A Promise of Forever (22 page)

He held her and made love to her for hours, no longer holding his emotions and needs at bay.
My appetite for her will never be satisfied
.
He held her in the crook of his arms hours later, while she slept.
She didn’t move until she heard a faint knock on the door.
She lifted her head from the pillow and realized that she was alone, hugging the pillow that still held his scent.
She wondered where he had gone so early.

“Katelyn…are you awake?” Sylvia asked as she opened the bedroom door slightly.
She saw that Katelyn was awake, just beginning to get up.
“Kevin and I are going to a doctor’s appointment and I didn’t want you to come downstairs and find the house totally deserted.”

“Where is everyone?” Katelyn asked.

“Gianfranco took Jenny into town to go shopping.
He told us the news last night when he arrived.
He felt bad that he blew your surprise.
He didn’t know you were waiting for him to arrive to share your news with us.
I don’t know how you kept the secret.
I can’t believe how embarrassed I feel, trying to set you up with Brody.
Kevin is beside himself, Katelyn.
He is so happy for you and Jenny.
Boy, you should have heard Jenny’s reaction when Gianfranco told her.
Mind you, I don’t think he intended to tell her but she overheard us talking, I’m afraid.
You better watch out for that little girl of yours; he’s already like putty in her hands.”

Her heart was beating so fast; she thought Sylvia could hear it as well.
Her first reaction was to fling her feet over the side of the bed but she stopped herself when she thought about her current state of dress.
She had no clothes on beneath the blankets.
She couldn’t believe her little girl was being told all this information and she wasn’t there to explain the decisions she had made and the reasons why she had made them all those years ago.
Everything was happening way too fast.
She wasn’t prepared for this.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you both myself.
I wanted to but I thought I should wait until Gianfranco arrived and we told you together.”

“I still can’t get over it.
Here I am thinking like a fool that maybe you and Brody could hook up and live happily ever after.”
Sylvia paused for a moment as if she were thinking about something.
“I can’t get over how you got Gianfranco Broccolini to settle down.
I’m so happy for you both.
There are no two people more deserving.
I honestly didn’t think that man would ever settle down,” Sylvia said, stretching out her arms, giving Katelyn a hug.

“I can just imagine what the headlines will read when this news gets out.
‘
One of the top sexiest richest men calls it quits’.
”
Sylvia voiced as if reading from a headline already.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and continued to tease Katelyn.
“The papers will be after you, too.
All the crazy single women will want to know how you did it.
Don’t worry, you’ll have us plain folk to protect you from the media, for a little while anyway.”

“Oh come on, what makes Gianfranco so special?”
She tried to hide her tears; they were just below the surface but it wouldn’t be long before they were flowing.
They were tears of fear, fear of the future.
She wanted this marriage to work more than anything but she had her doubts.
It seemed there was only one place where they were in total sync and that was in bed.
She couldn’t keep him in bed forever, though it would fun to try.

Sylvia apologized again for having to leave her alone before she left the bedroom and added that she wasn’t sure if she and Kevin would be back for dinner or if they would grab something in town.
Katelyn assured her that she and Gianfranco could handle things without them.
After Sylvia left, she got up and looked at her body, a body that had been made love to all night.
Then she took a long hot shower before putting on fresh clothes.
She ended up wearing thong underwear and jeans and a black sweater without a bra.
She was going for comfort since she would spend most of the day alone.

Katelyn went into the kitchen and made a pot of tea while she waited for everyone to return home.
As the hours passed she was beginning to think that no one was ever going to return home so she picked up a magazine to keep her company.
Ironically, she picked up a copy of
Glitz
.
She turned to the story she did on Charles Matlin and was happy to see that Mr. Taylor had decided not to change anything after all.
Her story was good and she knew that if he had changed even a small piece of the story, it would have lost its effect.
The story had plenty to offer its readership violence, sex and corruption in today’s politics.
Yet, leaving out any of the details she uncovered and the readers would’ve been left without closure.

There was also an announcement about the merger in the magazine.
It gave a very brief but upbeat scenario about hiring more people to accommodate future expansion.
She hoped that the story was accurate and that Gianfranco had planned on the expansion of the magazine because there were a lot of talented people who would probably lose their jobs if he decided to downsize at all.

She laid the magazine down on the table and wondered where Gianfranco could be.
Where did he take Jenny and what are they talking about?
It galled her to no end that he hadn’t thought to include her in this important decision.
Despite her obvious misgivings about their upcoming marriage, she knew there was no turning back.
It was going to happen now, no matter what the cost or to whom.

It was almost lunchtime and she hoped that Gianfranco, where ever he was, would be feeding their child, although she was sure Jenny would tell him if she were hungry.
She stood by the large window and looked out at the sprawling acres of Kevin’s ranch.
It looked cold and damp outside.
She thought for a second about Nellie and how much they had in common, two women in love with two men who didn’t seem to want to love them back.

Katelyn made a note to call Nellie, also known as Eleanor, and set up a lunch date.
There was no reason to wallow in their unhappiness alone when they had each other.
We were fools
,
fools for love
.
Both of their men had the ability to hurt them beyond their wildest dreams and both were probably unaware of the power they each held.
She went to the couch and decided to watch a little television to take her mind off things.
Surely they wouldn’t be much longer?

Gianfranco walked hand in hand with his daughter down main-street; beaming with pride as they held onto each other.
He held her little hand in his and prayed that there would be many more days like this ahead for the two of them.
He stared down into the ebony eyes he recognized as his own mirror image and smiled with proud arrogance. He remembered fantasizing about what a child of a union between him and the young woman he called Irish would look like.
The answer to the question was standing right next to him.
She was a beauty, his daughter, and smart too.
He grinned from ear to ear as it dawned on him how quickly he was falling in love with his little girl.

“I don’t think my mom is going to be happy with you.
She doesn’t like it when Uncle Kevin or Uncle Jake try to spoil me and you bought me way more than they ever do.
Santa Claus doesn’t even bring me this much and he spoils me,” Jenny said with the innocence of a child.

“I think, this one time, your mother will forgive me.
After all, it isn’t everyday you get married, is it?” he asked gingerly as he continued to stroll down the street.
This was his child and he had missed out on seven years of her life; he wasn’t about to miss another second of it.
She was everything he could have asked for in a child.
Katelyn did a great job raising her so far but she deserved two parents.
He saw how reluctant Jenny was to believe that the two of them wouldn’t be in any trouble with her mom; he assured her that her mom would understand.

What Katelyn thought about the gifts was not important to him.
Since she had no qualms about lying to him about his child’s existence, he’d spoil Jenny if he wanted to; there was nothing Katelyn could do about it.
He was determined not to miss another second of the time they would have together.

“I’m having fun with you.
I’m glad you’re marrying my mom,” Jenny stated shyly.
He effortlessly scooped her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

“I’m having a great time too.
I’m glad we’re going to be a family,” he added.

Gianfranco kissed her forehead after placing her on the ground again.
He could tell by the way she looked at him that she had a question for him but was afraid to ask.
She’ll ask me when she’s ready and I won’t push her away.
He didn’t want to make any mistakes with Jenny and if it meant delaying their conversation because she wasn’t ready to hear the truth, then he would wait.

“How about you and I find a restaurant somewhere and get something to eat?
You must be hungry from all this shopping?” he asked, swinging their hands up into the air as they were locked together.
He found a place a couple of doors down as they walked along Main Street and he requested a seat in the center of the room so that anyone who saw them would presume that this was his daughter.
It was his silent way of acknowledging her.

“Do you think I could get hot chocolate?” she asked.

“You can have whatever you want,” he said as he motioned for a waitress.
The woman took their order and Jenny suddenly stood up and made an announcement to the unsuspecting waitress.

“This is my Dad.” She stated proudly.
The waitress seemed a bit puzzled but smiled at the little girl and said she’d get her a couple of hot chocolates right away.
As the waitress walked away from the table, Gianfranco couldn’t hide the emotions he felt by Jenny’s admission.
He was bursting with pride at Jenny’s sudden announcement and wished that someone familiar was there to witness it.
The waitress returned with their drinks and handed Gianfranco a piece of paper.
He glanced at it and saw that it had her name and phone number on it.
The note alluded to her interest in him since he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

“Do you like her?” Jenny asked innocently.

“Do you mean the waitress?” he asked as she nodded back at him.
“I think she seems like a nice person but I don’t know her.
If you’re asking me if I would want to date her, I’d have to say no.
Why would I be interested in her when I have the two most beautiful women in the world in my life right now?
Jenny, I want you to know that I loved your mother since the very first time I saw her.
Does that answer your question?” he asked trying to reassure her.
He loved watching her expressions; she was so much like Katelyn in that sense.
Her insecurity was written all over her face.
She didn’t want to lose the potential father she saw in him and he wished he could make it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere.

“I do have a question, but I’m afraid to ask you,” she said.
He wondered what it was that frightened her so but not enough to stop her from asking.
She opted to continue in spite of the fear she felt.
“My momma once told me that my real father lived in another country.
She said that if he knew about me, he would have been the best father in the world.
She said that it was our secret.”
She paused a second before continuing, “When you hugged me outside, I saw the mark on your neck; my momma said that my dad had that same mark.
That’s the same mark I have.”
She pulled her long hair over to the side and Gianfranco saw that they indeed shared the same heart shaped birthmark.
People who passed through his life had always assumed it was a tattoo.
How could he not tell her the truth when she came right out and asked him?

“Are you my daddy?” she asked timidly, as she waited for his answer.

He wanted Katelyn to be there with him when it came time to have this discussion with Jenny.
He couldn’t lie to her when she came right out and asked, so he just nodded his head; his eyes welled up.
The silence lasted a few seconds but felt like a lifetime.
It was the most agonizing few minutes of his life.
His face was strained from the anticipation of her response.
He knew he had to be the adult in this situation and explain to her, in words she would understand, why he had been absent in her life.
For now, he would let her digest what he had just revealed to her and wait for her to say something to him.

Jenny got up from her seat, at first Gianfranco second-guessed whether he had made the correct choice.
He thought she was going to run from the restaurant and he’d have to chase after her but she didn’t.
Instead, she walked slowly over to his chair, looked up into his face with those big ebony eyes and smiled.
“I’m glad you’re my Daddy,” she said, before hugging him tightly around his neck.
He thought she held on so tight that he would choke but he loved every second of it.

Putting her on his lap, he said, “Jenny, I promise you that, from now on, I’ll be there for you.
I don’t ever want you to doubt for one minute that I didn’t want you in my life.
If I had known I had a little girl, I would have come back a long time ago.
Do you believe me?” he asked still holding her.

She smiled and nodded and hugged him again.
“I’m glad you’re here now and that you’re staying.”
She jumped off his lap and returned to her seat.
“In my school, they have a father and daughter day.
Now, I have a dad to bring.
Momma’s friend Adam said that he would take me but I don’t like him,” she said smirking.

Gianfranco laughed.
Out of the mouths of babes
, he thought.
“You want to know something?
I don’t like him either.
We should finish up our lunch and then stop at the jewelry store before we head home.
We need to buy you and your mother wedding rings.”

“You want to buy me a wedding ring?
I thought only big people wore them,” she said, confused.

He wanted to spoil his child.
He wanted to enjoy every second he had with her.
“You’re right, of course, but I want to buy you a promise ring.
I want you to have a ring that will remind you that I love you and I’ll always be here for you.”

He signed the restaurant check that was given to him by the waitress, and after retrieving the note from his pocket with the waitress’s number on it, he left both pieces of paper on the table.
Jenny was pleased that he did and took her father’s hand proudly as they walked from the restaurant together.
The walk was a little bit longer to the jewelry store but neither of them seemed to mind; that was more time they got to spend together.

It was a quiet store and the shop owner seemed pleased to see them.
After consulting with the jeweler and picking out two beautiful rings for his girls, he asked Jenny to help him pick out another gift for her mom.
He told her he wanted to surprise her with a gift that would be very special.
Jenny scrunched up her little nose, as if deep in thought, looking as though she had thought of some brilliant idea; he knew, no matter what the cost, they were going to find it and purchase it.

“I thought of something great.
I remember my momma telling me a story that her father told her when she was my age.
He used to take momma for walks on the beach and they would hunt for treasures and one time she found a starfish on the sand.
My grandpa told her that when more than one person shared a wish on a stranded starfish and tossed it very carefully back into the ocean, their wish would come true.
He said because you offered the starfish another chance at life, your wish would be granted!” his little girl shouted excitedly.

He enjoyed watching the excitement on her face as she spoke and rehashed one of her favorite stories.
She was so much more like Katelyn than he had realized.
It was apparent that she had a gift for words and expressions.
For a second or two she stood there and seemed deep in thought again.
She didn’t seem to be fazed or interested in anything going on around her.

“I once found a starfish on the beach with when momma and her friend Adam took me there for a walk; I wished as hard as I could.
I didn’t think I would ever get my wish but I did.
I wanted you to find me, Daddy,” she added with a smile.

He didn’t care what Katelyn thought about a marriage between the two of them because he knew for certain that Jenny needed them to be a family and that was all that mattered to him.
She needed him in her life and she was going to have him.
He promised her that they would be a family and there were some promises that were meant to be kept forever.
“I’m never going anywhere, Jenny.
I’m going to marry your momma and we’re going to be a family.
I promise, Adam is gone forever,” he said as he gently brushed the straggling pieces of curls back from her face.
“You don’t have to go and spend time with him and your mom anymore.”

He questioned Jenny a little bit about her fear of Adam and realized that Adam had very little direct contact with his daughter but he knew Jenny was uneasy around him.
He would make sure that she didn’t have to spend another minute with him again.
Gianfranco turned his attention back to the salesperson and asked what he could do about finding a starfish pendant for his wife.
The salesperson assured him that, although they didn’t carry anything like that, he would get on the phone and see if he could locate one for him.
While they waited, father and daughter got better acquainted; Gianfranco couldn’t help but ask questions about Katelyn.

What little he did find out, without badgering his daughter, he liked.
Apparently, his future wife didn’t get out much.
He already suspected as much, knowing that other than Kevin and Jake, no other men had been invited to the apartment.
He smiled because he knew it was what his jealous mind needed to hear.
It was so unlike him to be jealous but for some reason all the emotions he felt around Katelyn were different.

The salesman came out from the back room with a smile etched across his face.
It seemed that he had found a pendant after consulting with a store in the next town.
The shopkeeper said he could have it sent by courier to wherever Gianfranco requested by morning.
However, he thought there might be a problem since it was very expensive.
“I’m afraid it’s an original design and very expensive. It’s made up of all diamonds and emeralds inlaid in platinum.
The store is faxing over a picture for you to inspect,” the salesperson said.

The elderly salesman seemed delighted to see the exchange between father and daughter.
The stranger and his child had spent more money in the last ten minutes than his regular customers spent in a month combined and this was a wealthy location.
He was definitely happy that this customer had decided to walk into his shop.
After showing the picture of the pendant to Gianfranco and getting his approval, he gave the address to the other shop so that they could have it sent to him at the ranch.
He added up the price for the pendant and the two wedding rings, along with an exquisite engagement ring, and handed the bill to Gianfranco.