“Yeah I looked up the word for a younger woman who dates an older man, so you are my gerbil, if I’m your manther!” He chuckled.
“Oh my goodness, I’ll stop calling you a manther, I promise!”
***
They joked around almost the whole flight, Silas also made a few more calls and set up a hotel room for his parents and him,
“I know you said your mom would invite us to stay, but really I don’t want them giving up their beds for us. So I got us two rooms. You heard that right two rooms, meaning we’ll have our own!” He said, making his point clear that he would take her tonight in the room and make love to her.
“Yes I did dear! Good thing, but if the walls are too thin, they may hear us anyway!” Sally commented.
“Give me a second.” He picked up his phone and made another quick call. “Okay we have a room that isn’t right beside them, so you won’t have to worry.” He told Sally.
She laughed, “Wow, for a guy who abstained for four years you sure do want to make love a lot!”
“I’ve found a renewed reason for my life, and I have to be honest Sally you are one sexy woman that I can’t get enough of.”
She turned red at the compliment, and looked down.
“What I can’t believe is that you never had sex before me. Surely you dated someone?” Silas asked in a curious tone.
“Honestly I was always busy studying, and I didn’t want to just give away myself to anyone. I had to know that person was special, and I had to be in love with him.” Sally explained.
“I’m one lucky man!”
“Yes you are!” She laughed.
Every once in a while Martha and Thomas would interject into the conversation. But for the most part they were very quiet. Martha was working on something, but Sally wasn’t quite sure what it was yet. While Thomas had decided to take a nap after reading a book that was on the plane.
“Martha what are you making?” Sally asked.
“I’m crocheting a blanket for you wedding. I should have enough time to finish it before everything is done.” She commented, referring to the divorce hearings that would be coming up one day. Silas was still waiting to hear back from Jackie’s lawyer.
“I love the colors. It’s lovely.” Sally commented.
“Well blue is Silas favorite color, so I figured the various colors of blue with a bit of pink in it would be perfect. It will be a nice blanket for when you have babies.” Martha said, “But most likely I would make another one for them. This one is to be for the two of you, something special for a wonderful occasion.”
“That’s so sweet of you Martha!”
“You are the sweet one child, you make my son unbelievably happy; I can see it in his eyes. He was never like this with Jackie, even when they first got together. You know how most couples have that honeymoon phase? Well not those two, but I think that’s because Jackie was too selfish to ever give much of herself to another person. I don’t know why her parents raised her like that, but I would love to talk to them about her one day.” Martha said in disgust.
Sally couldn’t help but laugh and she turned to Silas, “The more I learn about Jackie the less I like her, and I never really liked her to begin with!”
Thomas had awoken at some point in the conversation and added in his two scents, “That woman was a spoiled little brat - nothing more!”
“I’m learning a lot I didn’t know before either!” Silas commented. “Seriously I always thought my father liked Jackie, but I think I was wrong, what about you?” He turned to Sally and asked seriously.
She couldn’t help but bust out laughing at his question, “Yeah just a bit I would say!”
Chapter 27
Silas followed the directions Sally told him as they drove away from the airport. She was clearly excited to surprise her parents. But she was also still very tired, even after catching a little cat nap on the way to Nebraska.
The lull of the wind moving against the fuselage had made her fall into a nice sleep. She had hoped she would wake up refreshed and ready to see her parents, even if she felt like she needed another eight hours of sleep.
Silas put his hand on her leg, “You happy?” He asked.
“Very much so.”
“Sweetie, I know your parents will be thrilled to see you!” He smiled over at her.
“Take the next left and follow the dirt road, you’ll be at our place soon!” Sally said excitedly.
“Is there anything in Nebraska besides cornfields?” Thomas asked from the backseat.
“Not really in this area but if you go north you’ll run into some lakes and a lot of hills. But nothing like you have near your home!” Sally commented.
As soon as they pulled up Sally was out of the door before Silas could open it for her. He chuckled as he followed her up to the door. Sally rang the doorbell instead of going in like she normally would.
“Hold on a second I’m coming.” She heard her mother call out from inside.
“Sally! I had no idea you were coming home, oh, and you brought people with you. Please come in, and forgive my manners. I’m just so shocked right now!” Her mother opened the door and gave Sally a huge hug.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Silas McComb, his mother Martha and his father Thomas.” Sally introduced everyone.
“Hello everyone, my husband is out buying some pesticide he will be right back. Please have a seat, can I get you anything to drink? I have some fresh tea I just made.” Her mother said.
Sally could tell her mom was very shocked and quite happy to see the daughter. But she was clearly confused as to why all these are the people were with her.
“No use to go to any trouble for us.” Martha said, “We’ve come here to celebrate!”
“Oh, what are we celebrating?” Her mother stopped half way to the kitchen and asked.
“Mom, Silas and I are getting married once his divorce is final. He asked me the other night, and his parents wanted to meet you, so we flew out here today.” Sally explained shortly what was going on.
“Married? Wow, this is a cause for a celebration! Congratulations.” Her mom hugged her once more and Sally could feel the tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.
“Oh don’t cry honey.” Her mom said, “I know you are happy, that’s what counts.” Her mom whispered into her ear.
Even though she hadn’t really considered it much before they got there, she realized she had been really nervous her parents not accepting the age between them. But she realized it was all in her head, and that her mom was filled with happiness for her.
“You have such a sweet daughter. She’s been having tea with me and checking on me every day since I got out of the hospital.” Martha said.
“That’s right Sally had told me you had a bad fall, and were in a coma. I’m really happy you are better now; we said several prayers for your health.”
“Thank you, they all helped, I appreciate it.”
Her dad walked in and saw the group sitting in the living room. “Sally!” He came and gave her a huge hug as well. She loved how affectionate her parents had always been with her.
“Frank, Sally and Silas came to celebrate their engagement.” Sally’s mom told her father.
“Is that right? Well I’ll be damned, congratulations to the happy couple!” Her dad smiled at her and winked.
“Yes sir, I love your daughter, and I hope you will forgive me for not asking your permission first.” Silas stood and shook her father’s hand.
“I think she already answered that question. You really make her happy, she’s told me many times.” Frank shook Silas’s hand back.
“This is my father Thomas and my mother Martha. They wanted to be able to meet you and your wife.” Silas introduced his parents.
The group talked for a bit, and Sally got up to use the bathroom. When she came out her mother passed her in the hall and hugged her, “I’m so happy to see you.”
“I am too mom. I missed you both a lot. I ha
ve so much news to tell you.” Sally said.
“You can tell us over dinner.”
“Mom I don’t want you to have to cook for us all.” Sally stated.
“No we’re going to the steakhouse. Thomas said he could use a good steak, and you know your father, he jumped at the offer.” Her mother laughed.
Sally smiled as her and her mother walked back into the living room.
Silas stood up and hugged Sally when she came back. “You ready, we’re going to eat!”
Chapter 28
At the Steakhouse there was a special offer. “Really if I eat all 50 ounces I’ll get the meal for free?” She heard Thomas ask the waiter.
“Yes sir, but you also have to eat the roll, baked potato, and coleslaw that comes with the order. In other words your plate has to be empty to win.” The waiter explained.
“What do you say Frank? Let’s try the challenge!” Thomas said looking over at Sally’s father.
“Well I am pretty hungry but I’m not sure I can eat all that meat along with all the other food. It’s pretty expensive if you don’t finish it.” Her dad stated.
“The meal is on me. We’re here to celebrate!” Silas said.
Her father looked at her mother, and she rolled her eyes. Sally had to laugh, her father had always wanted to try the challenge the few times they had come here. But he wouldn’t because of the cost of the meal if you didn’t win.
“He’s always wanted to try it.” Sally said explaining her laughter.
“Great. It’s settled then. We’ll have two of the challenges.” Thomas told the waiter.
“Yes sir.” He said and took the other orders.
“So do you really think you can eat all that food?” Martha asked her husband.
“When you were in the hospital I barely ate, and I’ve never really had a nice big meal in quite some time. I want to try it just for fun.” Thomas explained.
They all talked around the table. Silas squeezed her leg under the table. “I’m shocked you didn’t try the challenge too.” Sally said to him.
“No, I don’t want to be too full as I have some plans tonight!” He whispered, giving her a wicked smile.
“Do you now, and what may they be?”
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I’m going to make love to you.”
She felt her body get warm at his words. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
“So Silas your father told me that you have the best divorce attorney working the case. How long do you think it will be before you go to court?” Her father asked him.
“I’m hoping for an update from him by tomorrow. She had to have responded by now.” Silas explained.
“You mean your ex-wife right?” Sally’s mother asked him.
“Yes, she only has so many days to contest the divorce and if she doesn’t respond, the divorce will be processed as a default. I know for a fact she won’t let that happen. It would mean I got everything I wanted from the divorce.” Silas explained.
“In other words, she’s a greedy girl and she will try to get as much money from Silas as she can.” Thomas commented from across the table.
“Oh I see.” Her mother shook her head. “Well we hope that you have a fair judge then.” She commented.
“She most likely won’t get as much as she wants. Not with the information I have.” Silas stated.
At her mother’s confused face, Sally explained further, “She was caught in compromising positions with another man. Silas has pictures and it will help out his case a lot.”
“Oh what a horrible thing to have happen to you! I’m very very sorry. Some women just don’t know how to respect their marriage vows anymore. It’s sad to see how many people cheat on their spouses nowadays.” Her mother said.
“I blame it on movies and television shows.” Martha said, “They are always showing it and now people have become accustomed to it, as if it’s a normal thing to do.”
“I know what you mean.”
Sally drifted out of the conversation as she felt a bit dizzy. She leaned over on Silas to keep her balance.
“Are you okay honey?” He asked.
“Just a little dizzy is all, I’ll be fine.” Sally answered.
The rest of the table had focused on what had happened, and her mother said, “How long have you been feeling this way?”
“A few days and not all the time just every once in a while.”
“Any other symptoms?”
“Just really tired, I feel like I never can get enough sleep.” Sally admitted.
“I’m sure my son has something to do with that!” Thomas laughed.
Sally was embarrassed for a second, but saw no looks of judgement around the table. Her mom was still studying her closely. Sally knew she was trying to decide what herb to give her to help her feel better.
“You know I didn’t realize it before, but you have a glow about you. When was your last period?” Her mother asked.
“I don’t know, I have to think about it a few minutes.” Sally said honestly.
“Hmm, I think you are with a little one. It explains the symptoms, and you really don’t look sick. No in fact you look very healthy.” Her mom said.
“Pregnant.” She heard Silas say quietly.
She couldn’t tell if he would be happy about it or not. Sally felt her heart drop a little. What if he didn’t want kids? Then she remembered how Silas had been upset that Jackie was taking birth control since the beginning of their marriage, so surely he wouldn’t be upset if she was having his child.
“You know what I think you may be right.” Martha said to Sally’s mom.
“We can stop and get a test at the corner store. I think they even have ones you don’t have to wait to do in the mornings.” Greta commented.
The meals came and the two men looked down at the huge plate of food in front of them.
“I have never seen a baked potato this big in my entire life. They have it on a separate plate.” Thomas commented at the mound of food in front of him. “Let’s get to it Frank, we’ll cheer each other on!”
“Okay, good luck!” Her father dug into the food, trying to eat all of the meat first. “You know those challenge shows we watch might just pay off after all.” He commented.
“Sure Frank.” Greta patted his arm.
Sally picked at her food, feeling like she might get sick. She started to think about it and had to agree with her mother’s diagnosis that she might very well be pregnant.
She looked over at Silas, he smiled at her.
“Will you be happy if I am pregnant?” She whispered to him.
He kissed her and said, “Of course sweetie. Why would you think I wouldn’t be? I’ve always wanted kids.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. But continued to pick at her food slowly. Half way through she excused herself and went to the bathroom. Her food came up, “yep I’m pregnant.” She said with confidence.
Going back to the table, she was asked by everyone if she was okay.
“I think you may be right mom. I just had my first bought of morning sickness, or rather night sickness in this case.” Sally announced.
“We will still get the test to make sure.” Silas said as he kissed her. “You will make a wonderful mother.”
“Thank you.” She said.
Sally looked to see the progress both Thomas and her father had made on their meals. She was shocked to see that they were both doing very well. Almost all of their steaks were gone, and Thomas had most of his baked potato gone.
“How in the world have you both eaten so much?” Sally asked.
“I was just about to say the same thing.” Martha said.
“Trust me it is not easy. I don’t think I can eat much more for a few days.” Thomas commented.
“Come on dad you can do it.” Sally said cheering him on.
In the end both of them didn’t finish, though they got very close. Her father stopped complained that he was far too full, “I’m done i
t’s up to you now Thomas.”
Thomas looked down at his plate and shook his head, “I think you’ve might have won this one.”
Chapter 29
Sally and her stopped by the pharmacy the next morning and bought the test, even though everyone was positive Sally was pregnant. Greta drove back home with her and Sally went to the bathroom to take the test. Silas came in with her as they waited for the results.
“We’re going to be parents!” Silas yelled out to the rest of the group.
“Congratulations!” Everyone hugged them when they came back to the living room.
“Hey I have a message I need to listen to.” Silas whispered to her, and got up to go out of the room.
He came back and his face was grim. “Well she has filed her response and she wants far more. There was a personally message from her attorney along with the paperwork.” Silas told the group.
“What was it?” Sally asked.
“It said, Jackie wants to remind me of what she knows about me and if I don’t want it to come out, she will tell the world in a press announcement.” Silas commented.
Martha turned and explained what they were talking about to Sally’s parents.
“Wow blackmail to pay her! I really don’t like this woman.” Greta commented.
“None of us do.” Thomas said as he patted his bloated belly.
“So what will you do?” Sally asked.
Silas and Sally had discussed this issue many times in the past. Originally, they had talked about fighting and just letting the world know about his past. But through the various talks Sally had with him, she noticed how nervous it made Silas. So they had come up with another idea but had hadn’t gone over it much.
“Well, honestly I’m not sure.” Silas responded.
“Remember your money is not as important to me as you are. Also you are still earning money and you can build it back up. Why not go with the second solution we came up with?” Sally questioned.
“What was the second solution?” Martha and Greta asked together.
“That we would counter offer her with less money in hopes that she would be happy with the amount. “Silas explained.
Single Dad’s Plaything: A Single Dad First Time Billionaire Romance Page 89