Chapter Eighteen

I did my best to put on a happy face among what felt like the whole town of Indigo Bay. But Declan lingered in my mind. Why did he have time to visit Daddy and not me? And what was he working on? Maybe it was another woman? Was I so naïve to fall for the whole “I’m busy with work” line again?

And don’t even get me going on how over the top this shower was. Momma and Karen went with a Jungle Book theme. They had vines strung across Karen’s great room and huge life-size stuffed animals. Where Momma thought I was going to put those I had no idea. The cake was as big as a wedding cake with an elephant on the top. Then there was the huge pile of gifts. It was embarrassing. Momma and Tamara were in some type of unspoken competition and I think their gifts made up half of the pile.

Halle and Heather smirked next to me and did their best not to laugh. They knew this was not my thing.

It only got better when Miss Lucille showed up in her Sunday finest wearing red beads and shoes, her white fluffy dog in a matching red collar. She sat like the Queen of Sheba next to Tamara, like a hawk diving in for the kill. I wanted to intervene but it was too late.

Tamara sat stoically in her designer clothes taking it all in. I felt bad for her and did try to talk to her, as well as have Halle and Heather throw her some attention. I knew she was in an uncomfortable situation, but I had to admire her tenacity.

Miss Lucille took her hand like she was some benevolent creature. “I must say that I’m surprised to see you here.”

Tamara pulled her hand away. “Do I know you?”

Miss Lucille’s face wore a smile worthy of any politician. “Where are my manners? I’m Lucille Sanderson. And I just have to say that I admire your selfless attitude in attending what I’m sure is a painful reminder for you of,” she leaned in as if she was trying to be discreet, “Melanie’s betrayal.”

My raging hormones were about to be let loose, especially as everyone around us was now honed in on the conversation. But to my surprise, I didn’t have to say a word.

Tamara sat up proud. “You seem to have left your manners at home. You would do well not to speak about things you have no idea of. And I would caution you to speak better of my daughter-in-law.” Tamara met my eyes. They were looking a little blurry. She still thought of me as her family.

I gave her my best smile. I noticed even Momma give her a tender look.

Miss Lucille stood up with her pooch. “Well, I just remembered I have an appointment to get to.”

Heather and Halle laughed as we watched her go. She had more swing in her hips than a playground. And thankfully everyone was so used to her that they went right back to eating and talking like it never happened.

I reached over and grabbed Tamara’s hand. “Thank you.”

She patted my hand. “It’s I who should thank you, my dear.”

Our relationship was nowhere near where it was. I wasn’t sure it ever could be, but I was glad something remained between us.

Momma had me sit in the middle of all the ladies while I opened my gifts. I didn’t like being the center of attention in my current condition. My back was killing me and I couldn’t find a comfortable position. I also felt nauseated. Not to mention my mental state of mind. I had almost convinced myself Declan and I were over. Holding back my tears was becoming harder and harder. Yet there Momma stood with a camera, and after every gift I opened I had to smile for a picture. I was going to find a way to delete all those photos. When I said I felt as big as a cow, I meant it. No need for photographic evidence.

By the thirtieth gift, I’d had enough. I was more than grateful for everyone’s generosity—this kid was going to have enough clothes and diapers to last us for eternity—but all I wanted was to sit in a bath or take a nap. Or maybe just talk to Declan. I needed to know one way or the other how he felt.

In a matter of seconds, my inner desire was answered. The doorbell rang and before I knew it, Declan had joined the party dressed up in slacks and my favorite blue button-up that brought out his eyes. In his hand, he held two small white bags.

My heart rushed and worried all at the same time.

Every woman’s attention was directed toward him.

“Sorry to crash the party, ladies, but I wanted to give Mel my gifts for her and the baby.”

Momma swooned with her hand across her heart along with all the other women around me, except for maybe Halle and Heather who were too wrapped up in their own relationships.

Declan, though, only had eyes for me. He approached and kneeled in front of me. He set the bags next to him. He took my hand in his. “Melanie Dixon, I just talked to your dad, and it sounds like I need to clear up your misconceptions about my feelings for you.”

His smile and touch warmed me. The tears that had been threatening finally shed.

His hand came up and caressed my wet cheek. “From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the girl for me. Our time apart only proved it to me. I love you. I’ve always loved you.” He reached down and picked up one of the bags and handed it to me. “I hope this will cast out any doubts you may have.”

With shaky hands, I took the bag and looked inside. A black velvet box rested on cellophane. The tears flowed more freely when I reached in and took out the small box.

Declan did the honors and opened it. There sat the most stunning rose gold diamond ring, at least I was pretty sure that’s what I saw through my tears and a contraction. Yes, I said contraction. I did my best to hide it. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.

Declan removed the beautiful ring from the box. He was trying to force it on my swollen finger. “Melanie Jane Dixon, will you marry me?”

Gasps and oohs and ahhs rang in the room.

I did my best to focus on an expectant Declan. My heart was saying yes, but all my body could do was think of the pain coursing through it. And then it happened. “Declan,” I barely managed to get out. I forgot how to breath.

His anxious eyes locked with mine.

“My water broke.” At least I hoped that’s what it was. If not, I was going to really be embarrassed.

A flurry of activity broke out around me. Momma, Tamara, Halle, and Heather all rushed to my side knocking poor Declan out of the way. They were all touching me—like that was going to help—and making plans on what to do with me like I wasn’t there.

I finally came to my senses enough to realize all that had happened in the moment. I took a deep cleansing breath. “Declan.”

He parted the sea of women to get to me.

“Will you take me to the hospital? We need to stop by the house and grab my bag and we need to call the doctor.” We had planned and practiced this.

Declan took charge and asked for some towels before helping me out to his truck.

All the women followed us out saying they would meet us at the hospital.

“Any contractions?” Declan asked, we had almost made it to his truck.

I nodded.

He helped me in and got me situated on the towels. I had never felt more uncomfortable in my life, but happiness filled me. I was finally going to meet my little man.

Declan brought an air of calm and comfort as we headed toward the hospital. Momma said she would grab my bag.

Declan reached over and took my hand. “Not to put any pressure on you, but you never answered my question.”

I looked down at the mostly put on ring that my finger bore. It was beautiful, with eternity strands filled with diamonds and one large round-cut diamond in the middle. I couldn’t have picked out a better ring myself. “Are you sure?”

He rubbed his thumb across my hand. “Mel, you’re the only one for me.”

I felt the truth of his words in my soul. “I would be honored to be your wife.” Tears blurred my eyes.

Tears filled his eyes too. “Phew. I was worried there for a minute we were going to have a repeat of the last time I gave you a ring.”

“Not a chance. You’re stuck with me.”

“I was hoping you would say that, because now we’re going to be working together too.”

“Are you kidding?”

“No, ma’am. I can’t be married to the CFO of a construction company. I would say that’s a huge conflict of interest.”

“Are you sure? I know how much you love your job.”

He kissed my hand. “I love you more. And your dad is making it worth my while. But enough talk about work. I have something for you and the baby.” He handed me the second bag.

I couldn’t take it right away. Another contraction hit. I took his hand back and squeezed.

“Breathe, Mel.”

“I feel like I can’t.”

“You can. In through your nose and out through your mouth,” he coached me over and over.

I made it through and released a large breath. “I can’t imagine these getting worse.”

“You can do this. Open the bag. Maybe it will take your mind off the pain for a minute.”

I reached in the bag and pulled out a key attached to a red ribbon. “What’s this?”

“The reason I haven’t been as attentive as I’ve wanted to be.”

I stared at the key. “I’m confused.”

“I wanted to show you, but after I asked your dad this morning for his blessing to marry you, I figured I better tell you sooner rather than later.”

I felt so stupid now worrying about Declan’s feelings, but could you blame me after everything I’d been through?

“Mel,” he paused. “I bought the red bungalow.”

“What?” I had a million questions, but couldn’t focus on them right now.

“Yeah, and despite the high price, it needed some work. I wanted it to be perfect for you, for our baby.”

My hand covered my heart. “Our baby.”

“Our baby.”

“I love you, Declan Shaw.”

~*~

I still couldn’t believe he was here. I held the world in my hands, all eight pounds, four ounces of him, while resting in the arms of the man I loved, exhausted but elated. It was the middle of the night before I kissed the head of the most perfect baby. His soft dark hair was done up in a mohawk per the nurse who was in love with his full head of hair. He was only a few hours old, but it was like he had always existed. How did I ever live without him? Or the man who held me?

Declan kissed my head. “You were amazing.”

“I didn’t feel that way.” Especially after hours of labor.

“Take it from me. I’m in awe of you and your body.”

“Thank you for getting me through it. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“I was just crowd control. You did all the heavy lifting.”

He spoke of my crazy family and friends. Since Tamara decided she was coming to the hospital, Momma couldn’t be outdone despite her major medical phobia. First sign of a needle and Momma went down. Daddy caught her, thank goodness. She still insisted on staying, which meant Daddy had to watch over her. Then the best friends thought they should be here too, which meant my doctor wasn’t as focused as he needed to be. And since Halle’s boyfriend, aka my doctor, was here, Heather called in her doctor.

And there I was feeling like my insides were being ripped apart every five minutes or so. Declan never left my side amidst the chaos, but he finally took control of the situation. “Everyone out,” he shouted above the noise. He meant business and I never loved him more.

The experience became much more intimate after that, and what I always envisioned it would be. It was the hardest, but most wonderful experience.

“Can I hold him?” Declan, like me, couldn’t get enough of him.

I kissed his soft cheek before placing him in Declan’s eager arms. He barely stirred. He had hardly cried since he entered the world. He seemed content to be wrapped up and held. His momma liked that too.

Declan held him close, captivated by this little man who’d entered our lives. “I hope I can be the father he needs me to be.”

“I’m not worried at all.” I held Dixon Shaw’s little hand. I had finally decided on a name. Daddy and Declan were both thrilled.

Declan kissed my head. “Mel, I wish my eighteen-year-old self could have pictured this. I would never have walked away. I shudder to think how I could have missed out on this, on you, on our son. I regret all the time we missed out on.”

I thought for a moment as I gazed at the two most important people in my life. I thought about regret and our time apart. I thought about this moment. “I do too, but . . . I think it’s made the here and now sweeter than it ever would have been.”