “It’s because of you that I’m even able to go and see him.”

  “I’m glad I did,” Kate said. She kissed me once more and then opened the door.

  “See you in a couple of hours,” I said.

  “Have fun and give Liam a hug for me.”

  “I will,” I said and with one last glance at where Sophie sat in her chair in the kitchen, I was gone.

  My visit with Liam was enjoyable and made me think of how much I had missed of his young life because Maureen had been unwilling to let me know he was mine. She had suspected as much, but given our separation, and her affair with Chris, she had hoped the child was his.

  I could understand that, but I still felt cheated of years I could have spent with him. I understood only too well how it felt to not have a father around and wanted to make sure that whatever relationship I had with Liam, I would make the best of it.

  "Where's Sophia?" Liam asked when I entered the apartment. He glanced around me as if looking for her and frowned when he didn’t see her.

  "She couldn’t come today," I said and handed Brenda my coat and scarf. While I removed my boots, I smiled at Liam. "She has a cold but as soon as she's better, I know she'd like to see you again. Maybe we can get together."

  "Before we go back to California," Liam said and nodded.

  I handed him the gift I'd bought him – a Lego Star Wars plane. "This is for you."

  Liam took it and went to the living room, where Brenda had a tray with coffee and cups set out. There were small cinnamon buns on a tray as well.

  "Have a seat," Brenda said. "Can I pour you some tea?"

  I nodded and sat to watch as Liam unwrapped the gift and then stared at it wide-eyed. "It's an X-Wing," Liam said, his voice sounding impressed. "Can you help me put it together?"

  For the next hour, Liam and I put the Lego spaceship together, with Liam telling me about Star Wars and him flying it around the room once it was finished. As I watched him play, I couldn’t help but think about him moving back to California with Chris and Maureen, once they returned from Borneo. I felt a pang of regret that all this time had been wasted and Liam and I had barely gotten to know one another. When my time was up, I rose to leave with reluctance.

  "When is Maureen back?" I asked quietly while I went to the closet to get my coat.

  "Next week," Brenda said, helping me with my scarf. "They'll be here for a while to help pack up and then Chris will go back to California and open up the house. Liam and Maureen will fly back once he's settled in."

  She raised her eyebrows at me suggestively. "I feel bad about all this, Drake. You've only met your son, officially, and now you'll be losing him."

  I took in a deep breath, and nodded. "I know," I said. "I don't want to interfere, because Chris has been his father all Liam's life, but I do want to keep a relationship with Liam."

  "You should," Brenda said. "I'll put in a good word with Maureen. At the least, I'll email you and let you know what she says."

  "Thanks," I said and gave her a quick hug. I turned and glanced back at Liam, who was lying on his back, the plane in his hand.

  "See you later, Liam," I called out to him. He turned to see me and jumped up, running to the door with the plane in his hand.

  "Thanks for the X-Wing. Will you come by and bring Sophie with you?"

  "I'll talk to your mom and as soon as we can, we'll come over and see you again."

  Liam nodded. I extended my hand and we shook. I wanted to hug him, but I felt that would be premature. He knew I was his biological father as an idea but it meant nothing to him yet. That would take time. Time that I apparently didn't have.

  I left, a lump in my throat at the sight of him standing there, a sprig of black hair sticking straight up, his blue eyes so much like mine.

  My son.

  I'd only gotten to know him. Now, I'd be losing him again.

  I walked out into the cold February morning and wished things had worked out differently.

  When I arrived home from my visit, Kate was waiting for me. I took off my coat and boots, and threw my scarf into the bin in the closet and then went right to Kate, who stood beside the entry watching me.

  "How did it go?" she asked. I said nothing. Instead, I took her into my arms and pulled her tightly against me. Momentarily, I felt overwhelmed with emotion and the sense of loss that Liam would be going back to California.

  "Oh, Drake, I'm sorry," Kate said softly as I pressed my face into the crook of her neck, unable to speak.

  I shook my head and took her hand in mine. When I checked the living room to see where Sophie was, I saw that she wasn't anywhere in sight. She must be upstairs in her bed napping.

  "I need you," I said and pulled Kate against me once again.

  "I'm yours," she said, knowing exactly what I meant.

  I needed to lose myself, and get rid of this sadness I felt.

  I’d lose myself in her.

  Chapter 22 : Kate

  Sophie improved over the course of the next few days, and soon, her sniffles were gone and she was back to her old self, trying to crawl around, mostly pushing herself back.

  One morning, Drake and I were sitting in the living room while Sophie played on a blanket on the floor on her tummy. While she played, I read the paper and watched the local news, hoping to catch a report about Lisa’s trial and Derek Richardson’s murder case.

  Drake’s cell buzzed from where it lay on the coffee table. He picked it up and checked the caller ID.

  “Lara,” he said and answered, holding the phone to his ear. “Hello, Mistress Lara,” he said with a smile on his face. “How is my partner in crime today?”

  He listened and then the smile fell off his face. He picked up the remote control and switched the TV to another local news channel. On the screen was the image of a man with a shaved head and a thick black beard. He had his hands cuffed and was being walked up the stairs to the police station, a detective dressed in a suit and tie escorting him in. Beneath the image was a caption.

  Suspect Arrested in Richardson Murder Case.

  Drake turned up the volume and we listened as the reporter announced that a man had been arrested and charged with first degree murder.
/>   Drake looked at me. “Lara says that’s Lisa’s submissive.”

  “What?”

  I turned and watched as the doors to the police station closed and photographers left the scene.

  “Okay, I’ll tell her. Yes, she’ll be pleased. Thanks again, Lara. You’re the best.”

  At that, Drake ended the call and put his phone down. We listened to the reporter, who went over the details in the case once more before the news story ended and they moved on to another case.

  “Well?” I said, impatient to hear what Lara told Drake. Whatever it was made him happy. “What did Lara say?”

  Drake muted the volume on the television and turned back to me, smiling.

  “I’m finally, officially, no longer a suspect,” he said, his smile turning to a wide grin.

  “Oh, that’s so great, Drake! Wonderful!”

  “Finally,” he said and leaned over, picking up Sophia and kissing her head and then me on the mouth. “No longer a suspected attempted-murderer. Now, merely a kinky Dominant.”

  “My kinky Dominant,” I said and laughed, so pleased that the police finally decided to take their focus off Drake and put it where it should be. “What happened?”

  Drake handed Sophie to me for a feed and leaned back, his arm on the back of the sofa. “They finally found Lisa’s submissive partner, and when he saw them, he ran. The police found incriminating evidence, tools in the back of his vehicle, that link him to Richardson’s murder. A crowbar that was used to kill him and a small gardening tool that he used to dig the shallow grave they dumped him in.”

  “They?” I said and frowned while I got Sophie latched on. “Lisa and him?”

  “Yes,” Drake said, his eyebrows raised. “The week before she attacked you, they apparently took Derek out to his cabin and held him there. They made Derek withdraw money from his bank and send messages to friends and colleagues that he was going out of town for months and wouldn’t be in touch for a while. Not to worry, that kind of thing. Then, when Derek tried to escape, he and Jones got into a fight and Jones killed him, buried him in the forest behind the cabin. Jones lived there for a while after Lisa was arrested. He’s claiming it was self-defense against Derek, but that’s pretty damn weak. There was enough evidence left at the cabin to identify him. They eventually found him at his mother’s place in upstate New York.”