[Southern Heart 01.0] Southern Pleasure

by Kaylee Ryan

  “She loves me?” I ask, needing his reassurance.

  “Irrevocably.”

  She loves me. I think about everything he said and it makes sense. I never told her how I feel, but begged her to stay because I needed her.

  Shit!

  “Hey, man, can you do me a favor? Can you keep her busy? I know she mentioned coming to get her stuff, but can you keep her occupied until I text you? I need to do a few things first. Give me a couple of hours?”

  “She tossed and turned all night. My guess is she’ll hole up in her room most of the day anyway, but I got you covered. Can I do anything else?” he asks.

  “No, just when I text you, bring her here.”

  Aaron stands. “You got it, man.” He claps me on the back and waves goodbye.

  A plan forms in my mind as Lexi babbles, letting me know she’s awake. Baby girl needs a diaper change and some breakfast; then we have things to do.

  “Come on, sleepyhead, get up,” Aaron says, shaking my arm.

  “Go away.” I throw the covers over my head.

  “Nope, I need you to wake up. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon, lazybones.”

  “Really, Aaron?” I pull the covers back down and glare at him.

  He grins. Then sends a message on his phone. “Yes, really. Now get up. I need you to ride to town with me.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, come on, get up. We’re going to go grab something to eat.”

  I start to tell him I’m not hungry, but my stomach betrays me and growls. “Fine, but I need to shower first,” I relent.

  “Twenty minutes, I’m starving,” he says, typing into his phone.

  “Who are you texting?” I ask.

  “Just the guys. They have some questions about the sale next week. I left early to come and take you to dinner.” He grins.

  Twenty minutes later, we are in his truck and on our way to town. “I see you kept the ring on,” he says. “I went to see Evan this morning,” he tells me as if we’re discussing the weather.

  “How are they?”

  “He misses you.”

  “He’s fine.”

  “I really don’t think he is.”

  I don’t reply and he doesn’t either. We are silent the remainder of the drive. He pulls into Subway. “This okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m not that hungry anyway.”

  “You think your belly got the memo?” he asks as it growls just as loud, if not louder, than before.

  I smack his arm and climb out of the truck. We make small talk while we eat. I get a six-inch and can only eat half. It took effort to get that down. Aaron, on the other hand, ate his twelve-inch and the other half of my six.

  “You have anywhere you need to go?” he asks.

  “No, just home.”

  He drives us toward home, only he turns down the road leading to Evan’s place. “What are you doing?” I ask him.

  “You need to talk to him, McKinley. I’ll wait outside and I promise, as soon as you want to leave, I will drive you home. You will regret it if you don’t at least hear what he has to say.”

  “What could he possibly say that hasn’t already been said?”

  “Did you tell him you love him?” he asks.

  “No,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Sounds like a good place to start.”

  “I can’t—”

  “Don’t,” he cuts me off. “Don’t make excuses,” he pulls up in front of the house I’ve called home the last few months. “Drop the pretense. Just go in there and talk to him. Listen to what he has to say. Be honest with him, and if you all are still in this same place after that, you will at least know you tried.”

  “Fine.” I climb out of the truck slamming the door. As I walk up the steps, Evan opens the door before I even have a chance to knock.

  “McKinley.” I can hear the pain in his voice. Was Aaron right?

  “Hey, uh, Aaron thought we should talk.”

  “Yeah, I asked him to bring you here.” He opens the door wide. “Come in.”

  I step toward him and, just as I’m about past him, his arms snake out and pull me close. The door slams shut, but it doesn’t faze him as he holds me tight.

  Lexi babbles “Dada” from the living room, causing him to release me. “She’s going to be excited to see you,” he says, lacing his fingers through mine and guiding me into the living room.

  “Can I hold her?” I ask as tears fill my eyes. It’s only been a day. Not even a full twenty-four hours and I miss them both so much.

  “You never have to ask that question.”

  I rush to her pack-n-play and lift her out. I breathe in her baby smell and more tears start to fall. She watches me as if she knows I’m upset. “I missed you, Lex.”

  Evan turns on cartoons and her eyes are suddenly glued to the television. He reaches for her, sets her in her exer-saucer, and looks up at me. “I’m not going to be one of those guys, the kind who place their kid in front of the TV or video game, but right now, I need to. I have some things to say and I need to know I have your attention while Shrek has hers.”

  I nod.

  Reaching out for my hand, he guides me to the couch, I sit and he kneels in front of me. “I’m sorry. When you told me you were leaving yesterday, I panicked. I didn’t make myself clear.”

  “Evan—”

  “Please, let me say this.” He reaches for my other hand and smiles. “You’re still wearing your ring.”

  “I just . . . forgot it was there really. I need to give it back, I know—”

  “Shhh.” He places his finger to my lips. “I told you I needed you, and that was the truth. However, a wise man brought it to my attention that I didn’t tell you why. I let you leave here without knowing why and, for that, I’m truly sorry.”

  He brings my left hand to his lips and kisses my wedding rings. Then those chocolate brown eyes hold me hostage. “I need you, McKinley Rae Chamberlin, because I can’t breathe when you’re not here. I can’t sleep in our bed because the sheets smell like you. I can’t tuck our daughter into her bed at night because you’re not there to do it with me.”

  I can’t fight the tears.

  “My heart needs you, baby. I love you. With all that I am, I love you, and I not only need you, but I want you. More than anything, I want you.”

  “Evan,” I say with a sob.

  He reaches behind him and grabs a book. “Take it,” he urges.

  I take the book from him and he wipes my tears with his thumbs. I open the book and it’s a picture of me holding Lexi at the hospital. Turning the page I see pictures of me and Lexi sleeping on his couch, the very one I’m sitting on. The next several pages are the same thing—pictures that I’ve never seen. Pictures of me and Lex and even some selfies of the three of us over the past six months. When I reach the end, it’s the pictures from our day at the meadow. The three of us are smiling and happy. Underneath the picture, it says, We love you. Tears roll down my face as I try to understand what’s happening.

  I look up at Evan and he also has tears in his eyes. “Keep going,” he urges me.

  I flip the page and there is a picture from our wedding, the three of us. Below this one it simply says, I do. I trace my finger over the picture.

  “Keep going,” he says softly.

  I turn the page and it’s a picture of Lexi wearing a onesie that says, I love my mommy.

  I’m crying so hard I can hardly see the pages. Evan hands me a tissue and I wipe my eyes. I smile at him and he offers me a watery smile in return. The next page is blank except for the words, Open Evan’s envelope.

  Looking up, I see he’s holding it out for me. I set the book aside and take it from him. It’s not sealed, so I slip the paperwork out and unfold it. It’s a legal document. At first, I think it’s our annulment papers, but then I keep reading. My hands are shaking as I read the words. I have to read the first paragraph four times before I look up at him.

  “What does this mean?�
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  His hands cradle my cheeks. “What this means is Lexi wants you to be her momma. I want you to be my wife, not just because we had some arrangement, but because I love you with all that I am. I love you. In your hand are adoption papers. All you have to do is sign, and Mr. Fields will file the petition with the court.”

  “Evan, I—”

  “I love you, McKinley. Lexington loves you. I want our family back. I want you here, home where you belong. I want to raise our daughter together. I want more babies with you. I want every minute of your forever to be linked with mine.”

  He loves me.

  My heart thunders so fast I feel as though it could beat out of my chest.

  Adoption papers.

  I let the papers fall into my lap as I raise my hand to my mouth to cover a sob. Evan leans in and wraps his arms around me.

  “It’s okay, baby. I’m sorry I let you leave. I should have never let you get close to the damn door. I need you, my heart needs you. Lexi Rae needs you.

  After a few minutes of sobbing against his chest, listening to him reassure me that this is what he wants, I pull away. “Evan, this is . . . permanent. You’re asking me to legally be her mother.”

  “Yes. I want that so much. You are her mother, McKinley. You didn’t give birth to her, but you love and nurture her, you care about her. Lexi and I would be honored for you to hold that title. You’re my wife,” he says simply.

  I reach for the papers and skim them again before giving him my full attention. “Do you have a pen?” I ask.

  His answer is a blinding smile as he leans in and kisses me. “I do,” he whispers. Pulling away, he reaches behind him on the table and grabs a pen. I scrawl my name, McKinley Chamberlin, by the various ‘sign here’ stickers and place the document back in the envelope.

  “I love you, too,” I tell him.

  To finally say the words to him is . . . freeing.

  He crashes his lips to mine. “Say it again.”

  I smile through my tears. “I love you, both of you.”

  “I’m so fucking sorry, McKinley. Never, I’m never letting you go.”

  “I couldn’t ask for more,” I tell him honestly. Evan and Lexi are all that I want. I want our little family.

  Evan stands up and grabs Lex from her seat. He brings her over and sets her on my lap. She grins up at me. “Who’s got you, baby girl?” he asks her. “Does momma got you?” he asks, his voice now thick with emotion.

  Lexi studies him, then looks at me. “ Momma.” She smiles and pulls at my chin.

  A strangled laugh escapes my throat as I hold her tight. I’m her momma.

  “Daddy,” Lexi yells when I walk through the door. I lean down and catch her as she slams into me.

  “Hey, pretty girl, where’s Mommy?” She points into the living room.

  I kick off my boots, so my wife doesn’t yell at me for bringing dirt into the house, and head in the direction Lexi’s little finger points. “Hey, baby,” I say when I see her stretched out on the couch. Her legs are propped up on the table. I set Lex down and she runs off to play in the corner. I take a seat next to my wife and rub her very pregnant belly. “How’s my boy?”

  “He’s ready to come out.”

  I grin. I’ve gotten that same answer every day for the last week. McKinley is exactly seven days overdue to deliver our son. Leaning down, I kiss her swollen belly. “Hey, little man, take it easy on your momma. We’re ready to meet you,” I tell him.

  McKinley just smiles and rolls her eyes. This time around, I’ve gotten to experience it all. The cravings, the mood swings, her belly growing. I get to feel her belly against my back and my son kicking from inside her. It’s all overwhelming and amazing, and I can’t wait to do it all over again. McKinley just smiles when I say that. I know she does all the work, but I spoil her. Nightly foot rubs, I hired a housekeeper, and she even hired an assistant at the studio. Her mom keeps Lexi for us and also spoils her rotten.

  “Your parents are coming in tomorrow. I’m telling you, he’s waiting for them. They need to be here this time.”

  My dad is doing well. He is responding to the new treatments and, although he’s not in full remission, his doctors are hopeful. He’s doing well enough that he and Mom are flying in tomorrow to spend a week with us. They were hoping the little man would be here by now, which is why they scheduled this week. It also happens to be the right timing for Dad’s treatments.

  “You might be right.”

  Lexi comes running over and stops short of barreling into McKinley. “Easy, baby, your brother’s in there,” I tell her.

  She gets a serious look on her face and nods. Her little lips pucker up and she kisses McKinley’s belly. “Awon Alker,” she says proudly.

  McKinley and I both laugh. “That’s right, sweet girl. Your little brother Aaron Walker.”

  “You sure Aaron’s not going to be pissed we’re calling him Walker?” I ask her.

  She shrugs. “Don’t care. He got us back together, so he gets the name sake, but this little man,” she rubs her belly, “is Walker Chamberlin.”

  Lexi climbs up in my lap. “Wove you, Daddy.” She kisses my cheek.

  My heart melts.

  She leans over and I hold tight, so she doesn’t fall, and kisses McKinley on the cheek too. “Wove you, Mommy.”

  Just like they have every time before when Lexi says those words to her, McKinley’s eyes fill with tears.

  We settle on the couch and finish watching Cinderella, me and my girls. I cannot wait to meet our son, to welcome him to our family, and if I have any luck, in a few years, make him an older brother.

  It doesn’t take long before Lexi is asleep in my arms. McKinley is leaning into me and my hand is on her belly. “I love you, McKinley Chamberlin.”

  “I love you, too,” she replies with a yawn and it doesn’t take long before she and I are napping with our daughter.

  “Mommy ouch,” I hear Lexi say. I rub my eyes and sit up on the couch. I focus in on Lexi as she sits on the arm of the couch watching McKinley.

  “Kinley, what’s wrong?”

  “Well, I think it might be time.”

  It takes a few seconds for my brain to register what she’s just said. “Now, he’s coming now? You’re in labor?”

  She laughs. My wife laughs at me. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I am. I only dozed off for a few minutes. A sharp pain in my back woke me up. They started out about fifteen minutes apart. Now we’re at nine.”

  “Shit!” I stand from the couch and pull my phone out of my pocket. “How long did I sleep?”

  “Daddy, bad wowd.” Lexi points her little finger at me.

  “Yes, Daddy said a bad word. Little girls don’t say bad words,” I say, looking at my watch. Fuck! I slept for two hours. “Were you going to wake me?” I ask, hitting a few buttons on the screen and placing the phone next to my ear. “Hey, man, Kinley’s in labor. Can you come get Lex?” Aaron tells me he is on his way and I hang up.

  “Aaron?” she asks as her face grimaces in pain.

  Fuck! I don’t want to see her hurting. “Yeah, what can I do, baby?”

  “Evan, this is normal. It’s not supposed to feel like a relaxing massage.”

  “I know, but . . .”

  “It’s fine. We’re twenty minutes from the hospital. The bags are packed, both ours and Lexi’s. Take a deep breath.”

  “Is my sister, who is in labor, giving you tips for staying calm?” Aaron laughs.

  “Fu . . . Funny,” I catch myself.

  “Unca Awon!” Lexi exclaims.

  “Here you go. Thanks for coming, man. I’m going to run upstairs and get the bags. Don’t leave her.” I point toward McKinley. I take the stairs two at a time, rushing into our room and then Lex’s to get our bags.

  “Okay.” I hand Aaron her bag. “Here’s her bag. You have a key. Use it if you need it. McKinley, babe, I’m going to go pull the Durango out of the garage and load our bags. I’ll be right back.”

 
I hear Aaron laughing and I’m sure a smart-ass comment rolls off his tongue, but I don’t have time for that right now. My wife is in labor!

  By the time we make it to the hospital, her contractions are seven minutes apart. I pull up to the entrance and run in to get a wheelchair. I’m sure I look like a crazy person because a nurse comes rushing over. “Sir, can I help you?”

  “My wife is in labor.” I take a deep breath. We made it on time.

  She grins. “Got ya. Let’s go get her.” She follows me out the double doors where we find McKinley standing outside the car.

  “What happened?” I rush to her.

  She chuckles. “Nothing happened. Sitting was uncomfortable. I told you I could walk inside.”

  “Not happening, baby.”

  “Hi, my name is Lisa,” the nurse introduces herself to McKinley.

  “McKinley . . .” She stops, takes a few deep breaths, and then continues. “Chamberlin. This is my husband, Evan.”

  “Nice to meet you both. This your first?” she asks while she helps McKinley sit in the wheelchair.

  “My first delivery, but we have a little girl. She’s two and a half.”

  “Such a fun age. Dad, why don’t you park the car and meet us inside.”

  I hesitate, not wanting to leave her side for a minute. “Go, Evan. I’m not having this baby in the next ten minutes.” I lean in and kiss her quickly before jumping into the car to find a legal parking space.

  “McKinley Chamberlin,” I say once I reach the reception desk.

  “Third floor room 303.”

  I debate the stairs, but the elevator doors open so I jump in and push third floor and then tap the close door button . . . about fifteen times.

  When I push open the door to her room, a nurse is standing by the bed messing with an IV. “Where’s my wife?” Even I can hear the panic in my voice.

  “In here,” McKinley yells from behind a closed door.

  I don’t hesitate. I crack open the door and squeeze in. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m helping.” She’s sitting on a stool attempting to take off her shoes. I kneel before her and take off each one. “Lift your arms.” She does and I pull off her shirt. “Bra on or off?”