Innocence of Love (34 page)

They entered the hall with Calvin pushing the pram, while she carried her daughter in her car seat, needing to get her daughter out of the seat and place her into the pram quickly.

“Oh my goodness you are both here, that is wonderful,” Anne added appearing with a smile on her face. “I made cakes and some bread, for your arrival thought you would want tea and cake,” she said excited.

Calvin put the halted with the pram putting the brake on. His mum invaded him kissing him on the cheek. Anne walked to Sophie and kissed her on the cheek followed by staring into the car seat, “Oh look at her, she is, growing so fast already,” she added, taking hold of Kacey’s hand. “Hello, beautiful,” she joyfully said to Kacey when Sophie gazed at Calvin. “We should sit in the garden and enjoy the weather, I believe storms and heavy rain is forecasted for tomorrow,” she informed them.

“So no time to waste…let’s catch the sun before it disappears and, Calvin, your father is on his way,” Anne informed, taking hold of Sophie’s arm turning her back around to head out the door. “Bring the pram, Calvin,” she announced.

Before Sophie could even turn to peer at her fiancée she was scooped out the hall, and pushed out the rear door into the courtyard. They walked down the side of the building where there was a delicate patio table in metal, chairs with cushions a parasol and tea and cakes ready.

“Wow, this looks amazing,” Sophie gasped, “we just need the 19
th
century long dresses and hats and it would be splendour.” She giggled.

Sophie saw Calvin arriving with the pram. Sophie sat down while Anne poured the tea into tiny tea cups with saucers with cute flowers on them. Calvin had placed Kacey into the pram. He moved to stand beside her. He leaned into her kissing her gently on the lips.

“That is so beautiful,” Anne said when both Sophie and Calvin turned to stare at her. “Sorry, please do continue, but not for long as your father has just pulled into the drive, and as you know he’s a very busy man…now, go,” she demanded referring to Calvin aware him and his father had business to talk about. He grinned. He kissed Sophie once again on the lips.

“I will be back as soon as possible, don’t miss me,” he mocked, lifting her chin to gaze into his irresistible eyes.

“Like I would dare,” she scoffed.

She watched Calvin walk away around the rear of the hall. He was gone out of her sight. She inhaled a deep breath already feeling lost with him not being close to her. It had been a hectic week for Calvin, working long hours to make sure he could get away on Friday morning, only problem, he would be leaving her here and he would travel back down south alone. Her heart already ached aware he would need to leave Sunday afternoon for a Monday morning start.

“Did you enjoy your week in London?” Anne asked removing the glass case of the cake stand and showered Sophie her stunning cream cakes as well as plain.

“Wow, they’re amazing. Great, I didn’t see much of it to be honest with Kacey needing her feed every three to four hours, but managed to get out and about around the area, nice apartment he has,” she mentioned, while trying to decide which cake to have although worrying about her figure. Sophie looked at her wedding finger wishing her engagement ring was there, but they took it into the shop to be altered.

She sighed.

“I saw the Royal Albert Hall which was only around the corner, such a splendid building.”

“Oh yes, when I visit I like to see what their productions are. I enjoy visiting the city regular, nothing I could move to. Sorry.”

“For what?” Sophie said admiring the mouth-watering cakes unsure which one to pick and enjoy first.

“About living in London.”

“I couldn’t live there neither, not with a little one.”

“Please take a cake, Sophie.”

Sophie could not resist and picked up a scone with fresh cream and strawberry.

“I like to bake, I am thinking about doing classes in the village, I think it would be fun, and a relaxing hobby, takes me away from the pressures of my day job,” she said taking a fresh creamed donut.

“That is a good idea.”

Sophie yawned.

“Are you tired?”

“Yes a little tired, long journey I have no idea how Calvin does it, and then heads to the office, he’s a miracle man,” she scoffed.

“Yes, they both have amazing stamina, Gordon can often be up still in the early hours of the morning, and still gets up normal time and heads to work. So,” she said louder, startling Sophie. “I am assuming everything has moved forward for you and Calvin?”

“Yes,” Sophie admitted, but didn’t wish to tell her about the engagement.

“So pleased, it went well.”

“Thank you for putting me on the train…I’m eternally in indebted to you.”

“Don’t talk daft, it was my privilege to put you on that train and get the matter resolved between you two, it had been going on far too long as it was.”

“Well, thank you, I sincerely mean that,” she meant sincerely.

They both continued talking about how they came into the hall and how the land around used to be acres and acres and gradually they had each piece sold off. The hall was truly breath-taking with modern day living yet keeping many of its period features. Sophie remembered the building back in the day, when she was much younger and how the family would have gatherings, she guessed that was when Calvin started showing an interest in her.

“Your father called in last night and stopped for a drink or two.” She laughed.

“Did he?” she said not having a clue.

“Yes, he was talking about your mother, Rosalind and how she keeps ringing him up and pleading for him to take her back, only your father is not having any of it.”

“She called me Monday, and said some cruel things, I’m guessing I was the backlash,” she added her stomach swirled.

“Whatever, your mum says, don’t take it to heart. She is pretty sower at the moment,” Anne said to Sophie, having no intentions of saying anything about the matter. She knew far too well her mum lashed out and that was the reason she ended the call.

She had nothing further to say to her mum.

****

“Evening,” his mum said as he entered the lounge.

“Evening to you too, Mum,” he added. He walked further into the lounge to kiss his mum on the cheek. He scanned the room not seeing Sophie or Kacey. “Where is Sophie?”

“She headed to your room to feed Kacey and take a long soak in the bath,” his mum informed him.

“I’ll catch you shortly, Mum,” he told her. He soon turned aroundand headed up the staircase that rises up to the first floor supported b
y
Tuscan columns. He walked down the corridor toward his grand bedroom, and walked in to see the pram…he walked over and saw Kacey inside all snuggled up and sleeping, betting her mummy had filled her up. He could see she wasn’t in the bedroom. He took the walk into the en-suite and there she was lying in the bath coated in bubbles.

“There you are,” he mocked like she was playing hide and seek on him and with that he couldn’t resist but lean into the bath to kiss her. Her lips pouted against him when he tipped deliberately into the bath with water splashing all over the place.

“Calvin,” Sophie called out. He gazed at her seeing her eyes beaming at him laughing. “You’re soaked.”

“I don’t care.” He laughed, kneeling between her thighs, trying not to slip and slide all over the place. He got safe staring into her deep brown eyes with her hair soaking wet all pushed back, showing the contours of her beautiful face. “I love you so much,” he lovingly stated as he leaned over her body with the water swaying back and forth.

“Stop it.” She giggled, sounding so perfect for him and happy. He leant toward her kissing her on her rosy lips. He then slipped his tongue across her lips craving to get inside her longing to take her to his bed and make love, it was all that appeared to be on his mind in the last week. Sophie opened her mouth he dived in, sliding his tongue inside her mouth, rolling their tongues around, curling and twisting as he enjoyed her taste, her move and her devotion to him.

He sucked on her tongue when she gasped. Calvin continued to play with her tongue, dancing with one another enjoying their connection while his manhood rose to the occasion only, now was not the time.

Calvin kneeled back noticing her boobies leaking. “The heat from the bath, baby, not you,” she said disappointing him somewhat.

“Damn, I cannot wait to have them beauties for myself,” he said clicking his fingers. He smiled at her. He climbed out the bath the water sucked his clothes to his body.

“Look at the state of you.” She giggled.

“Trust me the worst is yet to come,” he mocked while stepping carefully out the bath and onto the bath mat that she had laid on the floor. “I do have some news though,” he announced whilst stripping of his soaking wet garments noticing Sophie watching. He deliberately, pulled his trousers down with his trunks giving her a naughty bottom view. He glanced back at her over his shoulder her eyes widened. “If, of course, I can keep your attention,” he teased, lifting his brows.

“Well stop being naughty then,” she scoffed.

He decided to turn around and show her how naughty he was being. Her eyes widened. “Sorry, a large distraction,” he replied bursting out laughing.

“Funny, tell me the news,” she asked sinking her body back into the hot bath.

He watched the steam diffusing into the air.

“You know how I mentioned that I wanted to come up north and be with you and my family?” he mentioned, kneeling by the bath looking at Sophie.

“Yes,” she replied making waves in the bath lifting her bottom up and down, showing him her naked body sending his manhood crazy.

“Well Dad already has a placement ready to take over.”

Sophie turned to stare at him, “Really,” she raised her voice, surprised. She sat up in the bath to stare harder at him.

“Yes, only I have to be away for at least two weeks, give or take, to train him and get him to know the staff, and then I’m yours. Although, it looks like I might be going to the Harrogate branch, but that’s not a problem is it?” he asked hoping it wasn’t.

“No, but would prefer to stay closer to York with Sabastian, but that is great that your dad has already got someone to take over your position.” She smiled.

“I know, he will be staying in my apartment with his wife until it sells, and then we can buy something up north. His kids have all left home and he doesn’t mind shipping his life down there, in fact his wife was delighted as she loves the city,” he informed her watching her reaction a positive vibe, as she smiled.

“That is great, so pleased, all seems to be working out.”

“Yes, yes it does, considering I was dreading the conversation, so this is my plan,” he said, watching her lift her brows. “Next year we get married, I was thinking June, July…I want you to have a perfect wedding of your dreams,” he chanted, taking hold of her hand, to rub her engagement finger wishing the ring was there, but instead being altered. “However, have an engagement party, once I know when I will be up here permanent. What do you think? I mean it should only be a few weeks and you will have me all to yourself, to do what you desire.”

“I will miss you while you’re gone,” she told him. Her eyes filled with emotion knowing what she meant, but what he’d put to her was good.

“Yes, but, not for long I promise you. I will need to travel down to London known and again for meetings and stuff, but at least I will spend more of my time with you and being a family,” he added feeling her sorrow, but surely it was the best compromise he could come up with, without causing further trouble.

“I know,” she agreed, staring at him.

“Only a few weeks I promise, then we will have the ring and you can show it off,” he added smiling at her wanting her to feel extra special.

“Okay,” she answered, but he could hear the hesitation.

“Why don’t me and Kacey, come and live with you in London?” she perked up suddenly.

“No, Sophie, no. It’s not that I don’t want you there, but I will be training Marcus and then he will be staying at the apartment and working late…and you would be pushed out. Not only that you would be a great distraction to me, and might take longer than two weeks. And not only that, Kacey has a hospital appointment that she cannot miss. Please understand, and don’t make this harder for me.”

Sophie dropped her shoulders. Her face changed to disappointment, but there really was no point in her being there he couldn’t give her the attention she deserves, and Sophie was the one who was important. He would feel resentment for not giving her the love and time she deserved.

“Two weeks?” she asked.

“Yes, give or take a few days,” he added watching her scratching her head.

“Will you call me?”

“Of course I will…and text you every day,” he emphasised, seeing her eyes fill with tears. “Hey, two weeks and then you will be begging me to go back to London.” He chuckled.    

Chapter Eighteen

Waking up snuggled into Calvin was sensational. How she loved to be burrowed into him, listening to his heartbeat and breathing being reminded of a wonderful night before. They had both claimed to be tired after such a long day and sneaked to bed early, only to indulge in one another’s body. Sophie had never been so alive and so thankful to be with a man who appreciated her for who she was. She still, however, struggled to understand how he could love her tummy…but she was working on that, having full intentions of using the hall’s gym.

She climbed out the bed, hoping not to wake Calvin. With great care she pulled back the sheet and edged her bottom to the edge of the bed without him flinching. She managed to stand. Tip-toeing to her daughters crib to see Kacey wide-eyed, kicking and waving her arms about. So beautiful, appearing as happy as mummy.

Sophie spent a few precious moments enjoying her daughter, her heart was slowly forming back together. For the first time she had security, no-worries, no pain, no fear, She had a perfectly healthy little girl and a man. She turned her head to peek at him…he was a man sent from heaven. Her eyes filled with tears, how on earth had she ended up so happy and so blessed?

She took hold of her daughter hand while she clenched it cooing loud, kicking her legs excited. A smile shone across Sophie’s face, while she wiped the tear away from her cheek.

Without noticing she arms were wrapped around her waist. Calvin snuggled into her shoulder kissing her skin. His warmth ignited her sent the most dazzling eruptions around her body. This was her new life, one she’d treasure forever.

She could feel Calvin’s breath on her shoulder as he kissed her neck, tilting her head to the side, giving him all the access he required. She closed her eyes for a spilt second enjoying Calvin rubbing his unshaven growth against her soft lush skin. She parted her lips to inhale a gentle breath, loving him being so close, loving his compact and loving his ability to make her feel treasured.

“Are you losing yourself in my touch, Miss Richards,” he spoke softly in her ear while he pulled the lobe.

She gasped a breath. She couldn’t speak, engrossed in the moment. He kissed her and with his hands ran his fingertips, using his nails up and down her arms, sending raptures of ooze throughout her weakening body. Her arousal so apparent and her boobs filled to him being so captivating. 

“I think today we should call Caroline and Mike and ask them if we could see Sabastian,” he softly spoke kindly in her ear. 

“I already have did, yesterday while you were with your father at the office.”

“Really? That is great,” he hyped up excited.

All she could feel was his naked chest pressing against her back, drifting into oblivion debating to take him back to bed and ravish him once again, would she ever tire of making love to him? Hell no!

“Yes, I called them once I knew for definite we were coming home. I text her and her reply was Sabastian, couldn’t wait to see his little sister.” She giggled.

“That is great, what time we meeting them?” he asked full of enthusiasm. He annoyingly stepped away from her.

She turned around to stare at him, his eyes sparkling. Wow…he just stole her breath.

Lost in her trance with his eyes, she remembered him asking a very important question. “Two p.m. he’s at football practice this morning,” she informed.

His smile blew her away. “Fantastic.”

Sophie turned back around to give her attention to her daughter picking her up and took the short walk back to the bed to give her little angel her feed.

“Right, that is great and this evening we shall announce the engagement to our parents, not sure what you wanted to do about your mum,” she heard him voice.

In all great honesty she had no idea neither what she wished to do. The last conversation she had with her had been versatile and she didn’t wish to have another performance, or even having her causing trouble, but regardless, she was her mum and needed to be informed.

She fed Kacey, while Calvin got a shower. She peered down at her daughter feeling the sheer weight of her she was putting weight on. Every day she there was something new she was developing, Kacey could follow her around the room as she’d teased her daughter by hiding and jumped out, her daughter would smile. Her hair was getting a little longer, at the moment she dressed Kacey in small headbands, pretty girlie lace pink ones.

She placed her finger inside Kacey’s hand where she clasped. Sophie loved the connection, between her and her daughter, enjoying having an excuse to sit down and enjoy her baby, something she missed out on with Sabastian. There were times she felt more guilty than others, wondering if when he gets older he would snap at her, and say she neglected him, in many ways she had, not intentionally, but it had been for the best all those years ago, and know her life was settling for the first time…she wondered if Sabastian would be interested in seeing more of them all.

She rocked her daughter back and forth while singing her lullabies. Calvin’s phone sounded with that tune,
Deepest Blue.
She reached over to take a look to see who was calling to see a woman’s name lighting up, Veronica. She wondered if it was a work colleague or an associate after all he was a business man, but then why would they be calling him on a Saturday?

She slid her finger across the screen and placed the phone to her ear.

“Hello, gorgeous,” an excited female voice spoke.

“Hello,” Sophie replied, wondering why a female would be calling him gorgeous.

“Hi…you’re not Calvin,” A woman’s voice said sharp and shocked.

“No, he’s busy at the moment.”

“So, why are you answering his phone?” the woman asked annoyed.

“Because I have, who is this?” she asked when Kacey came of her breast. Sophie needed to take her hands off the phone and nursed the phone on her shoulder.

“I am Veronica, Veronica Wilson and you are?”

“Sophie Richards, is this regarding work?” she checked, trying to get Kacey latched back into her boob, when she cried out.

“Have you got a baby there?”

“Yes, is this regarding work?” she asked again, not liking the woman’s attitude.

“No, it’s regarding him dumping me last Sunday evening, and not answering to any of my damn calls all week,” she roared.

Sophie paused. Her stomach somersaulted. “Sunday evening?” she double checked. She’d arrived Sunday evening.

“That’s what I said,” the woman snarled.

“Oh, right, well, I will tell him you called,” Sophie proclaimed, eager to get off the line and sort her daughter out who was now bawling and struggled to hear what the woman was saying.

Sophie rang off the line. She turned her head to the en-suite, wondering what the hell was going to happen Sunday night if she hadn’t turned up. Her mind started working overtime thinking about him and that woman who just called him. She didn’t wish to jump to conclusions, but from where she sat it looked obvious.

She felt physically sick and couldn’t feel her heart beating inside her chest. Frozen solid whilst her daughter cried, needing her attention and no doubt could feel the tension. She tried latching Kacey onto her right breast, but she wouldn’t have it guessing she sensed her mummy was upset.

“Ah, she is giving her lungs ago,” Calvin joked emerging out the en-suite chuckling.

Sophie held her daughter upright, trying her hardest to calm Kacey down by rubbing her back and kissing the top of her head. Calvin wore only a towel wrapped his waist dripping wet. She turned her head away from him, not wishing to have anything to do with him right now.

She stood carrying her daughter close to her chest, while grabbing her changing bag, and walked back to the bed to start changing her tiny joy.

“Have you got everything?” Calvin asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, right okay. Is everything okay?” he questioned.

Everything is great...what was you meant to be doing last Sunday night?

She remained to keep her back turned on him not wishing to speak with him. Her mind worked overtime and Kacey wiggled all over the place, crying her lungs out. Sophie felt agitated, upset, annoyed and couldn’t help but, think about what that woman said to her, surely he wasn’t messing about, but then, he was hardly hers as she had done nothing but push him away. Or was she already his girlfriend? Then there was the fact he hadn’t returned her calls all week, what the hell!

Thoughts raged around her head, feeling ill, her stomach flipping.

Once Kacey was changed and dressed. She noticed Calvin dressed wearing his light stonewash jeans with a motif T-Shirt with New York on it.

“Clouds look threatening,” he muttered, glancing out the window as she glanced over to him.

“So,” she replied.

She placed Kacey into her pram, crying with Sophie not having a clue how to calm her down.

“Would you like me to take her, while you get dressed?” he asked, approaching her putting his hand into the pram. She turned her head to scowl at him.

“No,” she bellowed, grabbing the handle bars to turn the pram away from him. “I can look after my daughter,” she sneered moving the pram closer to the en-suite.

“Sophie, is something bothering you?” he asked.

“No,” she snapped, grabbing her clothes abruptly from a chair.

“Okay. Had me fooled. I will go and get us some breakfast,” he indicated.

She glared at him and rapidly turned her head away from him. “I’m not hungry, don’t bother,” she hissed and headed into the en-suite to get freshened up, still hearing Kacey crying. Sophie shut the door on Calvin. With that she burst into tears, pressing her back against the door and trailed down it to the floor. She curled into a tight ball, fearing what Calvin was up too. Sophie felt betrayed annoyed at her earlier thoughts and feelings of him being the best thing that had ever entered her life. She had a really bad vibe about the call from the woman. Why was her heart flipping upside down and around? She’d been hurt so many times and Calvin clearly was no different to any of the others.

Sophie sobbed her heart out, needing to try and get herself sorted, as they were meeting Sabastian later and she would hate a bad atmosphere with him. The last time they had been together, Sophie hated him, after discovering he had gossiped about them after being in the barn, which revolved to be untrue, at least she hoped Ross hadn’t lied to her.

****

Calvin picked up his phone and left the bedroom, how could she be fine when he went in the bathroom and when he came out to find she’s a raging bull, nothing seemed to make sense unless Kacey was upsetting her, but he offered to help her, after all he wanted nothing more than to offer support and become a family.

He made his way downstairs, regardless of her attitude he would make her some toast and a cup of tea and take them to her.

He stood in the kitchen when his father appeared.

“Morning, son,” his father said grabbing a cup to make a coffee.

“Morning,” he replied.

“I have spoken to Marcus and he will be following you down to London. I have arranged the pass for him to get into London then it’s down to you to work your magic, you will be back with Sophie in no time,” he cheerfully announced.

“Great. Have you told Mum about us being engaged?” he asked.

“No, I wish to leave the good news to you and Sophie. Your mum will be delighted. It’s been rather mad these recent months. There’s been so much for us all to digest. Thankfully it all appears to have gone in the right direction and know you’re settling down with Sophie and found true love,” his father added taking a sip of his coffee whilst Calvin put the toast in the toaster.

“Yes, been a whirlwind. She is mardy this morning, one minute fine and the next…”

“That is their hormones for you. Your mother was terrible after giving birth to you, one minute all over me and the next screaming blue murder.” He chuckled.

“Yes,” he agreed. “That is certainly Sophie at the moment. Right wish me luck,” he mocked with the toast buttered and the tea’s made.

His father gently hit on him on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine.” He laughed.

Calvin didn’t feel so sure, either way made his way back through the corridors and up the staircase. He walked to the dreaded bedroom, hoping she was in a better mood.

He opened the door with caution. He walked into the room. Kacey had settled down sleeping, maybe wore herself out. Calvin placed the tea and toast on the coffee table and decided to sit and wait for her, clearly she was still freshening up.

The bathroom door opened. She emerged wearing his white robe with the tie around her waist being double knotted, clearly wasn’t wishing to expose her body. She scowled at him and turned her head away.
Okay, what the hell have I done? Why is she behaving this way? We are meant to be madly in love and celebrating not her looking like a sour face. Scrunching up her nose like that…right, I am not taking this!

“I have a cup of tea here for you,” he told her.

“Don’t want one,” she replied, getting something out the changing bag. She stormed back into the en-suite.

“This is ridiculers.” He rushed to the bathroom door knocking on it. “Okay, I think we need to talk as this mood is stupid. I don’t even know what I have done. You were fine before I headed into the bathroom,” he told her placing his mouth to the door. “Sophie,” he shouted not getting a response. He knocked on the door again. “Sophie,” he repeated, scratching his head aware she was ignoring him. He knew the doors were thick, but not that much. “Sophie,” he tried again.