by Tina Cambria
Even with that dark cloud hovering somewhere in the distance, they’d been able to bask in each other’s love—and be satisfied with passionate embraces for now—while setting aside thoughts of possible legal paternity challenges ahead. They would face any and all hardships together, as husband and wife.
Now, on a lazy Saturday morning, with Kyle not due in to work until lunchtime, the world seemed perfect. Make that about ninety-five-percent perfect. The issue with Walter was still there, but it wasn’t going to intrude on the special bond she and Kyle had developed. And she would do whatever it took to make sure that bond was unbreakable.
Danielle stretched, pulled on her robe, and padded to the bathroom. Peeking through the slightly-ajar door, she took in the sight of Kyle, dressed only in jeans, bending over the bathtub. She admired his muscled back. So strong, just like his determination to keep their struggling love alive even when faced with a hail of obstacles.
Making eye contact with her in the mirror above the sink, he turned and let his gaze linger over her mid-section, partly exposed where her robe was gaping open. Raising his glance to meet her eyes, he said, “My God, you’re beautiful.”
“So are you.” What was happening? All she could think about was returning to the bed with Kyle and making their love complete. Kissing yes, fondling yes, but she wanted and needed more.
Kyle turned off the faucet and dipped his wrist into the bath water. “I thought you might like to take a warm bath this morning. In case any of that pain from last night might have returned.”
“The pain is gone.” She felt nothing but blissful after spending the night snuggled with Kyle. But the idea of soaking in a warm tub for a few minutes evoked images of pampering and being indulged. It wouldn’t be that long before she’d be caring for a tiny infant—why not take a few tranquil moments for herself? Besides, Kyle had been so sweet to draw a bath for her the first thing in the morning. “But I like the idea of soaking for a while. I think I’d enjoy it.”
She dropped her robe and almost felt Kyle’s appreciative glance probing every part of her. His eyes smoldered with desire, and she yearned to feel him against her, inside her. Still, she allowed him to assist her into the tub, and she shifted about until she found the most comfortable position for relaxing.
“I’ll make a pot of coffee and bring you a cup,” he offered, slowly taking his eyes off her figure, now barely visible through the rippling water.
As he turned for the kitchen, she remembered that she hadn’t texted Nana the night before. With all the excitement and apprehension of going to the hospital, she’d forgotten to check in with her grandmother. “Kyle, could you please bring me my cell phone, so I can send a message to Nana? It’s on the night table.”
He brought her the cell phone, and she tapped out a quick text to her grandmother, assuring her that her health and the pregnancy were fine, and that she and Kyle were working on the marriage relationship.
She left out the specifics. The story of the trip to the hospital could come later. The exact details of how she and Kyle were working to salvage their marriage could be glossed over. But things were mostly good. Ninety-five-percent good, she reminded herself. There was just that one bump in the road still to be navigated. More than a mere bump in the road, Walter Ferguson’s claim was an expanding sinkhole that had threatened to swallow their marriage whole.
But it was a threat and not an inevitable event. She and Kyle would navigate around it. That’s what they’d agreed. Putting Walter out of her head, she scrunched down further into the tub, allowing the soothing water to ease the tension from her muscles.
A buzzing from the floor interrupted her descent into complete relaxation. Peeking over the side of the tub, she gasped as she saw Walter’s name lighting up the display on her cell phone, now resting on the bathmat.
What could he possibly want so early on a Saturday morning? Danielle’s hand quivered as she picked up the phone and clicked on the speaker icon. Was he going to tell her that he’d gotten an attorney to fight for his paternal rights? Could he force her to undergo amniocentesis to confirm which man had truly fathered her child?
She barely managed a feeble “Hello” before Walter’s voice assaulted her.
“Danielle? I’m sorry to disturb you first thing in the morning, but I couldn’t let this go any longer.”
Her heart raced. No one called at an ungodly hour unless it was bad news or some kind of life-changing event. Walter must have some kind of dramatic announcement for her. Details of his plan to cause trouble for her and Kyle—and their baby. She almost called out for Kyle to come back from the kitchen. But how could he protect her from what Walter was going to say and the effect it would have on their lives?
Her throat threatened to constrict to the point where she’d be unable to speak. “What is it, Walter?” she croaked.
“I-I just want to apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
He was apologizing for possibly forcing himself on her and getting her pregnant? A simple apology wasn’t going to cut it.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. He couldn’t hurt her any further. Or Kyle. Or the baby. She and Kyle were united now. They would face up to whatever needed to be done to do right by their child and protect their marriage at the same time.
“Danielle, are you still there?” Walter’s voice tore into her thoughts. “I don’t know why I did it—”
“I’m really not interested in your motivation,” she cut in.
“You know I’m not the kind of guy who’s prone to lying,” he continued. “It’s just that when I realized you were pregnant, I panicked. I always thought you’d be waiting for me until I decided it was a good time for us to get serious. I was foolish to let my mother dictate how I’d plan my life.”
“Walter, what are you talking about?”
“I wanted to move things forward with you, but my mother kept telling me I needed to focus on keeping the family business on track after my father passed away. She said there’d be time later to settle down.”
Why was he babbling about his mother? What did she have to do with the sexual encounter that Walter claimed had taken place in Leslie’s house after the accident? “I don’t understand.”
“When I saw you the other day, I just thought of the first thing I could say to try to hold on to you. I didn’t think it through—it came out of my mouth like I was some kind of puppet who couldn’t control my own voice.
“Exactly what are you saying?” His mother, the family business, puppets—he wasn’t making any sense.
“I made it all up. The whole thing about having sex with you. I never did. It was a stupid attempt to keep you from slipping away.”
It had never happened. He’d made the whole thing up.
“I-I don’t know what to say.” She could barely speak, but she wanted to shout so that everyone within twenty miles could hear her voice. A lingering black cloud had just slipped beyond the horizon, leaving behind nothing but clear skies.
“I guess you told Leslie what I said to you the other day. She tracked me down late last night and pretty much let me know what a Grade A jerk I am. Said I was putting your baby’s life at risk because you were going to have a procedure that might cause a miscarriage—just to find out if I really was the father.”
“That’s right.” She had been considering the amniocentesis. At least until she’d found out that it could increase the chances of losing the baby. She didn’t care how slight the increased risk was—it was a gamble she wasn’t willing to take.
“What I said was a spur of the moment, irresponsible grab to try to hold on to you. I had no idea that it could end up putting your baby in danger.” The phone crackled and then Walter’s voice came through again. “Sometimes you don’t realize how special something is until someone else takes an interest in it. I don’t blame you if you won’t accept it, but I want to apologize to you—and to Kyle—for what I’ve put you through.”
Danielle lifted her gaze f
rom the phone display screen to spot Kyle in the doorway, mug of coffee in hand. “That is not cool, dude,” he yelled, his face reddened as he stomped across the room.
With his free hand, Kyle took the cell phone from Danielle. “Man, whatever,” he said, and clicked the icon to disconnect Walter’s call. After placing the phone and the coffee mug on the bath mat, he leaned down, placed a hand on each of her cheeks, and kissed her.
As the kiss intensified, he worked his fingers through her hair. Danielle grasped his shoulders, not caring if she got him wet, only wanting him to draw even closer to her.
Could it be true? There was no longer any doubt that the baby was Kyle’s. The baby was the product of the love they’d shared on their wedding night. No one could stand in their way of becoming a family.
Kyle slowly broke their kiss and focused on her eyes. “It’s over. Our second chance at happiness starts today.”
She felt a lightness in her chest. “I knew you had to be the father. When the nurse at the hospital said last night that the date of conception was right around August 15th…well, that’s our wedding day. And the night you said we skipped the condom. Nothing about what Walter said added up.”
“We can forget about him now. He’s no more than a momentary blip on the radar screen.” He picked up the mug of steaming coffee and handed it to her. “Go ahead, lean back, and enjoy your coffee while you soak away all the tension from the past few days.”
“This is nice. My daily cup of coffee, starting my day with you, and a colossal worry lifted off my chest.” A huge mountain of anxiety had just turned into a sea of contentment. “It’s clear now that you’re everything I always wanted. And I didn’t even know what I wanted. But you’re definitely it.”
Kyle’s eyes were all over her. “Seeing you reclining in the water with that mug in your hand...well, it reminds me of when we were soaking in the hot tub in our honeymoon suite. Except now you’re drinking coffee with a double dose of cream instead of having a flute of champagne.”
Danielle couldn’t contain her grin. “Maybe we could do something else to remind us of our wedding night.”
“You’ve got my attention, darlin’.” His index finger dipped into the warm water of the tub and traced a slippery but deliberate trail between her breasts and straight down the center of her torso. “But how do you feel?”
“Extremely relaxed. And extremely eager… as long as you follow the doctor’s recommendation to go slow and easy.”
He pulled a fluffy towel from the rack and helped her out of the tub. After she toweled dry, they impatiently moved to the bedroom. In a matter of seconds, Kyle was out of his jeans and boxers. But once she cozied back on the pillows and he climbed atop her, there was no rush to satiate their hunger.
After they climaxed, they lay entwined for a long while.
“I just remembered something else,” Danielle eventually said. “The way you call me darlin’. I remember the first time you said it back in Vegas. You said, ‘I’ll make you glad your car broke down, darlin’.’ You said it just before…”
“That’s right. And I did make you glad, didn’t I? Best-planned car breakdown ever.”
“I think when you call me darlin’, it means you want to make love to me.”
“I think you figured me out pretty good.”
“I think this is the start of a whole new life for us,” Danielle said.
“I’m in complete agreement, darlin’.”
What had he called her?
“Kyle, you couldn’t possibly…” She laughed softly, knowing that she would be ready to welcome him whenever he was ready. They were going to have an unforgettable marriage.
EPILOGUE
Two months after Kyle and Danielle welcomed a baby girl, his parents, his sister, Nana Rose, and their dearest friend Leslie all gathered on the spacious deck of the five-bedroom home the beaming paternal grandparents had just purchased on the outskirts of Cottonwood Ridge. The spruce-covered mountain provided the perfect backdrop for simple relaxation or the joyous celebration that was taking place on that sunny July day.
Waiting for Danielle to put the final touches on her make-up and emerge from the powder room, Kyle observed the group from where he stood at the dining room door.
“This will be an ideal second home where we can stay on our occasional visits to see Kyle and Danielle and our new granddaughter,” Kyle’s dad said. The happiness in his voice was evident. “And all of you are welcome to use the place any time you want to stop in for a visit. There’s plenty of room for everyone.”
Nana Rose turned to Kyle’s father as she lovingly cradled the rosy-cheeked infant in her arms. “I’ll be more than happy to take you up on that offer, Bob. It’s going to be hard to keep me away from this little porcelain doll.”
Just then, Reverend Doug from the community church patted Kyle’s shoulder as he passed by and joined the group on the deck. “Good afternoon, everyone. If you’ll please be seated, I believe the happy couple will be ready to renew their wedding vows in a few minutes.”
Kyle’s parents and sister made their way to the three chairs placed slightly to the right, and Nana Rose and Leslie took the two seats just to the left. The infant made a gurgling sound as her great-grandmother settled into her seat, and a collective “Aww” could be heard from the entire group.
“Beautiful baby,” Reverend Doug said.
Nana Rose delicately rubbed the baby’s chin with her index finger. “Did you hear that, Kyleigh Rose? Everything about you is beautiful.”
“Beautiful little girl with a beautiful name.” The minister lightly touched the top of her head. “Is there any significance to her name?”
Nana Rose nodded. “It honors Kyle and his family, my late daughter Leigh Ann, and Rose is my name.”
Reverend Doug looked at Kyleigh Rose approvingly. “A great deal of thought went into that. Very special indeed.” He then took a few steps back as Kyle and Danielle appeared in the doorway that led to the deck, and he nodded at the couple as he opened his book of prayers.
Kyle linked his arm in Danielle’s before they stepped onto the deck where six beaming faces greeted them. As he scanned their expressions, he saw joy and approval in their eyes.
Who could have predicted on that day not even a year ago the twist of fate that would bring all of them together today, so that he and his wife could reaffirm their commitment to each other? A car breakdown and a co-worker with cold feet had led to this fantastic new chapter in his life. The beginning of the rest of his life.
He turned to Danielle and took in her fresh-faced beauty, glowing in the same ivory lace dress she’d worn when they’d recited their wedding vows in Las Vegas. A slim-fitting sheath that he’d bought for her at a clothing shop in the lobby of one of the big hotels on the Strip, it flattered the curves that were only enhanced by her recent pregnancy. But now, she complemented the dress with the sterling silver and topaz necklace he’d bought for her at the craft show, with the blue stone perfectly matching her eyes.
This was what complete happiness felt like. The most perfect wife he could imagine, the healthy baby they’d created together, and a family who embraced them despite the questionable start to their relationship.
Locking eyes with Danielle before they began their short walk to stand in front of the minister, he knew that she felt exactly the same way. And although today’s ceremony wasn’t legally binding as their Vegas wedding had been, it carried a mountain of significance for them.
The first time they recited their vows, it had been with the idea that they were embarking on a fun and exciting adventure for the following week. They’d had no way of knowing how their feelings would change over the course of that week. Or the challenges they would face so early on when Danielle’s memory of him was erased by her car accident.
And they’d already been through additional trials, worrying during the early part of the pregnancy about their baby’s parentage, and even her survival. But here they were, bound together
for life, and ready to face whatever might come their way—as a team, a couple, a loving force that couldn’t be broken.
He lightly brushed his mouth against hers, careful not to smudge the subtle wash of lip gloss she’d applied. Then they made their way, arm in arm, to stand in front of Reverend Doug and pledge once more their eternal love for each other. And this time they both fully intended it to be eternal.
I will continue to love you, adore you, and cherish you all the days of my life.
They each repeated the words after the minister, and then exchanged rings. Danielle had assured him she was more than ready to wear the diamond wedding band again. She gasped and then smiled when he slipped it on her finger along with a separate diamond ring with a topaz on each side of the center stone.
When the brief ceremony was finished, Reverend Doug invited them to seal their pledge with a kiss. Kyle didn’t need any further prompting, and he kissed Danielle deeply, no longer caring one bit if he kissed away her lip gloss.
The guests on the deck laughed and erupted in spontaneous applause. Kyle and Danielle were quickly surrounded by loving smiles, embraces, and expressions of congratulations.
And when Kyleigh Rose gurgled once again in her great-grandmother’s arms, that same collective “Aww” filtered up from the gathering.
Kyle’s mother affectionately gave the baby’s cheek a gentle squeeze and then turned to Danielle. “I am thrilled with the beautiful name you selected for my little granddaughter. But what about honoring your name, Danielle?”
Kyle immediately piped up, “We’ll save that for the next baby. I think the middle name will definitely be either Daniel or Danielle.”
Nana’s eyes glittered. “And when can we be expecting that baby?”
“Well, if you’ll excuse us, I think we might start working on that project this evening.” Kyle grinned and couldn’t help feeling playful. “My mom and dad have refreshments for everyone in the dining room, but maybe this is a good time for Danielle and me to head to the honeymoon suite at the resort where I work.”