Honest Love (20 page)

“I’m already ‘snagged.’  I’ve never gotten so drunk that I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.  Even in college, I didn’t drink much.  And, I like you being jealous.  It means you want me…you love me and want me all to yourself.”  I was teasing her.

She laughed and it was music to my ears.  “You might just be right about that, baby.”

“Claire, you have no idea what it does to me when I hear you happy, hear you laughing, calling me ‘baby.’  I love it.”

“Feels pretty good to hear it from you, too.  Are you home yet?”

“Just got out of the cab and walking to my front door.”

“Okay.  We’re at a hotel near the airport and I’m curled up in bed.  My kids are in the adjoining room next to mine.  Although, Jenna will probably be in here with me before long.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes, she’s not a fan of sharing space with her brothers, even if one is her twin.”  Claire laughed, then quietly said, “I want you to meet them.  They’ll love you.”

“I’d really like that.  Maybe when you guys get back?”

“Yes…or…maybe…”

“What…already changed your mind?”

“Yes…well, no, not about them meeting you.  But, I have changed my mind about something else.  I want you to come to the Bahamas, meet us there.”

“Really?  You’re okay with it?”  She chuckled at my shocked reaction.  “If you’re sure, I’ll fly there tomorrow.”

“I’m sure.  They’ll be a bit surprised, but I want you with us.”

“You really mean it, don’t you?”  I couldn’t stop smiling and shaking my head at the amazing turn of events between us.  “I’m looking forward to meeting them, but I’m
really
looking forward to curling up next to your naked body and doing all kinds of kinky things to you.” 

“Kinky, huh?”

“Yep!  So you’d better rest up.  I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?”

“Okay.  I’ll text you the address in the morning.”

“Thank you, Claire, for letting me love you and for trusting me.  I love you.”

“Night, Derek.  I can’t wait to see you.”

“Night.”

Chapter 24

Claire

Well, I’d done it.  I couldn’t believe I’d asked Derek to come to the Bahamas with us
and
I’d told him I was falling in love.

When I called Andy to ask him if the offer still stood for the house in the Bahamas, he and Karen were more than happy to let the kids and I go there for the week.  Jake didn’t say a word when I told him I was flying into Houston to pick up our kids and we were going to the beach for New Years.  It was a much needed break.  What I hadn’t expected was a text from Derek looking for me or for him to be out at a club when I called him.  It wasn’t that I had certain expectations for his ‘thinking time.’  I guess I just didn’t anticipate Derek going out…well, not with what Melissa had told me or even based on his own admissions.

I shook my head and forced myself to let go of all the swirling questions rattling around.  I’d pulled the trigger and asked Derek to join us.  Now, I had to break the news to my kids and hoped they would be okay—accept my decision.

Matt, Jenna, Jon and I were staying at the Marriott Hotel close to Intercontinental Airport in Houston.  Our flight was leaving bright and early the next morning.  So, after I hung up with Derek, I walked into the adjoining room and sat on the end of Matt’s bed.

“Hey, Mom, I thought you were asleep.”

“No.  I was just talking to…a friend on the phone, Matt.  Jon, turn down the TV for a second.  I want to talk to you guys about something.”

“Momma, what’s wrong?”  Jenna could see the anxiety on my face.  She moved closer to me and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.  Jon, with his usual stoic, observant calm moved closer as well, sitting on the same bed as the rest of us. 

“Guys, don’t look so worried.  It’s nothing that huge.”  I laughed.  “I just wanted to tell you that I…well, I met someone that I’ve been spending a lot of time with and I’d like you to meet him.”

“MOM!  Don’t scare me like that!”  Jenna threw herself at me, hugging my neck tightly.

“What did you think I was going to say, honey?”  She was shaking.  “Are you crying?”  I pulled my daughter away and looked at her face. She was smiling, but tears were streaming down her face.  “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I just don’t want any more big surprises.  They’re not fun, Momma.” 

“I know.  I’m sorry.  We can postpone you guys meeting Derek if you want.”  I wasn’t sure how I was going to break that to him.

“No, it’s okay.  I just thought you were gonna say something bad, that’s all.” 

I turned to look at my boys.  Matt was staring at me, sort of looking me over and Jon had his eyebrows pinched together…not happy.  “Boys?  What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know, Mom.  Who’s this guy?  Where’d you meet him?  I mean, when were you going to tell us?”

“Matt, I’m telling you now and it’s out of being respectful to
you,
so watch your tone.  I don’t have to answer to any of you, but I also don’t want to keep secrets from you guys.  We’ve had enough of those to last a lifetime.”

“I know.  I’m sorry, Mom.  I just don’t want…”

“What, Matt?  Don’t want me to move on like your dad did?  Don’t want my attention on anyone other than you three?  What?”  I was getting pissed and losing my cool.  I knew he’d be concerned…especially him.  But, I wasn’t going to let my seventeen year old son act like a punk.  “Look…”  I took a deep breath.  “I met Derek at the clinic.  He’s actually a patient of mine.  A firefighter who re-injured his knee.  We’ve become friends over the last several weeks and have spent a lot of time together while you were here with your dad.”

“Is he nice to you, Momma?”  My Jon had such a tender heart.  I reached across the bed and touched his hand. 

“Yes, Jon, he is very nice to me.”  I smiled thinking about Derek.

“So, why are you telling us this now?”  Matt was still suspicious.

“Well, honestly, Matt, I asked him to join us on our vacation.”

“WHAT?  WHY?” 

I let out a little laugh.  “You know, I don’t really know why.  I’d already told Derek I needed time before I’d let you guys meet him.  But then before I could take it back, I’d invited him to join us.  He’s excited to get to know you.”

“Does he know about Dad?”  Matt was turning out to be a much harder sale than I’d anticipated. 

“Yes, Matt, and he knows everything—the whole story.”

“What did he say?”  Jon spoke again.

“He hates what happened to us—understands our side, I guess.  He was married before.  His wife left him pretty heartbroken.  It was about six years ago, I think.”

“Does he have kids?” 

“No, Jenna, he doesn’t have any children.”  And there was our biggest issue.  But I wasn’t going to tell my kids that and I wasn’t going to dwell on it either.  I was going to trust Derek as best I could and take a chance—for now. 

“When is he coming?”

“I think sometime tomorrow or the next day.  It will be okay, I promise.  I think you’ll enjoy getting to know him.  You know, he used to play pro football, Matt.”

“Really?  I thought you said he was a fireman?”

“His knee injury ended his football career.  So, he trained and is now a firefighter.”  I smiled seeing Matt’s face relax.  He was impressed.  But the second he saw me grinning, he put his mad face back in place. 

I reached over and patted his leg.  “Stop!  If what your dad did to me didn’t break me, I don’t think Derek will either.  Just be open minded.  I’m not saying we’re getting married.  I’m saying I enjoy spending time with him and I wasn’t going to hide it or sneak around behind you guys.  We’re beyond that kind of crap.  Don’t you think?”

“Yes, I’m excited to meet him.  I like the way you smile when you say his name and talk about him.”  My daughter, she was a smart girl.  I shook my head and grinned.

“Jon, you okay?”

“I think so.  I want you happy, Mom.  I just don’t know about some guy hanging around.  He won’t try to like be a dad to us or something, cause I don’t think I’ll like that.”

“No.  No matter who I’m dating, your dad and I are your parents.  I expect you to be respectful just like you would be to any of my friends or any adult, for that matter.  But Derek isn’t interested in being your parent.  He’s interested in meeting you and spending time with me.  Period.”

“Yeah, what else?”  Matt’s comment was low, but I heard him.  I jerked my head his way and pointed right at my son.

“Watch yourself, Matthew!  You don’t want to cross that line with me, understand?  Not.  Going.  To.  Happen.  You
will be
respectful or you’ll find yourself in a very long, very painful state of grounding.  And that car you keep begging for?  Yeah.  You’ll be riding a bicycle your freshman year of college.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“And you can bet your ass your dad would back me up on every bit of that, too.  He doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to this anyway.”  I rarely cussed around my kids, but I wasn’t going to let a snarky, hormonal teenager shoot off his smartass mouth about
my
love life. 

“I know.  It’s just more changes for us.  I don’t want to share you.  We already have to share Dad.”  Matts tone had softened. 

“I know.  But that doesn’t mean that only your dad is entitled to move on with his life.  I don’t want to just be your mom.  I love that job, but you guys are growing up.  You’re graduating soon and Jon and Jenna are right behind you.  I don’t know what will happen with Derek or anyone else, but I don’t want to be alone forever.  I know it’s hard for you to understand, but you guys aren’t five years old anymore.  You’re old enough to get it.”

“We do, Mom.  It’s just hard.”

“Believe me, I know.”  I laughed.  “I still can’t believe I shot off my mouth and told Derek to come with us.  Look, I promise we’ll have fun.  Let’s just enjoy this break and not think too much about any of it, deal?”

“Deal.”  Of course, Jenna was first to answer.  She kissed my cheek and said, “I’m sleeping with Mom,” then took off for the other room.

“You boys okay?” 

“Yes.”  The both answered at the same time.

I scooted over and grabbed both of them into a hug.  “I love you boys so much.  I’m so proud of you and incredible grateful you’re my sons.”  I kissed their checks, then looked straight at Matt.  “I know you want to protect me…that’s what this is all about, right?”  He nodded his head.  “Thank you, honey.  You’re a good boy…a good young man.  I’ll be okay.  Trust me.”

I could see Matt’s eyes tearing a little.  “I love you, Momma.”

“Me, too.”  Jon added.  They both hugged me hard, bringing tears to my eyes. 

“My boys…God, how I love you.”

When I stood to leave their room, I could see a bit of sadness in their eyes.  They were having a tough time with what I’d sprung on them and I felt bad.  Maybe I was making a mistake letting Derek come with us, but it was too late now.  I didn’t want to disappoint him either.  And truthfully, I wanted him with me…with us.

I turned back just as I was through the threshold, remembering something Matt would like.  “Oh, and guess what kind of car I got to take a ride in last week, Matt?  A shiny, black Nissan GT-R.”

“What?  No way!  Man, I wonder if he’d let me drive it?”  I laughed.

I snapped my fingers and said, “Ahh, I should’ve led our talk with the car info.  I can see your eyes sparkling.  Derek doesn’t sound so bad now, huh?”

Matt chuckled.  “I might just like this guy, Mom.”

“Right.”  Jon was smiling ear to ear.  He really looked up to Matt and tended to follow his lead.  If Matt was okay with Derek, Jon would be, too. 

“Go to bed, boys.  I love you.”  As I turned to leave, I remembered something and felt horrible about it.  “Happy New Year.  I’m sorry it’s being spent here in a hotel.”

“It’s okay, Mom.  We’re about to be in the Bahamas.  That’s better than any party or whatever.”

I walked to my boys, held each of their faces in my hands, kissed their foreheads and said, “Thank you.  Man, I’ve missed you guys.  Glad we’re all back together.”

“Love you, Mom,” they both said in unison.

I walked in my hotel room to find Jenna face down on the second queen bed, fully clothed and asleep.  I pulled her shoes off and covered her with an extra blanket that was laying at the end of the bed. 

I’d showered and dressed for bed earlier before I called Derek, but needed to brush my teeth.  I wanted to text Derek again, but didn’t know if I should.  I wanted him to know that I had talked to the kids about him.  As I crawled under the covers, I made the choice.

Claire:

Don’t know if you’re awake.  Told my kids about you tonight.  My boys took it a little hard.  I’m happy you’re coming with us.

I leaned over to plug in my phone when it lit up.

Derek:

What happened?

Claire:

Nothing.  They just had a ton of questions.  They’re very protective of me…

Derek:

I don’t blame them.  I feel the same way and I wasn’t around when everything happened with you guys.

So what did you tell them?  That I was hot for their mom? 

Claire:

Hahaha!  I told them the truth.

Derek:

That I love their mom?

Claire:

Not exactly.  That might have been way too overwhelming for them.  Jenna, maybe not, but Matt and Jon…yes. 

Derek:

Well, I’ll be on my best behavior…in front of them, but I make no promises when we’re alone.

Claire:

I like that.  Are you flying tomorrow or the next day?

Derek:

Tomorrow.  I’m not wasting any time.  Don’t forget I need the address.

Claire:

Yes, of course.  Night.  Miss you.

Derek:

Good night, my girl.  I miss you, too.  Can’t wait to touch every part of your sexy body.  Just the thought has me hard.