Everything was black. I didn’t know where I was. There was a strange beeping sound and a constant dripping. My body felt limp, heavy, and dead. I couldn’t move, even though I tried to shift. I felt a slight chill and heard the faint sound of a door opening, then a gentle click that told me it closed automatically after. There were no doors like that at the house. So, where was I? I heard footsteps in the dark and felt someone breathing against my skin. Cold fingers touched me, and the beeping sound increased.

The coldness left and the door opened again. And then again.

“Mrs. Jameson?” An unfamiliar voice drifted into my consciousness and firm hands gripped my hand. “If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.” It took a lot of effort, but I was finally able to. “She is waking up,” the voice said.

“Anna? It’s Raymond,” he whispered. “I’m right here.”

I fluttered my eyelids, which felt so heavy I wondered if I had been drugged. Everything was hazy at first, and then I saw a white sheet over me. I turned to my right, where I found his relieved face staring back at me. I tried to speak, but a cough came out instead.

“No, it’s okay, don’t speak,” he encouraged. “Get some rest.”

I was insistent. I had to know what was going on. “No.” I remembered. I was home. There was a fight. His mother. Oh, his mother! Then I fell and the pain… I looked around and saw the machine that beeped and realized I was in the hospital, and my first thought was of the baby. I pressed my palm against my stomach and gazed up at Raymond through frightened eyes.

“No, no, the baby’s okay,” he reassured me.

I released my breath I didn’t notice I was holding. “Oh, that’s a relief. I don’t know what I’d do if…”

He smiled and touched my hand. “Sshh. You’re all right now. No need to worry about that.”

My eyes burned instantly from imminent tears, and I covered my mouth as I tried to rein in my emotions. It was like knowing something and being surprised by it all at the same time. I was going to be a mother, and I had no idea how to do it. By all indications, Raymond didn’t know what a good mother was like either. We had been pressed together and thrown into the briny blue without a paddle. We had to sink or swim. My anxiety would not let me relax so easily.

“What?” he pressed my hand and asked, apparently having noticed my distress.

“I don’t know how to be a mother,” I admitted to him, my eyes averted.

“Don’t be silly. I’ve seen you with Teresa, and based on what I’ve seen with Marian, you’ll do just fine. Besides, you won’t be alone,” he added, and leaned over to kiss me on my forehead.

“But…”

“Shh!” He stopped me abruptly. “Don’t think about that now. Get some rest. Listen, the doctor wants to run some tests, just to be safe.”

I had barely noticed her. She had red curly hair caught in a pin at the back of her head. A few tresses escaped and lay against her temple next to dark eyes that seemed warm despite the ominous look.

She smiled at me as the evidence of her awkwardness at watching Raymond fawn over me wore off. “Hi, Mrs. Jameson. I’m Doctor Redding. How are you feeling?”

“Ugh,” I groaned. “Like I was run over by a train.”

They both laughed. “I can imagine,” she replied. “You took a bad fall. Luckily for you, you didn’t sustain any serious injuries. You might have to stay off your feet for a little while, but everything should be okay.”

“Oh, thank you,” I told her gratefully. I didn’t want to be in the hospital longer than I had to be. “So I’m going home today?”

“I don’t see why not,” she replied. “I’ll check in later and then you’ll be free to go.”

“Great!” Raymond sighed with relief.

I smiled too, but there was still a faint discomfort in my midsection. I tried to raise up on my elbow, but Raymond held me in place.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he whispered. “Take it easy. We don’t want to cause any damage.”

I looked up at him, saw the real concern in his eyes, and relented. I allowed him to fluff the pillow and tuck me in. He smoothed the hair framing my face and kissed my forehead. His acts of love softened me and made me feel guilty for having deceived him in the first place.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly.

He looked confused. “For what? The fall wasn’t your fault.”

“Not that,” I sighed. “For tricking you. What I did was selfish and cruel. I pretended to be something I wasn’t…”

“Shh…” he whispered against my ear as a tear rolled down my cheek. “Hey, what’s this?” He brushed it away gently and commanded my attention when he held my chin with his forefinger and turned my face to his. “I was angry at first, but I’m glad you did. You only pretended to be rich, but everything else was you. I fell in love with you, not the rich fashion designer you pretended to be.”

He chortled, almost like he could hardly believe himself, and relaxed against the chair and stared at the wall. The contortions of his face told me he saw far beyond it to something he was coming to grips with.

“I’ve never been in love,” he confessed and leaned against the chair. He locked his fingers behind his head and stared at the wall. “There was a time when I thought I was cursed and would never find it. Hell, I didn’t believe it existed.”

I was intrigued by him, and as he spoke, I couldn’t help admiring his square jaw, the evenness of his skin tone, the way his body moved, and even the muscles in his hands as he swung his elbows together as he spoke. He stood and I got an even better view of his ass and how firm his buns appeared under his cotton shorts. I wanted to make love to him. He turned and caught me staring, and I blushed in embarrassment. The smile on his face told me he had read my mind, and he came over and covered my lips with his.

“What did you do to me, Anna Ramsey Jameson?” he asked when our lips parted.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I replied in my most innocent voice. I grew more pensive. “You know, in the beginning, I didn’t expect half this much. Or maybe a little. I was thinking maybe if I meet this man who only wanted a bride, then it could work. I’d be the face he paraded in public and the woman who bore his child. In return, I’d escape my life of…” I paused and looked up at him when I felt him squeeze my hand in support. “I never expected to fall for you.”

“I wanted exactly what you said. I mean, I thought that was all I could get, you know. I didn’t know any differently. I’d heard stories before about Romeo and Juliet, Kate and Leopold, but they were figments of the imaginations of people who wanted to escape reality. God knows, my parents were none of those people.”

“What happened?” I wanted to know. Something had to have happened with them that shaped the person he was today. More times than not, the lessons we learned from others far removed from us didn’t leave a lasting impression—nothing as rigid and firm as those learned closer to home.

“I don’t know,” he said and wiped his hand down his face. “I’ve never seen my parents in love. From as far back as I can remember, they were always fighting. Mom always wanted something from Dad. Dad always wanted to lock himself in his office. She would always pound on the door, making a ruckus. He would leave and come back drunk sometimes. I mean, even as a child…” He turned to me and said, “I remember seeing the exhaustion in his eyes. He was…broken. He had given up, and I was only fourteen at the time. I don’t think she saw or understood, but he was done. And one day, he left. Met with his lawyer in secret, willed everything to me, and left. He never looked back. I haven’t seen him since. I don’t know if he’s still alive, but I do know he wouldn’t want to be found. So I never looked.”

“Wow. I guess even rich people have problems too.”

He laughed. “Oh, we have more than our share, I can tell you that. Sometimes, and I might sound crazy for saying this, I feel like running away too. I understand exactly how Dad must have felt. It’s like being trapped in a life that’s not your own.”

He had this faraway dreamy look that slowly pulled me in. “What do you want?”

He smiled wryly and cocked his head to the side. “For a long time, I didn’t know the answer to that.” He moved his hand and caressed my stomach that was only a slight bulge at this point. I was in the middle of my first trimester so there wasn’t much to show, and I was so grateful I hadn’t been plagued by morning sickness or strange food cravings. A lady at the last shelter we had been to craved paper when she was pregnant. Maybe it tasted good when you were pregnant, but I didn’t understand it.

“Now, I don’t feel so…lost,” he said in a half happy, half sad voice, like he was afraid to hold onto this moment and realize it wasn’t real.

I placed my hand over his and brought it to my cheek. He used his forefinger to caress the spot, and except for when I was a little girl and had skinned my knee and my mom took me into her arms and rocked me until it didn’t hurt anymore, I had never felt more love. It burned in his eyes, and looking into their deep pits, I wanted nothing more than to pull him down onto me and fuck him on the hospital bed.

He smiled and brought his lips to my ear. “You know, you’re going to give yourself away if you keep looking at me like I’m a piece of meat.”

“Oh, my God.” I giggled and covered my mouth. “I can’t help it,” I apologized. “Look at you, parading your sexy ass in front of me, teasing me with lips I long to kiss…”

“Well, all you gotta do is ask,” he said, and I felt his tongue slipping into my mouth. I clasped the back of his neck and pulled him closer, my breathing out of control.

“I want you,” I whispered against his lips.

“Then take me,” he dared in a croaky voice. He set me on fire. I dug into his arms and my body twisted, ready to ravage him, when the door opened.

Someone cleared their throat, and when I looked, I saw that it was Mom. “Shit!” I whispered under my breath as embarrassment flooded my cheeks.

“Don’t stop on my account,” she laughed. “It’s good to see two people in love.”

We looked at each other when she said that, and a warm feeling settled into the pit of my stomach.

“How are you, Marian?” Raymond asked politely.

“I think you’re going to have to call me Mom one day.” She winked. “But I’m good. This darn cough is bugging me again, but I’m good. How’s our girl doing?”

“Doc says she could be going home later,” Raymond replied.

“Oh, good. That means my grandbaby is doing okay. I was worried.” She turned to me, and I saw her eyes glisten as the tears prepared to drop.

“No, Mom, don’t cry,” I coaxed. “I’m fine.”

“I know, sweetheart. I want nothing more than for you to be fine. I’ve failed you in so many ways—”

“Enough of that talk, please. You didn’t fail me,” I told her and reached for her hand. “Look at me!” She turned sorrowful eyes slowly towards me. Her head was wrapped in a black and blue bandana, and she wore a plain navy-blue dress. She was simply dressed, but she looked a whole lot better than she had before in the bleached dresses that had been washed so many times they were becoming transparent.

“It wasn’t your fault you lost your job and couldn’t keep the house,” I told her. “Things happened. We’re okay now.”

Raymond stood aside, watching the interaction between my mother and me, a strange shadow crossing his features. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the cherry-finish night table to my right.

“Thank God for Mr. Raymond,” she said amidst tears as she looked at him. “When she told me what she was doing, I was so mad. I told her not to. But she wanted to help me and Teresa. It was a bad thing to do, but—”

“It all worked out, and I’m glad she didn’t listen to you,” Raymond interjected when he saw how emotional she was. “And no more of that Mr. Raymond thing. You make me sound old.”

She chuckled and got up to give him a hug. “Thank you,” she said, “for coming back to find her.” I saw her quickly pass her free hand over her face, and I knew she was trying not to cry. Then she pulled back, and her face wore a bright smile once more. “I need to get back to the house. Teresa must be bouncing off the walls by now, or she might try to hide from Grace and go down to the pool all by herself. Lord, that child will be the death of me.”

I laughed when I remembered how many times she had said the same thing about me. “Okay. We’ll see you later.”

“Okay, love,” she said and kissed me on the forehead. “Take care of my grandbaby.”

“I will, Mom.”

She left, and the raw passion that electrified us moments before went with her. What she left behind was something even more beautiful, and I clasped Raymond’s fingers, clinging to the love I had found in the unlikeliest of places.

Chapter Twenty-Three (Raymond)

I stood outside the old building Anna had called home for a few years. Everyone noticed me because I looked so out of place. The long, dreary faces went in and out of the dilapidated structure, and the awning flapped and drew every passerby’s attention to the condition of the people inside. An old man leaned against the side of the building, puffing and blowing smoke circles into the air, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Maybe he didn’t.

I didn’t want to go back inside. I thought when I went looking for Anna five months ago that would be the only time I would see this place. But the memories of the dreary faces haunted me, and I was riddled with guilt that I benefited from life purely out of circumstance—my father happened to be rich and theirs weren’t.

I sighed and stuffed my hands in my pocket as I climbed the cracked steps for the second time.

* * *

That evening when I got home, Anna was relaxing in the lounge chaise on the back patio, fanning herself vigorously. She was flustered and sweating and barely able to move.

“Hi, sweetheart,” I called, and she twisted with much effort to look at me.

“Hey,” she huffed and opened her arms for me.

“How are you doing?”

“How do you think?” she asked before she pecked me on the lips. “She needs to get out of me now. I can hardly manage her. I feel like a truck.”

“But a pretty truck.” I grinned.

She fanned me off. “You can say that when men start being the trucks.” She twisted like she was trying to get comfortable. I grabbed one of the cushions stacked on the other chairs across from where she sat and was about to slip it behind her back when I saw her wobbling from side to side. I was confused, so I watched her while holding the cushion in front of me. I couldn’t understand what she was doing.

“Help me,” she said, and I realized she was trying to stand.

“Oh,” I replied and rushed to her aid. I caught her back and tried to give her a boost. She weighed what felt like a ton, and I grimaced as I hoisted her to her feet. The smile returned to my face before she saw me. “Where to?”

“I want to take a shower. This heat is getting to me. I’ve been sweating like a pig.”

I walked next to her as she continuously bumped into me as she rocked. She had only about a month left, and it was beginning to take its toll on her. She was moody, cranky, and argumentative, but the OBGYN told me that was all a part of the process.

She was barely inside the bathroom when her dress fell to the floor like she had some form of telekinesis I didn’t know about. She turned sideways, and I saw the outline of her belly, the perfect arch, and the ripple that followed.

“Was that her again?” I was excited every time her stomach moved, and I wanted to capture every moment. And why not? Each time felt like the first time. I talked with my daughter sometimes, and I believe she listened because she often got still and kicked like she understood. Anna chased me away when she got too excited and started romping in her belly, when her stomach transformed into a roiling tide of movement.

“Oh no,” she warned when she saw me coming. “Can you do your thing when I’m laying down? I don’t have the energy right when I’m standing.”

“Oh…I see,” I teased and bit my lower lip as I moved closer to her. “No energy, you said?”

“No, no, no,” she cried when she saw what was in my eyes. “Oh, Raymond…what am I going to do with you?”

I groaned against her throat because even though she was ‘complaining,’ she leaned her head sideways to give me access. “Love me,” I whispered, and bit her neck. “Fuck me!”

“Do you know how hard that will be like this?” she mumbled, gesturing to her large belly.

“Nope. But I can always make it easier,” I said provocatively, and my kisses moved from her neck to her hot lips and down the length of her body. I paused to circle her nipples with my tongue before following the pink line down the center of her belly. I was on my knees, and I held her hips and leaned my head sideways as I kissed her underbelly and her inner thighs, slowly and gently, until she started to tremble.

I wanted to taste all of her. She willingly parted her legs, ready for what she knew was coming next. I sat on the floor and scooted between her legs until I was looking up at her pink lips burning with need. I grabbed her ass and buried my face in her juice running down to her clit. She moaned and grabbed the top of my head, squeezing me further into her. My tongue darted in and out of her, tasting the salty sweet taste of her body. I couldn’t get enough of her, even after so many months, and the more I got of her, the more I wanted.

She vibrated in my mouth and I drank her in. She slapped her hands on the walls and grasped desperately for something to steady herself. She panted, her breathing shorter each time.

“Oh, God, Raymond,” she moaned. “I’m coming!”

The words had barely escaped when she filled my mouth with her cum. I stuck my tongue inside and spooned the rest into my mouth, wanting to receive every drop of her. She tried to push my head away as she trembled fervently, but I gripped her ass and sucked on her clit until it pulsated.

I stood and kissed her, hard and passionately. She grabbed my face and pressed against me as her tongue searched for mine and the playful dance continued.

* * *

I didn’t know what was happening. Didn’t realize it at first. I heard her moaning, and she became still. I was half-asleep, drifting in and out of consciousness because she was so restless. I felt a sudden movement and the bed jerked. My eyes fluttered open and I saw her sitting upright, a look of panic on her face. I awakened fully and threw the covers off.

“What is it?” She didn’t answer but looked down like she saw something I couldn’t on the bed. “Anna!”

“The baby,” she muttered. “I think she’s coming.”

She panted, and my heart raced. I jumped out of bed and ran around to her side. I took her hand and helped her gingerly off the bed. She doubled over in pain as the first of her contractions racked her body. I needed help.

“Wait here,” I told her and skittered out of the room and down the stairs, where I found Marian, who had taken over Grace’s role of dusting the furniture. “Marian, Anna is going into labor,” I blurted.

The feather duster fell from her hand, and she immediately followed me upstairs. We found Anna white-faced and clinging to the bed post. She seemed frightened of moving, and it took some coaxing to get her mobile. It took us twice the amount of time it would normally take to get to the car, and I was glad she had the foresight to pack her bag beforehand.

She clutched my hand, and I grimaced as her nails dug into my palm. I tried to soothe her, but it was no use. Marian tried to get her to remember how to breathe—Lamaze classes didn’t seem to have adequately prepared her for this moment. By the time we got to the hospital, she was sweating and jittery. I was no better, and I couldn’t recall the last time I was this afraid.

I was nervous as shit as I paced the hospital floor, waiting for news from the doctor. Anna didn’t want me there while she had the baby, and I was glad. I’m not sure I could have watched her giving birth. I might have passed out. Maybe the next time.

I didn’t know what to do with myself as I watched the clock. Time seemed to be at a standstill, because every time I checked, the hands hadn’t moved. I sat. I stood. I walked. I went for coffee. I tried to read the newspaper, but I couldn’t process anything on the page. Several nurses and other visitors saw what a nervous wreck I was. Some passed and asked about my distress was, while others smiled and nodded knowingly. I was at a hospital and in the maternity ward. There could only be one possible explanation for my unease.

Every time the doors opened, my chest tightened, my mouth dried, and my breathing stopped. And each time it was an orderly or a call for someone else, my heart sank. I was sweating and not in control of any emotion or thought that ran up and down my body. I would never have guessed that waiting for a baby to be born could have produced this much adrenaline. I could have run a marathon a lot easier.

When the door opened again, my back was turned. I didn’t want to see which other lucky person would experience relief as my heart tightened.

“Mr. Jameson?”

I froze for a second, then wheeled around, my eyes frightened and my mind racing. “Yes,” I managed to answer.

The doctor, who looked way too young to have just delivered a baby—bright eyes, ponytail, dimples, and very petite—walked towards me, a welcome smile on her face.

“How would you like to meet your daughter?”

My heart started beating again.

* * *

I never tired of watching her roll around her crib, or suck her toes, or wriggle around as she tried to get to a toy. She was beautiful, already the splitting image of her mother—reddish hair, brown eyes, and a face that knocked me dead every time.

“Do you think she’ll want to run the company when she is older?” I asked out loud as Anna walked into the room.

It was time to nurse Abigail, fondly called Abby, and she scooped her into her arms, the gurgles and babbles coming from her signaling she knew what was coming.

“Raymond, she’s only six months old,” she said as she sat and slipped her nipple into Abby’s mouth. It warmed me inside when I watched how her tiny fingers balled into fists and pressed against her mother’s full breast bursting with milk. After Abby was fully settled, Anna gazed over at me. “She might want to. She might not want to. Who knows? She might actually be a fashion designer.”

I laughed at her suggestion. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Besides, we already have one of those,” I reminded her. “The boutique opens in another few weeks.”

“You have no idea how excited I am. I have so many ideas swirling around in my head—the colors I’ll use. By the way, what do you think about a fashion show? I could show off my designs and…” I started laughing, and she stopped talking and knitted her brows at me. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” I told her. “You always get so animated when you talk about your designs.”

“Well, yeah.” She glowed. “I never thought I’d have the chance to do any of this. And now…” Her eyes glistened as she prepared to cry.

“Shh…” I hushed her, sitting next to her and putting an arm around her. “I got you.”

She rocked into me as Abby opened her eyes and looked at me. Her cheeks stilled as she paused in her sucking, and for a few moments, I was lost in her baby-browns. The nipple slipped from her mouth, which remained open, and a mesmerized look crossed her face. Then her mouth twitched and she gurgled, like she wanted to say something, and a smile broke out on her face. I was entranced by her, and I reached out and took the hand she waved in the air. She clasped her tiny fingers around mine but remembered her milk, and the moment vanished as she resumed sucking. But it stuck with me, and for the first time in my life, I understood love.

My phone vibrated and the spell was broken. It was Jon, my lawyer. I scratched my head and crept backwards as Anna got preoccupied with Abby.

“Hey,” I whispered and pulled the door closed behind me as I stepped into the hallway. “Did you get it done?”

“It’s all yours,” Jon confirmed.

“Thank you,” I breathed appreciatively.

“So, how do you think she’ll react?” Jon asked.

I looked at the door. “Good, I hope.”

“Well, congratulations. And good luck. You’re going to need it.”

“Thanks, man.”

I stood outside the door with good news on my lips, anxious about how Anna would receive it. I had done something without her knowledge, and she wasn’t too keen on surprises. Especially not like this. But I had to tell her. I touched the door and it opened. She was putting Abby back in the crib, and she glanced over and smiled. I signaled her over when I saw that Abby was sleeping. She fixed her dress hurriedly and hurried to me. I took her hand and we went into the hallway.

“Who was that?” she asked with a curious expression on her face.

That was Anna. Always the intuitive one. I wondered how much more she would have accomplished if she had gotten the opportunity.

“That was Jon calling me with some good news.” I beamed.

“Oh, great. I could use some of that.” She must have seen when my face changed, and I cringed like someone hit me when I thought of what would come next. “So why do you look like that?”

I took her hand and started walking. “Remember that shelter you were living in?”

“Baby, you know I don’t like talking about that,” she replied softly. “I mean, it’s not that I’m ashamed of my past, but it brings back bad memories.”

“I know, I know. But tell me, what exactly made it bad?” I was working my way up to the good news, but it only ticked her off.

“I thought you said you had good news.” She stopped walking and looked at me almost angrily.

“I do, but humor me.”

She sighed. “What was there to like? We hardly had any food. We only wore clothes other people donated when they didn’t want them anymore. Not to mention medicine. It was a disaster to get sick. Look at my mother. And Teresa. This is the best they have been in ages. Teresa doesn’t have the cough anymore. Mom isn’t sick or as stressed.”

“I know.” I chuckled. “I remember what it was like…the smell when I went there the first time…the sunken eyes of the coughing children…”

“Raymond, what is this about?”

I could tell she was irritated, so I decided to get to the point. “Just hear me out. I mentioned that because I can see how hard it would be living in a place like that.” She sighed. “Which is why I spoke with my lawyer and I’ve bought the place.”

Her eyes widened and she gazed at me through teary eyes. “What?” she choked. “Are you…what are you going to do with it? Where will the people go?”

She’d misunderstood me. “No, they will be there. Well, after I’ve renovated the building. I figured life would be a little more bearable if they had better facilities, medicine, adequate food—” I was halfway through my list of necessities when she charged into me and flung her arms around my neck. “Whoa!” I laughed and held her just above her hip bones. She was crying again. “And, to top it off,” I continued, my neck getting soggy from fresh tears, “I’ve renamed the building the Anna Ramsey Home.”

“What?” she exclaimed. “You did what? You didn’t have to do that. You didn’t have to do any of it.”

“But I could. And I knew—well, I hoped it would make you happy.”

“Of course it does,” she said as she wiped her hand across her eyes. “Why wouldn’t it? Wow! A building named after me.”

“So you don’t mind? That was tentative because I didn’t know how you would react.”

“Well, I like the idea.” She smiled. “I would change one thing, though. I don’t want my former life to be a stain on the front of the building, especially for the people who knew me. I would prefer The Jameson Building.”

“Hmm, The Jameson Building,” I echoed, trying to get a feel of it in my mouth. “Not bad.”

“Yeah. It’s our building,” she replied jovially. Her spirit had lightened, and it made me happy seeing her delight.

“Still, your name on the title, as soon as you sign,” I told her. I wanted her to be in charge of the day-to-day running of the shelter. She would know exactly what the occupants needed, and I wanted her to know this was hers.

She blushed and brushed her hair back. “Thanks, honey.”

Her smile was all the reward necessary. I chuckled, and the next thing I knew she pressed against me and kissed me tenderly, lovingly, and appreciatively. She gripped my ass, and I knew she wanted to fuck. It excited me, and I grabbed her hand and started for our bedroom. We were at the door and I could feel the cold metal of the doorknob in my hand when I heard a clip-clopping sound coming up the stairs.

We paused and I looked at Anna. “Let’s go,” she urged. “It’s probably Grace, or Teresa wearing my shoes again.”

But I didn’t move. Somehow, maybe subconsciously, I recognized that pattern of walking, and my heart sank when I realized who it belonged to. In that instant, my mother’s head appeared at the end of the hallway. She stopped abruptly when she saw the two of us standing at the door. Waiting.

“Oh,” she said, and pressed one palm against her chest. “I didn’t think I’d find you here. Grace said… I thought you were… I didn’t know you were up here,” she said finally and clutched her throat like the words weren’t her own.

“Yes. We are here,” I answered curtly. Anna’s hand tightened around my fingers, displaying her nervousness. We hadn’t seen her since Anna fell and before Abby was born. She must have felt guilty, because she didn’t call me anymore. Or she really meant what she had said—not wanting anything to do with me and the unwelcome wife I had chosen.

My mother sighed and moved quickly towards us. “Anna, I’m sorry.” The words tumbled from her mouth, and my jaw dropped. I’d never heard the woman apologize.

Anna looked from her to me, and then back to her, but no words came from her lips. She walked closer and took her hand, totally oblivious to the fact that she was fuck-blocking me now. That alone was increasing my impatience, but I remained still.

“I didn’t mean what I said, about not wanting anything to do with you or my grandchild. I was a stupid old woman who said some dumb things.” Then she looked from a pale, surprised Anna to me, who was just as stunned. “Raymond, could you ever forgive me? It took me an entire year to work up the courage to come here. But I had to see you, my only son, and my grandbaby. Where is she? I heard it was a girl.”

The more she spoke, the more upset I got. How dare she come in here and spill a few choice words and assume that would be enough to placate me? “She’s sleeping,” I told her flatly. “I don’t think you should go near her.”

Her face contorted and she looked ready to fall apart. “Why not?”

“Look what happened the last time you were here,” I thundered. “If Anna hadn’t been lucky, she could have lost the baby. Now what would—”

Abby started crying, and three pairs of eyes looked to the nursery.

“Please, let me see her,” my mother begged.

I had to admit, it was nice watching her play this role. And that was just it—I wasn’t sure if she was serious or if she was playing me and had more insults up her sleeve. More trash talk.

“No!” I replied harshly.

Anna scurried to the nursery to get the crying baby, and my mother and I stood outside—her looking longingly at the nursery, and I standing watch to make sure she didn’t go inside.

Anna came out with Abby in her arms, no longer fussy but alert as if she hadn’t just gone to sleep. I watched in awe as my mother’s face transformed into someone I had never met. She didn’t move, so Anna walked to her and stood before her with Abby. The infant looked at the unfamiliar face and a smile crossed her face. Her fist went into her mouth as she tried to suck on it.

“Here,” Anna told her.

My mother looked at the woman she had fought against and her eyes filled with tears. Being around teary women was no place for a man because I was fighting tears as well. I walked around them as I tried to distract myself, hoping to retain my masculinity.

“Really?” she asked as she took the playful Abby.

“Family will always be family, even if they don’t get along. Mine live here with me, and you are a part of that now. So, meet Abigail Jameson, your granddaughter.”

Anna handed her the child and stepped back. I stopped pacing as I watched the greatest display of love and forgiveness I had ever seen. In that moment, I was absolutely sure I had made the right choice in going after Anna. I slipped my arm around her waist as she leaned into me.

My mother stared into Abby’s brown eyes. The baby reached up and tried to touch her face. She leaned in closer and allowed Abby to touch her cheek. “She’s beautiful,” she whispered. She glanced over at Anna. “Like her mother.”

I could feel Anna smiling against my chest, and I tightened my hold around her before kissing the top of her head.

“You can visit her any time you like. I won’t stand between you,” Anna offered.

“Oh, I will. You don’t mind me keeping her right now, do you? You two look like you were up to something.”

“Uh…” I struggled for words, embarrassed.

“It’s okay.” She winked and touched my hand. “I’m sorry for being such an idiot for so many years. I was so blinded by hate and so selfish I took it all out on you. It wasn’t until…” She looked down at Abby and we all knew until when. “Anyway, it’s all behind us now. You made a good choice, even though I didn’t give you a good example.” She walked away before either of us could respond. Not everything had changed, but this was a start.

Anna and I looked at each other after she had walked away, and that devilish look returned to her eyes. I raised my brows and we scrambled to the room. We could hear my mother cooing and mumbling to Abby, who seemed to enjoy her company.

We slipped inside the room, and as we did, Anna’s phone rang.

Anna glanced at the LED display. “It’s Henrietta. I promised her she could come over today. Maybe she’s here.”

“Then,” I replied as I drew closer to my wife, “she will have to wait.” I snarled and grabbed Anna, who giggled and threw her head back. “I got a woman to bed.”

She laughed. “I love it when you talk like that.”

We hardly found the time for sex since Abby was born, and with a little extra time on our hands, we intended to capitalize on it fully. Our lips met hard. I wrapped my hands around her waist and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around me, and as the house stilled and our hearts raced, I fucked her like it would be the last time.