Bennett wandered to his dresser and removed the photo of Beth from the uppermost drawer. Reversing, he sat on his perfectly made bed, her image smiling up at him. He forced himself to picture her as she’d been toward the end, but found, like when he’d struggled to remember her face well and healthy, that the image of her suffering had also faded.
Was that good or bad? He couldn’t see her dying, what he had now was the vestige of feelings she gave him, and that was nothing to tie his entire life to. Whereas Audrey was real and warm and living, their children worth the effort of letting Beth go.
She loved him. Bennett turned that over and over, unable to grasp hold. Such a beautiful woman and she loved a middle-aged widower with two young children. “I’m a fool.” As big a fool as her ex to not take hold of such a gift.
“Daddy?”
Bennett turned Beth’s photo upside-down on the mattress and opened his arms. August sprinted across the floor and, his feet pounding, leapt into his lap. Bennett rose, tousling August’s auburn hair. “Let’s go downstairs and see Mom. Want to?”
Curling against him, his eyes blinking sleepily, August nodded, and Bennett turned his back on the photo and made his way out.
“I want you to remodel the master bedroom,” Bennett said.
Her hair wet, one hand implanted amidst it, Audrey paused. Damp patches on her shirt and shorts gave tantalizing glimpses of the woman underneath. “You want me to do it?”
He nodded and slid toward her. Curving his hands over her waist, he looked upward. “I need to move on, but I can’t as long as I see her in there. So you do it, make it look like the ultimate vision of Audrey.”
Her lips tipped in a crooked smile. “You want the room naked?”
Bennett laughed. It was good to laugh, good to make this change. “You in it naked would be great,” he replied. “But you can decorate it however you want.”
Her smile smoothed. “On one condition …”
She pressed him onto his back and urged him higher on the bed. Taking a seat, astraddle, she deliberately, to his thinking, pressed her heat tight against him. His body reacted as she’d probably expected, an almost triumphant look forming on her face.
“What’s the condition?” he asked, breathing hard.
“When it’s done, you and me are in it and no more holding back.”
Her thighs gripped his sides tighter, working the slightest bit back and forth, and he groaned. No more holding back, no more stopping himself because of Beth. Could he do it and not fight the guilt?
Not having the answer, Bennett rose up, rolling Audrey beneath him, then sliding downward, he peeled back the waistband of her pajama shorts, her softness calling his name.
“What are you …?” she began. Her question ended in a gasp, and her back arched, her fingernails digging into him, she shook, her cries steaming the room.
He shifted higher afterward, hanging directly overhead. “No more holding back,” he said.
Her eyelids hooded, cheeks pink, she raised one hand to his face, her words slurred. “Not sure if I can live through it.”
Bennett laughed softly. “Me either.”
She had his promise and so worked diligently with the full belief that, when the bedroom was finished, he’d keep his word. She had to do some explaining to Jeff, who had questions about what was happening, but then focused her attention on what would make the space theirs.
She sold the furniture online and purchased a new, more modern set, bed and dresser and a pair of end tables. She gave away the sheets and bought new ones, an earthy-green bed cover, and a lovely framed garden print to hang on the wall. Bennett never complained nor acted upset, which lifted her good mood. This was right. Seeing the changes, he would finally commit to her and work toward a permanent solution to protect the children.
She wouldn’t lie. She wanted him to propose, not believing she’d even had the thought after her disastrous marriage with Cale. Nor did she totally expect him to follow through. It was one thing to remodel the bedroom, to even believe he’d finally make love to her. It was another for him to remarry. That said, she hoped one would lead to the other.
Audrey admired the space, inhaling the mingled odors of new carpet and fresh paint. Peeking into the master bath, she pictured the vanity and mirror scheduled to be installed in a couple days. New gray floor tiles led up to a standing shower lined with marble in matching tones. A glass surround shielded an enormous bathtub set beneath the window.
“Mama … mama …”
June’s chatter whisked in the room out of her view, and Audrey revolved, snatching the half-clothed one-year-old from where she stood at the end of the bed. “You’ve got Mama’s cell phone,” she said. Wiggling it out of the little girl’s grasp, she checked the screen for any open apps and was surprised to hear a voice speaking.
She’d called someone? Audrey raised it to her ear. “Hello?”
A heavy silence rose from the other followed by a click. Nonplussed, Audrey double checked the number and her heart shoved into her throat.
Cale. She’d called Cale? Of all the people for her to dial.
“What a can of worms,” she said, taking a seat on the bed.
Why had she kept his number anyway? She’d asked Bennett to move on, but saved a piece of her past. Releasing a frustrated breath, Audrey deleted his number, and as the days passed, forgot about it entirely.
The doorbell rang, a week later, and cartoons blaring from the living room, June chattering to a doll in the floor, she bypassed August and Bennett, reclined together on the couch, and swung the front door open without looking first. She froze, seeing Cale’s face, then her nose wrinkled, taking in the pungent scent of alcohol.
“I want … to see my son.”
A cold hand gripped her insides and squeezed. He’d come for August? He couldn’t have August, had no rights to him anymore. “You’re drunk,” she said.
When had he taken to drinking? Audrey stepped out the door, pulling it closed. “How’d you find me here?” she asked.
Cale swayed on unsteady legs, falling against a porch post. “You called … but didn’t … didn’t sound like English.”
June. One phone call wouldn’t have been enough to give away her location. He wasn’t smart enough to figure it out from that, but, it had apparently brought him here. He could have found her any number of ways then.
The door she’d just shut swung inward, and Bennett appeared in the entrance. “Audrey?”
Cale tried to stand more upright, but wobbled. “You’re shacked up with him?” he asked. “Where’s my son?”
Audrey pushed Cale backwards toward the steps, but though he stumbled some, he surged ahead. He halted swaying, his weight on her palms.
“There he is. My boy, looks jus … just like me.”
She glanced behind and found August clinging to Bennett’s leg. Bennett lifted him, tucking him to his chest.
“He’s nothing like you,” she replied. “You gave up the right to him when you told me to have an abortion.”
Bennett’s stare became almost unbearable. She hadn’t told him that.
“Not to mention, you haven’t paid any child support,” she added. “Now, you need to go …” She looked toward the street.
“He can’t drive like that,” Bennett said. “He’ll get somebody killed.”
“Call the police then,” she said.
But he didn’t move. “I have a better idea.” He disappeared inside and returned without August, his cell phone pressed to his ear. “We don’t want to get the police involved if we don’t have to,” he said.
Why? Because of custody issues. She knew the answer. But surely that wouldn’t be a problem. Cale hadn’t been involved in August’s life at all, and here, he stood, drunk.
“I’d like a cab sent to …” Bennett related the address to the dispatcher and, seconds later, disconnected. He walked forward, into Cale’s face. “You’re going to leave my property and not return.”
“T
hat’s … my son.”
“No.” Bennett spoke sharp. “It’s my son. No judge in his right mind is going to give someone in your condition access to a two-year-old … and I know people. You can look for legal papers within the next few days.”
Legal papers? Audrey stared at the back of Bennett’s head. He wanted to adopt?
Unable to speak for the emotion clogging her throat, she didn’t try, but stood in place until the cab came and Bennett paid the driver. He strode back up the walk, not stopping until they were face-to-face.
“Did you mean that?” she asked.
He nodded. “He’s not taking my son away from me. I should have done something long before now, and really, it won’t be a problem. Beth’s dad has lawyer friends and strong pull that will work in our favor.”
“But …” Her thoughts skittered. Bennett wanted to adopt August. She wanted to be Jeff and June’s mom for real, too. Doing either one required a decision though.
Bennett continued. “I have all the family I need right here, three wonderful children, who have two sets of loving grandparents, and the most beautiful, capable mother.” He lowered his mouth to her cheek and spoke soft in her ear. “The sexiest wife.”
Audrey pulled back her face to see his, her heart skipping. “Did you just say …?”
He nodded. “I need you, Audrey Ferguson, to become Audrey Adams.”
“For the children?”
“For them,” he replied, “and for me. Say yes then let’s go tell the three people who matter.”
She didn’t reply, but not because she couldn’t speak, nor because she doubted her answer, but because of the images from the last year of her life flashing by. Nursing June. Taking Jeff to school. Bennett teaching August to walk. And between all of those and dozen more similar moments, the handsome face of the man who’d stolen her heart.
“I love you,” she said.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
She dipped her chin, and his mouth sought hers, his kiss holding a different flavor this time, one created by hope and healing and forgiveness. Salty with tears and spiced with longing at what was to come.
One arm around her, he steered them both indoors. “Hey, everyone,” he called out, shutting the front door. They walked into the living room together.
“Your mom and I have something to tell you.”
Jeff glanced up from his program and August, a soggy sandwich cookie. June came pattering across the floor. She wrapped her arms around their legs and looked up.
“Mama. Dada,” she said.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Bennett replied.
Bennett took his time, lingering on her neck, her breasts, her naval, each place holding its own savoriness, a delicate hint of salt mixed with sweet. Her thighs were nectar, her warm center, honey, but this time he teased, refusing her completion, and as the hour passed, she cried out at it, the sound beautiful in his ears. Her hands clutching his back, what’d been a year of enticement became, instead, desperation.
He waited until she was weak with longing, then joined with her in a rush, carrying them both to a new place. Her name spoken tenderly, those three precious words, I love you, heated, intense.
Lying in their new bed in their new bedroom, they stepped into the future where nothing mattered by the next moment they could spend, like this, together.
“Promise me when we’re old and gray you’ll still make me feel this way,” Audrey said.
“I promise,” he replied, “but …”
Her lips puckered. “But?”
“Mmm …” He made a low grunt. “But, Mrs. Adams, the house is empty, and the night’s young yet.”
A year and a half later
Bennett wrapped a blanket around them both, the first chill of winter too much for their summer wear, and Audrey snuggled against him, her eyes on the children.
“They’re immune to the cold,” she said.
He trailed his gaze around the yard. Jeff, in short sleeves, pushed August on the swing. June, her chubby legs peeking out beneath her sundress, sat atop the slide, making no attempt to go.
His children. As he’d predicted, there’d been no trouble adopting August, and Audrey had, soon after, become his wife.
“You could make them wear a jacket,” he replied, “but they’ll only take it off. It’s not so bad yet … only to the old folk.”
Her eyes on him, she made a face. “I wish you’d stop that. It isn’t funny.”
He grinned. “It’s kind of funny, especially when you look at me like that.”
As a peace offering, he kissed her on the nose. She lifted one hand to his cheek and held it there.
“It’s not funny at all, and this house is getting too small.”
It was. She was right. But, at least, they had enough bedrooms.
“Pretty soon, the children will have to share space,” she continued. “We could put the boys together, I guess.”
A niggling poked him sharp in the chest. Taking hold of her chin, he brought her face more his direction. “What are you talking about?”
She smiled. “Well … you’ve already proven how young and virile you are, definitely not old at all.”
The needle in his chest became a fist.
“And we both know you’re a great dad. There’s the evidence.” She nodded toward the children.
“Don’t tease me,” he said.
Audrey laughed. “We need a bigger house, Bennett, with room for child number four.” She held up four fingers, wriggling them.
Bennett released her and sat down hard on the ground, crisp grass tickling his legs. Seconds later, she plopped at his side and re-enveloped him in the blanket.
“It’ll be okay,” she said. “You like me curvy.”
He swallowed hard. “Yes,” he replied. “That’s what captured me in the first place.”
THE END
Alex Greenville is a pen name for a line of contemporary romance novels. For more information on Alex’s books, visit www.AGRomance.com.
Words From The Heart (Spring-Summer Romance Book 2) Page 10