by Celya Bowers
Kyla stood and took a deep breath. “Ready, Peri?”
Peri didn’t want to go in the OB’s office, fearing that thousands of baby pictures would be mocking her, but she had to go. “Yes, I’m ready, Mommy.”
Kyla shook her head. “Just wait, your turn is coming.”
Peri didn’t have the heart to tell her that the little event would not be happening to her. “The doctor is waiting.”
* * *
An hour later the women walked out of the doctor’s office. Peri gauged her friend’s reaction to the news. Kyla had been quiet since the doctor confirmed her pregnancy. Peri was beginning to worry as they walked to her car.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Kyla nodded.
“You want to call Ryan now?”
She shook her head.
Peri couldn’t take another non-answer. “Kyla, tell me what’s wrong? The doctor assured us that you would be able to carry the baby to term.”
“You never told me that you had had a miscarriage. Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have asked you to go in there with me if I had known.”
Peri felt unmasked. “How did you know? I was going to tell you later.” She unlocked the car and they got inside.
Kyla slid into the passenger seat. “When the nurse came in while the doctor was talking to me, she asked you if this was scaring you from getting pregnant. You told her that you had had a miscarriage over two years ago. Was that Robert’s fault, too?”
Peri shook her head.
Kyla reached across the console and grabbed Peri’s hand. “And you went through all this alone. Peri, I know he hurt you and right now I don’t think I can take much more. Just knowing that you’re with Brendan, helps me cope with what you went through.”
Peri nodded, thankful that she didn’t have to relive the story again. “Thank you, Kyla.”
* * *
Two weeks later Kyla’s pregnancy was out in the world, and Peri never felt happier. It actually seemed like Robert had given up, but she knew from the past that he was just lying in wait. On Christmas Day she arrived at her parents to spend the day with her family.
She walked in the back door where her father was cooking his masterpiece. “Merry Christmas, Daddy.” She hugged her father and kissed him on the cheek.
“Merry Christmas, baby girl. You look wonderful.” He stepped back from her. “I haven’t seen you look this happy in a long time.”
She was happy. “I know. I reached my goal weight. I’m very proud.”
“Your happiness has nothing to do with weight. Brendan called and wished us Merry Christmas earlier. I like him.”
“Daddy, you’ve only met him once.”
“I still like him. Now get out of my kitchen.”
Peri laughed as she walked into the living room. Her mother was positioning the gifts around the tree. Peri had brought her gifts over days earlier. This was her mother’s domain.
“Hello, dear.” Her mother walked toward her and gave her a hug. “Merry Christmas.”
“You, too, Mom.” Peri wiped her eyes. The holidays always did it to her. “I hear Brendan called you guys earlier.”
“Yes, he did. He also had your gifts delivered here. I thought that was so sweet. If you weren’t sleeping with him…” her mother let the sentence fade away.
“Mom, you know I can’t stand to hear you talking like that. You’re not supposed to know about anything sexual.”
Her mother laughed. “Better not tell your father that.”
“Mom, please, I have to eat later.”
“Oh, lighten up.”
* * *
After breakfast everyone went to the living room and proceeded to open the gifts. Her mother begged Peri to open her gifts from Brendan first. Reluctantly, she did. She opened the large box and handed her mother and father each a box. Her mother’s gift was a crystal vase. Her dad received an engraved gold tie clip and cuff links. For once, her parents were speechless.
Peri finally opened one of her boxes from Brendan. A necklace with what had to be a carat diamond attached to it, and a matching tennis bracelet. Another box had ski apparel in it. The last box was something she shouldn’t have opened in front of her parents, sister, brother, or brother-in-law. It was a very sexy nightgown with more lace than material. Peri blushed as her mother and sister admired the gown. Elijah coughed many times.
Xavier was not that subtle. “Well, looks like you might get some Irish in you after all.” The men laughed.
“Peri, please thank Brendan for the gifts for us Tuesday night.” Sonia winked at her daughter.
“Why don’t we finish opening the rest of the gifts?” Peri tried to regain some of her dignity.
They opened the rest of their gifts without incident. Peri’s parents had gotten her ski apparel as well. She surprised her parents with a Disney World cruise. Her parents were shocked again. They both kissed their daughter.
It was her best Christmas ever.
* * *
As the plane landed in Aspen two days after Christmas, Peri started feeling a little apprehensive about the next four days. She couldn’t ski.
In the baggage claim area, Chelsey ran to her and gave her a hug. Brendan kissed her on the lips.
“I really missed you, honey,” he said after he released her.
Both Chelsey and her father were dressed in ski apparel, but Brendan looked like he should be on the cover of a magazine. Brendan told Peri how fast Chelsey had caught on to skiing as he grabbed Peri’s suitcase.
“She’s a natural. After just a few lessons, she was skiing down the bunny slopes like a pro.”
Peri decided to tell him on the way to the ski lodge. She looked in the back seat of the rented blazer as Chelsey played with some toys. “Brendan, I need to tell you something before we go skiing tomorrow.”
Brendan looked at Peri and smiled. “You mean like the fact that you can’t ski?”
“H-how did you know?”
Brendan picked up her hand and kissed it. Playfully he bit her hand. “I taught you to in-line skate, remember. The night Chel asked you at the restaurant about coming skiing you had the most frightened look on your face.”
“I was going to tell you, it just slipped my mind.”
Brendan smiled, leaned over, and kissed her quickly. “That’s okay, your first lesson is in the morning at seven.”
What is he doing to my life? She tried not to think of the way he had made her life so different than it used to be. Insecurity had a funny way of finding her though. How would she ever get over him? She closed her eyes in a silent prayer, hoping it would be a long time before she would find out.
* * *
After arriving at the lodge, Brendan grabbed the luggage out of the SUV. Chelsey immediately grabbed Peri’s gloved hand and dragged her into the cozy lobby of the lodge. Peri was startled by her actions. She had also started calling Peri by her first name instead of Miss Reed.
He led them to the suite of rooms. It was very homey. The place looked very expensive. The bedrooms were on opposite ends of the suite, with the living area in the middle. The one thing that Peri appreciated was the fireplace blazing in the living room.
She stood transfixed in the middle of the room. It was so inviting. She could imagine just lying there with some hot chocolate and….
“I thought you’d like that.” Brendan came up behind her and wrapped her in an embrace. “I saw that in the brochure and knew you would love it.”
“I do. Thank you.”
“You can thank me later.”
* * *
After dinner in the restaurant, Peri gave Brendan and Chelsey their presents once they were back in the room. She watched with joy as both Brendan and Chelsey opened their presents with excitement. She was glad she’d bought the tablet the salesman had talked her into for Brendan. He loved it and he began programming it immediately. Chelsey enjoyed her computer game as well. She became engrossed in it and went to her room to play.
Later, Peri put Chelsey to bed, and then Brendan gave Peri a massage. “You’re too tense. You won’t be able to ski unless you relax.” Brendan’s sure hands started massaging her back and little by little, she began to relax. He also had unsnapped her bra and had taken off her shirt in the process. He leaned down and kissed her.
“I know one thing that will relax you.” He kissed her and began caressing her more slowly and more intimately. His hands were on a deliberate journey of their own as they went lower and lower.
Peri watched as he got out of his clothes and hopped into bed with her. Brendan drew her on top of him.
“Are you sure this will relax me or you?” Peri teased him as she nibbled on his chest and made her way down his stomach.
Brendan sharp intake of breath let her know his answer. “Oh, both of us, honey. Both of us.”
CHAPTER 24
The next morning, Ethan, the ski instructor, greeted Peri. Ethan stood well over six feet tall and apparently lived on the slopes. His long, sun-streaked hair peeked out from under his ski cap.
He was very patient with Peri even though she was his oldest student in the group. “Since Peri is our senior citizen for the day, why don’t we let her ski first?” Ethan smiled at Peri as the children around her giggled and cheered. “Yay! Go, Peri!”
Peri glanced at all the little children in the class and sighed. The oldest child might have been six. She took the challenge and wobbled up to prepare to ski down Bunny Hill. Ethan stood beside her and put his arm around her, showing her the proper form.
“You catch on pretty fast for an older person.” Ethan made her feel all of her years in one statement. “Why don’t you try snowboarding?”
Peri shook her head. “I just learned how to in-line skate a few months ago. I don’t want to press my luck.” Ethan laughed. She could easily see why he was the most popular instructor at the lodge. That smile.
She met Brendan and Chelsey for lunch and they skied all afternoon together. Later that night they were all in the same bed watching TV. Chelsey sat between the adults and talked to both of them about skiing. Peri looked at Brendan and he winked his eye at her and blew her a kiss, making her heart turn a cartwheel.
The rest of their ski holiday flew by. Peri even got comfortable with Chelsey seeing her and Brendan snuggling together on the bed. On the plane ride back to Arlington, Chelsey wanted to sit by Peri. Brendan ended up across the aisle from them since they were in first class.
Chelsey asked Peri countless questions. She asked about Peri’s work and told her all about her mom and Oliver. Peri thought Chelsey was wise beyond her six years of life. She fought the urge to run her fingers through Chelsey’s hair and flatten the errant strand that seemed to have a mind of its own.
After they returned to Arlington, Brendan asked Peri to stay with him after he dropped Chelsey off. Peri wanted to go to her condo first. Reluctantly, he agreed. “Okay, meet me at the house later.”
“Okay.” She kissed him and Chelsey goodbye. Now she has my heart, too, she thought as she let herself into her condo. She was there just long enough to grab some clothes and make a few calls. As she shifted through the huge pile of Christmas cards, bills, and other junk mail, she chatted with Kyla on the phone. “Thanks for getting my mail and stuff. I really appreciate it. If you need me I will be at Brendan’s tonight.” Peri also called her mother to let her know she was back and gave her Brendan’s number as well.
“Are you living with him?” Her mother always asked the tough questions.
“No, Mom. I’m just spending the night over there. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
“I don’t think he’s anything like Robert. It probably wouldn’t be the same. I just want you to be happy.”
“Meaning?” Peri became very defensive about that part of her life.
“Peri, be happy. Let Robert go. Every man is not like Robert. Just be careful.”
“I will, I promise.”
“Just be happy, dear.”
Just be happy. Those words rang in her head as she pulled into Brendan’s garage. She gazed at Brendan as he stood in the doorway waiting for her. She was happy. His eyes told her he was tired. After dinner he fell asleep with his head in her lap while watching a movie. Gently, she caressed his face as he started to snore. Why can’t men just say I am tired? Peri laughed as she woke him for bed.
* * *
New Years’ Day morning somebody’s cell phone was ringing, Peri thought. Why was someone trying to wake her? She groped for the phone in her sleep.
“That’s not the phone,” Brendan said in her ear.
Her eyes snapped opened. She was grabbing his most desired body part. “Sorry, baby.” She reached for her cell phone and glanced at the display. This cannot be good. “Hi, Mom.”
“Good morning, Peri. Your father and I were wondering if you were coming to morning services to start the New Year off right. Or are you still tired from your trip?”
Peri sat up in bed. “I’m still a little tired, Mom. I may come by later for dinner.”
“That will be wonderful, dear. Why don’t you bring Brendan?”
“I’ll have to see if he’s free, but I’ll definitely be over later.”
“We’d love to see him. You can tell us about your trip.”
Peri thought she was home free until Brendan decided to get into the game. “I’d love to see your parents today,” he said loudly near the phone.
That’s all her mother had to hear. “Great. See you both about three.” She ended the call.
First, she made sure her mother wasn’t on the line anymore before she lit into Brendan. “Why did you say that? I was almost home free and then you got into the game. It’s going to be another inquisition.”
Brendan shrugged. “Peri, I like your parents. You went through the same with my family in Ireland and you didn’t complain once. My family thought you were awesome. Besides, they might as well get used to looking at me, because I plan to be around for a long time.”
Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? “Brendan, you don’t have to do this. Elijah is going to have you for lunch.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed on the neck. “Let me worry about Elijah. You know he’s a closet art lover.”
“What? Are you serious? Elijah?”
“You said it yourself. He pointed out our photo in the arts section. Who reads that section of the paper unless they’re an art lover?”
Her mouth hung open in surprise. “He’s always making fun of me when I talk about an exhibit.”
He kissed her again. “Baby, don’t worry about me, I’m a Donovan. I can handle anything.”
When they arrived at Peri’s parents’ home a few hours later, Brendan was beginning to doubt his proud boasts to Peri earlier. The friendly people he’d met a few months before were gone and now everyone was only concerned about Peri. Right after Peri had distributed gifts to her family, her father, brother, and brother-in-law escorted him into the ‘man cave,’ supposedly for a drink while the women herded Peri to the kitchen.
Edward poured two fingers of whiskey into a glass and handed it to Brendan. “Thank you, Edward.” Brendan took a seat on the loveseat.
Elijah soon joined him on the seat and cleared his throat. “Brendan, you seem like a good guy. You’re like the king of the art world.”
Brendan could feel his temper rising. “Your point.”
“My point is that, we want to know why you’re lavishing Peri with all these gifts. We know you’re loaded so you’re not another Robert, trying to take Peri’s money.”
He took a healthy sip of whiskey, trying to calm his nerves. He didn’t want to lash out at Peri’s family. “How I spend my time and money is my business.” He finished the drink, sat the glass down on the table with a thud, and rose. “It’s been a pleasure.” He headed for the door to collect Peri.
Xavier stopped him before he could reach the door. “Whoa, Brendan, we just want to know what’s goi
ng on between the two of you. I mean, Robert had us completely snowballed and I’ll be damned if that will happen again just because some fool says that it’s his business.”
Brendan sighed. Okay, if the roles were reversed and this was Emma, he would be in the guy’s face, too. “Okay.” He walked back to his seat. “Hit me with your best.”
Elijah laughed. “Now this is what I’m talking about. You have taken Peri to Ireland, and Colorado. What are your intentions toward her?”
“My intentions are between Peri and myself. I have a sister, too, so I know what you’d like me to say, but I would be doing both me and Peri a disservice if I did.”
“What do you mean, Brendan? I just want to know about my baby girl. You have to admit this is strange. You have a child from a previous marriage, you’re from another country, and you’re white. I think I have every reason in the world to ask you what you’re doing,” Edward said in a quiet voice. “I admit the boys might be a little overzealous, but I don’t blame them.”
“I took Peri on those trips because I wanted her with me and my daughter. Now I can sit here and tell you that I don’t plan on hurting Peri, which is true, but sometimes things are out of my control. I do love her and she loves me. She and my daughter get along great. Just to ease your mind, I’d been a naturalized citizen for over ten years before I married my first wife.”
“I knew you loved her or you would have stormed out of here, damn the consequences,” Elijah said.
“Normally that would have been the procedure, but not this time. The results are too important to Peri and that makes it important to me,” Brendan said.
“That’s what we like to hear,” Edward said. “I knew I liked you from the start because you didn’t run from us. That sorry excuse for a man, Robert, was always making noises about how he didn’t want to visit us.”
“Well, I’m not Robert. I would do anything in my power to keep Peri happy.”
“Music to my ears,” Edward said, shaking Brendan’s hand. “I hope we see a lot of you and your daughter around here.”
Brendan smiled. At least he had one male ally in the family.
* * *