Innocence (9 page)

Either way, his mood swung around giving him the boost he needed. He knew he shouldn’t have drank so much, aware Kacey would need him, yet he ignored her or blocked her out for a reason. His heart felt nothing but emotion. He did worry about her and needed to make sure he could give her all the help she required.

Once showered and changed, feeling much better and more set for the day, he realized he was still over the drink drive limit, and living in London it wasn’t worth taking any chances.

Ross was ready in the lobby waiting for him, sipping on another coffee.

“Ready?” Ross asked him.

“Yeah, deeply appreciate this.”

“Don’t mention it.”

They both climbed into the Range Rover and took to the narrow lanes heading down to the village. The sun was attempting to peer through the clouds pleasing him as he liked seeing the sun. Calvin was fortunate enough to be able to go abroad and have luxurious holidays.

The drive didn’t take long with the village only being ten minutes down the road. Ross pulled his large car into the car park and Calvin instantly saw Kacey sitting on the pub bench rubbing her swollen bump. He waited for Ross to stop the car before he jumped out, needing to refrain from acting delighted to see her, as much as he was pleased to see her and saw she hadn’t done anything silly.

“I’m guessing that is her?” Ross said turning around looking across at him.

“Yes, yes it is,” Calvin added and waited for Ross to open his door first before he jumped out. He had to hold back from looking too eager.

“You coming?” Ross said.

Calvin grabbed the door handle of the large car and stepped down to the ground to see Kacey turning her head to glance in his direction. A smile swept across her pretty face making his heart melt. Knots filled his stomach whilst he walked toward her. A light breeze whispered through his hair.

“Good morning, how are you?”               He asked on approach.

“I am not too bad and you?” she said softly.

He gazed deep into her brown eyes, looking so beautiful, his heart throbbed. He was just enchanted to see her again. 

“This is Ross,” he said, gawping at her.

Her splendour hypnotised him.

“Hi, Ross,” she said sweetly.

“Hello, Kacey, wow, you look busy?” Ross said referring to her large baby bump.

“Yes.” She smiled.

“I have some clean clothes in the car for you, well they are mine as I, unfortunately, cannot take you to York shopping, but maybe later we could go. I thought fresh clothes would make you feel better.”

“Thank you that is so sweet of you,” she said noticing her gazing at Ross.

Calvin throat filled with a large lump.

“No problem. Did you sleep well?”

“I did, thank you, although in the early hours this little one decided to move about. She appears to have gone quiet since,” she said rubbing her tummy.

Calvin for some reason craved to feel the swollen tummy.

“I got up and made a hot drink and then headed back to bed. I also went back to see my mum, but she wasn’t very obliging, in fact threatened to call the police if I didn’t leave,” she said anguished.

“She said what?”

She glanced at Ross Calvin could sense the awkwardness, unsure what she could or couldn’t say in front of Ross.

“Grief, that is terrible. Oh,” he said unsure what else he could say. “Do you think she needs more time?”

“I doubt it,” she replied staring at Ross. He watched her grin at Ross who clearly stood listening in he wondered what he made of it all. He stood frozen staring at Kacey wide eyed, stunned to what her mum had said. How could anyone call the police on a daughter who clearly was crying for help, a second chance? Nevertheless, he still had much to learn about the situation. He sensed there was more, much more to the story than she had confessed too. He still needed to show she could trust him, and that would be his intensions for today.

“Have you eaten anything, Kacey?” Ross asked waking Calvin from his deep thoughts.

“Only a little mouthful of toast, I couldn’t stomach much else,” she said glancing at Calvin. He could hear the nervousness in her voice.

“Well, should we go and get something to eat from the pub. After all Calvin hardly ate this morning, nursing his hangover,” Ross scoffed.

“That would be lovely,” she indicated lifting her brows.

Calvin was unsure if to tell her that Ross knew about her situation, but would she appreciate the fact he had shared such information?

Calvin watched Ross turn around and make his way to the pub. He glanced at Kacey. She stood up with a small struggle due to the weight of the baby. He grinned wishing to help her only indecisive to how much she’d appreciate his kindness, the poor woman clearly had a few issues with men. He saw where Ross was located eager to have a quick chat, before entering the pub, having things to say without his best friend about, he also didn’t wish to give Ross the wrong idea, despite the fact his heart ached.

“You okay?” he asked, noticing Ross being far in front.

“I’m fine.”

“Your mum?”

“Yes, I am not sure why I am so upset with her reaction. I have no idea where this leaves me or my unborn. I did expect her reaction, so why I feel drained and alone I have no idea. She did kind of throw me when suggesting calling the police. Why would she do that?”

“I have no idea, a clear threat to make you leave. I appreciate how difficult that was for you to visit her. It doesn’t make it any easier for you, especially being…”

“Pregnant, do you need to remind me. Everything is revolving around the fact I’m with this thing,” she snarled at him.

Calvin stared at her wishing she wouldn’t refer to the baby as
this
or
it
.

“Sorry,” he said watching her walk away. His heart was so tender. He watched her march away and wished he could tell her mum what he thought of her.

He quickly ran to catch her up.

“I’m sorry if I upset you.”

She turned casually to look at him.

“It’s fine. I appreciate all you have done to help me,” she said while she waddled to the main door of the pub. “There is just nothing I can do. Not sure what to do, I don’t see a future right now,” she said lowering her voice.

“I will help you all I can,” he said doubtful of his decision.

“Thank you. I have already taken up too much of your time,” Kacey said taking hold of the door handle.

He grabbed the door from her, stopping her from entering.

“I want to help you all that I can,” Calvin said needing to offer his services.

He would not allow her to head back to the streets and be vulnerable, after all she’d expecting and the worst was yet to come. Before leaving the hall, he had checked her stage of pregnancy on the Internet and couldn’t believe how developed a baby could be at seven months, learning how much it would weigh and how it would survive if born.

“No. I have already taken up enough of your time. Calvin, this isn’t your problem.”

“I wish to make it,” he said not believing what he said.

Kacey stopped sudden and stood horrified in front of him. “And why would you wish to do that?”

“Because I care!”

Kacey turned her head, widening her eyes to glare at him.

“Should we?” he said, gaining entrance into the pub with her jaw almost on the stone floor. He needed to change the subject not wishing Ross to know what he offered, and then, of course, it was whether Kacey would take him up on his offer.

Why could he not be generous and offer his help, why do people have to judge and not see the good in people? After all, Kacey needed someone to trust and it looked like he was the only one left to do it.

Chapter Five

Ross stood at the bar waiting for the couple to arrive. They both placed their order opting for a cordial each. Kacey glanced around the bar looking for a spot to sit. She found a vacant table and four chairs in the corner, aware Calvin followed close behind her.  Calvin pulled the seat out, noticing she glanced back to see Ross watching him. Her guts swirled, wondering what was going through his mind.

She sat down at the pub table thinking about Calvin, rubbing her chin lost in thought, miffed over his earlier suggestion,
why on earth would he suggest helping me? I really don’t understand his kindness. Surely there’s a bribe somewhere, nobody handed out compassion for nothing, no one!
She turned her head to gaze at him, scratching the back of her neck. He sat to her right, luckily with his head looking in the opposite direction, giving her time to admire him. Her brows hitched approving of the way he presented himself even if holding a hangover, there was something truly attractive about him. Kacey admired the contours of his facial structure, his stubble, bushy eyebrows, gorgeous oval shape face with gelled fringe covering his forehead in thick strands, and his soft pink lips. She watched intently while he poked out his tongue to lick his lips.

He really was a handsome man, only there seemed to be something familiar to her about him. Confused, she tried to look harder at him but her mind drifted to how gorgeous he was. Blissfully, she relished his features when suddenly he turned his head in her direction and she quickly spun her head in the opposite way not wishing him to think she’d spent a few seconds appreciating him.

“How you feeling?” He asked sweetly.

Her heart thumped in her chest, and her throat filled with a large lump, nervous to be so close to a man she found for the first time, not only attractive, but sweet and enduring.

It took her a few seconds to compose herself before turning her head to look at him and respond.

His eyes engaged with hers, so powerful and breath-taking.
How the hell did he get to be so good looking? Yet why does he appear familiar?
She shook her head to stop such oozing thoughts. When she suddenly remembered she needed to answer his question.

“Fine,” she said shuffling her bottom and then played with her hands. “I am thinking about heading back to the city and…”

“And what?” Calvin interrupted firmly.

She shot her head up to look at him, catching him frowning.

“Please, stop making this harder for me. I am not needed here and no matter how much grovelling I do with my mum, she isn’t going to change her mind. And I fear another visit I’ll end up behind bars.”

“I don’t think they will do that, they might warn you to stay away, either that or make your mother see the errors of her ways. I have never heard of such a heartless mum.”

“Yeah well, either way not taking chances. I have made my bed and have to lay in it.”

“Yes but that is the issue here!” She stared closely into his eyes. “You don’t have a bed.”

She slumped her shoulders the reality hitting her like a ton of bricks.

“What about your father?”

“Who,” she asked not hearing him correctly being deep in thought.

“Your dad, what about him?”

She wished he would just stop with the intrusive questions, it really wasn’t his business.

“No, Father will not accept me back with open arms.”

“Have you seen him?”

“No.”

“So how do you know he will not accept you back?”

Kacey shot him a glare.

“I only asked, as I have only heard you speak mostly about your mother.”

“Mum told me!”

“She told you what?”

“Calvin, please, they don’t want me. Stop making this harder for me.”

“I am simply trying to help you.”

Kacey saw Ross arriving, thankfully, to the table with the drinks, rescuing her.

“Here we go,” Ross said placing the drinks on the oak wood table.

Calvin shot him a disturbed glare annoyed to have been interrupted.

“Everything all right?” Ross asked.

Kacey gawped at him, relieved to have been interrupted, although, left with a million things running around her head. She just hoped that would be the end of Calvin asking such stupid questions, at least for now. Then she guessed he was only trying his best to help her and get more of an understanding of her background,
but why? Why did it bother him so much
?

Calvin glanced at her, appearing maddened and possibly frustrated. He soon spun his head away from her. She remained staring at him, sensing he was sulking.

“When are you due?” Ross asked her.

Kacey heard Ross ask the question, but hated the fact Calvin seemed to be put out, or angry with her.

“Few months.”

“My sister-in-law had a son a few years ago and stressed how lucky us men are not to carry a baby. If the future generations were left to men, there wouldn’t be one, something to do with us unable to handle pain,” he scoffed.

Kacey turned her head finally to gaze at Ross and couldn’t agree with his comment more, or at least his sister-in-law.