Fading Into Nothing

by Kelly Moore

  I nestle under the covers with him. “I think Hank was a little smitten with your mom.”

  “He did act all weird, didn’t he?”

  “I’ve never seen Hank all charming, and he kept making her laugh through dinner.”

  “What happened to, ‘Alice is the only woman for me.’”

  “Apparently, that went out the door when he laid eyes on your mom.”

  “I’ll have to have a little chat with him.”

  “They are grown adults. Besides, I don’t think your mom is really into starting up another relationship. She’ll put Hank in his place in her own way.”

  “You’re right. She can handle herself.” He pulls me on top of him. “Do you want to fool around one more time as a single woman? After tomorrow we get to have married sex.”

  “I love you, Will.”

  We are woken up the next morning with a repeated pounding on the front door. Will pulls on a pair of shorts over his boxers as he climbs out of bed. “I’ll go see who it is,” he says as he walks out of the bedroom.

  I hear a deep baritone voice and then Will say, “Why the hell are you here now?”

  I rush out of bed, throw on a sundress, and head for the living room. Will’s dad is standing in the middle of the room, looking worn and tattered. His normally neat appearance is in disarray. His white collared shirt is unbuttoned, and his sleeves are sloppily rolled to his elbows. His face looks like it’s aged ten years in just a few short weeks.

  “I heard you were getting married,” he says, looking past Will at me.

  I walk over to Will and wrap my arm around his waist, forming a united front. “We are,” I say.

  He runs his hands down his unshaven face. “I guess you heard your mom has left me?”

  “Who can blame her,” Will adds sharply.

  True regret covers his face. “Believe it or not, I love your mother very much.”

  “Part of loving her meant loving your children too,” Will says.

  “I know I haven’t always shown it, but I do love you.”

  “Always”—Will laughs—“how about never. Not once have you ever even told me. All I’ve ever seen in your eyes is disappointment in me. More like ashamed of your stupid son.”

  His father hangs his head. “You’re right. That is all I ever showed you, and I’m sorry.”

  “You’re only sorry because Mom finally had her fill of your behavior toward me. I’m sorry I didn’t turn out like you wanted me to be, but I’m not sorry for the man I’ve become, and I have my mother to thank for that. And Patrick. You never once tried to help me. And then, the whole thing with Phoebe, you never believed me. You chose your best friend’s daughter over your own son. You didn’t even believe it when Patrick told you about her.”

  His father’s shield breaks as his lip quivers. “I didn’t know how to help you, and I let my pride get in the way. It was easier to love and be proud of Patrick, and for that, I’m an ass. I wish I could change a lot of things, but I have to live with my regrets. Patrick is my biggest one. Maybe if I wouldn’t have pushed him so hard, he’d still be here. Instead, I blamed you. I’m so sorry, Will. I know none of this will get my wife back, but I don’t want to lose my son too.” He glances up at Will through his tears. “I love you, son, and I will do anything to make it up to you.”

  I let go of Will. “I think I’ll take a walk and let the two of you talk.” I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek.

  I take a long walk along the beach, allowing them plenty of time to talk. I don’t head back inside until I see Will’s father’s limo pull away from the cottage. I go inside to find Will standing in front of the kitchen window, looking out while taking a sip of water.

  “How did it go?” I ask as I wrap my arms around his waist.

  “I don’t really know. I think he’s sorry, but I don’t think he and I will ever be close.” He turns in my arms. “I’m glad he’s finally seen what he’s done all these years, but it’s too late. He’s lost the best thing that ever happened to him, and I’m not sure he will recover. I picture him wallowing in his own pity for a while and then becoming a bitter old man.”

  “I’m sorry, but I do think in his own way he loves you or he wouldn’t have shown up here at all.”

  “Maybe you’re right. Only time will tell.”

  The day could not be any more beautiful. The sun is sitting high in the sky with nothing but blue surrounding it. I put on the last touch of makeup as Caroline hands me my flowers.

  “I’m so glad that Will found you and that you will be my daughter.”

  Her words make my eyes water thinking about my mother. I often wonder what she would be like had she straightened her life out. I miss the idea of a mother, and I’m glad that Caroline is so accepting of me.

  “I’m the lucky one. Not only do I get Will, I get to have a mother too.” I want to hug her, but I don’t want to wrinkle my white slim-fitting gown.

  “You look stunning, dear.” She smiles, but I can see the hint of sadness lingering in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry about you and Mr. Taylor.”

  “Me too. How did Will take the news?”

  “He hurts for you and of course he blames himself. You know his father showed up here yesterday, and they talked. Will said that it was a ploy to win you back, and maybe it was, but I’m glad they were civil to one another, but Will still blames himself for the two of you splitting.”

  “That’s ridiculous. None of it is his fault. Patrick made his own choices and today is not the day to get into it. Today is yours and Will’s day. Now, I’m going to go find that handsome son of mine. I’ll see you again when you are on my son’s arm.”

  As soon as she walks out the door, Hank walks in wearing a khaki-colored suit with a blue tie that matches his eyes. “You look beautiful, Maggie. Are you ready?” He holds out his elbow for me to take.

  I reach up and fix his tie then take my arm and wrap it in his. “Thank you for walking me down the aisle, Hank.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. “I promised Will that I would get your brother on video phone.”

  I take it from him and dial in my brother’s number. Once we have a good connection, we head outside onto the white sandy beach where there is a tent set up and a red-carpet walkway leading to the makeshift deck that Will is standing on waiting for me. He looks so handsome in his black suit. He’s nervously tugging on his white cuffs that are sticking outside the sleeve of his jacket.

  I run my hands down the sheer sleeves of my dress that are covering my tattooed arms, then I take Hank’s arm again and head straight to the man that I’m madly in love with. A soft, salty breeze picks up loose strands of my hair, stirring them around my cheeks. I brush them back with my fingers and look toward my soon-to-be husband.

  As soon as he sees me, he runs a hand through his neatly combed hair, messing it up. He looks even sexier with a curl of hair on his forehead. His face lights up like a man in love as Hank hands me over to him.

  “You are simply stunning,” he says as he takes my hand and faces me.

  “You’re not so bad yourself,” I say, looking him over.

  “Are you ready for forever with me, Mags?”

  “More than ready.”

  We say our written vows to each other in front of the few friends and family that we invited, and then we spend the rest of the afternoon celebrating with food and dancing under the white tent.

  “Are you ready for your surprise, Mrs. Taylor?” Will asks while we dance in the sand to the music the band he hired is playing.

  “You mean there is more? I thought the band was the surprise?”

  “Nope.” He releases me and takes my hand, walking more toward the water. “See that sailboat out there?” He points out to a boat a few hundred feet offshore.

  I shield my eyes with my hand. “Yes.”

  “Hank helped me pick it out, and I bought it. That’s where we are spending our honeymoon. I ho
pe you’re not too disappointed. You said you wanted to stay on the island. I would have taken you to Paris.” He suddenly looks unsure of himself as he digs the polished toe of his shoe into the sand.

  I face him and step up on my tiptoes. “This is all I want.” I place my hand on his heart and kiss him. “It’s the perfect honeymoon.”

  “Good because I can’t wait to have you out of this dress on that boat alone. I want to be buried deep inside my wife, and I don’t think I can wait much longer.”

  I feel his cock harden between us as I reach up and loosen his tie. “I think we could have a little fun with this,” I tease him.

  He takes my wrist and presses it to his lips. “These will look sexy all pink.”

  I giggle. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about yours.”

  He takes my hand and pulls me back toward the tent. “That’s it. Say your goodbyes, and we’re getting on that sailboat, now.”

  I willingly follow him and tell each person goodbye. When we get to Hank, he leans in and whispers something to Will and then winks at me.

  “What did he tell you?” I ask as we grab a bag of clothes that Will packed.

  “He said to take good care of you.” He raises his thick eyebrows.

  “You’re such a liar.” I laugh. “He probably said go get ’em, tiger.”

  He slides his arm around my waist and kisses my temple. “Something along those lines.” He chuckles. “Now, let’s go get started on this honeymoon.”

  We spent the next two days wrapped up in each other’s arms on that boat, making love and talking for hours. We talked about Hank’s idea of staying here and running the market. The decision to stay was a no-brainer for either of us. We love it here, and neither of us wants to return to the city. This is where we both want to start our lives together and raise a family.

  When we finally make it back to shore and to the house, Hank and Caroline are having coffee together on the back porch.

  “Well, the lovebirds have finally surfaced,” Hank teases.

  “I thought you were heading back to Savannah after the wedding,” Will says, kissing his mother’s cheek.

  “Hank said if I’d stay a few days, he’d show me the town.”

  “He did, did he? That should have taken all but a minute,” he says as he leans against the railing.

  “I like it here, and I needed some time away.”

  “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want to,” I tell her and squeeze Will’s hand. “We’ve decided to make it our home.”

  “You’re not going back to New York?” She is all smiles.

  “Nope. Hank wants to retire and has offered us the market, and I too need a change of pace.” He turns to face Hank. “I know we’ve not discussed the details, but I’ll have my attorney draw up papers for any amount that you want to sell it for.”

  “I’m not selling it to you. I’m giving it to the two of you. I’m an old man, and I have plenty of money. It’s a gift, son.”

  I see Will fight back the tears. His own father was never as kind to him as this man we’ve only known a short time. “I don’t know what to say, Hank.” He chokes back his words.

  “Say thank you. And oh yeah, I’ll still be around showing you the ropes and living upstairs.” He laughs.

  “Thank you, Hank. You know you don’t have to live upstairs anymore. I put an offer on that big blue two-story house on the end of Oak Street. There is plenty of room, and there is enough property to build an in-law suite in the back.”

  “I’m perfectly happy where I am. Besides, you two are going to be filling up those rooms pretty quickly.”

  He turns to his mom. “What about you? I can build you a house.”

  “How about you just keep one of those rooms empty for me to come visit?”

  “You don’t have to stay in Savannah.”

  “Savannah is my home, and I love my work, but who knows, maybe one day I’ll build a small bed and breakfast here in Southport so I can be near my grandkids.” She winks at me.

  I point my finger between the two of them. “I swear you two know something that I don’t.”

  “You do have this gleam about you,” she says.

  “It’s called happiness and sunshine on my face.” I laugh. “I’m married to the most handsome, sweet, smart man in the world and I have the two of you. What more could a woman ask for? A few months ago, I thought I’d never have any of this. I thought I’d be lost and alone for the rest of my life.”

  Chapter 14

  Turns out, Caroline and Hank did know something; I was pregnant, and in two more weeks, Will and I will be meeting our son. It’s springtime, and the town is buzzing with families on break from school. I had planned on a teaching job, but when I found out I was pregnant, I decided to take a part-time tutoring job instead.

  Hank took some time off and traveled to Paris. He wanted to go back and revisit all the places he had taken Alice. He said it was his last goodbye to her. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that until Caroline started visiting more often, and it wasn’t just to see Will. Her divorce was final a few months ago, and she’s a free woman. Will hasn’t spoken to his father since he showed up here and Will kicked him out.

  It doesn’t seem to bother him much. He loves running the market and has settled in like he’s always lived here. The women in the town are constantly flirting with him, but he’s always proud to tell them that he’s taken. He’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him. He’s even volunteering at the school one day a week. There are two kids in town that are dyslexic, and he spends time teaching them to read. He’s found what color transparencies work for them and it makes him feel good about helping them. He has truly found his purpose, and he’s an amazing husband, and I know soon-to-be father.

  When he gets home every night, he’s taken up reading to my big belly before we go to bed. This kid will be able to recite Ferdinand when he comes out of the womb.

  Will is behind the register when I walk into the store, and Hank is helping one of the customers carry her bags. Caroline is even helping make sandwiches behind the deli.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Will says when he sees me.

  I join him behind the counter and give him a soft kiss. “I see you have everyone working today.”

  “Yeah, there’s been a tour bus of people flowing through here today.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  He rubs his hand over my belly. “Sit on that stool so I can admire you.”

  “You’re sweet, but I really want to help.”

  He places the stool in front of the register and points to it. “If you’re going to help, I at least want you off your feet.”

  “I won’t argue with that,” I say and sit.

  “I’m going to go help my mom in the deli.”

  We all work hard for the next hour before it slows down a bit.

  “How are you doing, momma?” Hank asks as he comes back inside from helping an elderly lady out with her bags.

  “I’m exhausted and fat and I can’t wait for this baby to be here.”

  “Maybe he won’t come out until you have a name for that little one.” He points to my stomach.

  “I heard a great name for a boy today,” Will chimes in. “It was a customer’s last name, but it would be perfect for our son.”

  “Well, are you going to tell me or am I going to have to guess?”

  “Jett.”

  “Jett,” I repeat. “I like it. Wills Jett Taylor.”

  “No, we agreed to not use my name.” He points at me.

  “No, you said no. I never agreed.”

  “I have a better idea.”

  “I’m listening.”

  How about we name him after your brother. Phillip Jett Taylor.”

  “I love that idea.”

  “Yeah, Phillip did too when he suggested it. You know he’s thinking about moving here. Ever since he visited during New Years, he’s talked about it.”

  “I would love that, but I doubt he wil
l ever move away from his practice. But seriously, I do love the name Jett.”

  “It’s settled then. Our son has a name.”

  “Good. According to Hank, he can be born now,” Caroline says, snuggling up to Hank.

  “I, more than any of you, would be happy for him to come out,” I say directly to my swollen stomach. Just as the words leave my mouth, the baby kicks me really hard, and I feel a gush of water run down my leg. “Oh my God. My water broke!”

  All eyes are staring at the puddle forming on the tile beneath me.

  “Well, don’t just stand there—one of you needs to take me to the hospital.”

  “I’ll go to the house and get her bag,” Caroline says.

  “I’ll go with you,” Hank says, already moving toward the door.

  “Wait. One of you has to stay here and keep the market open. Were too busy to close the doors,” Will says.

  “You’re right, I’ll stay, you go,” Hank says. “As soon as we slow down, I’ll come to the hospital.”

  Will helps me to the van he bought for us a few months ago. I climb inside as my first contraction starts. I wince, and Will tells me to breathe through it. As soon as it’s over, he drives like a bat out of hell to the local hospital.

  Eight hours later, the doctor is laying our beautiful brown-eyed son in my arms.

  Will is wiping his own tears as he’s counting fingers and toes. “He’s perfect.”

  “Yes, he is.” I kiss the top of his little head. “Welcome to the world, Jett. Your mommy and daddy love you very much.”

  “He has my lips,” Will says, placing a finger in the small dimple.

  “Thank you,” I say.

  “For what?” He sits on the bed next to me.

  “For making my life mean something. For making my world big and beautiful. Before you, I was fading away into a mundane life that had no meaning. Because of you, I’m a wife and a mother, and I couldn’t be happier.”

  “You did the same thing for me, except the mother thing.” He laughs. “And well, the wife thing. You know what I mean,” he says as Jett wraps his small fingers around Will’s pinky. “Our lives were meant to be entwined the day I sat across from you on the train. From the moment we met, until this moment, I’ve never felt more alive and in love with anyone. And now, this little guy has made my heart swell even more. How is that possible since he just made his grand entrance?”