A Bundle of Joy 4: Secret Baby Seduction (BWWM Interracial Romance) (7 page)

Aron blinked his eyes as he tried to assimilate her words. “After I left, you found out? But whose baby was it?”

She took a deep breath. “It was your child, Aron…
Our
child.”

His face paled.

She saw the color drain out of his skin completely.

His hand shot to hold the counter.

When she made a move towards him, he thrust out his other hand. “Don’t come near me.”

“But…?”

Leaning against the counter, he put his head in his hands and took deep breaths. After a couple of minutes, he straightened. “You had a baby?
My
baby! And without telling me, without contacting me, you put up that child for adoption?”

With those words, he crushed any hope she’d been harboring that he might forgive her.

CHAPTER TEN

A
ron stared at the woman he loved—or thought he loved. How could he love a woman who was capable of such a grotesque act and then not even mention it? How could she be so callous and cold? All his thoughts, his ideas about their budding romance, burned in the wake of what he just learned. He supposed he did have some reason to be thankful to Erin; if she hadn’t told him, he never would have found out he’d become a father ten years ago, when he was eighteen. “Did you ever see our child again?”

“It was an open adoption, and they offered to send me pictures.” She wrung her hands no doubt, in turmoil because he’d accidently discovered a secret that she had no intention of disclosing. “But it was too painful for me, so I chose not to know.”

“You chose not to know…” He echoed her words, still in disbelief about this sudden truth that punched him in the gut. “And you chose not to tell me.”

“You weren't there.”

“I’ve been around for the past several weeks, Dayna. You could have told me the first day we met, or when we made love, or when we spent countless hours talking about inane stuff.”

“I was scared of your reaction.”

The irony of that statement was not lost on him. Would he have reacted in such a manner if she’d been the one to disclose this fact to him? Would he have been better able to take the news if she’d been the one who told him? Aron didn’t know if he was more shocked by the brutality of the truth, or the fact that Dayna had hidden this piece of information from him all along. He shook his head. “I need to go.”

“Go? But—we need to talk about this.”

“Not now.
No siempre!
Not ever.” He slapped his hand on the counter. “This is over.”

Her face froze, her eyes filled with pain. She took a tentative step forward, her hand reached out to touch him.

Aron stepped back. “We’re over. You and me, we’re done.” And with that declaration, he turned and left.

“Wait, Aron, there’s something I need to tell you—I love you.”

He heard her say it, but Aron felt too enraged and too appalled by the information he’d been handed to give a shit about anything she had to say now.

After sitting in his car feeling stunned for several minutes, he switched on the ignition and sped away toward his hotel. “I would like to check out,” he told the clerk and made his way to his room to pack his stuff.

The pain of Dayna’s betrayal cut deep into his heart. He’d never imagined she would deliver such a death blow to their love. He thought he could trust her. What she did, the act of putting up their child for adoption, was horrifying and devastating. He’d been a father for the past ten years, but he never even knew it. He didn’t know what his son looked like, or what he liked to do in his free time. Aron had missed out on the biggest and most exciting experience that a human being could ever have, simply because his girlfriend thought he wasn’t important enough to be informed of the fact that he helped conceive a child.

When his cell phone rang, he glanced at it, feeling sure it was Dayna
. Did she really think she could wipe out an outrageous mistake with an apology?

But it was Graham calling him. “Hi, dude! I just got the good news. My ex has finally agreed to a divorce settlement. So, I’m looking to celebrate with my mates. You want to join us tonight? Drinks are on me.”

Aron took in a deep breath. “Congratulations or whatever the hell, I’m supposed to say to such news. But I’m leaving San Diego.”

“What? Tonight? But I thought you were staying on for an indefinite period.”

Aron rubbed his forehead in annoyance. He didn’t really want to discuss the details of his failed love life with Graham, no matter how good a friend he was. “It’s a long story, but I have no reason to stay here now. Dayna and I are over.”

“But—I just saw you guys together, and everything was good. What happened?”

“She did something a long time ago and I just found out about it,” he answered evasively, not wishing to give out more details. He was probably in more shock than he realized, otherwise he would have found it easier to brush off his friend. “It—never mind.”

“Where are you? I’m coming right over. We need to talk,” Graham said in a tense voice.

Aron didn’t think he needed a lecture or a shoulder to cry on. But Graham was a good friend and it wouldn’t hurt to bid him a proper goodbye. “I’m at the Hilton.” Aron gave him the address. “I’ll be out in an hour, so come stat.”

After he hung up, Aron called his travel agent and got details of the next flight that would take him out of America. Since he was getting a ticket at the last minute, he didn’t get a direct flight, but he didn’t mind the long detour that would take him through United Kingdom. Staying at the airport for the three hour layover might give him enough time to cool down before he went home. He marched to the closet and pulled it open. Just as he dumped the first set of clothes into his suitcase, the doorbell rang. Aron opened the door.

“Hi.” Graham stepped in, saw the bag and swallowed heavily. “So, you’re serious about going away?”

“Yes. There’s nothing that compels me to stay here anymore.
Nada
…”

Graham ran a hand over his face. “But shouldn’t you stay and try to work things out with Dayna?”

“There’s nothing to work out. What she did—nothing can erase that mistake. Not time, not guilt and certainly
not
an apology.”

“You found out about the baby.”

It was another punch to the gut. Aron glowered at his friend. “You knew about it?
Maldita sea!
Damn it! Did the whole world know about it except the clueless, idiot father?”

“I—well, the news leaked out when we scattered after high school. Dayna didn’t start college till March—and yes, I knew.”

The betrayal cut deep, not as deep as Dayna’s treachery, but still it was another stab in his heart. He’d thought Graham was a loyal friend, but his loyalty towards Dayna must have been stronger. After all, they were friends long before he came into the picture. “
Damn it,
you didn’t think that
maybe
this was something you should have told me?”

“God, man! I had no idea if you knew or not. I never discussed it with Dayna. And yes, I thought about bringing it up but you guys were happy together, so much in love. You looked good and I didn’t want to rock the boat.”

“Rock the boat, huh? Well, this boat has well and truly sunk!” Aron snapped as he threw in another stack of clothes into a bag. “We’re over, Dayna and I. And there’s nothing else left to stay. What did you know about the baby?”

“Nothing. I only heard rumors. You know how high school kids are. But I don’t know anything else except that she gave it up for adoption.”

Aron strode to the bathroom to collect his toiletries. After dumping them into a smaller bag, he opened the safe, took out his passport and money. He put them in his carryon.

The doorbell rang….The man from the concierge.

Aron handed him his suitcase. He glanced at Graham who was staring at him as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t make up his mind as to which words he needed to use. “Goodbye!” He thrust out his hand.

Graham shook his hand. “I’m sorry, man. I wish there was something I could do.”

“It’s okay. There’s nothing anyone can do.”

“Where will you go?” Graham followed him out of the room.

He still felt pissed off at finding out that Graham also knew but chose not tell him this. “I don’t know. Here and there. I’ll be traveling for a while. There are some things I’ve been neglecting. I guess I should look into them.”

“I’m sorry man!” Graham stated as they stepped into the elevator. “I really am.”

Aron didn’t say anything as he strode over to the reception and told the man to settle his bill.

At some point, Graham must have realized there was nothing more to say because he disappeared.

Aron paid his bill, called a cab and left. His heart was too broken for him to really consider cooling down before making such a permanent move. The blow Dayna delivered shook him so much that the only way he could cope with it was to go far, far away where he wouldn’t be reminded of her deceit.

Still reeling with shock, he really expected better from Dayna, thought she would be more honest than to lie like this. How could she have thought she would get away with keeping such news from him? Of course, she nearly did get away with it. If it wasn’t for spiteful Erin, he may never have discovered the truth. But now, that he knew, how could he ever forget he had a son somewhere, a child he’d never seen or even known existed? How could he spend the rest of his life knowing his son would never know his real father? Was he happy? Had he been treated well?

Aron cherished hopes of becoming a father someday. Lately, he’d been thinking about it more and more, while all his thoughts of having a family centered on Dayna. He never imagined that while he dreamt about them being a family, she’d already made such a decision. They
were
a family, until she chose to give their baby away.

For that, he would never forgive her.

When he reached the airport and handed over his passport to the checkout clerk at the counter, his cell phone rang. Aron glanced at it. Dayna was calling. Her name flashed on the screen repeatedly. Aron switched off the phone. He didn’t want to take her call, talk to her, or discuss this anymore. Just like she once made the decision to give their child away without talking to him, he decided to cut her out of his life without any more deliberation.

This relationship was over.

He never wanted to see her again.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

D
ayna sat slumped on her couch. It’d been four days since Aron left. She left countless messages and made phone calls, but his phone was switched off. He’d checked out of his hotel. She finally called Graham and learned that Aron left the country. The pain that shot thought her heart felt lethal and brutal. How could he cut her out of his life so easily? Had she meant so little that he could discard her with such ease? She’d thought he would be angry and upset, but it never occurred to her that he would make the decision to walk out of her life as soon as he discovered the truth she’d hidden from him.

Once, she’d given up her baby, whom she had loved. Then, she lost her father and now, Aron, whom she loved from the depths of her heart, had deserted her. Maybe it was a fitting end of this particular chapter of her life. Maybe she was destined to be alone and lonely all her life because of the decision she made so long ago? This was God’s will and she deserved to be left alone.

As she leaned back, her cell phone rang. Maybe it was Jay, the one rock in her life who would never leave her. Dayna picked it up. “Hello.”

“Hi, it’s Adam.”

It took her a few seconds to place him.
Why is he calling?
“What can I do for you, Adam?”

“Dayna, have you given some thought to what I said before? About us getting back together?”

She shook her head. Her relationship with Adam had only been over for three months, but those were the longest three months of her life. It felt as if she was with him ages ago. “That’s not happening, Adam.” How could she tell him that she’d moved so far beyond him? He’d been so far from her mind that she never spent a moment thinking about him.

“I’m flying down there, Dayna. And I think we should meet. I love you.”

She considered his words. Here’s a man who wanted to be with her. He wanted them to get back together. He loved her—but his words failed to move her. She should’ve jumped at this chance to grab him, but now that she’d experienced real love, she couldn’t settle for anything less. “I’m sorry, Adam. But I love someone else.”

“What? Wait. How?” he spluttered.

“It’s a long story. But I’ve found someone else.” She sat down. Determination coursed through her body. “You and I are over.”

After she explained some of it and soothed him, Dayna hung up. There would be no point pursuing something that was bound to end at some point. She didn’t see her future with Adam. Dayna just now learned something. She wasn’t about to give up on Aron, even if he’d given up on her. She also wasn’t about to give up on the child she’d abandoned so long ago.

Taking out her laptop, she started her investigation and soon, located the phone number of the adoption agency who’d placed her son. After talking to them for half an hour, she set the phone down. She’d set the ball rolling. It would take time to see any results. After making yet another futile attempt to call Aron, she began to do some research. For what she had in mind, it would take a lot of effort and planning.

….Three days later, she got the first inkling that she was on the right track. Dayna found herself in one of the wealthy suburbs of San Diego. She stared at the white brick house that boasted a huge, well-manicured garden before ringing the bell. A maid ushered her in.

Dayna waited in the living room, so tense that she could barely sit. When the couple strolled into the room, she stood. “Hi. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

The woman, Robin, older than Dayna by at least a decade, smiled as she shook hands. Her cinnamon-colored hair was pinned on one side, and she wore a bright smile on her face. “Truth be told, we’ve been expecting this call for the past ten years.”

“I was out of the country, and—well—I wasn’t sure…” She trailed off. How could she explain to the parents whom she’d only seen once at the time of the adoption, that she’d thought a million times about calling them, but had never known what to say?

“It’s all right. We’re glad that you’re here now. Ethan is very excited at the prospect of seeing his birth mother,” the husband, Jeremy said as he gestured for her to take a seat. He seemed a little pudgy around the middle, but he had a kind, friendly face.

“You’ve told him about me?’ Dayna hadn’t been sure if they would allow her to meet the child today. She felt so grateful that they contacted her. “He wants to meet me?”

“Of course,” Jeremy replied.

“We told Ethan about the adoption from the time he was old enough to understand. And we explained the circumstances under which you had to give him up. He’s a happy and well-adjusted child, as you’ll discover when you meet him.”

“Thank you for this opportunity.”

Robin, smiled. “We can never thank you enough for the gift you’ve given us. In comparison, this is nothing. Shall we call Ethan?”

Dayna resisted the urge to squirm. Fear and excitement both swelled in her heart in equal measure. She was about to see her son for the first time in ten years. Sweat beaded over her forehead. Nothing could help prepare her for this poignant encounter. “Yes—please.”

Robin waltzed out of the living room.

Not knowing what to do, Dayna exchanged a hesitant smile with Jeremy who looked just as rattled by this meeting as she was.

When Robin returned, a tall, lean boy with honey-colored skin and piercing dark eyes accompanied her.

For a moment, she felt too stunned to say anything. She remembered his cherubic face and those hauntingly beautiful eyes, so much like his father’s, but nothing could have prepared her for the intelligence and poise that marked his demeanor. Dayna cleared her throat, not trusting herself to speak. “…Hi, Ethan.”

“Hello.” He strode forward to shake hands with her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Although his voice sounded formal and his manner more so, she couldn’t help but notice the hint of curiosity reflecting from his eyes. What’s more, she could tell he wore that easy authority his birth father always seemed to possess. “It’s nice to meet you too. Would you like to sit?” She patted the seat next to her. With effort, Dayna controlled the trembling in her hands. “I last saw you when you were two days old.”

“Mom told me.” He nodded towards his mother. “I’m nine now.”

“Yes, you are.” She could feel the tears prickling behind her eyes. “And you’re very handsome.”

“Thank you. You’re pretty too. Mom showed me some the pictures that you took. I also like to take pictures. I got a digital camera for my ninth birthday. Would you like to see some of the pictures?”

“Yes, definitely.”

Ethan stood and walked away. “I’ll bring them.”

When he left, Dayna stared at his parents. She’d never seen a more self-assured and confident child. So friendly and he looked happy. “He is—phenomenal.”

Jeremy chuckled. “He is, indeed. And for the past year, he has been snapping shots of everyone and everything he comes across. Don’t be surprised if he takes your picture too.”

“I would like that.” Dayna wrung her hands. “And what about—?”

“Ethan is a healthy and happy child. There are no issues that you need to be concerned about,” said Robin with ease. “Other than the fact that he’s developing a rebellious streak when it comes to his bedtime.”

Ethan came back inside. As Robin served refreshments, he showed Dayna the hundreds of images he’d taken of landscapes, animals, his parents, friends and unsuspecting neighbors. They discussed camera angles and light spots. “I’ll buy a couple of useful books for you,” she promised. He had a natural talent for photography. “You could learn a lot from them.”

“That would be great. I’ll be going to a photography summer camp for two weeks in the summer.” He glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. “I’ve got to meet my friends outside. May I be excused, mom?”

“Yes, of course,” Robin replied as she glanced at Dayna. “They like to cycle in the neighborhood park.”

When Ethan stood, he wavered indecisively. Finally, he turned to her and she found herself pinned under his intense, intelligent gaze. “I’m glad that you came to see me. May I take a picture with you?”

Despite her resolve to keep calm, Dayna found a tear slipping from her eye. She could never in a hundred million years explain to anyone what it meant to her that he accepted her so easily and with such grace. “Yes, of course.”

Jeremy volunteered for the job and after receiving countless instructions from Ethan, he finally managed to take a photo that satisfied the child.

To her immense surprise and gratitude, Dayna found herself at the receiving end of a hug.

He gripped her tightly around the waist and smiled. “Thank you. I like you.”

“I like you, too.” When he left, she used a tissue to wipe her tears. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

Robin came to sit with her. She patted Dayna on the hand. “It’s all right.”

She felt so lucky her child had gone to the right house. If there’d ever been a doubt in her mind, it was erased now. For Ethan, she’d made the best decision possible. It was obvious his parents adored him and they’d instilled in him the right values. “You’ve done a wonderful job. He’s very confident and charming.”

“Thank you. We’re actually glad that you contacted us. Ethan is an only child and we would like him to be in touch with his birth parents. It would be nice for him to be in touch with all these people who can be a positive influence in his life.”

Dayna felt amazed at their generosity. No wonder Ethan had imbibed all these good values from his parents. Seeing how helpful they were, she found it a little easier to bring up the topic she had in mind. Twenty minutes later, after bidding a goodbye to the couple, she stepped out of the house. As she sat in the cab, she picked up her phone and called the one person who’d always been there for her. “Jay. I need your help.”

She then set into motion the plan she’d concocted over the past few days. It would take time to tell if she would get the desired results, but Dayna knew she simply couldn’t sit around and mope for all that had gone wrong in her life. It was time to take the bull by the horns and do something.