Vicki woke up as her phone vibrated and rang. Without opening her eyes, she reached out, and answered, "Hello?"
Alice squealed like they were still in school. "Peter and Jennifer broke up last night."
The real world was out there. Vicki blinked to get the sleep out of her eyes. "What?"
In one breath, Alice then reported, "Jennifer dumped him at the $25,000-a-plate fundraiser for the dramatic arts that she dragged him to, and publicly stated he didn't love her so he didn't deserve her."
Jennifer had seemed nice enough a long time ago, but Peter deserved a wife that would love him unconditionally. Vicki opened her eyes fully and held her breath. "I'll call him today."
"Perfect." Alice spoke like Vicki had the answers to her prayers, though she had no idea how.
Without missing a beat, Alice then changed the conversation. "How are you and my brother holding up?"
The last person Vicki should talk to was Colt's sister. Her face heated and she closed her eyes. "We're good. Talk to you soon?"
With a huff in her voice, Alice said, "In person. I want more details than 'we're good.'"
Vicki would not admit that she had a huge crush on Colt to anyone. Her skin felt jittery as she said, "Bye."
Alice sighed. "Bye."
Vicki hung up and then checked her email. Her store was covered for today, and she had no reason to return to Miami. Life in Homestead was what she needed. Now that Colt and Clara lived here, she'd never return to her lonely, stylish condo on the beach in Miami. A home was more important now.
A knock at the door made her smile, and she finished brushing her hair. "Morning, Colt."
"I heard you talking, princess." He nodded at her. "Do you intend to leave?"
"Not today." She smiled at him. "Or anytime soon. I was speaking to your sister."
"Alice?"
"Yes." She stood and walked closer to him.
He placed his hand on hers. "Next time you speak to her, tell her I want my hat she stole."
A huge smile grew on her face as she remembered high school. "The same one you've argued about since we were children?"
"It would be nice if you were on my side." Colt rubbed his chin and then stood straighter. "I'll make us breakfast while you get dressed."
"Perfect. See you soon." Her heart wished for him, but that was ancient history. His footsteps echoed as he walked across the hall, and she double-checked that the door was closed. She closed her eyes and hoped she'd find her way through the maze of questions. Then she shook off the thoughts, opened her eyes, and raced to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she threw on a pair of old jeans in her size and one of his old Panther jerseys, and ran out of her bedroom. Clara sat in the living room as she listened to music on a headset. Colt was nowhere to be seen. Sidetracked, Vicki headed over to Clara, and tried to get the girl's attention. With her head bopping, Clara was zoned out.
Colt called out as Vicki shook her head. "She loves music. Come sit at the table, eat your breakfast, while I talk to you."
"I love music." She smiled at Colt. Her daughter might get that from her.
He nodded. "I remember."
She was excited to hear what had happened on his end.
He stood as she neared, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed cups. She slid into the seat with the empty plate. Then he brought her coffee. "Thank you."
He massaged the back of his neck. "Where do we get started?"
She nodded at him. "I'm listening."
"We have to trade notes, so I get your side, but I wanted to say I believe you." He leaned over the table and pushed a plate of food in front of her. Then he fixed the fruits on the trays for each of their plates. She picked up her fork and waited. He finished fiddling with the food then ran his hand down his jeans. "I'll start, I guess."
What was the conversation? She nodded, folded her hands around her coffee cup, and tilted her head. "Please."
He leaned forward onto the table. "I was in basic training when I received a frantic phone call from my parents. The only reason I ever received that call was because my dad knew the senator."
She asked, "Why is that important?"
He shook his head. "My mom was a nurse at the hospital where you gave birth…"
"We talked about this already. You said you believed me."
"I do."
"Then what are we discussing?"
"How the past adds to our present." She had no answer. He stared straight at a wall. "We likely created Clara in my truck."
"I thought it was in our hotel room in Paris." Heat rose in her face.
"Victoria, you're distracting me." He shook his head and rolled his shoulders, as if he was tense. "Anyhow, Mom went to work her usual schedule despite the change."
"This is all the past."
"Soon, she'll drive onto the farm and grill you, Vicki."
Vicki nodded. "I'll answer her every question."
Colt clenched his jaw but somehow still spoke. "She saw Clara brought into the nursery, and said something made her stop dead in her tracks. She went over immediately and asked for details about Clara. She wanted to know whose baby she was. She was told, 'Vicki Morgan, but that the little girl is being given up for adoption.' Mom knew about us, and did the math. Department of Children and Family were en route, and Mom took the crib with her to her desk and called my dad."
At least someone had had the guts to go against Vicki's father. Her heart fell to her gut. "How did she know about us?"
"She saw us in my truck after we came back from the trip."
"Thank goodness." Vicki moved her arms to cross at her chest. "I wouldn't give up our baby. Dad had wanted me to get an abortion, but I had refused." She almost knocked over her untouched plate with her elbow, and slammed her fists on the table as she let her hands fly. "This is why I ran and never came home. It was one mistake after another."
"I'm not trying to hurt you." Colt covered his mouth with his hand, and didn't say anything else.
She swallowed and fixed the table from her hysterics. "I'm sorry. Please continue."
Colt's cheeks were red. "Mom said she picked Clara up and knew she was mine. A few minutes later, the official from the DCF came in to collect my baby. Mom refused to let her out of her arms. Dad's lawyer showed up, and then my father. When the DCF lady said I had waived my rights, Mom denied it. She also refused to let Clara out of her arms, and no one was going to stop her."
Vicki's eyes teared up.
Colt massaged her shoulder. "Don't cry."
His mother was strong and powerful. If Vicki had a mother, perhaps her life would have been different, and there was absolutely no way she'd curse Clara with life without her mother.
"Dad got me on the phone during officer school. Next thing I know, I'm told my parents, lawyers, and DCF, that yes, we dated, had sex and, and no, I never signed any papers giving up any rights. We hadn't talked since I left for boot camp. I didn't panic till after I hung up the phone. I wanted my child."
She leaned over and placed her hand on his. "I didn't sign anything either."
"I believed you that day we talked." He slipped his hand away. "To end the story, when the DCF official heard my denial of signing papers, she agreed to give mom custody for the night in my stead."
Vicki dried her face. "The agent had a heart."
Colt dropped his hands to the sides now. "I doubt it. My dad called the senator and the governor. Our lawyer proved fraud. I took a DNA test the next day, and Clara has been a Collins since the day she was born."
"No one called me, including you." Vicki closed her eyes, and memories flooded her of how she'd felt empty for years. She'd have never run away without her baby. "If I had one whiff of Clara being alive, I'd have done anything to be with her."
Colt stilled. "I called you a few times, but you never answered. I stopped when my lawyer received a letter of complaint that threatened harassment."
"My father…for what he did to Clara, I want him to come back alive
so that I might kill him."
"I thought we should clear the air about all this, Vicki. I didn't want to cause you more pain."
"You didn't."
She squeezed the bridge of her nose. Then she let out a sigh and answered him. "He must have blocked your phone calls. I did stay in the house a few weeks, but then I saw how my father wanted me to go to school and forget Clara. I couldn't pretend, and finally I walked out the door."
She stilled and saw he clearly had a question. Then slowly he asked, "So why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? You said something about me and a woman at basic. I wanted to ask you what you meant."
"I have the pictures in my bag. Hold on." She jumped out of her chair and raced for her pocketbook. She sorted through the materials she'd brought and then grabbed the pictures. She returned and laid them on the table. "My father's private investigator brought me these."
He flipped through the pictures as he wrinkled his nose. "This is Stacy."
She widened her eyes. "Who's Stacy?"
His hand went to his chin to support him. "One night at basic, she was in bad shape. Her parents died in a car crash, or something truly horrible like that. It was a long time ago. I remember feeling awful for her. We all went drinking and had too much. She couldn't walk, so I helped her to the car so we could return to base."
"That's it?"
He pushed the picture of him and Stacy to the table. "Despite this picture, I never kissed her."
Then her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
He shook his head. "Why would I then? I would close my eyes and still imagine you. I wanted you to call me every day of training."
Her heart melted. She was too late and had missed her chance with Colt, so she avoided his gaze. "If I did, then I disowned him, my family, the money to pay for Clara's birth, and my college tuition."
He ran his hands through his hair. "My family isn't poor, Vicki. Granted, my trust fund isn't a big as yours, but we could have been fine."
She lowered her gaze. "He threatened I'd lose everything for a man who was heading off to war and who was in bed with another woman. Then when the nurses, doctor, and my father all said my baby died, I lost my will to fight." Her cheeks were wet with tears, and she couldn't look at Colt. "I shouldn't have let that happen."
"Don't blame yourself." He reached out to hold her hand for a moment, and his eyes had a spark of something deeper. "We're starting fresh from now on, Vicki. No more lies between us, and there was no other woman."
He was engaged, and despite how she wished she had him too, she knew this was a fantasy. She dropped his hand that she clung to, and reached up to her mother's necklace to hold the pendant. Her daughter deserved more than a necklace for a mother. "Today is as good as any to start fresh. What happened before now can all be forgotten."
"No." He took his hand back across the table, and a grin appeared on his face. "Clara is the best thing that came from our mistake."
"She's perfect." She smiled as tension eased off her skin. "I'm glad. Can we tell her I'm her mother?"
Colt massaged the back of his neck. "Soon. Not yet. I want it be natural and without pressure. When the topic comes up again, I'll tell her." He stood suddenly. "I have to get going to check on the oranges. You're staying here?"
"I am." She nodded. "My appointment in town is for tomorrow, but it won't take more than a few hours. Clara is welcome to join me. We'll go to the shop, have lunch, and I'll bring her back here."
"That sounds fine. Guess tonight's our last night of one-on-one family." He sucked in his breath as he held both hands behind his back. "Belle's flight is in the morning tomorrow."
"Ohh." The bubble she lived in was about to burst. His fiancée showing up meant no more times like now. Her shoulders sagged. "Okay. I'm happy for you."
His face reddened. As he headed to the door, he tipped his head. "After work, let's celebrate that we're putting the past away."
"You're on, cowboy," she called out.
"I like how you say my name, princess."
"Colt." Her heart beat faster for him even after he walked out the door. She shouldn't. She sighed and told herself she was here for Clara.
Her lips ached as she wished for an impossible kiss that would only exist in her dreams.
Chapter 10
Vicki and Clara found the cake convection oven still in its box in the pantry. Vicki decided it was time to use it. She placed it on the counter, and showed Clara how to make a homemade cake, complete with frosting. Clara ended up with flour on her face, and a huge laugh. Vicki's heart soared as she wet the cloth and cleaned up her baby's face. As they set the mix into the machine, Clara wiped flour all over her forehead again and tugged at Vicki's shirt.
Vicki breathed lighter as she reapplied the wet towel and cleaned her up.
"What's up, darling?" Vicki asked as Clara closed her eyes and sighed. Vicki scrubbed her clean and then told her, "You smell like strawberries."
Clara opened her eyes and stared at Vicki. Vicki's heart wished that her baby realized she was her mom, but then all Clara said was, "My shampoo."
Vicki dropped the towel in the sink, satisfied the flour was gone. Then she picked up her daughter so they could wash their hands together.
"Next time, I want to go get my stool. I'm too big to be picked up," Clara said, then reached over to turn off the faucet. Vicki held her and whiffed her soft, strawberry-flavored hair.
"I don't mind holding you." Vicki shrugged as she helped her stand on the ground.
Clara giggled. "Okay, but you're skinny and I'm too big."
"I'm stronger than I look."
"Dad is bigger and stronger."
"Girls are made different, but we're strong in our way. So what's the plan now?" Vicki asked, and wondered what other game or activity her daughter preferred to play. Every second of today had to be about Clara.
Clara spun around, showed her toothy smile, and giggled. "Let's play dress-up again."
"It's turning into your favorite game. I'll help you into a dress and do your hair." Vicki followed her as she traipsed through the house toward her room.
At the door, Clara spun around, tugged at Vicki's arm, and demanded, "No, you have to dress up too."
Vicki's eyebrows lifted. "I don't have any of my dresses here."
"Wear one of Grandma's until you get your clothes to move in with me." Clara swung their hands together like she was enjoying herself, and Vicki couldn't say no. Clara must have smelled her victory, because she sped up. "I'll show you where they are."
Vicki ran her free hand on the wall. If she wore something clean and fresh, not a few days old, her spirits would lift. In these clothes, she thought about Colt every other second, and to her, clothes held memories too long. "Okay."
In a bedroom in the back of the house, Clara threw open the closet without a care. "Grandma's stuff. I'm going to take a shower. Be in my room in ten minutes and we'll do our hair to impress Daddy."
"You don't have to impress your dad, sweetheart." Vicki smiled. "Colt's love for you is unconditional."
"Daddy will laugh at me." Clara squeaked and ran out of the room.
With a critical, well-trained eye, Vicki perused the dresses, and picked out a plain black knee-length. With a dress and a good cleaning, Vicki might feel pretty. A smile broke out on her face, and all thoughts returned to Colt's well-formed backside. As a sophisticated Miami socialite, she was used analyzing a man's form without getting attached. Every girl in Miami could calculate that one, but everything about Colt was familiar and yet different.
Either way, Colt made her heart thump, but she refused to flirt. He'd be the perfect guy to fall in love with. The thought heated her cheeks as she tried to let it go. Then she followed her daughter's plan with the dress, held it in her arms, and rushed to her room for a fast shower.
Five minutes later, she threw the dress over her head and, without warning, Clara opened the door. Vicki heard Colt's voice. "Close the door."
Her entire
body was so hot that she might melt as she tugged the dress further down her body. With her eyes closed, she prayed she'd seem calm, and at least the fabric covered her red face this second. The door clicked closed and then she finished fast, took a deep breath, and walked out into the living area.
"Vicki, you look pretty." Clara's smiling face greeted her as Vicki straightened out the back. "Dad will like you better than Belle, I just know it."
Vicki knelt down and pressed her foot into her washed Prada shoe. "What was that?"
Clara put her hands behind her back. "Nothing."
Vicki crossed her arms. "Do you not like Belle?"
Clara smiled and swayed on her feet. "I like you more."
Vicki stood. She couldn't smile that her daughter liked her, but her entire body felt lighter. Colt hadn't heard this conversation, and he'd get defensive again. She smiled. "Let's go, sweetheart."
With a huge smile on her face, she held her daughter's hand and walked out the door. Colt waited in the kitchen area with his muscular back turned. She licked her lips and then imagined his entire body naked. She must be blushing for how she thought, and she tried to ignore her reactions. "Dinner is almost done. Let me get everything on the table. Go sit with Clara."
He whiffed the air as he turned toward her. With a sly grin, he added, "Doesn't smell like you burned anything."
She shrugged a shoulder, and then winked at Clara. "Sit. Wait and be surprised."
"You never could cook, and certainly didn't know how to turn on the stove."
He'd see. Colt leaned over and whispered something to Clara. Their daughter giggled, and he led the girl to the table.
With a raised her eyebrow, Vicki held her tongue and slipped on oven mitts. She gave him a saucy grin, and intended to prove that Vicki Morgan knew how to take care of herself. She held her head high and retrieved the juice.
She brought over cups and the juice for the table. Smoke wafted in the air as she sniffed. She broke into a run, opened the oven door, and the smoke made her cough.
Tears formed in her eyes, and she grabbed the tray with the food. Her ears rang with Colt's laughter from behind as he came to the kitchen to help. She swatted at the air to clear out her lungs as he found a towel and took out the charred remains of her dinner. It was black, not even brown. She ran her hand through her hair. She had worked all day on that. Then she dramatically dropped her shoulders. "I added a hundred degrees, I guess. At home, I never screw up like this."
[House of Morgan 01.0 - 03.0] Boxed Set Page 28