by Claire Angel
She leaned close to me, telling me that she wanted to tell me a secret. I smiled and pressed my ear closer, blushing at her words.
“Is Uncle Walden your boyfriend?”
“Yes, he is. Do you like him?” I whispered back, turning to look at her.
She beamed and nodded as Walden squeezed my hand. I hadn’t told her about the baby yet given the complicated situation even though I knew she’d love the idea.
“He’s the best.” She told me in a low voice, slipping her arm through mine and pressing against me.
I asked Mark if I could take her to the park after a while and he nodded, smiling as Walden stood to join us. I gazed at him, suspecting that he was going to be a lot like Mark.
We left the house and walked to the park together, watching Lindsay as she ran off to play. I imagined the future where my son or daughter would be toddling across the grass or running when they were older. I wondered what they would look like, taking a peek at Walden as he pulled me to his side.
I wished that this was his baby. On paper, it would be since Penn didn’t want anything to do with it. Walden would be the one supporting us, and I’d be happy to give the baby his name. I just knew it wouldn’t physically be a part of him and that made me sad.
“What are you thinking?” Walden asked me as I let out a sigh.
“I’m just picturing the baby here. Lindsay will be so great.” I wrapped my arm around him and looked up into his shimmering eyes.
“She will.”
We both looked back at Lindsay as she played with a girl her age and I imagined they would be going to school together after the holiday. Thanksgiving was just two weeks away now and Bri had gotten homework ahead of time for Lindsay with the transition.
Walden was spending it with us. I felt elated at the idea now that we were together and felt his lips against my hair. We ended up back at Mark’s house so he could help with something and I sat with Bri on their new couch as Lindsay ran to her room to get something that she wanted to show me.
“So, you and Walden look so cute!” She told me as I smiled.
“It feels like we’ve been together for so long already. Is that normal?” I asked as she chuckled.
“It was the same way with Mark. I don’t know how we did it long distance for those six months! At least you’re here with him.” Bri smiled at me and I nodded.
“How fast is too fast?” I asked as Lindsay ran into the room.
She showed me her new picture that she drew and I complimented her on the skill. She was good at all forms of art and I hugged her to me.
“Just go with your heart,” Bri told me low in my ear as I looked at her, hugging her as she reached out to me.
The guys finished their project outside and came in to wash their hands.
Mark looked comfortable as he laughed with Walden and it made me feel like everything was right. We stayed there for a while before heading home to Mama.
She was doing much better and asked if we could go out to dinner with a shy smile. Walden offered to buy for everyone and I smiled at his enthusiasm.
We drove in two cars and I held Mama’s arm as we walked into the diner, smiling at the various greetings. Everyone had something kind to say and I was aware that they were all looking at the way Walden was acting with me. This was where small towns could be a bad thing: the gossip. By tomorrow afternoon, everyone would know that we were together.
I forced myself to enjoy the meal and the attention that Mama got. Walden sat beside me with his arm around me once we were finished eating and I felt the heat wash over my skin.
My marriage ending and my pregnancy were enough to talk about. Walden stepping into the role of partner and father would have a number of reactions. Some would label him as the sweet man willing to help and others would wonder what was wrong with him.
I knew that he was worth every moment of being the topic of discussion, but it had been a while since I lived this life. I never felt like anyone in New York truly saw me. There were tons of people when I was out by myself and when I was with Penn, everyone paid attention to him.
This was going to be uncomfortable and I slipped my hand on his thigh under the table. He smiled at me and replied to Mark as Mama watched me with a sweet smile on her face. I suspected that she wanted this for a long time. She’d hinted at it when I first got back but I had no idea where I was at with Penn at the time.
I didn’t think of Walden as anything more than an old friend. The idea of us being together and feeling this way was overwhelming. I squeezed him slowly.
Walden reached out to my hair and stroked it, sending me into a relaxing state of mind almost immediately. This man could soothe me and evoke my deepest desires at any given time, making me wonder why this took us so long. I had to assume that fate knew what it was doing with us, that we had to live our lives separately before we ended up here.
Walden paid for the meal just as he promised, fighting over it with Mark for a few minutes. Bri rolled her eyes and told her husband to say thank you and leave it alone as Mama shook her head with a soft smile.
When we left, I wrapped my arm around her and she leaned close to me. “This is so perfect, Penny. Mark has his love and you have yours now.”
“We just started dating, Mama.” I fought the chuckle that was deep in my throat, knowing that it felt like so much longer than that to me. “I’m not even divorced. He needs to send the paperwork.”
“You’re meant to be. He looks at you like you are his entire world and I’ve never seen you smile so much.” I walked her to the passenger side of Walden’s old sedan, giving him a curious look as he opened the door for her.
It was obvious that he heard every word she said.
Mark and Bri were taking Lindsay home so she could get on a schedule for when school started.
We took Mama home and got her settled. She insisted that I stay with Walden tonight and that she’d be fine at the house on her own, reminding me that she had been doing it for a while now. I kissed her cheek and told her to call if she needed anything and Walden did the same as she held onto him for a moment.
He took my hand and we walked out to his car, feeling like everything was right in the world. Walden kissed me before he opened the door for me, cupping my face gently as his mouth promised more once we were home.
Home. That felt good to say because I never felt at home with Penn.
Once we were at the cabin and he’d locked the door, Walden dropped his keys on the counter before turning to me.
“That went well.” He gave me a charming, lopsided grin as I shook my head at him.
“Just wait until we become the talk of the town,” I warned him as he cupped my cheeks again.
“I can’t think of anything better for them to talk about.” He pressed his lips to mine and I sighed happily.
“Are you sure about that? Once the news of the pregnancy is out, that is going to start a wildfire.” I knew all about how small towns worked.
He silenced me with another kiss.
“Don’t care.” Walden backed me up to his wall to deepen the kiss. I opened my mouth to let him in as a rush of heat washed over my body. No man ever made me feel this way and I dragged my hands down his back as I pulled him closer. “I want you.”
“I’m yours.” I murmured as he moved his hands down to cup my ass.
Walden lifted me easily, carrying me to his room and dropping me to the bed. I watched as he stripped his shirt off and dropped it to the floor. He unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall, kicking them to the side as I reached for the hem of my sweater.
I changed into clean clothes at the house and even packed a few things in a bag to bring over.
I pulled the sweater over my head and shivered under his heated gaze before removing my jeans. I started to tug my lace underwear down, but he held up his hand.
“I want you to touch yourself. Have you done that before?” Walden asked as I flushed d
eeply.
“Yes,” I whispered as my hand fluttered over my stomach. “I was in a bad marriage, so I did it all the time. Once I saw you, I did it more.”
I didn’t want to admit that to anyone, much less Walden. I was trying to be the strong girl that could do this all on my own, but the baby made something in me break.
“You got off thinking about me. Show me,” Walden insisted as my eyes widened.
He cupped his cotton covered erection and I gasped as I slipped my fingers over my underwear. I was wet and I moaned as I stroked myself hesitantly, slamming my hips up. I wanted to express my need for him, but shyness filtered through my desire as I pressed my lips together.
Walden guided me as I kept touching and teasing. He was soon sliding down my underwear for me so he could watch me bare. Walden took a place on the bed as I found my swollen clit, whimpering as I stroked myself.
Walden gripped himself in his hand and moved slowly as his eyes darkened with lust. I never knew this side of him existed before and it turned me on.
I stroked my clit before pushing two fingers inside of myself, crying out as the pressure built inside of me.
“Yes, baby.” Walden groaned, moving closer to me.
He let me fuck myself until I came, leaning in to lap up my juices as he spread me wide open. He didn’t cum and when he was done tasting me, he gripped himself and pushed in.
“You feel so good.”
Walden pushed in all the way, pausing for a second before pulling back and doing it again. My legs were splayed open and I cried out as my release grew closer. I never wanted another man to do this and I reached out to touch his muscled chest as I rocked with him.
I broke first, crying out his name as he managed a few more thrusts before filling me. We rested together, breathing deeply as our damp skin pressed together and I stroked his wild hair.
“I love you, Penny.”
I froze as his lips pressed against my neck.
“Walden?’ I asked in a whisper, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.
I knew that I felt strongly for him. It was more than I ever felt with Penn and a real foundation to build a long relationship on. I was scared of love after it burned me with Penn, but it was also flooding through me as I tried to push it away.
“I mean it. I’ve always felt something for you, Penny. It’s transitioned over the years but right here and now….it’s love,” He told me with no doubt in his voice. “It’s going to grow and get better, but I want you forever, Penny.”
It was crazy to hear those words from another man. The feeling inside my chest was insane.
“I love you,” I murmured as he pulled back to look at me.
We stared at each other for a long time before he lowered his mouth to mine, pressing a small kiss against my lips.
Chapter 10
Walden
The weeks passed easily as Penny moved right into my life. Nancy was back to being one hundred percent better and urged us to make it official. Penny moved in with me three weeks after our first date at my house and it felt so right to me.
Her clothes were in my closet. There were pieces of her all over the cabin. We had started appointments at the nearby obstetrician to make sure the baby was healthy.
The baby was healthy and due in June. Penny groaned at that news, telling me how hot she was going to be in the last stages. I kissed her and told her I’d do everything to make sure she was comfortable.
I was already planning to upgrade the air conditioning in the cabin with Mark’s help. We’d live there until we needed more space or Penny wanted to move to the bigger house. Two rooms may not be enough for too long with a growing baby. I planned to add some upgrades to that house as well when the time came.
I was crazy in love with Penny. It hit me hard when I saw her at her mama’s house after knowing her so long. She was a friend, a little sister type, and someone I always wanted to protect. Now she was my life and I had no problem with the speed at which that happened.
The town did gossip about it as expected. Wasn’t Penny married to some bigwig in New York? For now, she was waiting for the divorce papers to come in a couple of weeks. She knew it was over. There was nobody contesting the end of the marriage, so it was already in the works.
I loved the baby more every day and it seemed like the entire town did after the shock wore off. I was worried about Penn changing his mind about wanting to be a part of their life and using his money and power to work things in his favor. He wasn’t the one watching Penny grow with her baby, looking more beautiful every single day.
I already started cleaning up the second bedroom that had been my storage unit since I moved in.
Bri helped to clean the room with me and we started to look at baby furniture, keeping it neutral for the moment. Everyone was waiting with bated breath to find out what this baby was so they could plan a huge shower.
I personally couldn’t wait until every day ended when I’d be in bed with my love, buried inside of her incredible body. She wanted me as the pregnancy progressed, begging for it multiple times a day. I gave it and we tried everything I’d ever fantasized about and more. I’d never been happier. We were so natural but every moment I was with her made me love her more.
I watched Penny grow more relaxed by the day. She owned my cabin and my heart. She didn’t push her influence on me but suggested little things we could do to the cabin. She had ideas for the baby’s room and life.
We found out the baby was a girl a few months after we began dating. Nancy was over the moon along with the rest of her family and we had a celebration dinner over at Mark’s place.
Lindsay claimed that she was going to be the best cousin in the world and play with the baby all of the time. Penny laughed, knowing that she was older now and would undoubtedly love the baby. Lindsay already had a few close friends in town.
Bri and Penny threw themselves into shopping for things that made sense. Bri wasn’t around when Lindsay was a baby so I could see her enjoying this just a bit more. I allowed it as I drank beer with Mark in the backyard the nights we all got together, talking about the lengths that we’d take to protect all of our girls.
Penny and Bri called us cavemen when they caught us and Lindsay just rolled her eyes. She was a strong-minded child and seemed like she’d grow up to be an amazing adult.
The shower was held at my cafe one Saturday afternoon. Everyone embraced my relationship with Penny and wanted to celebrate us. I set up a corner with a couch for Penny and seats circling it and we provided desserts.
The diner cooked food with everything set up when Penny arrived with Nancy and Bri. Lindsay trailed in behind them, squealing when she saw the pink and purple balloons and the matching cupcakes.
I walked over to Penny, wrapping my arms around her as I pulled her against me. Her stomach was round, and I smiled as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Hi, baby,” I whispered before leaning down to kiss her.
We’d made love late into the night a few hours ago, trying the positions that worked better for her as she grew. I vowed to get her pregnant as soon as she was ready after this little girl was born. I’d never love her less because she wasn’t mine, but it made my claim on her that much stronger if I gave her our baby.
I just planned for it to not be a summer delivery. The heat was immense, unlike the beautiful weather we had during the holidays and winter. It was cold but beautiful. We had a Christmas tree in the cabin and I spoiled her with gifts, grinning when she did the same for me.
The women in town gathered for the party, laughing and talking about their own children. They offered advice that was ancient and probably didn’t apply, but my girl accepted it all with a gracious smile. I sat with her as she opened gifts, receiving everything that we needed as she thanked one person after another.
I sent the leftover food home with the guests and Marni helped Nancy wrap it. Penny hugged everyone, th
anking them again as Mark arrived to look over the gifts. He was going to help us get them to the cabin and I watched as he took in the assortment of boxes and pink things scattered on the floor.
“Will that even fit in the cabin?” He smirked at me as I looked at the pile.
“Once it’s assembled, we’ll be fine. A lot of that is clothes, blankets, and diapers.” My daughter would have clothes for her entire life at this point.
“Whatever you say,” Mark replied as he smiled at Bri.
She was sitting with Lindsay looking at the items with a huge smile on her face and I glanced at Mark.
He looked thoughtful for a moment before moving forward to start hoisting boxes into his truck. I followed, loading up both trucks as the woman watched us, still snacking on cupcakes.
“That will be Lin’s last one. How many did she have?” Mark grumbled as we secured the gifts before going inside.
The cafe was closing in a few minutes and Marni assured me that she would clean everything up. She ordered me to take Penny home since she looked tired.
I did that once everyone was gone.
She went to our room to nap for a while and I took things into the baby’s room, stacking boxes against the wall and opening the clothes. Everything was tiny in colors of pinks and whites and purples. I was suddenly overwhelmed. I was going to be responsible for something this small. I glanced around the room as I stood, leaving everything in a pile as I walked through the front door. I dialed a number, waiting for the voice on the other end.
“It doesn’t fit?” Mark asked as I let out a sigh.
“Did Lindsay’s arrival scare you?” I asked as there was silence on the other end.
“I still have my moments. When her mother left, I felt desperate to do the right thing for my daughter. I hated that she lived with Mama, but it was best at the time. I know that we were waiting for Bri to come into our lives and I’m happy now. That fear never completely goes away.” He paused. “Thank you for loving her.”
“It came naturally. Your sister is an amazing woman,” I said as I smiled, feeling better. “This is going to be great. I can’t wait to see that little girl.”