Destined to Love (Starting Over Trilogy Book 3) (8 page)

We walk the sandy path leading to the beach house, and I watch her walk up the stairs to the lanai. I want to look away, but I can’t. My white shirt only goes mid-thigh and reveals her long tan legs. I can see the outline of her naked breast beneath the shirt. I adjust myself and walk up the stairs and lock the door behind us. I go right to the kitchen so Angel can’t see the effect she has on me. The stronger and more independent she becomes, the more I want her. She was so broken when I met her. I just wanted to wait for her to heal and become the woman I knew was hiding beneath her tortured soul. Now that she is right where I knew she could be, I just want to make love to her and show her what it feels like to be loved. I don’t think I have ever made
real love to a woman before, but when it comes to Angel, I don’t think it will be tough to figure it out. I used to crave it hard and fast, but with Angel I’m going to want it to last. 

“Mason, what is wrong with you tonight? You are in such deep thought.”
 

I look up from behind the refrigerator door that I am hiding behind and smile. “Nothing, I was getting us a water. That’s all.”
 

“No, you have been standing there for five minutes, looking at the picture of us on the refrigerator.”
 

“I like that picture of us and I didn’t realize you were timing me.” I smile, close the refrigerator door, and open a bottle of water for her.
 

“Mmm, mmm. Come on, Handsome, let’s go to bed. We have church in the morning.”
 

I wake up to Angel crying. She is in bed and the lights are off. I blink a few times, trying to decide if she is having a nightmare, or if she is awake. Angel hasn’t had a nightmare in a while. Lying near the edge of the bed, she cries softly. Angel usually sleeps right next to me or in the crook of my arm. Too much space is between us.

I scoot over to her and place my hand on her shoulder, “Angel,” I say softly.

She continues to cry. I stroke her arm softly, again. “Angel, what’s wrong?” Still no answer.

I think she may be asleep. I get out of bed and walk over to her side. She is lying in a fetal position on the bed and crying into the sheet. I kneel down beside her so I am eye to eye with her. I don’t want to be towering over her when she wakes up; she still startles easily. I stroke my hand lightly along her cheek. She wakes up and looks at me. She doesn’t startle like I thought she would. She blinks a few times.
 

“Are you all right, Angel?”
 

“It’s my stomach.”
 

“Your belly hurts?”
 

“It’s cramping.”

“Do you know for how long it’s been hurting?”
 

“No.”
 

“Have you been to the restroom?”
 

“No, I’m scared.”
 

“Come on, Beauty, we need to see if you’re bleeding. I’ll help you.” I pull the sheet back and help her up. She stands on shaky legs before walking into the bathroom. I wait by the door for her to come out. When she finally opens the door and walks out, she says, “No blood.”

She takes my arm and walking with me to the bed.

I pull the covers back for her to get in. Do you know where your doctor’s business card is?”
 

“No, but I have her number programed in my phone.”

“Good girl.” I walk over and get my medical bag from the closet and take her vital signs and check her pain level again. She says the cramping is better, but I’m not sure I believe her. Her blood pressure is elevated, indicating pain.

“Stay right here and lie on your side. I’m going to call the doctor.”

Angel does exactly as I say, and I walk into the other room to make the call. I don’t want to alarm her if I don’t have to.

Once the conversation is over with her doctor, I take a bottle of water and some Tylenol into the bedroom with me for Angel. She is fast asleep. The doctor said for Angel to lie on her side and drink plenty of water and to take Tylenol for pain. She said if Angel begins to bleed to call her and take her to the hospital. She also said if she begins to miscarry, there isn’t any way to stop it. We can only try to prevent it. I wake up Angel and give her the Tylenol and a drink of water. I tell her the doctor said to rest and she doesn’t question me. I shut off the lights and climb in bed with her.

She is lying on her left side and has her back to me. I scoot close to her and kiss her head.

“Sweet dreams, Beauty. I love you.”
 

“Good night, Mason. I love you, too.”
 

Angel hasn’t said much about the pregnancy since her doctor’s appointment. I’m not sure what she is thinking. I know it will be hard on both of us if she carries to term. We will have a remembrance of Jim in our lives every single day. We’ll get past it, but it will take time. It will also be hard if she miscarries. We both have had thoughts that we will feel guilty for having.
 

Angel reaches behind her, and I take her hand in mine. We often hold hands in bed. It’s the closest non-intimate way to be with her. Sometimes I think I’m turning into a girl.

“Mason?”
 

“Angel?” I say, scooting even closer to her.

“Do you think God will punish me for saying I didn’t think I could love this baby? Do you think he’ll take it from me for saying hateful things?”
 

I stand up and walk over to the edge of the bed and kneel down beside her. I look her in her teary eyes and stroke her cheek.

“Beauty, I think God has a plan, I think God already had a plan and things will end up exactly as they should. Your thoughts are normal and should be expected. I don’t think it matters what we say or do. Things will end up exactly as God has intended. If you deliver, you and I will be the parents of a beautiful baby and we will love him or her, with all that we are.”
 

“What if I lose it?” She sniffles.
 

“Then we will mourn our loss and figure out the best way to move on. We’ll spend time getting to know each other and planning our wedding. We’ll talk about when the right time will be for us to start a family.”
 

“You want kids with me?”

“Beauty, I want to fill this house up with kids who look just like you. I want to hear giggles and cries and laughter when I get home from work. I want to clean up spilled milk and change dirty diapers. Beauty, I want all those things with you and only you.”

“I have a boy’s name picked out, already.”

“Mmm, should I be worried?”
 

“Nope, you’ll love it.”
 

“Well, since we are being honest, I have a girl’s name picked out, too,” I say, stroking her hair. “What’s your name, then I’ll tell you mine.”
 

“Don’t laugh.”
 

“Ok.”
 

“It’s Alexson Bruce Myles.”
 

I smile because I don’t want to laugh. Alexson Bruce Myles. I get the Bruce name, but how did you come up with Alexson?”
 

“It’s Mason Alexander combined, Alexson.”
 

“That’s your boy’s name, huh?”
 

“Yup, your turn.”
 

“Well, don’t
you
laugh.” 

“Ok.”
 

“My girl’s name is Ana Maria.”
 

She smiles to try to hide her laugh. “After the island? I like it,” she giggles.
 

“No laughing.”
 

“Mason, you can’t name our daughter after Anna Maria Island.”
 

“No, I can’t. But, I can name our daughter after your mother, Ana, and after your Aunt Maria. Ana Maria Hope Myles.”
 

Angel gets tears in her eyes and they fall down her cheek. Her lip begins to quiver. I wipe her tears away with my thumbs and lean in to kiss her quivering lips.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” I ask, kissing her again.
 

She kisses me back and nods. I can feel the warmth from her tears on my cheek. I pull away from her and look at her.

“I love you more than you’ll ever know, and I thank God for bringing you into my life,” she says, backing up and lifting the cover to me.

I get into the bed, pull her into my arms, and kiss her head. “Sweet dreams, Beauty,” is all I say because I can’t say anything else. I am definitely turning into a girl.

Angel
 

I wake up to cramping. I try not to worry; I know I can’t change fate. Whatever God’s plan is, no matter how I feel, I can’t change God’s plan. I have to believe things will be the way they were meant to be. I look at Mason; he is sound asleep. Funny that I can picture us together with a family. I didn’t even know I wanted a family until I didn’t have a choice. Mason wants to name our daughter after two women in my family. That speaks volumes about him. I have never loved anyone as much as I love him. He is so unbelievably amazing.

I cramp again and moan. Mason wakes up and looks startled.

“You’re in pain.” It’s not a question but a direct statement.

“It’s getting worse.”

“Are you bleeding?”
 

“I don’t think so. I haven’t been to the restroom yet.”

Mason sits up and looks at the clock. He hands me two more Tylenol and some more water. I drink the water and swallow the pills down.

“I have to pee.”

I stand up and Mason is already out of bed. He walks me to the restroom and waits for me outside the door. I notice light pink blood on the toilet paper. I run water and get a panty liner from under the sink. I wash my hands and face then open the bathroom door.
 

“No blood,” I lie.
 

There isn’t anything he can do, so I’m not going to worry him. He takes my hand and walks me back into the bedroom and lifts the covers for me to climb under. I was thinking about staying up, but obviously Mason wants me to stay in bed. So, I do what he wants. I don’t even question him.

“I need to call Mom and let her know we won’t be going to church today.”
 

“You should go. I’ll be fine here.”
 

The phone rings and Mason answers it immediately. He doesn’t leave the room and I can hear what he is saying. It must be the doctor on the other end. I am surprised the doctor would call to check on me on a Sunday. I listen as I lie there. Mason looks over at me and then looks outside. He doesn’t hand me the phone or ask me any questions. He hangs up the phone and looks over at me.
 

“That was your doctor calling to check in. She said she wants to see you in her office on Monday.”
 

“Ok, I have work, so it’ll have to be after that or during my lunch.”
 

“Ok, we can go at lunch. She also said to stay in bed and rest today and if you start bleeding or cramping a lot to call her. Drink plenty of water and continue to lie on your side.”
 

Mason climbs in bed with me to let me know that we are going to do exactly as the doctor wants. He picks up the phone and texts someone without saying a word. When he is done, he places the phone on the nightstand.

“Not going to church?”
 

“No, my girl needs me.”
 

“Mason, you should go to church. We could use the prayers.”
 

“Beauty, God hears our prayers no matter where we are. Being in church doesn’t mean God will listen first or most or hardest.”

“I guess you’re right, but you don’t need to stay here with me. It’s just some mild cramping, it’s nothing.”
 

Mason stands without saying a word. He opens the blinds and walks out of the room. I lie there looking out into the private beach while lying on my left side. It is such a beautiful day with the sun shining. Mason comes back into the bedroom with a cup of coffee, a cranberry juice, two English muffins, and two bananas on a tray.
 

I sit up in bed and smile. “If you plan on staying in bed with me all day today, it’s going to be very boring, you know.”
 

Mason lays the tray across my lap, careful not to spill the coffee. He reaches down and grabs my computer and lays it at the foot of the bed, before he gets back into the bed.
 

“I thought we could shop, watch movies, eat, and sleep,” he says while lifting the coffee from the tray.
 

I pick up the juice and take a drink. “That sounds like fun; what do you want to shop for?”
 

“I thought we could shop for office supplies for you: paint, fabrics, textiles, or whatever it is you’ll need. You’ll be needing samples and stuff. I assume you’ll be meeting clients here, so you’ll need an office to represent your work.”
 

I hand Mason his English muffin and smile. “Yes, I guess, you’re right. I already have the paint samples, but I’ll need the fabrics and textiles, too. I’ll also need to get some drapes, rugs, and lighting in that room I chose for my office. I don’t think I put enough thought in this. I still have a lot to do before I’ll be ready to start working.”