by Kim J. West
“Yes, he used Barrett which was my grandmother’s maiden name.”
She sighed wearily then shook her head.
“I’m sorry about this discovery coming right before your marriage to my daughter.”
I took in a fortifying breath. “About that… I don’t want Lena to find out anything upsetting right before our marriage and so close to her delivery. I hope you agree with me.”
“Jonathan, you know I’ll do anything to make sure my daughter is happy.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding, relieved that no drama would be created. I knew it was a selfish decision, but I didn’t want some thirty year old story to affect Lena and I and our new start; we’d been through enough. Later that evening, I knew Lena would have questions and I’d blame my father’s behavior on his health and leave it at that.
“Thank you, Mrs. Williams.”
She didn’t answer and spent the rest of the drive to her home in silence, looking out the window, deep in thought.
***
That next Saturday, I was standing before a makeshift altar at my parents’ Buckhead residence exchanging vows with Lena. She was stunning in a simple Carolina Herrera dress while I wore a black Armani suit and tie. Her father insisted on walking her the few steps to the altar and we were glad to oblige him. In the presence of only our five parents, we promised to love and cherish one another forever. I vowed to protect my wife with everything I had and promised I’d make her happy and provide for her. Only I could see her almost imperceptible eye-roll; my wife like to provide for herself and I’d support her in doing whatever she wanted. I just didn’t want her to think she had to, because everything I was working for was for her and my son.
Her mother and my father managed to skirt each other during the entire ceremony and dinner afterwards; deliberately staying out of each others’ way. Only I noticed, and wondered with concern, how much longer they’d be able to pretend they never knew each other.
Exactly two weeks after the civil ceremony, our son David was born. I was there in the delivery room taking care of Lena; loving her, massaging her and doing everything possible to make her comfortable. When I was finally handed my son for the first time, I felt tears threatening my eyes and bit my lip hard to not lose it. He was perfect in every way, with all his fingers and toes intact and I loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him. I looked at my wife laying there, being fussed over by doctors and knew she was the best decision I’d ever made.
“Your mommy will never get away from me again because of you,” I crooned to little David. I knew I was embarrassing Lena in front of the medical team attending to her but I didn’t care. I was holding my son with my dream wife next to me and that’s all that mattered.
***
THE END.
Lena and Jonathan have more to tell.
Now that Lena is a millionaire in her own right, are new, wealthy suitors going to threaten her relationship with Jonathan?
Will Jonathan’s enemies finally pay him back by hurting his family?
What friction will occur between Lena and the Carter grandparents over her mixed son?
How far will Jonathan’s father and Lena’s mother go in resolving their unfinished business?
Willis Green did not get where he is by giving up; are him and Jonathan going to finally have a show down and is Jonathan going to finally get tired of Lena?
What devastating information is Ashley Maddock going to expose about Jonathan?
What other secrets is Jonathan keeping that will drive a wedge between him and Lena?
Will Lena and Jonathan finally discover that relationships built on drama eventually wear themselves out?
All these issues will be explored in Books 3 and 4.
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