by J. O Mantel
“Beautiful.” Hunter smiled, kissing her on the cheek. “Why don’t you go and grab Mr. Bear and wait for me in your room. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She smiled and headed off in the direction of the bedroom.
Hunter’s eyes moved from his bubbly daughter to the hazel orbs peering back at him through big, round brown-framed glasses. He could thank Angela Lansbury for the inspiration behind the choice of those glasses. Murder, She Wrote was his mother’s regular daytime television viewing, but despite how much she claimed to know whodunnit, she was certainly no J.B Fletcher.
“I know how much this hurts, Hunter, but you have to think of Lili.”
“What? I am thinking about Lili, Mom. She’s all I think about, twenty-four seven,” Hunter snapped.
“You know what I’m talking about, Hunter. We’ve had this same conversation every Valentine’s Day for years. I know how much you want to forget about what happened that day, but you also need to remember the miracle you received.”
Hunter’s eyes glistened, and he could feel the tears forming as he stared at his mother. Closing his eyes, he found himself back in the doctor’s office he’d spent so much time in over the years …
“I’m sorry, Bree, Hunter, I’m afraid it’s another miscarriage.” The doctor delivered the news as Hunter cradled his wife in his arms. They’d been trying for a long time to have a child. Doctors had warned them that due to the nature of the injuries Bree had sustained on September 11, it was going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for her to ever carry a child naturally. Her pelvis and other parts of her body had gone into severe shock, and with the amount of internal bleeding, there had been the danger of her other vital organs being harmed. After the attacks, Bree had spent eight and a half weeks in intensive care, followed by physiotherapy and rehab. They both knew the odds were against them, but they desperately wanted a family. They waited years before they decided to try and conceive. With each positive test, Hunter placed Bree on immediate bed rest. The first few weeks of morning sickness were tough, but eventually they subsided, and that was when they thought the worst was over. Each time though, Bree would wake in the middle of the night, screaming in agonizing pain, and Hunter would have to drive her to the E.R.
By their fourth miscarriage, they had given up hope of ever becoming parents. It was then when the doctors suggested surrogacy; another woman could potentially carry the baby for them using Bree’s eggs and embryo.
“No,” Bree said firmly.
“I’m sorry?” the doctor questioned.
“The answer is no. I don’t want a surrogate.”
Hunter turned and faced the doctor, who was looking at them with a blank expression on his face.
“Can we have a moment, please?”
“Of course,” he replied, turning and closing the door behind him.
“I’m not going through with surrogacy, Hunter. I won’t do it!”
Hunter looked at the sincerity in his wife’s eyes. As he looked deeper, it wasn’t just love and hope that he saw, it was determination.
They’d both wanted a family for so long, and with each heartache came more determination.
“You heard what the doctor said, because of your—”
“I don’t care what the doctor said, Hunter, I’m going to have a baby… naturally.”
Her words were final, and as she sat back down on the bed, Hunter called the doctor and informed him of their decision. Despite the doctor’s orders, Hunter and Bree continued to try for a child naturally. After two more miscarriages, the doctor warned Bree that any further miscarriages could prove fatal.
One evening, as he and Bree sat at the table, Hunter had glanced at his mother, Judith, who was standing by the kitchen window while she prepared her traditional lamb dish that they all enjoyed every year for her birthday. Hunter then looked across the table and raised his eyebrows. Bree acknowledged her acceptance of his intention to tell his mother their news with a smile.
“Hey, Mom, can you come and sit down for a minute please?”
His mother turned swiftly and looked at him.
“Is there something wrong, sweetheart?” she asked.
“No, Mom, nothing’s wrong. Bree and I just want to talk to you about something.”
After a slight hesitation, Judith gradually walked over to them and placed the now perfectly cooked, golden-brown lamb in the center of the table. She sat down and turned her attention to Hunter and Bree, who were both smiling.
“What’s going on?” Judith asked.
Hunter turned and looked at his mother, taking his time to really study her. Her thin bony frame was nothing like his, in fact, from what his mother had told him, Hunter took after his father. His mother stood at five feet six inches tall, with long, wavy brunette hair. Whereas, like his father, Hunter’s hair was thick and black.
Judith’s hazel eyes were full of curiosity. Hunter and Bree knew it would only be a matter of moments before she’d start her interrogation.
“Okay, you two, what is it?” she pleaded.
Hunter took his mother’s hand and gently stroked it. “Mom, how would you feel about being a grandmother?”
Hunter could have sworn his mother’s rosy complexion turned pale as his own heart skipped a beat.
“Mom?”
“You-you mean?”
Bree nodded and gently rubbed her belly. As Judith’s eyes flickered and looked down at Bree’s belly, she noticed the distinctive baby bump.
“You’re pregnant? Like … really pregnant?” Judith asked.
Bree’s eyes widened. Hunter squeezed his mom’s hand a little tighter and smiled. “Bree had another scan yesterday. She’s officially into the second trimester and, according to the doctor, out of any immediate danger of another miscarriage, provided she listens to her husband, of course.” Hunter threw her a glare, and Bree knew exactly what he meant.
“When are you due?” his mother asked.
“Valentine’s Day.” Bree grinned from ear to ear as her infectious smile reflected Hunter’s.
Hunter couldn’t even begin to explain to his mother how he was feeling. Instead, all he could do was remember the heartache and turmoil he and Bree had endured over the past few years. As they sat around the table staring at one another, Judith’s eyes filled with tears and Hunter heard a soft sob escape her lips.
“Mom, why are you crying?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just so happy. I mean this baby, it, it’s a—”
“Miracle?” Bree finished.
His mother nodded. “Not only is it a miracle, but it’s also going to arrive on Valentine’s Day.”
Valentine’s Day was their wedding anniversary, and a baby would be the best possible gift they could ever ask for. It had taken a long time, but when Bree finished her intense rehabilitation, she’d moved in with Hunter so he could help with her recovery.
“Do you remember that day, Bree?” Hunter asked.
Leaning back against the chair, Bree rubbed her belly. “The doctor gave me the all clear and told me that I no longer needed rehab. I was finally free to live my life.”
“And do you remember what you told me when I asked you to marry me?”
Bree sighed, her expression wistful.
“I remember telling you that I was too young for marriage… that we were both too young. I’d only just gotten the all clear, and getting married was the last thing on my mind.”
“And what did you say afterward?”
Bree closed her eyes, and a smile brushed over her face. “After I thought about it further, all I kept thinking was how could I possibly say ‘no’ to the man who saved my life?”
With her acceptance, Hunter had reached into his pocket and pulled out the white gold engagement ring. Leaning forward, he’d pressed his lips to hers, the woman he’d fallen in love with and nursed back to health.
All that seemed like an eternity ago now.
“It’s Lili’s sixth birthday, Hunter, don’t you think that little girl deserves to be happy?”
“I’m working, Mom. I can’t exactly give her the birthday party she deserves.”
His mother turned to face the sink and, after reaching for the cloth, wiped her hands. Looking for an excuse to leave the awkward situation, Hunter glanced at his watch.
“We’d better get going. I promised Lili I’d take her to the mall today.”
Hunter turned and made his way up the staircase that led to a bedroom. It was a small but cozy area that his mother had cleared and furnished for whenever Lili had sleepovers. As he pushed the door open, Hunter saw Lili crouched on the floor at the end of her bed. Hunter rested his head against the doorjamb and smiled. He stood there for a few minutes until his daughter finally turned and looked at him. He smiled casually. With every strand of hair, every piece of clothing, every smile, and every laugh that reached those gorgeous baby blue eyes, she was every part of her mother.
“Are we going to the mall now, Daddy?” Her beaming smile lit up the room, as Hunter took a step forward into the room and over to her.
“Yes, we are.” He beamed back, scooping her tiny body into his arms. “Come on, let’s go say goodbye to Grandma.”
Hunter and Lili made their way back downstairs, where his mother was still in the kitchen. He noticed that she had several bags placed on the counter.
“What’s all this?” he asked.
“Leftovers. There’s so much food here, I can’t possibly eat it all on my own. Take some home for you and Lili.”
Since Bree’s passing, Judith was constantly on Hunter’s back about eating properly. No matter how many times he reassured her that he was quite capable of looking after himself and Lili, he never turned down any of her meals. His mother’s cooking was to die for, and it also spared him the trouble of working out what to cook every night, so he always took her food without any hesitation.
Hunter shook his head.
“Don’t look at me like that, Hunter Cassidy, there’s this thing called mother’s intuition, and I know when my boy needs help. I’m your mother, it’s my job to care about you. Hunter knew that nothing was going to change his mother’s mind.
Hunter took Lili to the front door, and as he helped her with her shoes, his mother emerged from the kitchen, carrying two large tote bags overflowing with food. As she handed them to Hunter, he looked inside.
“Mom, there’s enough food in here to feed an army.”
“A very small and hungry army,” Judith replied, smiling at her granddaughter.
“Thanks.” Hunter smiled.
Throwing Lili’s backpack over his shoulder, Hunter opened the door. “Give Grandma a hug and kiss, sweetie.”
Lili turned and threw her tiny arms around Judith, squeezing her tight.
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Grandma. I love you.”
“I love you too, sweet pea.”
As she slowly made her way outside, Hunter turned and looked at his mother.
“Thank you, Mom.”
She smiled in acknowledgment as Hunter leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“Think about what I said, won’t you?”
“Sure,” Hunter whispered. “Goodbye, Mom.”
He took Lili’s tiny hand in his and together they slowly walked down the stairs as his mother stood in the doorway watching them. After Lili was securely fastened into her booster seat, Hunter stepped into the vehicle, wound down the window, and with a final wave to his mother, they were gone.
HUNTER GLANCED DOWN at his watch; it was five thirty. Carter and the rest of the crew would arrive any moment to relieve him. Lili was spending the night with Bree’s parents, which meant he and his mother had plenty of time to go shopping for birthday presents. Hunter hated leaving his little girl alone with anyone, including his own mother. While Valentine’s Day was painful for Hunter, it was his little girl’s special day and what he wanted, more than anything else in the world, was to make her happy. The other thing he wanted was to be told he’d just woken from a horrible nightmare and that his precious Bree was still here with him. Painfully, that was one nightmare he was going to constantly live with for the rest of his life.
“Afternoon, Hunter.” Carter’s baritone voice entered Hunter’s office.
“Carter.” Hunter acknowledged him with a nod.
Finally, it was his part of the day. Although he was going to endure several hours of shopping torture with his mother, the big, bright smile on Lili’s face when she opened her presents was going to make it all totally worth it. With a final goodbye to Carter, he pushed past him and headed straight to the locker room. The tall, thin red lockers lining the sidewall, some with jackets and helmets, were calling to him. As he took a step closer to his locker, something caught his eye. A red envelope, with “Hunter” written on the front in perfect script handwriting, was stuck on the door with a piece of tape. He gave it a gentle tug and removed it, then held it between his thumb and forefinger and eyed his surroundings. There was nobody there, except for him. He placed his buzzing cell phone on the chair, ignoring the call from his mother. Slowly, he turned the envelope over and stared at the blank seal on the back. Still cautious of his surroundings, Hunter proceeded to open the envelope.
He pulled out the white card and stared at the picture on the cover—a single red rose.
Roses are red, emeralds are green, he began, opening the card. Your ass is the best, that I’ve ever seen.
Looking back over his shoulder and scanning the room, Hunter suddenly felt extremely naked as he wondered who could possibly have left this mysterious and flirtatious card. His eyes traveled to the bottom of the card, to the signature; A Valentine.
Well, that was certainly no help at all.
His curiosity began to get the better of him. He continued to scan the room, but it was just him standing there.
Who the hell?
Shrugging the idea out of his mind, Hunter removed his turnout gear, placing it on the coat hanger in his locker. He had the intense urge to stake out the building and find out who had left him this mysterious Valentine’s card, but he didn’t move. Instead, dressed in just his black cotton briefs, he stood there, paralyzed by his thoughts of the time he’d received his first love poem from Bree. It was Valentine’s Day, of course, and the two of them were sitting on the couch watching Sleepless in Seattle.
Roses are red
Violets are blue.
You asked me if I’d marry you.
Kissing my cherry red lips,
Your eyes shining blue,
I said I would love
To spend a lifetime with you.
The ring was gold
Your car was green,
So, we went out to celebrate
What a day it had been.
“You wrote this?” Hunter asked.
“I did,” Bree acknowledged.
“This… this is beautiful,” Hunter told her, leaning forward to steal a kiss.
Hunter’s proposal had changed the dynamic between them, and he knew there were big decisions that needed to be made about the rest of their lives. He rubbed his palms together and found himself smiling. “Bree Sullivan, what did I ever do to deserve you?”
As he sat there and thought about just how lucky he was, he felt Bree’s hand brush against his inner thigh. He shifted so his head was now turned to look at his gorgeous soon-to-be bride. He knew at that moment he was the luckiest son of a bitch to score a chick like Bree. But was it luck, or love? Love ... Seriously, after the heartache he and his mother had endured when he was a child, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever find love. He took a moment to really
examine the woman sitting beside him. In all fairness, she was everything he’d ever dreamed of, and he knew that he could spend the rest of his life really getting to know this beauty. It was obvious, in the short time they’d been together, that they had successfully managed to completely change the way they both thought about relationships. From that moment, it was time to put aside their insecurities, move forward, and seal it all with wedlock.
“Hunter?” a familiar voice from behind him called, bringing him back to the present.
As Hunter’s eyes opened, he looked around and saw Alex walking toward him.
“I see you’re at it again,” Alex smirked.
“Hmmm,” Hunter replied, still transitioning himself back to the present.
“Dude, seriously? You can’t help yourself. Can you?” Alex chuckled.
Hunter watched as Alex’s eyes traveled the length of his body, and it was only then that he realized he was still standing in his underwear. Everyone was used to seeing each other strut around in their undergarments on a regular basis, thanks to having the unisex locker room. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
Reaching out, Hunter grabbed his sweatpants and slid into them.
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Obviously.”
He felt a hand gently tap his ass when he spoke. “Um … aren’t you and James fucking?” Hunter blurted, not entirely thinking his words through.
“Yeah, but his ass is nowhere near as hot as yours, damn,” Alex joked. “And the Hunter I know sure as shit wouldn’t be blushing the way you are right now.”
Hunter immediately felt his cheeks heat up, without bothering to continue the conversation with Alex, he turned, put on his sweater, and grabbed his coat. He then threw his backpack over his shoulder and grabbed his keys.
“See you tomorrow?” Alex called.
“Indeed, you will. Have a great evening.” With those final words, Hunter left the locker room and quickly exited the building.