To Love You More

by Wayne Jordan

  She glanced at her watch. It was just after six o’clock. The sun was already beginning to set. It was time to go. The time she’d been dreading.

  She dialed the number of the cell phone she’d given him for emergencies.

  “I’m ready to go, Gregory.”

  “Aw, Mom. I’m having fun.”

  “Fifteen minutes more, but don’t let me have to call you.”

  A wave of relief washed over her. She was prolonging the inevitable.

  When he finally came, she felt grumpy, but by the time the car reached the south coast, her mood changed.

  “Pizza, right?” Gregory asked hopefully.

  “Yes, if that’s what you want. But we’ll go by the boardwalk and eat.”

  He looked at her curiously.

  “Are we having one of those ‘I’m growing up’ talks?

  “Yes, we are, but not about what you think we’re going to talk about.”

  “Nothing about sex?” he asked expectantly.

  “Nothing,” she confirmed.

  “Good. I think I preferred when I thought it was birds and bees.”

  She laughed and he gave her a boyish giggle.

  Half an hour later, sitting on one of the many benches along the two-mile boardwalk, Rachel watched as Gregory devoured his fifth slice. Two slices had been enough for her.

  He closed the empty box and looked at her.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, but I need to talk to you about something important.”

  “What is it?”

  She hesitated. She wasn’t even sure what to say. She sent a silent word heavenward.

  She breathed in deeply.

  “It’s about George.”

  He nodded. “What about him? You plan on marrying him?” he said, a scowl on his face.

  “Remember that I told you that Edward was not your real dad?”

  “Yes,” he replied, his expression pensive and expectant.

  “Well, George is your real dad.”

  “He is?”

  “Yes, he is. He didn’t know he had a son until he saw you that day when he came to visit your grandmother.”

  “You mean you never told him?”

  “I never told him. But it’s difficult to explain.”

  He placed his hand on hers.

  “You can tell me, Mom. I understand these things,” he prompted.

  “We were engaged to be married, but he decided he wasn’t ready to get married and wanted to focus on his studies and becoming a lawyer.”

  “I can understand that,” he said simply.

  “Then I got pregnant and decided not to tell him. That’s when Edward said he wouldn’t mind being your dad and taking care of you.”

  “That was cool of him. I still think of him as my dad.”

  “That’s fine, honey.”

  “So George wants to be my dad?”

  “I think he would like to, but it’s really up to you.”

  “Does he have other children?”

  “No.”

  “Can I think about it?” he asked.

  “Yes, you can think about it. He says the decision is yours.”

  “Can we go now?” he asked pensively.

  “You’re going to be okay, buddy?” she asked him.

  “Yes, I will be. It still feels strange. Having a dad all of a sudden, but I like him, Mom. He’s pretty cool and he’s big. The boys are going to envy me.”

  Rachel exhaled deeply. It had gone better than she’d expected.

  “You’re ready to go?”

  “Yes. Can I tell Jonathan?”

  “Sure,” she replied. She knew how important it would be for him to tell his best friend.

  He was about to say something when he stopped.

  “What is it, Gregory?” she asked.

  “Do I have to call him ‘Dad’?”

  “The choice is yours. You can talk to him about that. I’m sure he will understand if you’re not ready to call him that yet.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to him about it. It’ll feel strange calling him Dad.”

  She understood where that question was coming from.

  “I know that’s what you called Edward, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you calling your real dad by that name too.”

  “You’re sure?” he asked, his brow furrowed.

  “I’m positive,” she responded. “Come, let’s go,” she told him, standing and waiting for him to take the pizza box to the garbage can.

  She reached to hold his free hand and he slipped it inside hers.

  She glanced down at him and he smiled up at her.

  Her son was going to be all right.

  * * *

  George pumped the barbell for ten more reps then rested it on its stand.

  He felt good. The workout had helped to release the tension he was feeling. Getting to know his son was consuming his every waking hour.

  He took up his towel and headed to the changing room.

  Would he be a good father? He knew nothing at all about being a father. He suspected that it would not be easy. With a newborn baby things would come naturally. He would have a lot more influence on that child. He would be able to mold that child.

  With Gregory, it would be different. The boy may have already established his personality, his likes and his dislikes. What right would George have to start making demands on him? What about punishment?

  “Lord help me,” he pleaded aloud.

  There was a sound behind him and he turned around to see one of the gym’s regulars. He didn’t know the man’s name, but they often nodded politely at each other, as they did now.

  He reddened with his embarrassment. The man must be thinking he was crazy.

  He stripped his clothes off, wrapped a towel around him and headed to the shower.

  He wasn’t sure how this situation would all end but he planned on doing everything in his power to earn Gregory’s trust…and love.

  He showered quickly and left the gym. It was after nine o’clock. He wanted to see Rachel and instinctively he drove the car in her direction.

  When he was near, he dialed her number on his cell phone.

  The phone picked up on the first ring.

  “Hello.” Her voice was low and husky, as if she’d been sleeping.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “No, I was here reading,” she replied. He smiled. She’d always loved reading before she went to sleep.

  “And thinking about you,” she said quickly.

  “You were?” he responded. “That’s nice to know. I’m on my way to your house. May I come over?”

  “Sure, but Gregory is asleep.”

  “I want to see you,” he emphasized.

  There was silence.

  “I want to see you too,” she said.

  Happiness bubbled inside him. The feeling surprised him. He hadn’t ever really been the bubbly kind of person.

  “I’ll be there in ten. I’ll try not to make too much noise and wake the others.”

  “That’s fine. Remember, they’re on the other side of the house.”

  “I remember,” he said. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He disconnected the call.

  He couldn’t wait to see her. Already, his body was feeling the stirring of arousal. His penis throbbed with anticipation. It took all of his willpower not to break the speed limit. When he arrived, she was standing on the patio, clad in a robe.

  He parked quickly and jumped from the car.

  On reaching the patio, he stood before her, feeling her own heat a
nd arousal.

  He opened his arms and she moved toward him, allowing him to put his arms around her and hold her tight.

  She felt good against him, soft and sweet. He held her tightly, not wanting to let her go.

  He bent his head to kiss her, at first brushing his lips lightly against hers.

  “Come, let’s go inside,” she suggested, breaking their contact and stepping away for him, her eyes blazing with her desire. “I have something to tell you.”

  “Can’t it wait? We can talk later,” he responded, his voice husky with his desire.

  “No, I need to tell you now.”

  He nodded reluctantly.

  “I told Gregory that you’re his dad.”

  He didn’t know what to say. His love for her, for what she’d done, surged powerful and intense. When he did speak all he could say was “Thank you.”

  She held his hand, leading him inside.

  He browsed the darkened room. He didn’t want any surprises, but both Gregory and her mother seemed fast asleep in their beds.

  He opened the door of her room and followed her in. With his leg, he pushed the door shut.

  He held her hand, taking her with him to the bed.

  She raised her hands instinctively, allowing him to slip the tank top off. The pair of shorts followed. When she was standing naked before him, he cupped her breasts, caressing them with a tenderness that drew an animalistic grunt from her.

  “Beautiful,” he mumbled before he lowered his head and captured one dusky nipple between his teeth.

  “What are you doing to me?” she asked in a soft groan.

  He lifted his head in response, smiled at her and lowered his head to the other nipple.

  He felt her hands against his stomach before she slipped them inside his boxers and gripped him firmly. He gasped when she stroked him, causing his body to jerk.

  He placed his hands against her hips to steady himself, drawing her against him until his penis settled at the warm spot between her legs.

  He lowered her to the bed. “I’ll undress.”

  He slipped off his shorts, enjoying the feel of her eyes on him and the look of appreciation when his erection sprang from his boxers.

  He knew he was big. He’d been well-blessed, but for the briefest of moments, he felt small and vulnerable.

  She reached for him, gripping his behind firmly, her intent clear. She closed her mouth on him and he groaned, the hotness of her mouth causing his body to shudder with excitement.

  “Don’t,” he told her. “If you do I’ll be done before you know it. I want this time to last for a while. I want to ride you until you beg me to stop.”

  She moved away reluctantly, a soft pout on her pretty mouth. He lowered himself onto her, loving the feel of her arms around him.

  She wrapped her legs around him, her body writhing with pleasure and he knew he could wait no longer. Leaving her briefly, he searched for the protection.

  He handed her the condom, standing as she rolled it onto his hardness.

  Her task completed, she lay on her back, her legs parted as if eager to welcome him.

  When he lowered himself onto her, he slipped smoothly inside her vagina, loving the feel of her warm tightness.

  Rachel wrapped her legs around him, allowing him deeper penetration. With every stroke, her womanhood gripped him, the friction stirring pleasure deep inside him. Beneath him, she moved with him, her rhythm matching his in the dance of lovers.

  With each stroke, he could feel the heat increasing inside and he knew he was close to release. His body tensed and he allowed himself to flow with the impending power inside him. When his orgasm came, he groaned out loudly, his body shaking and convulsing.

  And then she joined him, her own orgasm as intense, her own cry one of pure pleasure. Beneath him, she shuddered as the heat washed over them.

  In the aftermath of their passion, his heart full of his love for her, he whispered softly in her ear, “I love you.”

  There was no response. Rachel’s eyes were closed, her breathing steady and soft.

  She’d fallen asleep.

  Chapter 16

  When she woke in the morning, he was gone, but she’d expected it. She hoped her mother had not seen him again. Grace would be planning their nuptials before George could propose.

  Nuptials? Is that what she wanted again? The wedding, the happily ever after. Though her marriage to Edward had been fine, it had not been perfect. There had been no romance.

  She slipped from between the sheets, stepping onto the cool, tiled floor. Today she had to take her mother to market and Marjorie would take care of the boys. They’d do their homework in the morning and then she’d take them to cricket in the evening. Next week would be her turn.

  The phone rang and she reached to answer it. It was Marjorie.

  “Hi, Rachel,” she said, “I have a serious problem. Jonathan is not well and I have to take him to the doctor. He keeps throwing up. I’m so sorry about not being able to take care of Gregory.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll get things sorted out.” She chatted briefly before she hung up the phone.

  Now what was she going to do?

  Immediately an idea crossed her mind. This was the perfect time to get the two of them together. She’d ask Gregory.

  She rushed down the corridor, knocked on her son’s door and entered. He was sitting reading.

  “It’s breakfast already?”

  “No, but we have a little problem. Jonathan is not well and his mom has taken him to the doctor.”

  “Jonathan?”

  “Yes, but I’m sure he’s going to be all right. His mom promised she would call as soon as she knows what’s wrong with him.”

  “Good.”

  “You still have to go to cricket, so I’m going to ask your father to take you, if he’s not busy.”

  Anxiety flashed across his face, but when he spoke he was calm.

  “That’s okay, Mom. I have to start getting accustomed to being with him—that is, if he wants to be with me.”

  “He does. Think of it this way—if he didn’t want you, would he have asked about getting to know you?”

  He thought briefly about what she said and then replied, “That means he wants me to be his son. Right?”

  “Yes, he definitely does.”

  “Okay, you can call him. I hope he’s not doing anything today.”

  “He plays cricket on Saturday too.”

  She picked up the phone in the room and dialed George’s number. He answered immediately.

  “Hi, George,” she said. “I have a bit of a predicament. My next-door neighbor is responsible for taking Gregory and his friend Jonathan to cricket today. Jonathan has taken ill and she has rushed him to the doctor. Are you busy today? Can you take Gregory to cricket? I have to take my mom on her Saturday errands, so if you can it’d be great.”

  For a moment, he was silent.

  “Thanks for thinking of me. I’ll be glad to help. Fortunately, I don’t have a game this evening. It’ll give me some time to spend with him. What time do you want me to pick him up?” he asked. She could hear the excitement in his voice.

  “Well, he usually goes over to the neighbors as soon as he’s had breakfast and he’ll spend the time there until it’s time for cricket at one o’clock.”

  “I could come and pick him up now and he could have breakfast with me. I’ll take him to cricket when it’s time.”

  “Thanks, George. I really appreciate it.”

  “He’s my son, Rachel.”

  “I’ll see you in a bit,” she said, disconnecting the call.

  She turned to Gregory. “He said he’s going to come.”


  Rachel saw the flash of excitement in Gregory’s eyes. A sliver of sadness touched her for a moment. She was going to lose a part of her son. The connection between those two had already been formed. They would love each other. She knew it as she knew the sun would rise each morning.

  She was happy. Her son needed a father. He needed a man to help him be the man he would eventually become and for her, there was no one better than his father.

  “Go get your stuff together. He’ll soon be here. He says you can eat breakfast with him.”

  “I have my things all packed. I had cereal, but I’ll still eat breakfast with my dad.” He paused as if he’d not realized what he’d said. The look of wonder and realization on his face only confirmed her earlier thoughts. There was no turning back for the three people in this drama being played out.

  He glanced at her, noticing that she was staring at him. He looked away, embarrassed that she’d seen his thoughts.

  “I’ll go get ready so that Grandma and I can leave soon. She has a long, long shopping list,” she told him.

  He laughed. “You’ll have fun. You both love shopping.”

  “That’s right, my boy. That’s right. Is there anything you want from the city?”

  “Just a few of the books on the list I gave you.”

  “I have some I have to pick up for myself. And don’t sit there reading all morning. George is soon going to be here.”

  He stood immediately, reaching to take his bag and cricket gear up.

  He followed her down the corridor and headed to the living room when she walked into the kitchen. Her mother was there, putting the plates away.

  “Marjorie called and said she had to take Jonathan to the doctor.”

  “She just called from the clinic. The doctor says it’s a slight stomach virus. She’s on her way home, but he’s going to be knocked out for most of the day with the medication he has to take.”

  “Gregory will be glad to know that nothing is seriously wrong. When he comes back tonight I’ll let him go over to visit. I’ve asked George to take him to cricket and he’s agreed, so we can still go shopping.”

  There was the sound of the doorbell ringing. He was here.