Innocence (5 page)

He passed the farmhouses to the right with a small, nearly planted woodland to the left. He arrived to the two hexagonal stone lodges with round arched gateways. The private drive with trees on either side gave way to the extensive flowerbeds that had been recently shaped ready for his mum to work her magic.

The hall was built in 1610 and many of the architectural features had been kept throughout the house. The hall, being sensational, was exquisitely decorated with modern and contemporary fittings, underfloor heating, and a remodelled stunning kitchen with signature worktops, walnut floor, and modern appliances.

He brought the car to a stop at the rear of the property where the six garages were situated. He inhaled a sharp breath, trying to think about the day and how he was meant to help Kacey further. If her parents wouldn’t comply, he guessed he’d have no real choice, well he did,
to walk
, but his heart wouldn’t accept that. The fear of her having no one, being alone, in a weak state, and now he had stopped her from jumping off the bridge, would only make him feel worse if he was to walk away. He just prayed her parents would see sense and look after their daughter and give her the opportunity to stand back on her own two feet. Everyone messed up at times, and we all need help to stand back up, only he wasn’t stupid some people weren’t forgiving.

Calvin climbed out his car locking it before making the short walk into the courtyard in the centre of the hall. He looked up knowing the reason why he hadn’t brought her here. Pound signs!

“Hello, son,” his mother’s voice came from the doorway.

He turned to see her standing in the large archway of the rear wooden door.

“Hey,” he said and walked toward her. She wore an apron around her waist, and there was no doubt she had been helping the cook with the baking again. His mum loved to get stuck in and help around the hall. She appreciated what she inherited despite always being busy with the business side of the property she took care of the grand designing or the properties him and his father would buy.

“How are you? Been anywhere nice?” She said, holding her beautiful smile.

“Just around, took a walk, just relaxed really,” he said not wishing to mention Kacey. He still needed time to get his head around her himself.

“Adapting to the Yorkshire climate without the congestion of London?”

“Yes, something like that, Mum,” he said, kissing her on the cheek.

She moved out the way and he passed her heading for the kitchen. He got a glass out of the cupboard and poured himself a glass of ice cold water from the tap. Calvin gulped it down, thinking and visualizing nothing but Kacey.

“Is everything all right, son?”

“Yeah why?”

He turned slowly around to see her short layered hair with tints of browns and blondes. She had a medium build, and she always dressed smartly, today in a blue skirt and white blouse.

“All is great. I am going to take a shower and I might pop out again to see Ross,” he said, Ross being his best friend.

“Of course, no doubt you wish to see your friends while visiting.” She smiled.

Calvin walked out of the kitchen into the extensive period dining room featuring eighteenth century woodwork that only got used for functions. The large vases with large fresh flowers dominated the centre of the table filling the room with their aroma. Passing through the lobby that lead to the great hall, the drawing room, and the fabulous reception room with Adamesque stucco frieze that matched the detailed marble fireplace, he paused.
I really love being home.
He took the stairs two at a time up to the first floor, passing the art work of the gods that his mother had collected when she visited galleries and Florence.

His bedroom was on the second floor, a master bedroom, which had been his room since he was a young boy. He entered the light and airy room to see his own black four-poster bed with silver and black decoration, damask wallpaper behind the headboard, two bedside tables both accommodating large vases with fresh flowers his mum had put in to give the sense of color and fragrance.

There were two window seats overlooking the stunning grounds, and his comfy sitting couches, one in silver and the other in grey, and scatter cushions to match the bedding. Above the fireplace his plasma and latest sound system he had installed when the room had been finished to his specification.
Normality at last!

He sat down on the window seat, gazing out at the stunning Yorkshire countryside trying to clear his head of a certain woman. Afraid and worried that he should abandon her, leave her to fight her own corner, but she was expecting and that changed everything.

Brushing the thoughts aside he headed over to the en-suite to the right of his bed, perhaps a shower would help. He needed to forget about her if only for a few seconds, but all he could see was her.

The warm water cascaded over his body, soaking his mid-length hair, allowing his fringe to drop down and cover his eyes. He wanted to hit out annoyed that he was the one to have discovered Kacey.

Once dry and changed into dark wash jeans and a motif T-shirt, he decided he would contact his best mate.

“Hey there.”

“Are you home?” Ross said.

“Yeah, I’m home, making a nuisance of myself, like always. Do you want to get together for a drink or fifty later?” Calvin suggested while styling his hair, flicking it back and adding the gel. He couldn’t be bothered to shave preferring the rough look for a change.

“Flipping heck! Why do I sense there is something bothering you?” Calvin debated to tell him about his adventure today, but the truth was how could he discuss something when he had no real clue as to what the heck he was about to do?

“Just want to let my hair down, mate, stresses of London life can be very manic.” He bit his lower lip.

“Okay, I can pop around later. I’ll stop at the shops and get the beers. I assume that is still what you drink?”

“Yeah, still a beer drinker, but of course these days go for a little more sophistication if that is what you call it,” he scoffed.

Ross laughed. “What time?”

Calvin thought about checking on Kacey before Ross arrived. “Say about 9? Bring some snacks as well and we can get drunk.”

“Done, see you later.”

Calvin hung up not believing he was even thinking about Kacey and making sure she had settled into the cottage. He had no idea why she become a major obsession to him. Either way, he was going to check on her and make sure she was okay.

He headed back downstairs, to find his mother sitting in the drawing room holding a cup of tea, and on the large coffee table a tray full of various cream cakes.

“Please help yourself, son, freshly baked.”

“Wow, you have been busy,” he said, stepping into the brightly coloured room with pillars and marble fireplace and a piano situated to the far side, not that anyone played these days.

“You know me, never time to be bored.” She smiled.

“When is Father due home?” He asked, unable to take his eyes of the cakes thinking how much Kacey would love one, maybe even for super.

“Soon, we have friends coming this evening. Please do take one. You look hungry. I can see you drooling.” She laughed.

“Thanks, I will. I have Ross coming this evening. We will stay out the way in my room.”

“Calvin, the house is large enough for you to walk around. I have told you when your home, this house is yours. Not only that, have the media and games room, I am sure Ross, would appreciate that better than being stuck in that room of yours, playing those silly games.”

“Mum, I haven’t played games for years…” She cocked her head to the side. “Okay, I might dabble when I have spare time. We’ll take the games and media room, I just don’t wish to interfere in you and Father having your friends around,” he indicated.

“Trust me, you will be no trouble, we will no doubt retire to the library and have a few tipples. Honestly, do what you wish. I do trust you now unlike when you were younger,” she said.

Calvin peered at her, betting she referred to a party many years ago when he was eighteen and things got a little out of hand, with far too many guests turning up and him not noticing himself getting far too drunk. She winked at him.

“No, I would confess those days are well behind me,” he said, smiling at her. He reached for two cream cakes and grinned at her.

“You are hungry!” She winked.

“Growing boy, Mum,” he added.

He made his way out of the room. He stopped once out of his mother’s view and inhaled a deep breath, holding two cakes safely in the palm of his hand, they would be for Kacey. Feeling guilty that he was stealing, yet he wasn’t, he just hadn’t been honest because they weren’t for him. How could he allow Kacey to starve when she had the baby to think about?

Chapter Three

Kacey sat alone on the cream leather couch, deep in thought about Calvin, and why he wished to help her. It just didn’t make sense to her, at all.

She stared at the open wood fireplace, longing to distract her mind from him. She inhaled a deep breath and glanced around the open plan room, seeing long beams running the full length of the cottage, and thick cream coloured curtains hanging at the small windows. There was a TV on a small coffee table and to her right another three-seater couch. Behind her a dining table with seating for four. The kitchen area had old oak doors and grey worktops, in keeping with the age of the cottage.

To her right was the bedroom. It was very basic, with fresh flowery bedding and an adjoining en-suite. It was the nicest place she had lived in for many years. It smelt pleasant with vanilla air fresheners spraying the area.

She sighed and held her head in her hands, not being sure what on earth to do. She already knew what the outcome would be since re-visiting her parents, and could not see the point in her hanging around. But, where would she go? There was no way she wanted to walk the streets again. She was too tired, and it could put her and her unborn baby at risk. Maybe trying the refuge again would work in the hope there would be something there for her. But how could she be certain? It was a hit or miss with those places. All those years after leaving the security of the family home she had never had a safe place to rest her head. She had never called a place home having no idea what one felt like any longer.

Her thoughts diverted back to Calvin and how sweet he was being toward her. She had no idea why he was even interested. No other person had given her their time, especially finding her a cottage for her to stay in for a few nights, she certainly didn’t believe the story he’d fed her about checking out the cottage and staying in it for free. Either way, she would rest tonight and in the morning would consider her options. From where she was sitting now, there were no options. No one would take her when she was about to drop a child. Then there could be another option, giving the baby up for adoption to another couple who were misfortunate not to have their own baby. They could have her healthy daughter and bring her up in a safe environment and spoil her rotten.

Kacey had nothing, the unborn would have nothing if she stayed with her. It broke her heart thinking such a way, but what other choice did she have?

Kacey drifted into the bedroom to see the comfort there. The bed almost felt like it called out to her. She knew if she lay down there was no chance of her getting up. But then, would that be a bad thing? She hadn’t slept in weeks, months, years…to be honest. She’d always slept with one eye open. Yet, here she was in a safe bedroom with no one to hound her, nor expect anything of her;
it’s just me, myself and my baby in my tummy
.

Wandering into the tiny en-suite, she decided to take a warm luxurious bath.
No more thinking
. She sat on the edge of the tub, turned on the tap, and watched the water swirling as it filled the bath. She could feel herself becoming hypnotized. She found a little bottle of lavender bubble bath and decided to use it. Lavender wasn’t her favorite fragrance, as her mum had been obsessed with having the flowers hung all over the house, including inside the wardrobes to get rid of any fusty smells. There were no other bottles, so it would have to do. Slowly, she poured the whole container into the water and watched the bath fill with glorious bubbles; the perfume wasn’t too bad or too strong.

Kacey noticed the pure white bath towels on a farmhouse chair beside the bath looking so soft and not like cardboard like the her previous accommodation. She went into the bedroom to strip of her clothes. She kicked off her plimsolls, rolled down her tight slouch pants and removed her vest top, followed by her underwear. She stood in the room naked and caught her own refection in a long bodied mirror. She turned to view her body from side on, admiring her bump. She could see her navel was almost out and the stretch marks very visible. She noticed her large full breasts and placed the palm of her hand underneath cupping her left boob, feeling the sheer weight of it.

Gently, she ran her hands over her tummy and gazed into her own eyes, seeing a young woman that had aged so much in a matter of weeks. She was only twenty-six and felt the age of hundred. She realized that all the crying and the stress from earlier with her contemplating to jump in the river couldn’t have helped. Her heart ached and her lungs felt restricted, not believing what a state she looked. She once used to be so pretty, independent, then one night it all got ruined. One day that would haunt her for the rest of her life, there was no fear of forgiving or forgetting.

Quickly, she wrapped the towel around her chest, unable to meet it in the middle. She glared down hating the bump, disliking the way she looked and wishing there was something she could do. Regardless, of her being full of self-pity, and expecting, there was nothing she could do.

With care, she stepped into the bath feeling the pure heat and that she needed to add some cold water. Once temperature was comfortable, she lowered her body into the bath, the water rose as she sank lower. The warm water soothed her, making her relax, removing the stresses of the day. She hadn’t felt so peaceful in a long time. She sank into the bath to wash her hair, even though, she struggled to get back up, putting far too much strain on her tummy. Once, she had managed to sit up, she washed her body. Kacey sat back in the bath closing her eyes, feeling tranquil, hearing the sound of nothing. The room was so silent,
pure bliss this, Kacey, pure bliss!

Kacey thought back to her childhood and how wonderful it had been, how she’d used to play on the grounds of the house and run wild in the large garden, playing hide and seek, building no end of wig-whams, and played with her dolls. Food had always been on the table, warmth and security. A nice cosy bedroom her parents had decorated the way she wished at the different stages of her life and when a teenager, her room had been transformed in pink, with lots of fluffy cushions, far too girlie, but she’d loved it. She got the best education in a private all-girls school in York, where her father would drop her off every morning and sometimes she would get the bus home to the nearest village unless, her father picked her up in the evenings.

How life had changed so drastically and how the reality of life was upon her. Never in her early days had she imagined, when playing in the garden her life would have turned into a living nightmare.

Kacey needed to stop thinking about those days, and how they always had good holidays abroad and some great ones here in England. Her father even used to take them on business trips allowing her to see the world. Again, it had all been taken for granted, and afterwards everything went wrong.

Sinking her body into the water again, before getting out of the bath, she suddenly found herself struggling to get back up, her bump obstructing her. She growled with annoyance.

She tussled with her bump, trying to move from side-to-side, but the water went all over the place. She pulled out the plug, hoping that would help, but no, she still fought to get out of the bath. She tried hoisting herself up and tried turning around there really wasn’t much room, her belly was just was too big, becoming a nuisance. Kacey was losing her patience when, finally, she managed to get onto her knees and stood carefully to her feet. Annoyed that it had taken her so darn long, she should have had a shower.

She got hold of the towel and as tightly as she could, wrapped it around her body. She carefully stepped out onto the bath mat on the floor.

Pissed off to say the least, how could a bath turn from relaxing sensation, into a nightmare? Why was she so fed-up of feeling like a beached whale?

She stomped into the lounge to see what was on the telly, but it only had the basic channels so, no point in watching any soaps as she’d never been a big lover of them.

Sitting with a glass of water that Miranda had brought over with the tea, coffee, and biscuits, she attempted to relax again. She put her feet up, resting on the couch, loving the fact she was almost naked bar the towel and having some
me
time. She sipped the cold water and listened to nothing. It was so quiet, reminding her again of her childhood and how much she wished her life had gone another direction.

A knock came at the door, startling her. Unable to move quickly, she had to hoist herself up using her biceps. Once to her feet and out of breath, she sighed. Another, knock sounded. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming…patience be a virtue.” Kacey waddled to the main door. She held the towel up tight between her large breasts not wishing to show anything, when the baby kicked. She opened the door a little and popped her head around, keeping her body hidden behind it, to find Calvin standing on the path, wearing a breath-taking smile to make her heart melt.

“Hi,” he said, wagging his brows, looking fresh and rather dashing, with his edible brown chocolate eyes.

“Hi.” She replied, grinning at him.

“I have brought a treat.” he smiled while holding out the two glorious, mouth-watering cream cakes. “Thought we could have one over a nice cup of tea.”

“Sounds great, just give me one minute, I need to get another towel,” she said as her belly was on full display and she didn’t wish him to see her nude.

“Okay.”

Quickly, Kacey waddled off to the bathroom to collect the second towel and wrapped it around her tummy, holding it securely with her hand, hoping it wouldn’t drop and embarrass her. She felt unsure about having him visiting her right now. However, he’d brought her cream cakes and that was enough to make her tummy grumble. They looked far too tempting and even if he only stayed for thirty minutes or so, there would be no harm. She hoped.

The towels were wrapped securely around her body with no skin on show. She inhaled a deep breath and called him in. “Okay, I’m safe for you to enter.”

She stood watching the door widen. Calvin came into her view, his eyes immediately drawn to her. He stepped in the room his hair shining with gel and his fetching facial growth made him for some reason, look gorgeous. His fragrance, spice and wood, filled the entire room, forcing her to close her eyes and drink him in. She stepped back, not needing to have a crush on the man, and in honesty didn’t wish to get involved full-stop.

“How are you feeling?” He asked, trotting into the kitchen.

She watched him place the cakes on the clean work-surface in the kitchen, lift the kettle to the tap, fill it, and switch it on. Her eyes were drawn to him like glue. His jeans were baggy not allowing her to work out how cute his bottom was, but enough to work out a medium build, slim, five-foot twelve, and exactly the kind of structure she’d go for in a man.

Kacey, suddenly remembered he asked a question. “What did you ask me?”

He didn’t turn around to look at her. “How are you feeling?”

“Good, thank you. I really do appreciate what you are doing for me.” She smiled. 

Calvin spun around to grin at her. His eyes so powerful and dominating, almost to the point that if he told her to roll over and play dead she would.

“You’re welcome. I have a bag of shopping for you in the car, only a few bits to see you through,” he said.

The towels started slipping due to her being hypnotised by Calvin’s presence, trying to figure out what was remarkable about him.

Quickly, she tightened her grip on the towels, making sure her breasts were covered and she hoped he hadn’t seen her erect nipples. She didn’t wish to expose herself.

Kacey needed to diffuse the stupid sexual tension. After all, he was sweet enough to help her out and expecting another man’s baby. She stared at him, needing to shake any ridiculous feelings away.

“Thank you. You really don’t need to.” Kacey didn’t and couldn’t understand why someone was putting themselves out for her, other than to use her, to get what they wanted, or cover their own backs.

“It’s no trouble. I will go and get the bag in. You relax on the couch and put your feet up,” Calvin said hitching his brows following it with a stunning smile.

“Thank you.” Thank you was all she could say.

Her heart raced in her chest fearing he would want something out of her like a favour, or there would be a bribe, nobody did anything these days to help someone out in difficult times, especially a complete stranger.

He left the cottage, leaving the door open, allowing her to feel the warm breeze whopping up her towels.

She walked to the couch and sat down not wishing to lie like she had been before she’d been disturbed, as hoisting herself up with Calvin watching wouldn’t be very dignifying.

“Here we go,” he voiced.

Kacey turned her head watching him walk back in the door carrying a few bags. He used his foot to close the door and she heard the click. He strode into the kitchen placing the bags on the worktop and opened various cupboards, putting the food away.

The kettle boiled. Calvin soon made them a drink.

“Here you go,” he said a few minutes later and passed her the hot cup of tea.

“Thank you.”

He dashed back into the kitchen only that time bringing the cream cakes with him. She saw the cream sandwiched between the cakes with strawberry jam placed on the top and were lathered in sugar.