Love.
How come that word couldn’t leave my mouth. Stacy was mine. But she had a point.
She wasn’t a thing to posses. I wanted her, needed to have her. First, I needed to look myself in the mirror and say it.
“I love her. I do. But I’m afraid to say it. To admit it,” I said aloud to myself.
I had taken a hot shower this morning.
Even all of last night was spent reflecting. I didn’t trust Stacy, and she didn’t trust me. We were well within our rights to do what we did. She didn’t even want my money.
Fuck, did I mess up the only good woman I’d meet in my life?
I doubted my instincts. No man worth his salt would’ve ever done that.
I took my towel and dried off. Even the bathroom felt lonelier without her. When I went into my bedroom to get dressed, the resolve to get her back overcame me with a sudden urgency.
That was my woman, my wife to be that was carrying my son or daughter.
I sat down and dialed her number one more time. She didn’t answer.
No, I wasn’t going away until she slapped me with a court order. I was ready to tell her I loved her, and tell her why I was so apprehensive on saying it last night.
The wounds I suffered that were still open were going to be addressed and finally closed.
I called my head manager at my company and he picked up on the first ring.
“Sir, good morning,” he said in his stern voice, “how may I help you?”
“Westley, take charge of the ten o’clock O’Hara meeting for me. I’ll be back in the office in another week. You’re in charge until then.”
His voice quivered. “Are you sure, sir?”
“Yes. I trust you.” There was a new word I was beginning to use.
“Thank you sir, I will not disappoint.”
“I know you won’t. Good day.” I hung up and grabbed my wallet and my keys.
I remembered one more place I could look to find Stacy, and if I hurried, I could catch her on the way to school.
On the way to her studio, I had stopped at a store to buy something special for her, a surprise. I had it put in a good case and flew back to the car.
The traffic was terrible in the city this morning. Usually I braved it, but there was a ticking clock, and I didn’t feel like waiting another fucking second. My hands gripped the steering wheel as I counted down every second. The lights turned green and I made sure to butt every damn car I could to get to where Stacy lived.
There was an alley opening ahead of me, and my GPS was one of the best. Top of the line and very exclusive. If there was a way to dodge traffic, even if it were through an alley, it’d tell you, just like it was telling me now.
It automatically re-routed and led me down an alley and a few turns.
In fifteen minutes, I was rolling up to Stacy’s small apartment complex. She better be okay, or else I wouldn’t forgive myself. I’d live in agony and hell for the rest of my life. And instead of being a God, I’d be Satan all the way.
Angry and miserable.
I found her door number and did a few breathing techniques. I knocked calmly and waited to hear her floor creak as she walked the door.
No answer.
So I knocked three more times. Firm, but nothing too pushy.
“Stacy?”
I placed my ear against the door to see if I could hear anything inside. Not a peep. Not a creak, crinkle or scrape. Stacy went to school in the morning. She didn’t drive, so she had to be at least at a bus stop.
I jogged down the stairs and threw myself in my car. Flooring it, I checked all the nearest bus stops.
One after the other.
Now there was only one stop left to check. That was when I saw her, standing under the bus shelter with her phone. A man walked up to her and she took her attention off the phone.
“I said leave me alone, creep!” Stacy hissed. I parked my car where it was and bolted out of the car.
That piece of shit was trying to touch my woman.
“Come on baby!”
“I said, no!” Stacy shouted.
I butted in, grabbed the man’s dirty wrist, and flung him across the street. I may’ve been a CEO, but I still spent a good time in the gym.
“Grant?!”
I turned around to Stacy and kissed her forehead. “Stacy, forgive me. I’ve been so worried about you and the baby. I love you, I love you so much,” I admitted, holding her waist.
“Grant…”
I placed a finger over her pink lips and hushed. “Listen to me, please. I was afraid to admit my feelings to you. They are real, I can guarantee that.” I smoothed back my hair and exhaled. “My father was married once, he was very in love. But my mother was the money hungry one. She cheated, tore his heart and money apart then left. Seeing my father in pain for such a long time destroyed me and my perceptions of finding a real romance.”
“I understand. I was afraid too. I’ve seen life go to shit so many times, that I was afraid that it’d be the same with you too. I love you too, Grant.”
She hugged me and buried her face into my chest. “Looks like these muscles aren’t just for show, huh?”
“Very much the real deal, darling.”
I cupped the back of her head and melded my lips with hers. Nothing felt this perfect before. The stars and heavens aligned just the way I wanted them to.
The bus showed up and left the stop without us.
My soon to be wife wasn’t going to need the bus anymore.
“That reminds me, Stacy.”
“Hm?” She looked up at me with starry eyes.
I dug the box out of my pocket and got down on one knee. “I have to make sure you’re in my life forever. Will you marry me?”
Stacy cried and pulled me up. “Yes!” she shouted, “I do!”
***
“Wow, I’ve never had to go to a court before,” Stacy said, wobbling up the stairs with her growing baby bump. It was much bigger now, and I loved watching each second of her growth. We measured it and took many pictures.
Today we were here to meet the judge about this hidden clause in my inheritance that called for a baby. It wasn’t too ridiculous, since I met Stacy, but it was suspicious that it was hidden for so long.
Regardless, everything moved the way it was supposed to and I found my mate for life. Nothing was wasted.
We were shown to the courtroom where it was only Stacy, me, and the judge.
The judge hobbled up to his bench and sat down. His name was Judge Tracey.
“Well, look what we have here. Never thought I’d see the day Grant Carter settled down. This inheritance clause has done you well, lad.”
“Yes indeed, your honor.”
“Now that you’ve submitted everything and its been confirmed and approved, I have one thing to say.”
“Yes, your honor?”
Judge Tracey took a sip of his water and shook his head then busted out into laughter. “Your grandfather and your father are two to be reckon with.” He calmed himself down and took another sip of water. “Let me not laugh too much, I’m sure this has caused you undue stress when it was first mentioned.”
“Your honor, I’m lost.”
Stacy tugged at my arm. “What’s going on?” she asked, a pinch of worry on her face.
“The inheritance clause, my son. You didn’t have to fulfill it.”
“What?!”
The judge leaned back in his chair. “The explanation is right here. This clause came from your father since he was allowed a spot to do so when you were young. He didn’t want you to be without a family, but wasn’t going to penalize you if you didn’t. He wanted you to recreate what you two had, but better.” The judge looked at Stacy and smiled. “And it seems to me you’ve done that.”
“Yes, I have.”
It took a lot of damn courage not to break down and cry like a little kid. That was exactly something my father would do. He didn’t want me lonely like he felt when mother up and destroyed his life.
He had me, and that helped soften the blow.
He didn’t want his son to be all alone. A parent’s love was eternal. And that was new to me. That was something I wanted to emulate for my child as well. Even long after Stacy and I were gone, our child would always feel our love around them.
“Mr. Carter,” the judge said with strict authority, “you filed for a marriage certificate. Tell me the truth right now. Do you love her, or was this just for the money?”
“It was for money at first, your honor. But then Stacy showed me things, and I began to break my own rules. The clause said have a baby, not get married,” I pointed out with a shit eating grin.
“Point well made. I’m happy for you. Both of you.”
Stacy stood. “Thank you, Judge.”
“Well, everything’s done here. I wish you a happy and fruitful life and a big weddi