by Nia Arthurs
“Deacon.” He shook my hand and offered a folder to me. “I really don’t understand why the San Pedro hospital referred you here. Your son is completely fine.”
I cleared my throat. “The doctors there told me the same thing, but I wanted a second opinion to be sure.”
“When he wakes up, Reid can be discharged. He’s healthy as a horse.”
“Thank you.”
He grinned. “You and your son are, uh, making quite a stir at the nurses’ station.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No. It just seems like you’ve caught their eye. They sent me here to investigate and I feel,” he rubbed his forehead, “well, I shouldn’t be doing this, but are you, um, available?” He blushed to the roots of his hair.
“No.”
“Oh.” He stepped back. “Married?”
“Soon-to-be, yes.”
“Engaged?”
“No.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows crinkled. “Are you planning to pop the question soon?”
“I would prefer that, but no.” Love couldn’t overcome everything. I knew that Angel had loved me when she left and the problems between us hadn’t been dealt with yet.
She’d need more time.
I was an impatient man, but I would wait. For her.
The doctor’s confusion mounted. “So you have a girlfriend?”
“Not exactly.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I was dumped.”
“What?”
“But I plan on getting her back,” I added.
“Oh… okay.” Still looking shaken, the doctor turned and strutted out the door. The sound of the lock clicking into place woke Reid.
“Dada?”
“Hey, buddy.” I leaned over his cot and lifted him into my arms. “Are you feeling better?”
He nodded.
“Let’s get you changed and then we’ll head home.” I selected a clean set of clothes from his bag and helped him to put them on.
A nurse entered when I was done. “Mr. Hill, I’ve got the discharge documents here.”
“Thanks.” I signed my name and waited for her to leave.
She didn’t.
“Um,” the woman played with a lock of her curly hair, brown eyes widened, “are you interested in maybe hanging out—?”
The door opened.
Angel rounded the bend and glanced at the nurse and me. I saw the wrinkle grow between her eyebrows and almost smiled. If possible, she looked even sexier when jealous.
“Am I interrupting?” she snipped.
“No, you’re not.” I clutched Reid securely and strode past the nurse. “I was waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“We’re leaving.”
“Now?” She frowned. “Is Reid okay?”
“The doctor cleared him. We’re free to go.”
“Oh.” Her eyes skittered away. “I thought you’d be here longer.”
“Are you asking me to stay?” I leaned down.
She shook her head.
“What if I ask you to come back?”
“To the island?” Brown eyes zipped to mine. “I can’t.”
Disappointment blew a hole through my chest. She was rejecting me. Again.
Angel rubbed Reid’s arm. “I have responsibilities here. Work. My dad. I can’t leave again. But…” She sucked in a breath. “I might call. To ask about how Reid’s doing.”
“I’m sure he’d like that.”
She dipped her chin once and backed away. “I’ll call you.”
I nodded.
Angel turned and fled, leaving me alone again. At least she’d given me more hope than I’d had when she quit and left the island.
I turned back to the nurse. “What was your question?”
“Forget it,” she mumbled and sighed disappointedly. “I guess you really are taken.”
Instead of answering, I grabbed Reid’s bag and strode out of the room. I was hoping to run into Angel again on the way out, but we didn’t meet any familiar faces.
Reid kept me busy on the plane ride back to San Pedro. His energy had tripled, as if he was making up for his time of lethargy. I had to keep my eyes on him every second and it was a relief when the plane landed and I could haul him away from it.
Rasheed was waiting at the airport to pick us up.
“Boss.” Eyes bright, he smiled. “Did you accomplish what you wanted to?”
“What are you talking about?”
He helped strap Reid into the baby seat and glanced over his shoulder. “Angel.”
“What about her?”
“Did you run into each other at the hospital in Belize City?”
“You ask too many questions, Rasheed.” I climbed into the driver’s seat.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He laughed.
I shook my head and drove to the marina.
Rasheed walked with us to the dock, that silly grin still on his face. I shot him a dark look and he glanced away. I was glad to board the boat and get away from him.
Reid refused to be contained in his baby seat so I held him while I steered us back to the island. Miguel was waiting at the dock. He waved when he saw the boat and accepted the rope I threw his way.
“Gul!” Reid bucked in my arms and pointed to the man.
“Yes, that’s Miguel.”
He clapped.
I smiled, glad to see Reid in such high spirits. He’d shaved ten years off my life last night. Seeing him hurt and sick made me physically ill. I’d follow everything the doctor prescribed so we never had another episode like this.
Miguel waved and signed to me, “How is the little one?”
“Good.” I set Reid down so I could sign.
He took off, footsteps rattling over the pier as he stumbled to the beach and started picking up shells.
“And Angel?”
I shrugged and signed. “We’ll see.”
Miguel nodded.
I collected Reid and took him into the house. After giving him a bath, I fed him and played with him until we were both exhausted. The house looked like a tornado of toys had spun through the place.
I managed to get Reid to pick up a few toys, but it was about time for his nap and he ended up curled on the play mat and falling asleep.
I took him to his crib, cleaned up and started to prepare dinner.
My phone remained silent.
I busied myself with work for the shop and pretended that I didn’t care.
Reid woke and I fed him, played with him some more and then put him in front of his tablet so I could have a few minutes of peace.
It was our usual routine and yet the hours seemed to drag more than usual. As night fell on the island, I wondered if I should give in and call Angel first.
Screw looking desperate.
If I couldn’t have her physically near, I needed to hear her voice.
I put Reid to bed and then picked up my phone to call when it started vibrating in my hand.
Angel’s number blared on the screen.
I answered. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Her sweet voice blew gently on my ears. “I called when I figured Reid would be asleep.”
“He’s out like a light.”
“How is he?”
“Back to normal. A little more energetic than usual.”
“You know, I really admire you for staying home and taking care of him. Not many fathers do that. It’s very demanding.”
“More demanding than anything I’ve ever done.”
She paused. “More demanding than your old job?”
“Yes.”
She sighed. “I still can’t get used to the thought of you being that type of man.”
“I’m not anymore. Taking those last two targets with Rhia underlined the fact that I’ve changed. I want to be someone who fosters life, not brings death.”
“I’m trying,” she said softly, “to trust you again.”
My heart pounded. “That’s more than I deserve, Angel.”
“Look, I’ve… got to go. I slipped away from my mom to call you, but Dad’s coming home tonight and they need me to help.”
“Of course. You should go.” I took a chance and added, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I said victoriously.
She hung up.
I went to bed with a smile on my face and a promise to woo Angel until she never thought of leaving my arms again.
42
Angel
Talking to Deacon started out as a once-a-day occurrence. Short calls. Mostly at night. We spoke about Reid and what he’d done that day or about the kids at the community center and how they were stressing me out.
The calls were then joined by good-morning texts.
Good-morning-texts turned to frequent texts throughout the day, mostly Deacon saying something romantic—how he missed me, that he was thinking of me, that I was beautiful and that he loved me.
Every time I saw those messages, my heart skipped a beat.
Without fail.
Who’d have thought that such a big and brusque guy could be such a sap?
I’d never been pursued the way Deacon was pursuing me.
It was intentional, honest and breathtaking.
He was after all of me and it was something I was still trying to wrap my head around.
Someone like Deacon had chosen me.
And he wanted to be chosen in return. He offered control and took control, but it was a gentle, seductive dance rather than a game that just dragged my heart around on a stick.
I was learning to depend on him and his love for me more than I thought I would. When something good happened, he was the first person I wanted to call.
When something bad happened, I wanted to hear his voice more than anyone’s.
At the end of the summer, one of my kids’ parents got arrested for domestic violence and the social worker and police came to the community center to take them to a foster home.
I called Deacon that day, crying. He comforted me and stayed on the line until I’d calmed down enough to return to the other kids. I was able to be strong for them because I’d leaned on him.
We were growing closer—a feat, given we hadn’t seen each other in person since we’d separated in the hospital.
Deacon had yet to ask me to come back to the island, but I knew he was itching to have me there. I was hesitating because… I knew the moment I stepped foot on his domain, he would make me his so completely that I’d never want to leave.
I loved my job in Belize City and I loved being near my parents.
Still, I was starting to waver.
Talking every day and falling asleep on opposite ends of the phone line made me eager, desperate, to be close to him, to see him. Deacon had taken over my thoughts and my longings.
I was ready to trust him. I wanted to trust the man he said he’d become. The details didn’t matter if we were together.
The intense feeling that I should be with him on that island grew everyday, warring with my certainty that I should be with my family. It was tearing me apart.
What should I choose?
Feeling restless, I slid out of bed and tiptoed to the vanity dresser that was cluttered with lotions and makeup. I swiped the junk aside and picked up the jewelry box Deacon had given me the day I left the island.
My fingernails dug into the grooves and I opened it up, revealing the sparkling diamond necklace. It was beautiful and I was pretty sure I didn’t want to know how much it had cost.
I placed it around my neck and looked at myself in the mirror, admiring the way the diamond sparkled against my brown skin.
The door opened suddenly and my mother walked into my bedroom. She wore a simple blue T-shirt and khakis, managing to look soft and elegant in the outfit. Brown eyes fixed and caught on the necklace. “Ooh. That’s pretty.”
“Thanks.” I took it off and set it back in the box.
“Where did you get it?”
“It was a gift.”
“From Deacon?” She arched an eyebrow.
“What? I mean… yes, but how did you know?”
“Honey, your father and I aren’t deaf. We hear you giggling and sighing on the phone with him every night.”
“What?” Embarrassment flushed my cheeks.
“Come downstairs. We need to talk to you.”
“About what?” I gawked.
She just turned and strutted out of the room.
I dashed behind her. “Mom!”
She laughed and tore down the steps.
I paused at the top of the staircase. The living room was completely dark except for candles that flickered in a straight path. Confused, I stumbled down the stairs.
“Mom,” I crooned hesitantly, “what’s going on?”
A little boy walked into my line of sight. He had pale skin and brown hair pasted back away from his face. He wore an adorable tuxedo and carried something in his hands.
I gasped when I recognized Reid. He’d grown so tall. “Reid!” I ran to him and swung him into my arms. He was heavier than I remembered.
“Abel!” he patted my cheeks.
I pressed kisses into his palm, tears flushing my eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“We missed you,” a new voice said.
I glanced to the side and saw Deacon stepping out of the shadows. He was dressed like Reid in a black tuxedo. The candlelight flickered against his tan skin and dialed the intensity of his green eyes up to eleven.
I started crying harder. My heart was so full it was about to burst.
“Abel, no cry.” Reid hit my face with the box in his hands.
I sniffed and took it from him. “What’s this?”
“It’s ring!” Reid cried.
My jaw dropped. I turned wide eyes on Deacon. “You’re kidding.”
“Angel,” he smiled and took the ring box from me, “I love you.”
When he lowered himself to one knee, I started quivering. “Deacon…”
“I know I don’t deserve your love, but I can’t live without you. I want to spend my life treasuring you and loving you as the gift that you are.”
Reid squirmed and pointed. “Dada!”
“Yes, Dada.” I kissed his cheek.
“Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
I glanced up and saw Mom and Dad staring proudly at me. Setting Reid down, I ran to Deacon and hugged him, knocking him over.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I kissed his cheek and lips, his nervous sweat mingling with my tears.
He laughed, a sound so joyful and broken that I started crying harder. Reid danced around, wiggling in his little suit and chuckling uproariously.
I quit my kissing assault on Deacon and allowed him to stand up. He slipped the ring on my finger and then kissed my knuckles. Looking into my eyes, he promised, “I will love you—and only you—forever, my Angel.”
I turned to my parents. “Did you know about this?”
“Deacon came to visit me often at the hospital when I was doing my check ups,” Dad explained with a pleased smile. “We got to know each other slowly. Your mother and I sensed something since the first moment you introduced him, so I wasn’t surprised when he asked for my blessing a few weeks ago.”
“You asked my dad?”
“I’m old-fashioned.” He shrugged.
I threw my arms around his neck and admired my ring. “I love you.”
He kissed the side of my neck. “I love you, Angel. So much.” He leaned back. “Would you take a ride with me?”
“Of course.”
Mom stepped forward and waved to Reid. “We’ll watch him for you.”
“Thank you.” Deacon nodded, grabbed my hand and led me out to his car.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
I vibrated with excitement. It took everything in me not to climb into Deacon’s lap on the short ride and suck his bottom lip into my mouth like
it was candy.
I satisfied myself with holding his hand instead.
“We’re here,” Deacon said, pulling up in front of a large split level in my parent’s neighborhood.
“What is it?”
“It’s ours.”
“Ours?” My eyebrows rose. “You bought a house? In the city? What about the island? Living alone, far away from anyone else was your dream.”
“You’re my dream.” He squeezed my hand.
Like a fool, I started crying again. “You’d really move here for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Angel. I want you to be happy. I’d give my life to make you smile. Whatever you want, tell me and it’s yours. Just never leave my side again.”
“I won’t.” I shook my head.
He kissed my wrist. “We’re three minutes away from your parents’. And you can keep teaching at your school. Just…” he grinned, “if Humphries starts acting crazy, let me know.”
I snorted. “What will you do?”
“Remind him that you’re mine.” He took my chin and drew my face close until our foreheads touched. “And I’m yours. I’m all yours, Angel.”
I kissed him gently, then hungrily, making up for lost time. My fingers curved into his jacket and I clung to him, soaking in Deacon’s love and thanking God that I hadn’t let this man slip away.
My skin crackled with electricity.
My heart sang like Reid’s favorite maraca.
No matter what he’d done in his past, Deacon was a different person now. I’d spend my forever arguing with him, loving him, making love to him and growing old with him.
And it was the best gift I could ask for.
Epilogue
Angel
“Is that really what you want to do for our honeymoon, baby?” Deacon asked, staring at me from beneath the bill of a baseball cap.
“Your fiancé is offering to take you to Paris or Milan,” Mom interjected, staring at me from her perch in the ice cream parlor’s tall chairs. She looked young and breezy in a white kimono that was a sharp contrast to her dark skin.
Dad chuckled. His hair was starting to grow back and he looked more like his old self. “Let her have her way. It’ll save you in travelling costs, Deacon.”
“Money isn’t a problem here, Dad.”