“Hello,” he said.
“David,” she responded.
“I hoped you would come. Thank you.”
“I’m here strictly for business. Whatever happens here today will impact my sons for the rest of their lives. I need to think of them first and foremost.”
He nodded his agreement. “I agree, and I will consent to whatever you want. But if you want me to leave and not come back…” He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. “Nat, I know you’re afraid of this, of us. We started all wrong and that was my fault. We happened too fast, but that doesn’t make what we feel any less real. I know that you’re not just protecting Brice and Jayden, you’re protecting yourself. Nat, stop hiding behind motherhood. This, me, I’m here for you. I know that you’ve seen so much family pain in your work, but do you know real happiness when you see it, when you have it?”
She looked at him. Her heart was breaking. She knew he was right about her. She was afraid.
“I’m here for you. All you have to do is say yes.”
“And if I want you to leave?” she asked.
His heart lurched. “I can’t abandon my family. I will not be my father and my mother. You mend hearts and create families. Here’s your chance for love and a family for yourself.”
She understood his implication. He was right. Her job was to ease suffering and complete families. But she was too afraid to help herself to his love and complete her own family. She stood and walked to the large windows. Looking down at the street, she saw a gathering of people waiting at the front door. “Paparazzi are everywhere.”
“I know.”
“Your career will probably take a major hit if any of this comes out.”
“I don’t care about my career. I care about my family.”
She turned; her eyes were deadly focused on him. “The center received a donation by way of an anonymous bank check a week ago. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
“The center does good work,” he said. “You do good work. I saw no reason why it shouldn’t continue. And before you ask, no, you didn’t win my foundation’s grant. I got together with my attorneys to set up a special awards program. The Teen Dream Center happened to be the first award recipient.”
She nodded slowly. “Are you trying to buy me?”
“No, I know full well that I can’t.”
“Did you ever intend to take my sons from me?”
“No, never. That was never my intent,” he said forcefully. “I started all this to find out what kind of woman you were. What kind of woman was raising my children. I was afraid you were like my mother, uncaring and selfish. Then spending time with you banished my fears. I realized that you were exactly the woman I wanted in my life, too. It was you—your qualities like loyalty, integrity, honesty and selflessness.”
“Tell me one thing: Was any of this ever real? Bimini, Miami, the boat, any of it?”
“Yes, everything. My feelings were and are very real.” He stood and walked over to her. He thought about when she’d said that their son had had an accident. The feeling in his gut had been completely foreign to him. He’d been shaken and disturbed, and no amount of emotional detachment could change that. Knowing that his own flesh and blood was injured pained him. He feared reliving that pain again. Walking away now would incur that same kind of pain, but he’d do it to save them all.
Slowly she turned and looked up at him. She shook her head. “I’m so off balance with you. I don’t know how I feel. I’m angry, I’m hurt, I’m fearful, I’m a shattered mess and I’m…” She paused.
David smiled, knowing what she was going to say. “That’s funny, because you make me feel the exact opposite. With you everything is clear and calm. Suddenly I know what I want in my life. I want you. Please honor me and be my wife.”
“I can’t live in L.A.”
“We won’t.”
“Your world is— I can’t be a Hollywood mama.”
“You could never be.”
“My life here is insulated. Yours is a media circus. Reporters are everywhere. It’s crazy. Nothing will ever be normal.”
“Then we’ll create our own normal.”
“I need to protect the boys from this tsunami.”
“We will protect the boys,” he assured her.
“I do want you to be a part of my son’s lives, our son’s lives,” she said.
“And your life?” he asked hopefully.
She nodded. “Yes, and my life, too.”
David smiled and tipped her chin to his mouth. “May I?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said as his mouth came down onto hers. The kisses were sweet and lasting. When they ended she smiled, breathless, almost in tears. “I’m afraid to close my eyes or to even blink. If I do, all this will disappear.”
“I won’t let it,” he whispered in her ear.
“I never thought I’d want this, but I do.”
“I like the way you say that,” he replied.
“Say what?” she asked.
“‘I do.’” He pulled out the box she had delivered back to him. He opened it and took the ring out. It sparkled and shone like a brilliant star pulled down from the night sky. He placed it on her finger. “Marry me.”
She immediately felt shivers down her spine. “David…”
“No more questions, no more second thoughts, no more fear. There’s only yes. I’m in love with you, Natalia Coles, and I know in my heart that you’re in love with me, too.”
She nodded. There was no denying her feelings. She did love him. “Yes, I love you.”
“Then there’s only one thing to do.” He released her and dropped to one knee. “I love you.” Then, just as Brice had taught him, he crossed his heart with his finger. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and it isn’t because you’re not like other women I’ve dated or that you’re a psychologist and social worker or that you’re the mother of my children. It’s because you make me deliriously happy. You fill me, you complete me. And spending another day without you in my life is unacceptable. I want to take you as my wife right now, today. Will you marry me now?”
Natalia’s heart jumped as she struggled to catch her breath. She looked into his eyes. They were focused and clear and pleading for her answer. Protecting her heart was no longer an issue. She’d freely given it to him. Hiding behind motherhood was no longer a barrier. He was the father of her sons. Her heart wanted her to surrender. “I don’t know what to say,” she stammered.
He smiled. “This is where the cue-card person usually steps up to give you your line. But since it’s just the two of us, say yes, you’ll marry me.” She nodded joyously. “Is that a yes?”
She nodded again while smiling through tears. “Yes, yes.”
He grabbed her, picked her up and twirled her around. Then, placing her on the floor, he pulled her close and kissed her. When the kiss ended, she couldn’t stop smiling. He took her hand. “Come on, we’re gonna be late.”
“What about the arbitration?” she asked.
“Don’t worry about that. Come on—this way.” He led her out the door down the hall to another door.
“Wait, what’s going on?”
Pamela rushed out of the room. “Your attorneys have made all the arrangements and we’re all set,” she said, smiling. “Congratulations, welcome to the family.” She dashed back into the room just as quickly and closed the door behind her.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“Marriage and adoption. You, Brice and Jayden will have my name and my love from now until forever.”
“But don’t you want a prenup or something?”
He laughed and kissed her quickly. “Forever,” he reiterated. “But…”
“But right now we’re getting married,” he said, kissing her again, this time more tenderly. “Come on, everybody’s waiting for us.”
Natalia’s happy smile turned quickly to shock as she realized what he’d just said. “What? Marri
ed now? Right now?”
“Right now. You can plan any kind of wedding you want after this, but right now I can’t go on another moment without your being my wife.” He took her hand as he opened the door.
“Wait, what does that mean?”
The applause struck her instantly. Her family, her friends, everybody stood smiling as they walked in. Seeing everybody smiling and happy, she looked at the man by her side. “You were pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you?”
“I was,” he stopped and corrected himself. “I am very, very sure of us and our future together. Happy Mother’s Day, sweetheart.” Natalia was too overjoyed to speak, but she did cross her heart with her finger. David crossed his heart, too.
A robed judge stood at a desk and nodded. He motioned them forward. David led Natalia to the front. She saw Nikita and Tatiana each holding Jayden and Brice. Her brothers, her mother and father, Mia and Stephen held each other closer, smiling happily. Moments later David and Natalia stood before the judge and exchanged vows. Their whirlwind life of forever was only just beginning.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5529-0
CROSS MY HEART
Copyright © 2010 by Celeste O. Norfleet
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Cross My Heart Page 17