AS I WAITED for Reese to join me, my mind was taking me back to the minute she opened the door to me. Her beauty beguiled me, and it made me hard just thinking about her. All of our time apart, and this woman could easily awaken feelings I had concealed deep within my soul. The way we had parted before left us never having any closure, and now we finally did.
Will she see it that way? Had we only reunited to finally say the goodbyes that we didn’t say so many years ago? No! I couldn’t let that happen. I never wanted to end things with Reese. My father and his manipulations tore us apart, and now that we had been given this second chance, I could not let her walk away.
I knew Reese loved me; she would have never made love to me in the manner she did today if she didn’t. I had to calm down and relax. Reese had given me no reason so far that told me she would walk away again. I couldn’t pressure her. She needed to be the one that walked away from her marriage, and I could not make that decision for her.
God knows I wanted to lock her up in a room and tie her to my bed. I never wanted her to leave me again. I didn’t care about this man she married; Reese was mine first. After what we shared today, Reese was mine again.
My buzzing phone in my pocket pulled me out of my obsessive over rationalizing moment. I looked down and saw it was my mother calling me. What the hell did she want? I wanted to ignore her, but I took the call anyway. “Hello, mother,” I said as my jaw clenched.”
“Hello, Walker. I don’t mean to bother you, but I wanted to make sure you were alright. The way you left my house today, I fear I may never see you again.”
“Mother, I’m sorry if I hurt you today, but what other choice did I have? Father destroyed my life with his incessant need to control me, and I suffered for many years with what he did. To go through my life never knowing why Reese had left me, and then to find out it was because of my father? How the hell do you expect me to be? The old man is lucky he’s dead, because I think I probably could kill him now.”
My mother began to cry. Dammit! I hurt her when all she wanted to do was comfort me. No matter what he did, Phillip Reed was her husband, and she loved him. Now here I was destroying her with my anger that I had toward him.
“I’m sorry, mother. I didn’t mean to say that. Please forgive me? You’re the last person I want to hurt, but you need to give me some time to work out these feelings I have.”
“I understand, Walker. Believe me, I do. Your father was a complicated man, and he was arrogant and very selfish. I was a fool in love, and I let my feelings cloud my judgment and rational thinking. Your father hated when I would involve myself in the decisions he was making for you. He always reminded me of my place where you were concerned. I should have stood up to him, Walker, and been more assertive when it came to you.”
“It’s over, mother. We don’t need to discuss this ever again. Reading father’s letter gave me my answers and the closure I needed. I drove away from your home today with the intent on starting over, and I will get Reese back.”
“Walker, please don’t do this to yourself. She is married and has chosen her life.”
“This is what you don’t understand: she had settled for the life she has now, because she thought we would never be together again. It’s all changed now, and I will not lose her again. She’s mine, mother, and I will never let her go.”
“Walker, what have you done?”
“Mother, please stay out of my personal affairs. Learn from father’s mistakes and do not ever question me again about my personal life.” I ended the call without saying goodbye, she was so infuriating. She felt bad for what my father did to me, but yet she was compelled to defend him as well.
I needed to call Jackson to check in with him. I hadn’t talked to him since last night. He picked up right away.
“Hey, dad, how are you?”
“I’m fine, son. Thank you for asking. So how was it today? Did you accomplish everything you wanted to do?”
“Yes, and more. Riley and I went everywhere today. She and I met with all of our professors, they seem pretty cool. I think my favorite class will be Introduction to Film; it’s a female professor and she has a bohemian style to her. She has traveled all over the world, and she specializes in documentaries.”
“That all sounds wonderful, son. To hear you this excited and happy makes me feel better about you attending school in New York.”
“Dad, I promise not to be the absentee son, unlike you and your disappearing act today. I know you had business to take care of, but you really pissed me off. I thought you would have at least shown up at the alumni luncheon. Many people were asking for you, and I didn’t know what to say.”
“Jackson, if you’re angry with me, we can discuss it in person. I am not nor have I ever been an absentee father in your life. Today was unavoidable, and one day I will explain it to you.”
“I’m sorry, dad, I shouldn’t have said that to you. This trip is exactly how you said it was going to be. I’m spending all my time with Riley, and not with you. What would you say if we extended our trip for a few more days? I would also like to visit with grandmother while I’m here.”
“Apology accepted, and I will call my office to rearrange my schedule. As far as visiting your grandmother, you may do so on your own. I have already spent more time than I wanted to with her. Richard will drive you out tomorrow if you wish to go.”
“Okay, that sounds fine. Would you object to me bringing Riley? I think grandmother will like her.”
“Jackson, I think you should visit your grandmother alone this time. You haven’t seen her since the funeral, and you know how clingy she can be.”
“Okay, I understand. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunity for Riley to meet her. I have to go now, dad. Our friends are waiting on me. I’ll see you later. And dad…I love you.”
“I love you, Jackson.” What a convoluted situation I found myself in. How would I explain this all to my son? I couldn’t think or obsess about this now. What was taking Reese so long? I needed to be with her…now.
I walked toward her bedroom and slowly turned the knob. Reese was sleeping, her body tangled up around the sheets. Her long, cinnamon hair was spread out over her naked back. She was so incredibly captivating, my heart was racing through my chest at the sight of her. She looked so peaceful and relaxed. I hated to wake her, but she did say she was starving, and come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten anything all day. Food that is.
I gently caressed her naked back, hoping she would awaken without being startled. “Reese,” I called out her name. She opened her beautiful eyes and smiled back at me. “Hey baby, I thought you were going to get dressed?”
“I planned on it, but then I was distracted by memories of you. You always had the power to distract me.”
“You never have to be lost in memories of us again, baby. You have the real thing right here with you.”
“Reese? Why are you crying?”
“It’s nothing, Walker. I am a silly woman who likes to cry.”
“There is nothing silly about you, please tell me what’s wrong? I can’t bear to see you cry. Have I done something to upset you?”
“No, of course not, Walker. It’s not you, it never was you. I guess when I mentioned how you distract me, it triggered a painful memory. Our last night together, I had planned on telling you about the baby, but when I showed up at your apartment, we immediately made love. You were all I was focused on, and I figured I would just tell you the next morning. I never imagined what was going to happen to us. Walker, I need to know that you forgive me for leaving you. If I would have told you about the baby, maybe what happened to us could have been prevented and our lives would have been different.”
I cupped Reese’s face into my hands, and I kissed her plump lips while wiping her tears away with my thumbs and kissing her in between. “Reese, what happened to us was not your fault. My father and his sick obsessions did this to us. He had devised a detailed and calculated plan to break us up for ma
ny months before you left me. Please baby, do not blame yourself for this. We can’t regret how our lives turned out after we separated. That would mean we regret our children, and I know you love Riley. Losing you was devastating; it caused me more pain than you can ever imagine, but Jackson was the only thing I did right.”
“I love you, Walker.” Those were the four words I needed to hear from Reese, and she had now said them to me. I held Reese in my arms, and then my mouth captured hers. I shrugged out of my jacket as Reese craved my touch again. I pulled her on top of me as she straddled my waist. I was giving Reese complete control to do as she pleased with me.
My hard erection was crushing into her, and her body was responding to me, as I hungered for hers. I was on fire as she kept teasing me. “Reese, you need to move, or I am going to explode, and this will be over before we want it to be.”
She was such a tease, she winked at me, and I entered her. Reese bucked herself up and down until she got used to me again. This was pure pleasure making love with her. I knew I could never be without her again. Reese was my drug, and I will always crave her.
I took control. I flipped her onto her back and I held her hands above her head. “Stay still baby, and let me love you.”
“Walker!” she screamed out my name as I pounded into her and left my mark on her body, and inside of her. We climaxed together, and I never had felt more alive than at that moment with her. I loved her so much, and I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life. Reese Mitchell was mine again, and there was no way in hell, I would ever let her go.
“I love how you say my name when you come. It is the sexiest sound my ears have ever heard. I love you, baby. I can’t say that I have been a big believer in the universe, but I know this Reese, we are meant to be together. We were in love first, and now our kids who come from opposite sides of the country are now in love. If that is not fate, I don’t know what is. I’m hungry, and this time it really is for food. Let’s go before I take you again, and then I may just pass out from starvation.”
Reese threw herself at me and held my face to her chest. I breathed her in and was almost dizzy with her scent. Kissing my forehead, she leaped out of my arms to get dressed. I slapped her ass, and she squealed with her sexy laugh.
While Reese was in the shower for real this time, I phoned Stephen to bring me some fresh clothes. He arrived quickly and gave me a meddlesome look. No employee ever questioned me before, but Stephen was more than just an employee. He was the only one that I trusted to always have my back. I still was in charge, but sometimes he couldn’t help himself to give an opinion when he felt I needed it.
“Stephen, don’t say it. I know what you’re thinking, and I do not wish to hear it.”
“Sir, I would never interfere in your personal affairs, but… I dare say that you may be crossing into uncharted waters now.”
“I know what I’m doing, but thank you for the advice. I need you to take care of something for me, and it can’t wait.”
“What is it, sir?”
“I need you to phone the house, and have Priscilla retrieve a book for me from my office. I need it couriered over to me right away.”
“The book, sir? What’s the title?”
“It’s called Redemption…Sins of the Father. Time is of the essence and will not wait one more day.”
“Yes, sir. I will arrange it immediately. Anything else?”
“Please wait for me downstairs. We will join you in a few minutes.” I closed the door to him, as Reese entered the room. She was breathtaking. I can stand here all night gazing at her beauty, but she snapped me out of it by kissing me.
“Thank you, Walker.”
Now my curiosity is piqued. What is she thanking me for?
She continued, “Before you ask, thank you for today and for forgiving me. I love you so much, and I wanted you to know that. No matter what happens, we will always have today.”
“Reese, it’s not just today. We have the rest of our lives to be together, and we will be together again. I have so many things to tell you, but we really need to eat first.” I took Reese’s hand and escorted her down to my waiting car.
Reese wanted burgers of all things, while I wanted to dine on champagne and oysters. What a sight: my lovely chomping on a bacon cheeseburger with loaded cheese fries on the side. We were parked down near the seaport and watched the boats sail by.
“Of all the places that we could have dined tonight, you pick the greasiest spoon in all of New York City.”
“Walker, did you forget that I used to be a model? You can’t even imagine what it takes to stay in shape. I practically had to starve myself to fit into those tiny outfits. I’ve been very fortunate to maintain what I worked very hard for, but it’s still good to treat yourself once in a while. Not that you understand that. Look at your body! You’re in top physical shape, you look better now than when you were twenty two.”
“Why thank you, smart ass, but I have to work very hard at staying in shape. I have two personal trainers that help me stay fit.”
“Why two trainers? You can’t fulfill your needs with just one?”
“Now that sounds dirty, and if you’re not careful, you will be eating more than your burger tonight.” I winked at her. Reese still had the power to blush, and she was turning red while I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. “To answer your question, yes I have two trainers. Usually my business takes me to New York from time to time, so I retain one here in the city, and my primary trainer is in California. Any other questions, my beauty?”
“Why the tattoo? Does it mean something?”
“It does.”
“And…? What does it mean?”
I so don’t want to go there right now with Reese, but she is not the only one who easily submits. Her eyes alone always wielded a powerful weapon that I was defenseless against. I lifted my shirt to explain the tattoo. “You see here? The sun? That represents Jackson’s birth and the light he had brought to my life. The splintered vines with broken roses is death…Elizabeth. The loss I felt when she died. The bottom part where the heart splits, well…that was meant for you. Death and loss, a powerful combination that I never truly recovered from. Anything else you want to know?”
“Yes. I wanted to know what happened today when you were in the Hamptons. It seems pointless now after the tattoo answer.”
“Reese, I will tell you anything you want to know.” I was about to go on to explain, but her cell phone began to ring.
“Excuse me, it’s probably Riley.” She looked at her phone, took a deep breath, and stepped away from me, and I knew it was her husband. “Hello Samuel, how are you? …I’m fine, and Riley is too. How did your surgeries go? …That’s great to hear, I’m sure you’re happy with your success. …When am I coming home? I don’t know, Samuel. Riley wants to stay for a few more days, and I think I want to as well. …I disagree. We don’t have anything to discuss. I told you what I wanted, and you certainly showed me how you felt about it. …I have to go, Samuel. …No, I will not come home tomorrow. Please leave me be, and I will see you in a few days.” I listened to Reese speak to her husband, and their conversation sounded so cold and distant. Was this truly her life? Was she just merely existing in a loveless marriage?
“Reese, are you okay? Talk to me baby. What did he want?”
“He wants me and Riley to come home tomorrow. You heard me tell him no. I need some time to think and clear my head. I can’t go home yet.”
“Reese, you don’t have to go home at all. You can return to California with me, and you will divorce Samuel.”
“Walker, you make it sound so easy. I can’t just walk away from my life, and my life with Samuel and Riley. They’re all I know, and how will I explain to my daughter that I am now sleeping with her boyfriend’s father, while betraying her own?”
“Reese, you said you want to be with me again. Was that not true?”
“It was true, Walker. I meant every word I said to you, but it’s complicated.�
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“Talk to me please, what are you not saying? I could sense it when you were on the phone with him. What happened?”
“I can’t tell you, Walker, I’m ashamed and embarrassed.”
“Reese, now you have to tell me. What did your husband do to you?”
“Before leaving for New York, I was going through a box that I kept with me all of these years. When I left you, I kept a journal and some mementos that you had given me. Silly things that reminded me of you and us. Along with the photo I had taken from your apartment, I have this one too. I’ve held onto to it as if it was my lifeline towing me through my pain all of these years we’ve been apart.”
Reese showed me the picture that she was holding in her hand. I remember when she took this picture of me. I was standing against a wall going over some class notes when she called out my name. I looked up and smiled and then Reese captured my picture.
“You remember, don’t you, Walker?” I simply nodded at her with my response. “You were so unbelievably sexy. I always loved you wearing that black leather jacket. Anyway, after Riley ransacked my closet looking for clothes, I found your picture. Memories of us flooded my thoughts, you have always been in my heart, Walker. I had been arguing with Samuel for weeks over him not wanting to join us on this trip. He chose his work over his family, and we were about to leave when he unexpectedly came home. For a second, I had thought he was home to pack up and join us, but he only returned to retrieve a file he had forgotten.”
She continued, “Riley was crushed and disappointed by her father. I was angry for her and how she was now crying outside probably to Jackson, while her arrogant father blatantly ignored his daughter’s feelings. I barged into his office and began telling him off. Samuel didn’t appreciate the tone I had taken with him and warned me to stop. I didn’t and asked him for a divorce. He then gave me his complete attention and charged at me.”
“What did he do, Reese? Did Samuel hurt you?” I was praying that he didn’t do what I thought he did.
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