Forgiveness Creek: The Creek Series

by Abbie St. Claire

  He let go of me and fidgeted with his hands between his parted knees. He was looking at the ground when he started talking. “But, this doesn’t fix us.” He found my eyes and drilled deep into them with his own. “Trust is the core of a relationship, Wrenn. I love you with all of my heart, and when I got that email, I was hurt beyond measure. That little ‘legal stamp-of-approval’ you placed on it sent a message loud and clear.”

  “I thought you and your family would think I got pregnant on purpose to tie myself to your fortune. I’m not rich with billions, but Stephan did leave with me some money. I can take care of the baby. I don’t need financial support from you, and I’ll sign papers saying that.”

  “What about love, Wrenn? Don’t you need that? Didn’t you hear me when I said I love you?”

  I swallowed hard. I had to face what I feared most in life. “Everyone I love ends up leaving me before their time. Don’t you get it? I’m jinxed.” I stood up and walked to the rail again.

  “That’s not true, honey. I know it looks that way with your dad, Stephan, and now your mom, but seriously, it’s simply not true.”

  “I’m graduating in two weeks and will be staying in town until I take the boards in June. You’re more than welcome to go to the doctor’s appointments with me, but after June, I’m moving back to Arkansas and will raise our daughter there in the quiet life of country living.”

  “It’s a girl?” He jumped to his feet with excitement and approached me.

  “Oh, sorry, no. I don’t know the sex yet. It’s too early. In fact, I told them I don’t think I want to know. But, I think it’s a girl. Either way, I’ve nicknamed him or her Peanut. Do you want to see the picture?”

  “Yes!”

  I picked up my purse from the chair, pulled out the photo, and handed it to him. “You can keep that one. I have another one at home.”

  He stared at the photo, and then he wiped at the tear streaming down his cheek. “I’ll swim through fire if it means I can be a father. I may never win you back, but I will be a good daddy, you’ll see.”

  “I know. That’s why I turned around last night when I saw your car. I couldn’t keep this amazing gift from you. Look, I’m really tired. I’d like to go home.”

  “You don’t want to eat?”

  “No. I want to go.”

  He left the food where it was and drove me home. We were both quiet. When he pulled the car into my drive, I was surprised to see him stay put in the driver’s seat.

  “Can I ask one thing?” His hand trembled as he moved tendrils of my hair away from my face.

  “Sure.”

  “Can I have a number? If you call, I want to know it’s you, and I’m here for you whenever you want to talk.”

  “I won’t call, Dane. Don’t hold on to something that’s not there.”

  “You’re wrong. I don’t understand what happened to make you so angry that you couldn’t forgive the breakdown in communication, but I’m gonna win you back, you’ll see.”

  I got out of the car and walked toward the house.

  That’s when he followed me. “Your number?”

  Dane

  Sometimes his mind was very sharp, and other times he was missing a few gears. I never knew which man I was going to meet. Every day I worried it would be my last with Grandfather, the man who mattered most to me.

  He had stepped up to the plate and raised me when I lost my mother, and he always called me “son”. He allowed me to find out who I was in the hardest of ways. Seeing me behind bars had to be extremely difficult, yet he’d persevered. However, for me, it was the most shameful moment of my life. Tough love, something I never wanted to have to use with my own children.

  Was he going to be thrilled with the news of a baby?

  Was he going to hit me over the head for screwing things up with Wrenn?

  I turned the handle slowly and hoped he wasn’t sleeping. I peeped through the crack and saw him sitting up in bed, reading a magazine.

  “Come on in, son.”

  “I have a big problem, and I need your help.”

  “You don’t say,” he said smugly, while flipping the page in the magazine.

  “Wrenn hates my guts. There’s a whole story about miscommunication while I was in China on the last trip, but the end result is that during that time, her Mom passed away, and she found out we are having a baby.”

  He closed the magazine in his lap. “That’s wonderful news. A baby.” He removed his glasses and patted the bed.

  I took a seat on edge.

  “I couldn’t be happier. Wrenn is going to give me a great grand baby. So, why does she hate you? What stupid move did you do now?”

  “When I returned from China, Stella let herself in and answered my phone while I was in the shower. It happened to be Wrenn on the other end of the line. So, she thought I was cheating.”

  “Are you fucking that woman again?” Grandfather never minced words.

  “Really? You’re seriously going there?”

  “I told you about that woman. You should’ve fired her a long time ago. She’s trouble.”

  “And set us up for a sexual harassment suit? No. Hell no.”

  “She set you up, son, and we’ve been paying for it ever since. Pay the bitch off and get rid of her. I hope you’ve learned your lesson.”

  “Can we talk about something else, like Wrenn? I need to help her understand that Stella is only an employee and no longer part of my life.”

  “Well, then, simple answers should fix the issue with Wrenn. Am I missing something, son?”

  “Wrenn doesn’t trust herself to love. It isn’t really about me. It’s about herself. She’s looking for any excuse to withdraw—perhaps out of fear. She says that everyone she loves, dies. I can understand why she thinks that, but I love her. What do I have to do to convince her that I love her and our baby, and I’m not going anywhere?”

  “You don’t convince her. She has to come to that conclusion on her own. What you can do is be yourself. You won her the first time. Do what you did then.”

  “Well, I was a persistent shit, really stubborn to get my way. But, she’s adamant that I not call and bother her.”

  “Then don’t call. Didn’t say you couldn’t send flowers or send a steak over for dinner, or have coffee and cupcakes delivered by courier, did she? Son, you’re a game-changer in the boardroom. Don’t let a little love-spat derail you.”

  I walked out of his room that day with a new attitude and the beginnings of a plan. I reflected on the day I’d met her and laughed out loud at the chance meeting over a dead battery.

  I picked up a gift bag which had “For Baby” written on the side because I didn’t want her to think I was a perv and providing her with batteries for sex toys or something. I filled the bag with as many different sized batteries as it would hold—AAA, DD, and everything in between.

  On a note card, I wrote:

  The energizer bunny told me babies need lots of batteries. I’m starting to stock up, and I’ve left a message with my stockbroker to invest in Duracell.

  Charging along,

  Dane

  I left the sack on her front door step and went on to my next plan.

  Later, I ordered a special pizza with anchovies and non-alcoholic beer to be delivered as soon as she got home. I waited in one of my ranch trucks at the convenience store across from her street. When she turned at the light, I made the call to my restaurant, and they rushed her delivery. The note written on the inside of the pizza box read:

  The American Pregnancy Association says you can have two, six-ounce servings of certain fish per week. Hope you enjoy my research…and the anchovies.

  Swimming with sharks,

  Dane

  A couple of days later, I had Mansion on Turtle Creek prepare their crème brûlée and fresh fruit. Then I paid a kid at the convenience store a hundred bucks to deliver it with non-alcoholic champagne.

  The note read:

  It was our first, but I’m pra
ying someday it won’t be our last.

  Bubbles for baby,

  Dane

  That following Saturday morning, I pushed Grandfather’s wheelchair to the table and handed him the newspaper. He had this quirky thing that he wanted to read the paper first. He always fumed when I got to it before he did and “messed” it all up.

  How can you mess up a newspaper?

  We were such opposites at times, him—orderly and society driven, me—carefree and country.

  He was deep into the business section, while I cooked breakfast for us. Out of the blue, he started getting nosy. “How’s the pursuit of love going?”

  “I’m trying, but so far, I haven’t heard from her.”

  “What do you call trying?”

  “You want a special report or something?” I joked.

  “Yes. I got her to marry me in record time with no problem.” He laughed.

  I loved to hear him laugh. He could always find humor in any situation. He was a monster in the boardroom. A business shark with many talents, but people loved and respected him, and I think part of it was because he could always laugh at himself and put others at ease. He did this thing with multiple voices, which always reminded me of the comedian, Robin Williams. Grandfather always knew how to draw a crowd and craved to be the center of attention.

  I gave him the rundown of the week’s events. His favorite was the pizza.

  “Pregnant women have weird cravings. Have you shown up with ice cream yet?”

  “No.”

  “Ask her out for ice cream. She won’t turn you down. I bet you.”

  “Okay, I’m calling your bet right now. What do you want to bet?”

  “Hmmm, five hundred bucks and a day of fishing.”

  “Fine. Deal. I’ll do five hundred bucks, and I get to drive the 65 when she says no.”

  “Well, I don’t have to worry about you sportin’ around in my classic prize possession because she’s gonna say yes.”

  Grandfather started whistling and picked up the paper, while I went back to the bacon on the stove.

  “You chicken shit?”

  “Huh? Why are you calling me names?”

  “You’re chicken to call her.” He laughed and laid the paper down.

  “I am not.”

  “Are too.”

  “Fine.” I picked up my cell from the bar and stared at her number, which she’d finally given to me reluctantly when I’d dogged her for it.

  Grandfather was right. I wasn’t prepared to be told “no”. Essentially, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and if this were a business deal, it would’ve been my nature to be all in for the kill.

  “Hi,” she answered the phone.

  “How’s your morning going?”

  “Great. Karina and I going to breakfast before graduation.”

  Shit, I’d forgotten it was her graduation day. I had to make a quick recovery. “Is it possible for me to attend?”

  “If you want.” Her voice was a bit aloof, but she didn’t say no.

  “I’d love to, and if you’re up to it, I’d like to take you out for ice cream afterwards. I know this—”

  “Oh my God, ice cream sounds so good right now. Deal. Do you want to pick me up at one and go to graduation with me?”

  “Love to. See you soon.”

  That was too easy, and I ended up having to tell Grandfather he was right.

  “I told you so. You’ll take me fishin’ tomorrow?”

  “Yes, tomorrow. Thanks, Grandfather.”

  “Boy, one of these days you’ll learn to trust an old man.”

  I left Grandfather in great hands and went shopping for a graduation gift for Wrenn.

  Patiently waiting wasn’t one of my strongest character traits. I paced for over an hour, waiting on the clock, so I could see her again. The drive to her place seemed to take forever, and when she came to the door wearing a simple black dress, my breath hitched. Her face was bright and her dark hair, normally in a ponytail, was flowing around her bare shoulders, now glowing with a tan.

  “You’re stunning.”

  “You’re blind. Come in.” Her eyes twinkled.

  I followed her into the living room where Karina and Aaron were waiting, and suddenly, they started laughing. Instead of her normal snarl, Karina actually gave me a hug and a wink.

  Wrenn sat down on the edge of the sofa, and I handed her the gift wrapped box. “Something to celebrate the day,” I uttered nervously. I’d never known a woman to control my emotions the way Wrenn could.

  Her eyes lit up in delight. I realized that with no family it was probably the only gift she’d received. When she opened the black box to reveal the pearls, she gasped. As she studied them, I noticed a tear made its way down her cheek.

  She looked up at me. “I love pearls. They’re beautiful. Will you help me put them on?”

  I obliged with trembling hands.

  She ran her finger over them slowly. “Mom had a set and had to sell those years ago.” Her voice broke.

  They were lovely on her. She walked to the mirror in the bathroom to look at them, and I followed.

  I stood behind her and admired the beautiful reflection that was her. She kept touching the choker-length graduated set, which drew my eye to her breasts. They were enlarging from the pregnancy. The sight of her and the thoughts of my child developing within her caused me to grow painfully hard against my zipper.

  I reached my arm around her and pulled her against me. I could feel the enlarging baby bump underneath my fingers.

  Jealous, I want to feel the baby like she does. I swallowed hard to keep from choking up.

  She darted her gaze up to mine in the mirror and smiled. “I’ll cherish them forever.”

  “I love you.” My declaration simply slipped out. Shit. Putting pressure on her wasn’t my intent.

  “I know,” she replied, sadness gripped her voice, and her face visibly strained with some kind of invisible turmoil.

  I needed to make some kind of quick recovery. “Hey, what kind of ice cream are you craving? Because I’ve been thinking about it since this morning.”

  “Me too! I love Baskin-Robbins Pralines ’N Cream.”

  “I may try a dip of yours along with my favorite, Mint Chocolate Chip.”

  “Oooh, love that one too, maybe we can share.”

  Jubilation returned to her spirit, and I was extremely grateful. Thank you, Grandfather.

  My seat at graduation was reserved and adjoined Aaron and Karina’s family in the same row. The seat to my left on the aisle was empty. A knot came into my throat. I wondered if Wrenn had reserved that seat for her mother.

  Right before the ceremony was to start, Aaron and I were talking, and I caught a glimpse of movement to my left. I turned to find Grandfather in his wheelchair and Peggy helping him get in the seat next to me.

  “Grandfather, what are you doing here?”

  “I was invited. What took you so long to get your invitation, huh?” He gloated.

  I thought for a moment about what he’d said. Then it occurred to me that perhaps I’d been played. “You knew this whole time?”

  “I talk to her every day. We have plans for dinner afterward with Karina and the rest of the family.”

  “I should know better.” I shook my head.

  I was beyond dumbfounded. I supposed lately I’d had my head up my ass.

  Aaron got a kick out of it and leaned toward me. “Dude, Karina let the cat out of the bag when you walked in. That’s what we were laughing about.”

  “Man, I totally missed it.”

  After graduation, Grandfather showed us all a great time at his home with a classic barbeque, but as his energy faded, he left to retire in his room with me in charge as host. That was when everything changed.

  “Can I help you with something?” the soft, familiar voice behind me asked.

  I turned to her and stumbled over my two feet, dropping the tray of dirty dishes.

  “No, I think I’
m doing a great job of making a mess on my own. You might want to stay clear. I’m a hazard to myself.” I joked.

  “Here, let me help you.”

  We both knelt down at the same time to pick up the dishes, but all I wanted was to touch her. There was no turning back.

  Quickly, I laid the tray on the floor and took her face in my hands. I crushed her lips with mine. I couldn’t get enough of her.

  She responded with eager need, leaning in to me and opening her lips for my tongue’s entrance. My weight shifted, and her movements caused me to lose my footing. We tumbled to the floor and rolled around in the kitchen, pawing, grinding, and practically making love with our clothes on.

  “Do you two need help or privacy?” Karina asked with a laugh.

  Wrenn and I broke our embrace and looked at one another and over to Karina and Aaron, who were standing on the other side of the counter, bearing amused grins.

  “Privacy,” I answered with grin.

  “Privacy,” Wrenn echoed.

  Thank God!

  Karina and Aaron quickly disappeared.

  I helped Wrenn up from the floor. “I want you and need you to myself. How soon can we get away?”

  She winked. “I’ll get Karina’s help. She’ll get everyone to head home.”

  Wrenn and I changed our clothes at her house and were driving down the highway to get ice cream, my hand gripping hers as if the end of time was coming.