I might be a father! The thought kept bouncing around inside my head like hyperactive squirrel on speed. I might be a father! The more I thought about it the more excited about the idea I became. I couldn’t wait to tell Mom and Dad they were grandparents!

I forced myself to calm down and not get my hopes up. Nothing was proven. I had to be tested first, but if it turned out Steve was Abby’s father, and he probably was, I would be crushed with disappointment despite my efforts to keep my hopes in check.

“Hey! Hey!” I whispered. “Why are you crying?”

Ella looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy, but she’d never looked more beautiful. “So much has happened, and now this.”

“Shhh…” I whispered. “This could be great news. If Abby’s mine, you can kick that asshole Steve out of your life forever. That’s a good thing, right?”

She sobbed again, holding to me with desperate strength. Not knowing what else to do, I held her, saying nothing, until her tears began to slow. She sniffed and wiped her eyes before getting up, going to the kitchen, and blowing her nose. I followed.

“What’s wrong, Ella? I thought you’d be happy.” I felt sick as a sudden thought occurred to me. “Are you angry with me for maybe getting you pregnant?”

“No. I don’t know,” she said, flailing her hands around her face. “I don’t know what I think anymore. Things are happening too fast. I feel like my life is out of control…again. You should have told me.”

“I didn’t know!” I protested. “If I thought there was a chance I’d gotten you pregnant, I would have. Why didn’t you have Steve tested?”

“You’re blaming this on me?” she asked, her tone cold.

“No. There’s no reason to blame anyone for anything. We need to just relax until—”

“Relax? I don’t even know who the fucking father of my child is!” she yelled.

“Shhh! You’ll wake Abby.” She glared at me as I made placating gestures with my hands. “I know a lot has happened in the last couple of months, and I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before, but I swear to God, I didn’t know there was a reason too. I hope Abby is mine, I really do, but honestly, I think it’s unlikely. If so, you’re getting upset for no reason.”

“Then why did you even say anything?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t have. But if there’s even a chance she’s mine, I want to know.”

“Why? Most guys run as far and as fast as they can when they get some girl—”

“I’m not most guys, and you’re not some girl. Don’t you get that? I love you, Ella. If Abby’s mine, I want to know because I still plan to marry you some day, and I want that little girl to have a real daddy, not some piece of shit asshole of a father who doesn’t give a shit about her.”

“You still want to marry me?”

“Yes! Now that I know the truth about what happened, why wouldn’t I?”

“So much has happened. I’m damaged goods.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Nonsense. You’re as perfect now as you ever were, but I understand what you mean about so much has happened. I just found out I might be a father, but that doesn’t matter. I still love you, Ella, and I want this to work between us. I still want to do all those things we talked about with you.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. No.” I paused as I gathered my thoughts. “Yes, I’m sure I want to marry you and start a family, but after all we’ve been through, I don’t want to rush into anything. I’ve hurt you enough. I want to be sure it’s what you still want, and that we can get past this fucked up shit we’re having to deal with.”

“You’re not saying that because of Abby, are you?”

“No. Even if she’s Steve’s little girl, I’ll feel the same way about you…and her. Steve doesn’t deserve Abby.”

“Do you think you can learn to love her?”

“No. I know I will love her. She’s the daughter of the woman I hope to marry…if she’ll still have me.”

Ella stepped to me and melted into my arms. “I still want you, and I still want to marry you. I just need some time to adjust. Everything is moving too fast right now.”

I nodded. “I understand. Believe me, I understand. I just found out I might be a father,” I said and smiled, indicating I was teasing her. When she smiled back I gently laid her head to my shoulder. “We’ll take this one day at a time. And when the time is right, if we still feel the same way…” I shrugged. “We’ll see what happens.”

She nodded. “I think that’s smart.”

“Are we okay?”

She nodded again. “I think so. You’re sure you’re not upset that—”

“I’m praying I’m Abby’s father.”

“Why?”

“Because…I don’t know. I just am.”

“Having a child is a big responsibility.”

“I know, but I’m ready for it, and I’m sure you’ll help me.”

She was quiet a moment. “If she is yours, I’m going to be a little jealous.”

“Why?”

“Because you get to start being a parent just when she’s starting to become fun. It’s not fair you missed all the poopy diapers, spit-ups, and sleepless nights.”

I didn’t know what to say. I was still thinking about how to answer when she looked up at me and smiled. I realized she was teasing me and let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding. “You had me going there.”

“Do you really hope Abby’s yours?”

“Yes, I really do.”

She nodded. “So do I.”

I held her for a long time. “I should go,” I murmured. I wanted to stay. Until the revelation, I assumed I would stay, but I wanted to give her some space if she needed it.

“I’d like you to stay.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded, her head still against my shoulder. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

“I can take it.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“Telling me I’ve upset you isn’t wrong either.”

“You didn’t upset me. Not really. Like I said, I feel like my life is out of control.” I held her for a long moment, enjoying the feel of her in my arms.

“Did Mom and Dad come talk to you?” I asked, anxious to know if she had accepted their apology.

“Yes.”

“And?” I prompted.

“And they apologized and asked me and Abby to dinner as soon as we can.”

I smiled. “Imagine their surprise when they find out they’ve invited their granddaughter to dinner.”

“If she’s their granddaughter,” she said softly.

“If,” I agreed.

“Take me to bed?”

I tipped her face up and kissed her softly. “With pleasure.”

We walked slowly to her bedroom, turning out lights as we went.

She reached for the light switch in her bedroom, but I stilled her hand before she could turn the light on. I pulled her to me and kissed her, slowly, gently, trying to show her with my touch how much I cared for her. She’d been through so much, but I was here for her now and would help her carry her burdens.

She slowly withdrew from the kiss. I turned her, pulling her back into me as I kissed her neck, my hands on her stomach holding her to me. This was no time for rough and tumble fucking. Tonight would be slow and easy love-making. She stood still, allowing me to nuzzle her neck as I untucked her shirt. I reached underneath and slowly slid my hands up her body, working her shirt up as I did. She did nothing to assist, save raise her arms so I could remove it from her body. I tossed it away and unclipped her bra, slowly sliding it from her, one shoulder at a time, chasing the straps with my lips.

She allowed the brasserie to fall away and turned to face me, a small smile playing on her lips. She kissed me and stepped back, holding my gaze as she slowly unbuttoned my shirt and slid it over my shoulders. It fell to the floor, already forgotten. Shirt removed, she unbuckled my pants and slid them down. When they puddled at my ankles she moved to the bed and knee-walked backwards, curling her pointer finger to call me to her.

As I removed my shoes and stepped out of my trousers, she slid her own pants off. I crawled into the bed after her, and she lay down and beckoned me with her arms. I moved over her, settling as she pulled me down, hooking my ass with her heels as she drew me in. I entered her with a kiss and began moving in a slow, comfortable, rhythm, our lips never far from each other.

After a time, her breathing began to speed up in a sign of her rising pleasure. I hooked one of her legs with my arm and forced it over my shoulder before I began to drive into her harder and faster. Her mouth opened in a silent cry of pleasure, her face twisting with bliss. Watching her made my own orgasm leap closer. She was the sexiest woman on the planet, and I was the lucky bastard that had her.

She stiffened, her head tipping back as her nails dug into the flesh on my arms as she moaned softly. I thrust in deep and held myself there, waiting for her to come out from under her climax, using the break to tamp down on my own rising orgasm.

She relaxed and smiled up at me. I allowed her leg to slip from my shoulder as I lowered my lips to hers. We kissed, slowly, lovingly as she drank deep from the caress of my lips. Once she had her fill, I slowly lifted my head, holding her gaze in the dim light of the bedroom. She reached up and caressed my face, holding her palm still when I turned my lips to kiss it.

“I love you,” I murmured.

She nodded slowly. “And I love you.”

“Are we okay?” I asked. I’d already asked the question and she’d answered, but I had to be sure. I’d do whatever I needed to make it right so we’d have a chance.

“Yes,” she answered with the most beautiful smile.

“You’re not upset with me?”

“No,” she said softly as she touched my face again.

“We’ll get through this. We’ll get through it together.”

“I know.”

Her lips parted slightly as she raised her head, reaching for my lips. I met her and once again caressed her lips with my own. As we kissed, she twisted her hips and we rolled so she was on top. She slowly pumped her hips, rising to sit on me, her face a mask of pleasure as she rocked.

She was a goddess without equal, the woman I loved, and if I were lucky, the mother of my child. We moved together for many long moments, her eyes intense as she watched my face. The soft sway of her breasts as she moved, the smoothness of her skin, the passion on her face, the exquisite pleasure a woman can give a man, was becoming more than I could fight.

“You’re going to make me come,” I whispered as I teased the points of her breasts.

“I’m going to come too,” she murmured in reply. “Come with me.”

She began to rock her hips harder, faster, driving my need higher. I focused, watching her face as it began to crinkle with her rising rapture. I grabbed her thighs, gripping them tight as my climax began to surround me. I watched her, drinking in her beauty, her body exciting me, the euphoria on her face pushing me over the edge.

My last vision was of her head tipping back, her mouth opening as her face twisted in sweet agony. Her soft moan of release joined mine as my back arched, my own head pushing hard into the bed as I spilled into her.

I sighed out of my climax as she sagged, slowly tipping forward to lay on my chest, her lips hungry for mine. I’d come harder, but never had an orgasm so gratified me. I took her lips and devoured her, wanting, needing nothing more than this magnificent creature in my arms, and the little one that came with her.

She sighed as she placed her head on my shoulder. “I love you,” she whispered.

No matter how many times she said it, I never tired of hearing it. “I love you too,” I murmured in reply.

She lay on my chest, not moving, saying nothing, my cock still inside of her, for a very long time. When I finally softened enough to fall from her, she sighed, offered me another sumptuous caress of her lips, and slid to the bed at my side and snuggled in. I wrapped her in my arms and sighed in contentment. Why had I ever let her go? I should have fought for her; I should have come home at my first chance and demanded she tell me she didn’t want me anymore. I’d been such a fool, and it had cost me. It had cost me five years with the woman I loved, and perhaps, four years with my daughter.

As sleep began to take me I made myself a promise. Never again. Never again would I give up on her so easily. From this moment forward, I would always fight for her, and Abby, regardless of who her father was.

The bang of something hitting the side of the trailer jerked me from sleep. My start woke Ella. “What?” she murmured.

“You cocksucker! You fucking whore! I told you what would happen if you didn’t keep him away from my daughter!” Someone was shouting outside.

“Stay here,” I said as I rolled to my feet and quickly slipped on my pants.

“I’m going to fuck you up, you fucking whore! You’ll see! I’m going to take her away from you! She’s my fucking daughter and I warned you! You know you wanted me to fuck you! You’re nothing but a lying cunt! I didn’t fucking rape you, and you know it!”

It had to be Steve, judging by the ‘my daughter’ and ‘rape’ comments, and he was drunker than Cooter Brown. I snatched the door open and stepped out. Ella’s trailer was in the corner of town. There were only a few houses around, none close, and the retirement home nearby. When I stepped out, a man who had been standing in the street jumped into a Dodge pickup and roared away.

Ella was behind me wearing a bathrobe. “I told you to wait inside,” I muttered as I watched the truck disappear.

“Was it Steve?” she asked, ignoring me.

She knew it was Steve, just as I did, but without a positive identification there was nothing the cops could do. “I couldn’t tell in the dark, but probably, based on what the asshole was shouting and the fact he was driving a Dodge.” When she didn’t say anything, I turned to at looked at her.

“You don’t think he’d do anything to hurt Abby, do you?” she asked.

I nudged her back inside and shut the door. “Not if he knows what’s good for him. Is she still asleep?”

Ella nodded. “Yeah. She sleeps like the dead. A heard of elephants could run through her room and she’d sleep right through it.”

I nodded. “Good for her.” I took her arm. “He’s gone now. Let’s go back to bed.”

We returned to the bedroom and I glanced at the clock. It was just after two. We undressed and crawled back into bed. Ella snugged in, but I could feel the tension in her body.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Worried. What if he—”

I kissed her on the head. “He won’t. He’s drunk, that’s all, but if he does try anything, I’m here, and I’ll take him apart.”

“What about when you’re not here?”

“I’ll stay with you until we get this settled.”

“What will your parents say?”

“Do you need some help?”

She snickered. “I hope you’re right.”

I kissed her again. “I am. If it gets too bad, you can stay at our house. If he comes on the property, we’ll fill his ass full of birdshot. We’ll see how he likes that.”

“You keep saving me.”

“It’s my duty, my privilege, to protect you and Abby.”

She nodded and rose up for a kiss. I kissed her lips, and she settled back into her place. “I’m so glad you stayed. If you weren’t here and he’d done that, I’d be a nervous wreck.”

I gave her a caress. “Go back to sleep. Everything’s okay.”

She nodded, and over the next fifteen minutes, I felt the tension slowly drain out of her. Soon her breathing became deep and regular.

Sleep was slower in coming for me. I lay in the darkness, staring at nothing. Tomorrow I’d call and report the disturbance to the authorities. That was all I could do legally. But this was Texas, and sometimes things like this got handled in an unofficial manner. Until now, Steve was just an asshole, but this time he’d crossed the line.