To Love Twice

by McCoubrey, Heather

  “Kate? It’s Edward.”

  “Edward! Hello! How are you doing?”

  “I’m good. And you?”

  “Same. Enjoying some sunshine before I head back in to work.”

  “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get in touch with you. I’ve been away.”

  “I’m glad you called. Where did you go?”

  “I was in Jamaica. Beautiful country and amazing people. I almost didn’t want to come home. Of course, it’s raining and chilly here, so now I do wish I was back in Jamaica,” Edward laughed.

  Kate laughed with him. “It sunny and seventy here today. It’s perfect weather. I’m thinking of taking Mary to the beach this weekend. She loves to play in the sand.”

  “That sounds like a fun idea. How have you been, Kate?”

  “I’ve been good, busy. With Mary, with work. I got a promotion, I’m now in charge of marketing for our new clothing line.”

  “That’s brilliant, Kate! Congratulations!”

  “Thank you. And you, how have you been?”

  “I’m glad to be home. I love to travel, but it’s always nice to be home. Stopped in at Tempo last night. Ricardo, the server, asked about you. I told him you’d gone home to America, but would hopefully be back soon,” Edward said wistfully.

  “It won’t be for another six to eight weeks.”

  “Six to eight weeks? That’s too long, and I think I’ll be out of town when you’re here next. When will you know the exact dates?”

  “I imagine Erin will be telling me within the week so I can make the arrangements,” Kate said as she twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “Are you really that anxious to see me, Edward?”

  “I am. It’s crazy, I know. You’ve really made an impression on me, Kate. The whole time I was in Jamaica, I thought of you constantly. You would pop into my head at the craziest moments and my concentration would be blown.”

  “The same thing happens to me with you. I’m sure the time will go by quickly, Edward,” Kate said trying to be positive.

  “Impossible. It’s already felt like forever since I saw you last. Would you think it completely daft of me if I were to travel to you before I leave again?”

  Kate was speechless. Was he really that eager to spend time with her? She couldn’t form a coherent thought. Had they really clicked so completely? She had told the truth when she said it had been the same for her. He popped into her thoughts at odd moments throughout the day and evening. Not hearing from him since she’d returned had made her think she’d made up the whole thing. If not for Erin asking her on and off if she’d heard from him, she really would have thought she’d made it all up.

  “Kate? Are you there? I scared you, didn’t I? Ugh, I’m so daft. I knew it. I told myself not to say anything. I’m sorry, Kate.”

  “No, no. Edward, stop please. I’m fine, it’s fine. I was trying to find the words, I’d love for you to come visit me. I’m still having a hard time believing that you’re real,” Kate laughed.

  “Ah, Kate,” Edward sighed.

  “You’ll really come to visit?” Kate asked.

  “I’m on the next plane,” Edward promised.

  About an hour after she returned from lunch, Kate received an email from Edward with his flight details.

  Kate,

  Leaving for the airport now. My flight gets in around 10:30p your time. I’ll catch a cab to your apartment. See you soon!

  -Edward

  Shivers of excitement ran through her. How could this be possible? How could she be so lucky twice in her life? Kate couldn’t get rid of her smile for the rest of the day. Erin sent several questioning looks her way, but couldn’t ask since she was on conference calls all afternoon. Kate was grateful for those calls, she wanted to savor this moment.

  Erin finally caught up with her as Kate was heading toward the elevators to go home. “Soooo, what’s with all the smiling this afternoon?”

  Kate laughed. “I had a phone call at lunch that just made my day.”

  “Oh? Would it be the mysterious Edward?”

  “It would,” Kate said. Barely able to contain her excitement, she whirled around and faced Erin. Grabbing Erin’s arm, she excitedly told her about the phone call. “And he’s on a plane, right now!” Shaking her head, she pierced Erin with her gaze. “Can you believe this? Because, I can’t. I’m excited to see him again. Like crazy excited. But at the same time, I’m scared. Is that crazy? Am I crazy?”

  “No, Kate. You’re not crazy. And you should be excited. You met a man. A man who seems normal and likable, and who obviously adores you.”

  “You don’t think it’s weird, though? I mean, we met by chance. We’ve had four dates over a period of four months. I don’t really know him. And now, he’s flying across the ocean to visit with me for the weekend. I’m going to introduce him to my daughter,” Kate said.

  “Kate,” Erin grinned. “You need to calm down. Just go with it. He could be your Happy Ever After. Don’t mess it up with all your questions and panic. Enjoy it. You’ve been sad a long time…you deserve some happy.”

  Kate paused and searched Erin’s face. Realizing she only saw truth in her eyes, Kate nodded. “I’m over-thinking it, you’re right. We hit it off and I really like him.” Kate blew out a deep breath. “Okay, I’m okay now. Thank you, Erin.”

  “You’re welcome,” Kate laughed. “So, I guess you won’t be in tomorrow?”

  “What? No, I’ll be here. I’m sure he’ll be exhausted and want to sleep.”

  Erin stared at Kate for a moment. Shaking her head, she said “Kate, now you really are crazy. The man is flying seven hours to see you. The last thing he’s gonna want to do is sleep. Take tomorrow and have a great weekend. I want all the deets on Monday!” Erin opened the door to the daycare and waved to her daughters. She signed her name to the list, showed her driver’s license and then lifted her daughters over the gate.

  Kate copied the same process Erin did and when she picked up Mary, her heart almost burst from the happiness. An unexpected three-day weekend that she would spend with Mary and an incredibly fascinating man.

  Could life be any better?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kate sailed through the evening on cloud nine. She couldn’t wait to see Edward, to introduce him to Mary. The closer it got to Edward’s arrival, the less Kate could sit still. She’d worn an imaginary path in the carpet between the couch and the window. Even though she was expecting him, she was still startled at the knock on the door. Her palms grew sweaty and she couldn’t catch her breath as she raced toward the door. Fumbling with the lock in her haste, she finally managed to wrench the door open.

  And there he stood. Complete perfection and exactly as she remembered him. “Edward!”

  He stepped forward with a bouquet of flowers. Kate barely saw them as she was enveloped in his arms. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered into her hair.

  Kate sighed and sank into his hug. It felt so good to be held and missed. “Come inside, you must be exhausted,” Kate said as she ushered him and his belongings into her apartment. “Here, come sit on the couch. Do you want some wine?”

  “Please!” Instead of sitting down, he walked over to the windows and looked out. “Nice view, Kate.”

  “Thanks!” Kate called out as she walked into the kitchen for the wine bottle and another glass. “I love living in the city and being close to everything. I’m only a few blocks from work, Mary and I usually walk everyday.”

  She passed him his glass of wine.

  “Come sit with me, Kate,” Edward said as he sat down on the couch.

  More than happy to oblige him, she snuggled under his arm, resting her head on his chest. “I’m so happy you came,” Kate whispered. She was surprised at how comfortable and safe she felt sitting here with Edward. “Erin gave me the day off tomorrow, I’m completely free to do whatever you’d like. We can play at being tourists, or see a show, or just be lazy. Whatever you want to do is fine.”

 
“I just want to spend time with you. You mentioned going to the beach with Mary. We should do that,” Edward suggested.

  “Absolutely. At some point this weekend, I need to pick up some invitations and get them out for Mary’s birthday party. It shouldn’t take me long,” Kate laughed. “I have no idea what I’m going to do for her birthday. She’s still young, so probably just a small, intimate party here again this year, with her friends from daycare and our family.”

  Edward took a sip of his wine, and studied Kate’s face. How amazing that he’d gotten attached to her so quickly. He didn’t regret packing up and flying to see her. Not for a second. He did regret waiting a month to talk to her. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind after their final date in London. He’d gone home and dreamt of her, as he’d done almost every night since.

  She was so refreshing. Open, honest. It’d been a long time since he’d met anyone like her. Most of the people in his circle only told him what they thought he wanted to hear. It was obvious to him that Kate still had no idea who he was. And that made her even more attractive to him.

  “Georgie, my sister, said she’d take Mary tomorrow or Saturday night if we wanted to go out and have a nice dinner,” Kate said as she leaned back to look into his face.

  “Do you want to do that, Kate? I’m happy to be here with you two girls.”

  “Weekends are usually our bonding time, Mary and me. But this weekend is special, so I think I will let Georgie have her. All three of us can hang out tomorrow and Saturday morning. Then I’ll let Georgie take Mary, and we can enjoy your last night here before you head back to London.”

  “As long as it makes you happy, I’m open to whatever you decide. Don’t feel like you have to make any special considerations for me,” Edward said. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

  “Of course,” Kate replied.

  “Why don’t Georgie and Tim have children of their own?”

  Kate sighed. “They can’t. They tried for years. They saw doctors, specialists, medicine doctors. They tried IVF. Prayers, cleansings, fastings. Everything. Nothing worked. They stopped trying right before I got pregnant with Mary.”

  “They never wanted to adopt?”

  “Georgie did, but by the time they stopped trying, Tim was over it,” Kate shook her head. “That was mean. He was just worn out and burned out. He told Georgie that this was how God wanted their life, and that after everything they’d tried and done, it just wasn’t meant to be.”

  “That’s so sad,” Edward said.

  “It is. I know Georgie is extremely close to Mary because of it. And honestly, I can’t blame her.”

  Edward nodded, and rubbed his hand along her arm.

  Kate smiled and rested her head back on his chest. “It’s so surreal,” Kate murmured.

  “What is?”

  “You being here. I feel so happy and content to have you here, but there’s another part of me that is a tiny bit scared and worried.” She felt Edward tense under her cheek and quickly continued. “Not because I’m afraid of you or I’m worried you’re some axe murderer,” Kate laughed. “I…it’s just fast. And that scares me a little bit. It scares me how happy I am to have you here, how much I care about you already, how much I feel like I know you,” Kate finished.

  “I understand. It was rather rash of me to fly here. I’ve thought about you constantly since you left. I had to see if it was real, what I remembered, or if I’d somehow made it more than it was. Talking to you on the phone, I knew I hadn’t exaggerated anything in my mind. Seeing you framed in the door, I knew I’d made the right choice to come.”

  The weekend was flying by too quickly. All too soon, Georgie was at the door to pick up Mary for the night. They’d enjoyed a lazy breakfast before heading to the beach. Mary had instantly wrapped Edward around her finger, and had used it quite to her advantage. Kate was a little afraid of how easily that particular skill had come to her. It didn’t bode well for her teenage years, for sure.

  “Edward, I’d like for you to meet my sister. This is Georgie,” Kate laughed at Georgie’s eye roll.

  “Edward, so nice to meet you,” Georgie said as she shook Edward’s hand. “Are you enjoying your visit?”

  “Very much,” Edward said.

  “Ah G!!! Ah G!!!” Mary yelled as she ran and launched herself at Georgie. “I’m sleeping at your house!”

  “Hi Sweet Pea! A little excited?”

  “Yes,” Mary said. “Mom’s having a date!”

  Georgie laughed. “Well, I’m glad you’re excited. Uncle Tim is taking us out to dinner tonight,” Georgie said as she lifted Mary’s bag and slung it over her shoulder.

  “PIZZA!” Mary yelled.

  “Pizza, it’s the only one way to this girl’s heart!”

  Edward sent a playful glare at Kate. “Why didn’t you tell me that? We could have had pizza for breakfast yesterday!”

  Laughing, Kate said “You didn’t need any help. She had you wrapped around her finger in five seconds. I’m still a little appalled at how quickly that all transpired. Makes me weep for the teenage boys.” Kate motioned toward Mary’s overnight bag. “All her gear is in there, lovey, clothes and some snacks. Want me to come down with you?”

  “No, no. We’re good,” Georgie said as she opened the door. “So nice to meet you Edward, enjoy the rest of your visit.”

  “Thank you, Georgie. It was a pleasure to meet you as well,” Edward held the door open for the duo.

  “I’ll text you tomorrow and let you know when I’ll be by to pick her up,” Kate said as she gave Mary one last hug and kiss.

  “No rush. We don’t get nearly enough time with her,” Georgie said. “See you tomorrow!”

  “Bye Mama! Wuv you!”

  “Bye Mary, have fun. I love you too!” She watched as they cruised down the hall to the elevator and waved goodbye as they stepped into the elevator. Sighing, she shut the door.

  “You didn’t have to send her away, Kate,” Edward soothed as he wrapped his arms around her.

  “I know,” Kate sighed. “I want to spend some time with you, just us. And Georgie is always asking for her share of time with Mary. I’m stingy, she’s my baby and I want her all to myself. I go a little nuts when she’s not here. It’s so much easier when I go away. I have work to focus on, touristy things to do. But to be in this apartment when she’s not, it feels wrong.”

  “Empty nest syndrome. That’s what my mum calls it. She said she had it bad after everyone left the house. She told me that she’d spent so many years, so much time and energy on us that when we’d all finally gone – she didn’t know what to do with herself. Had no idea how to occupy her time.”

  “Ugh, you mean it’ll get worse with time?”

  “Undoubtedly.”

  “I can’t even imagine it,” Kate shook her head. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I just need something to do. Something to take my mind off her not being here. Shall we go out?”

  Edward leaned his head down and nuzzled her ear. Taking a couple quick nips of her earlobe, he whispered “No.”

  Kate shivered. It was delicious, the feelings that he was creating in her. He slowly backed her up to the wall. Running his hands down her sides, he continued to explore her face with his lips. Slowly he kissed his way across her cheek and when his lips reached hers, passion exploded between them.

  Breaking away from the kiss, Edward groaned. “Kate, do you want me to stop?”

  “No, don’t stop. Please!” She tugged his shirt out of his jeans. Running her hands up his chest, she sighed in appreciation. His chest was like marble, finely chiseled. Warm and tan, she reveled in the feel of it as she ran her hands over his chest and back.

  “Our first time isn’t going to be up against a wall, Kate. Hang on to me,” Edward said as he lifted her in his arms. He carried her to her bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. He slowly raised her shirt over her head and flung it across the room. Looking down at her, he sighed in appreciati
on. “God Kate, you’re so beautiful.” He traced his lips across her collar bones and then down between her breasts. Sighing softly, he rested his forehead on her stomach. “I’ve dreamt of this since the first night we shared dinner. Do you even know how alluring you are?”

  Sighing with pleasure and not a little womanly pride, Kate raised her hand to his face and traced a line from his brow to his lips. “Kiss me, Edward.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kate woke the next morning feeling happy and sated. She and Edward had spent the majority of the night becoming very intimately acquainted. Smiling to herself as she rolled over and snuggled closer to Edward, she thought back to the events of the night. Edward was so thoughtful and giving, their lovemaking had been amazing. She dropped a kiss to his shoulder and she slowly closed her eyes.

  Edward draped his arm over her and tugged her closer. “Are you awake?” He asked sleepily, nuzzling the top of her head.

  “Not really, I was just rolling over to get comfy.”

  “Do you want to be awake?” He asked as he slowly ran his hand up and down the curve of her back.

  Smiling, Kate whispered, “That depends on what you’re offering me. It’s not often that I get to sleep in these days.”

  Edward gently pushed Kate onto her back. Leaning down to kiss her, he stopped just before their lips touched. “Oh, I don’t think you’ll mind missing some sleep-in time for what I have in mind,” he said.

  Kate sighed against his lips at his words, eagerly awaiting what Edward had in mind.

  A couple of hours later, showered and dressed, they left her apartment in search of food. While they were waiting for the elevator, Edward took her hand in his.

  “I called the airline while you were in the shower and changed my flight to six tomorrow morning.”

  “But what about your meeting?” Kate asked.

  “No worries, I changed that too. I explained that I got caught up on a personal project, one that’s quite special to my heart and wouldn’t be able to tear myself away until tomorrow.”