by Ash, Nikki
“Well you are welcome to hide out here as long as you need to.”
We decide to order pizza for dinner and after we all eat and the boys play some more video games for a couple hours, Marco and I finally takeoff so he can take a shower before bed since it’s a school night.
We get home and Caleb’s truck is in the driveway but he isn’t in the living room. I notice his bedroom door is shut. Marco takes a shower and after I say goodnight I take a quick shower and go to sleep.
Sometime in the middle of the night I feel Caleb’s hands on me. It feels like he is spooning me and at one point it even feels like his hand is running across my stomach, but when I wake up and the bed is empty I chalk it up to a dream.
I get ready for work and head out just like yesterday except today I invited Marco and myself over to Kayla’s place using the excuse he would love to see Chloe. After dinner and dessert, we head home and once again Caleb is in his room. I say goodnight to Marco and go to sleep having the same dream as the previous night.
It’s Friday morning and Caleb’s door is open and empty. He must have already left for the day. Marco is up early and excited for two reasons: I sign the adoption papers this morning and later tonight he will be going to Hannah’s for the weekend. She has told me she will be by right after work to get him. I offered to bring him to her but she was adamant I meet her at my house. So much for avoiding Caleb tonight…
“You ready to do this kid?”
“Yeah, I am.”
We get to the courthouse and have a seat in front of the room number Karen let me know the judge will be in. I am so excited to finally get to formally adopt Marco but it breaks my heart Caleb isn’t here with us. I know he wouldn’t be able to adopt Marco but I still wish he were here to share this moment with us.
Karen arrives with the paperwork and shortly after the judge calls us in.
He reads off the required legalities asking me to confirm who I am and then asks me to repeat after him promising to care for and provide for Marco. When we are done. I sign on the dotted lines and are handed copies of the adoption paperwork. I have tears in my eyes and I know I am seconds from crying. I can’t believe this is real. I am a mother and to the most amazing, genuine, and selfless child. I feel so completely blessed. I turn around to smile at Marco and that’s when I see Caleb sitting on the bench next to him. He has his phone out like he was taking pictures and I lose it. The tears stream down my face and I walk over to give them both a hug.
“I love you, son.”
“I love you too, mom.”
Caleb takes pictures of Marco and me and then Karen offers to take a couple pictures of the three of us. Once we are done we head out to the parking lot. I don’t want to be rude to Caleb but I had planned to spend the day with Marco, just the two of us.
“Umm…so—” Before I can say anything, he saves me. “I have to get going. I have a couple errands to run. I will see you both later. Ok?” He gives Marco a hug. “Congratulations, buddy. You have the best mom there is.”
“That’s because I got the best kid,” I add. We say goodbye and Marco and I head to his surprise.
After we stop at the store to pick up lunch to go we arrive at Hollywood Skate Park. It is known to be one of the best skate parks. We get out of the car and I walk around to my trunk to grab Marco’s skateboard.
“Are you serious?” Marco fist pumps into the air and runs around to grab his skateboard from me. He gives me a huge hug. “Thank you so much. This is so awesome.”
He runs over and joins the teens that are all skateboarding. We spend the rest of the day at the park. I take picture after picture of him. When he gets hungry, he takes a break and we eat lunch together. He tries to show me how to ride on the board but I suck at it. By the end of the day he is exhausted and ready to go home. This time I know our day will not end with either of us being taken. This is our second chance. This is our fresh start.
“Thank you for today, mom.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie.”
I give him a kiss on his forehead and then we head home.
We aren’t even home thirty minutes when Hannah shows up to get Marco. I give her Marco’s backpack with clothes for the next two nights and kiss him goodbye. I am not sure what I am going to do this weekend but I know staying home and sulking isn’t it. Just as they are leaving Caleb pulls up and blocks my car in.
“I am leaving. Can you move your truck for me please?”
“No, I can’t. I gave you a few days but now we are going to talk, but first we are going out. Go get changed, please.”
I don’t bother arguing. The look on his face tells me he isn’t playing around. I guess tonight we will be talking.
Thirty-Four
Caleb
Watching Hayley legally adopt Marco was one of the most beautiful moments I have witnessed. I wasn’t sure how she would feel about me being there but I couldn’t imagine not being there with them. Hopefully one day it will be my turn to sign those papers, but first I need to fix Hayley and me.
I have everything planned. I purchased the engagement ring, made the reservations, wrote down the show times, and have written out an itinerary for the weekend so I don’t forget anything. I spoke to Hannah and she was more than willing to take Marco for the weekend.
Now, I just need to pack for Hayley and me. I would tell her to pack but that would give away the surprise of where I am taking her and what we are doing so I am doing it myself. I grab a luggage from the hallway closet and pack for myself first and then make my way to Hayley’s room to pack for her.
After grabbing a bunch of outfits, I have seen her wear, I head to her bathroom to grab her toiletries. When I open the cabinet, I see a prescription that wasn’t there before. Prenatal vitamins. Why would Hayley be taking these? Unless… Holy shit! Is it possible? Is she pregnant?
Then it hits me; if she is pregnant she is keeping it from me. She watched what happened to Kayla and Bentley when Kayla hid her pregnancy from Bentley. She listened to me tell her how hard it is for me to trust a woman. She heard my stories of my sister and mom hiding shit from me. There’s no way Hayley could be pregnant and keep something this important from me.
Thinking about it… she’s been emotional lately. We have been having sex for months and she hasn’t gotten her period at all. Then like a punch to the gut I remember she was beaten up when she was taken! What if she lost our baby? What if the reason she is avoiding me is because she lost our baby because I left them and they were taken. But wouldn’t she be more upset?
I know I should be mad that Hayley hasn’t told me if she is indeed pregnant or if she lost our baby but I know Hayley and she wouldn’t keep something this important from me. She went through a huge ordeal and she needs time. I am going to show her this weekend I love her and want to spend my life with her, and I have to believe if those pills mean she is or was pregnant she will open up and talk to me. Hayley has done nothing but fight for us and I am not going to assume she is like every other woman who has proven they can’t be trusted. I am going to trust Hayley until she proves otherwise.
I finish grabbing her stuff from the bathroom and haul the suitcase out to my truck. I drive to the jewelry store and pick up the ring. I was able to grab another ring Hayley wears on the same finger occasionally and have them size it.
Once I get home Hayley is home with Marco and Hannah is about to take Marco for the weekend. Hayley asks me to move my truck so she can run away like she’s been doing the last two nights but that shit stops now.
Once she is dressed we jump into my truck and head to the strip. When we arrive at the Bellagio, Hayley gets excited but tries to tone it down remembering we need to talk. I don’t want our weekend to be tainted so I decide to have us go to the room to talk first, and then hopefully we will enjoy the weekend.
After I am done checking in we make our way up to our room.
“What are we doing here?” Hayley asks sitting down on the couch.
“I t
hought it would be a good place to talk.” I kneel down in front of her on the floor and spread her legs a little so I am face to face with her.
“Baby, I cannot even begin to apologize for leaving on Sunday. Saturday night when you were upset and I was giving you a massage you said something and I had a horrible flashback. The truth is I get them often but this one lasted longer and it scared the shit out of me.”
“A flashback from your time with Gloria and those other women?” she asks softly putting her hands on both my cheeks.
“Yeah, I am so sorry. It feels like I am cheating on you when I have them.”
“Caleb, don’t say that. You can’t help where your brain goes. You aren’t cheating on me. You went through a lot as a teenager. Something like that doesn’t just go away. Would you consider seeing a therapist?”
I think about it for a minute and I know it’s the right thing to do. Maybe speaking with someone will help me work out what goes through my head.
“Yeah, I will. Will you come with me, Hayles? I need you.”
She leans down and gives me a soft kiss and it has me craving her but I know it’s more important we talk.
“I promise you I will never run again. No matter how rough it gets I am in this for the long haul. There’s nowhere I would rather be than with you and Marco. I looked at three apartments, and in every one, all I thought was none of them are home unless you guys are with me.”
“Caleb, I feel the same way. But you seriously hurt me by running. It’s not fair and I won’t tolerate it. You have got to trust me enough to talk to me or we will never make it. I care so much about you. Aside from Marco you have practically become my entire world. These last couple nights I even dreamt you were holding me at night. I don’t want to live without you.”
I laugh softly. “Oh Hayles, I am so sorry. I have so much to work on and I will. I promise. And baby, those weren’t dreams. I was there in your bed every night after you fell asleep holding you. I couldn’t go that long not holding you in my arms.”
Hayley wraps her arms around me and I pick her up in my arms. “I need you, Hayles. Right now, I just want to make love to you.”
“Caleb, there’s something I need to tell you.” I know she is going to tell me about the baby but I stop her because when I propose I need her to know it’s about us and not because she is pregnant or was pregnant…
“Whatever you need to say can wait, baby. I need you now.”
“But…” She attempts to cut in but I cut her off with a kiss.
Thirty-Five
Hayley
Caleb picks me up and carries me to the bed. I try to tell him about the baby but he isn’t having it.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers into my ear. “Whatever you need to tell me can wait until after I worship your beautiful body.”
He lays me down on the bed and begins kissing me. His kisses start off affectionately. They are slow and sweet and he tastes so good. But after a few minutes they get rougher and more intense causing my sex to clench wanting and needing more. He sits up on my legs and unbuttons my blouse one button at a time until my shirt falls to each side leaving my bra exposed.
“I never imagined ever wanting to willingly be with a woman. I didn’t trust women. Now I can’t imagine not being with you. I trust you with everything I am, Hayles. But most importantly I trust you with my heart. ”
He takes my bra cups and pulls them down and taking both nipples in between his fingers, pinches and pulls at them just enough to send shivers straight to my sex. My legs tighten at his touch seeking relief.
“I want to spend the rest of my life touching you.” He pinches my nipples again. “Kissing you.” He leans down and gives each nipple a soft wet kiss before giving my lips a kiss and then trailing kisses down my neck. I can feel my breathing going erratic at his touch. “Tasting you.” He slides down the bed taking my skirt and panties with him. He throws them to the side and plants a single kiss on top of my sex. Then his tongue hits my clit and he licks it with such expertise I almost come on the spot.
“Oh my God, Caleb!” I yell out grabbing his hair needing something to hold on to. He doesn’t back off, though. He licks and sucks on my clit until my orgasm hits causing my ass and pelvis to lift off the bed, and I come all over his tongue. “Mmm… baby, you taste so good.”
He comes back up and kisses me softly. I can taste myself on his lips and tongue and if it doesn’t turn me on even more. “Making love to you…” He pushes himself into me slow and deep. I almost forget what he’s talking about. “I want to spend the rest of my life making love to you, Hayles,” he whispers into my ear.
I wrap my hands around his neck as he makes love to me with his mouth and cock simultaneously. Kissing me passionately while continuing to thrust in and out of me. I have never felt so loved and cherished before. Within minutes we both find our release and I know without a doubt I don’t want to spend another day without this man. When we both come down from our orgasms Caleb looks into my eyes and says, “Baby, I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” and then kisses me one more time before pulling out. I want to believe him so badly but I am scared.
He must sense my fear because he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger and kisses me softly. “I meant what I said Hayles. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I am not running anywhere. I know it’s going to take time for you to believe me but I will prove it to you. I love you, baby.”
Tears spring to my eyes hearing him tell me for the first time he loves me and I know I love this man more than life itself.
“I love you too, Caleb.”
We both clean up and when I think we are going to get into bed to relax he says, “Oh, no. Tonight has just begun. Get dressed; we have somewhere to be in…” He looks down at his watch. “Thirty minutes,” he says excitedly.
I want to tell him about the baby but figure it can wait until after we go wherever he is so excited to take me. After we are both dressed we head down the elevator. He stops at the concierge desk for a couple minutes and speaks to the man in charge. He won’t let me listen in, which causes me to pout.
“It will ruin the surprise.”
Once they are done chatting, he takes my hand in his and walks us back to the elevator and back to our room. When we walk in I notice the curtains are no longer covering the back doors and at the table is chocolate covered strawberries. Rose petals are littering the floor and bed.
He walks us out to the balcony and that’s when Celine Dion starts singing My Heart Will Go On. Not even a second later the fountains and lights begin to dance beautifully in tune. Caleb reserved a room where we can watch the Bellagio Fountain show right from our room! I watch the entire fountain show in amazement. It is one of the most beautiful shows I have ever seen, the way the music and water dance in synchronization. I am glad my first time seeing the show is with the man I love. It’s simply magical. Caleb stands behind me holding me close while we sway to the music playing. I can’t keep the smile off my face. I am blown away that he not only remembered I have never seen the show but put forth so much effort for us to watch it.
The show ends and I feel Caleb’s body leave from behind me. I turn around to tell him thank you but he is gone. That’s when I notice he is kneeling on one knee with the most exquisite pink diamond engagement ring in his hand.
“Hayles, the moment I spilled coffee all over your blouse I knew you were the one.” I laugh. “I knew you before that day but didn’t take the time to see you. When I felt you up on accident and heard you giggle I was done for. And then when you offered to foster and adopt Marco I saw what a selfless person you truly are and you won my heart over. When I made the mistake of thinking you would be better off without me and went to find my own place… I looked at those places and knew no matter what house or apartment I picked it would never be a home without you and Marco in it. I love you baby, and I don’t want to spend a single day not sleeping in the same bed as you. I know we have a long
way to go, but you are the only woman I want to be on this journey with. Hayley Roberts, will you marry me?”
“I’m pregnant, Caleb.” I can’t believe I just blurted that out. Clearly my conscience is getting the best of me. This man is down on one knee proposing and I am the worst person in the world for keeping this from him.
Caleb stands up and taking my hand walks us inside the room to the couch. “You’re pregnant, Hayles?”
“Yes, I found out in the hospital. I am seven weeks along. I should have told you.”
I put my face in my hands and start crying. God, these damn hormones are going to be the death of me. Caleb lifts my face and wipes my tears away. “Don’t cry, baby. It’s ok. You were going through a lot. Is that what you were trying to tell me earlier?”
“Yeah,” I sob out.
“Do you want to marry me?”
Oh my god! I forgot to answer him. I felt so guilty for hiding my pregnancy I didn’t even give the man an answer to his question.
“Yes, I want to marry you.”
He slides the ring onto my finger and kisses me like his life depends on it. He picks me up and moves me to the bed where for the rest of the night my fiancé makes love to me until we both fall asleep in each other’s arms.
In the morning, we wake up and after eating breakfast in bed, Caleb takes me down to the Casinos to gamble. He said he planned to take me later tonight but with me being pregnant he doesn’t want me around the cigarette smoke. He also said we would be skipping the strip club portion of the weekend as well because he’s not going to bring his pregnant fiancée into a club. I laugh remembering when he told me he would take me gambling, to a strip club, and to see the fountains in one night. Two out of three are ok with me. We spend half of the day gambling and the other half lounging by the pool at the resort while we spend the night making love to each other.