Beautiful Liar (12 page)

Because my lease is up I have to move in with Turner fairly fast. He doesn’t take no for an answer when I turn down his offer to hire professional movers. Now that Aiden and I will be living with Turner I don’t have to worry about finding a second job to cover rent. It will take some adjusting for the three of us to live together. I think it will be more of an adjustment for Turner than us. Aiden is young enough that it will be an easy transition for him. But Turner is used to living on his own.

The first week is hectic our boxes are stacked through out the apartment. But if it bothers Turner he hasn’t complained. I have my meeting with Beverly in mediation tomorrow. I just hope we can work out a schedule we can both agree on. She is a difficult woman. Turner has offered to go with me for support, but I told him his being present might set her off. So instead he has agreed to spend some quality time with Aiden. He is taking him to Sea World. It warms my heart that he is stepping right up and making an effort with Aiden. Not like he hasn’t been good with him before, but I can see that he is really trying.

Turner isn’t working at the club tonight and he has Aiden curled up in his lap watching one of his old tapes of his glory days from when he played soccer in college.

I am going to miss living next door to Caroline, but I will still see her. She has made me agree to do a weekly dinner with her. Turner is going to keep Aiden when he isn’t working. And now that I no longer work at the club there isn’t a need for her to watch him all the time. Though I may call her so Turner and I can have a date night every now and then.

I hear Turner and Aiden yelling at the TV in unison. Peeking around the hall I see the two of them standing in front of the TV shouting, regarding a football game they are watching. “Boys and their balls,” I mumble to myself.

The day for mediation has arrived and I am so nervous. I am only willing to agree for Mrs. Case to come to Florida to see Aiden. There is no way I am putting my baby on a plane and sending him to her. I walk on in with my attorney and have a seat. I am surprised to find Beverly’s lawyer without her.

“I regret to inform you that Mrs. Case isn’t feeling well. I have been advised to act on her behalf. In light of her recent health concerns, Mrs. Case is no longer able to travel and is no longer seeking visitation rights. But however if you are so inclined, she request that you bring the child to see her once every summer. She assumes that you will be visiting your family there already.”

I am not going to fight this turn of events. Even though I want nothing more than to say no after the way she has acted. Her calling CPS on me was drawing the line. But she is Brody’s mother and I want Aiden to know who he comes from. And as he gets older he can decide for himself how he feels about her. So I put my big girl panties on and agree.

If I am fast enough I may be able to spend the day with my guys. I send a quick text to Turner and let him know that
Beverly was a no show. He is as relieved as I am. But he tells me they are having a guy’s day and I am not included. Those punks, but I am glad they are spending time together.

I go home and start unpacking more of my belongings and hope to surprise them with a clean and clutter free home when they return. I spend so much time cleaning and arranging I don’t even notice as the hours fly by. My two guys come in laughing and tell me all about seeing the sharks being fed. Aiden is wearing his lopsided grin. It makes me feel even better about moving in with Turner quicker than I had anticipated.

I tell Aiden to go to the bathroom so I can clean him up and get him ready for dinner. But Turner stops me and orders me to have a seat on the couch. He says that he and Aiden have something important to talk to me about. I am clueless as to what is going on. I have a seat and wait. I can see the two of them huddled in the kitchen whispering. Curiosity has its hold on me as I impatiently wait to find out what could be so important.

They enter the living room together. Turner takes a deep breath before speaking. His palms are sweaty and he looks like he might throw up. Now I am getting nervous.

“Okay, don’t freak out on me. But this is something I have been thinking about and I really hope you can just listen and give Aiden and I both a chance to talk before you say anything.”

“Okay, I guess I can do that.” I take a second to mentally prepare myself for whatever the two have them have up their sleeves. Aiden is grinning at me excitedly but Turner still looks like he might faint or puke. A nervous giggle escapes my throat.

“I know you just moved in with me and it might seem too fast to bring this up but, I really love you and Aiden. I want us to be a family Darby. A real one. I don’t want us to waste time worrying about what ifs and wishing for it to happen someday. Life is too short. I want to adopt Aiden. I want to be the guy who takes him fishing. I want to teach him all about sports. I want to be the guy that teaches him to ride a bike. I want to walk him to class on his first day of school. Let me be the one to cheer him up when he doesn’t always make the team.”

The tears are straining to leak from my eyes as this wonderful man declares his love for my son. It may seem to fast for other people but I want these things too. The symbolism of his words sounds so much like what Marla used to say to me. It’s now I know that it is a sign telling me to live hard and love even harder.

“Before you say anything Aiden has something he wants to ask you. You ready buddy? Remember what we planned okay.”

Aiden brings his hands from behind his back and he is holding a jewelry box. He places the box in my lap and says to me, “Ma you marry Tun.”

It takes me a moment to realize what my little man just said to me. “Yes baby, Ma will marry Tun.” I let out an excited giggle.

Turner comes over and kneels in front of me. “Aiden you did a great job buddy, but I want to ask her myself now. Darby, pumpkin. I love you so much. I couldn’t go another day before I ask you one very important question. Will you marry me?”

“Yes, Turner.” I throw my arms around his neck and give him a kiss as he opens the box and slides the ring on my finger.

It is so beautiful. I can’t stop staring at the ring on my finger. The diamond is canary yellow and in a princess cut.

“Do you like it? I picked the yellow because I know yellow stands for friendship. We started off as friends and grew into something so much more.”

“It’s perfect Turner.” I kiss Turner’s face again and pull Aiden into my lap.

I can’t help but wish for Marla to be here with me celebrating in our joy. But I can feel her with me, telling me that she is so happy for Aiden, Turner and I. Maybe what she said was true, everyone serves a purpose in our life. And sometimes when they leave it just means their time in our life is up. All of the choices I have made and the lies I have told have lead up to this moment in my life.

Sometimes life has a way of choosing for you. Some call it fate.

Three years later…..

I am sitting comfortably in my beach chair, well as comfortable as I can be at this size. I look out in front of me and see my guys. Turner an Aiden spend their Saturday’s playing soccer and baseball on the beach. They are so cute together. Turner really is the best dad. Aiden still has his father’s curls. I never could bring myself to shave them off. Besides they suit him.

Aiden still haunts me with the ghost of his father, and three years after his death it never gets any easier. I still feel Brody with me, every time the wind blows I almost hear him whisper my name. He will always be a part of me. And Turner has been so patient and understanding. He even takes the time to talk to Aiden about Brody even though he never met him. And though Turner is now legally Aiden’s dad he never wants our son to forget who his father was.

Beverly Case didn’t live long enough to get her visits with Aiden. They say she died of a broken heart. She passed away a few months after I married Turner. I guess Marla was right about another thing. She always said death comes in threes.
Beverly did include Aiden in her will. Her lawyer had most of Brody’s sports memorabilia shipped to us along with photos and mementos. So Aiden has things to connect with his father.

Turner comes jogging over to me and places his hand on my stomach and gives it a rub, while leaning down to kiss my cheek. “How are my girls doing?”

“We are hungry.” He helps to pull me from my chair. “I have been thinking about a name.”

“Yeah what are you thinking, we are getting close. “

“Well I was thinking I want to call her Dava, after your brother Davie.”

“Pumpkin I think that’s perfect.”

The End

Beautiful Liar

A mother by day and writer by night. When Glenna isn’t writing or spending time with family you can usually find her curled up reading a great book. She has a passion for romance and paranormal reads.

Glenna was born and raised in the beautiful hills of Eastern Ky, where she still resides today. Her hobbies include reading, writing, scrap-booking, and cooking.

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Coming Soon From Author

Glenna Maynard

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Bella Rose and Cutter Dawson are two lost souls trying to find their place in this world. They have known loss. But with pain comes beauty. When they find each other in the midst of their darkest hours, will the beauty they see in each other be enough to save them?