Love's Destiny (Love Trilogy #2) (2 page)

“I’m awake! I’m awake!” I yelled between bursts of laughter.

“Good morning, Sweetheart.” Mom said bending down to kiss my forehead. “Happy Birthday!”

“Who’s hungry?” Dad asked already knowing the answer. I was always hungry!

We went downstairs into the kitchen for breakfast. I took the left staircase and Dad took the right. We had a bet about which way was faster. I knew it was the left side, Dad swore it was the right. Mom said we were both silly because the staircases were the same length. But every time we went down together we raced. I could hear Mom laughing at us as we both reached the bottom at the same time.

“Tie.” Dad declared. We always tied.

Mom and Dad made breakfast together just like they always did. Mom was an amazing cook and Dad was a good helper. I usually helped too but Dad said I shouldn’t have to do anything today because it was my special day. Mom gave him that look that said she thought he was spoiling me too much, but he just kissed her and made her smile. She always smiled when he kissed her.

I watched my parents as they cooked breakfast together. My mom was so beautiful. Everyone said I looked just like her and I hoped they were right. I wanted to be just like my mom when I grew up. She promised me I could work for her at her bakery as soon as I was old enough. I couldn’t wait.

We ate at the kitchen table, we never really used the formal dining room except for special occasions. As we ate breakfast I couldn’t sit still in my seat. I still didn’t know what we were doing for my birthday celebration. I had informed my parents that I was too old for another kiddie party. I was 10 now. I was mature. Mom and Dad had both laughed and said they would think of a very mature way to celebrate my birthday. I was dying to know what it was!

After breakfast I put on the pretty sailor dress Aunt Amy had bought me and then went to Mom’s room so she could braid my hair. My hair was my only feature that I agreed looked just like Mom’s. It was the exact same dark chestnut color.

Once we were all dressed we loaded into the car and headed off to our mystery destination. I could barely contain my excitement!

I was surprised when we pulled into a marina. We didn’t own a boat. Mom and Dad smiled back at me and laughed at my confused expression.

We got out of the car and Mom and I waited by the edge of the dock while Dad went into an office building. Just then I saw my worst nightmare: Tyler!

I should have known he would be here! He was always around. If I had thought Tyler was bad at age 3 I was crazy, now that he was 8 he was an absolute monster. He was gross and mean and annoying and I didn’t understand why he always had to be around!

Aunt Claire, Uncle Charlie and the obnoxious Tyler walked over to Mom and me.

“Not too mature for presents I hope?” Uncle Charlie teased.

“Never!” I exclaimed standing on my tiptoes to give him a hug. He picked me up in a big bear hug and swung me around.

“Happy Birthday, Sweetie.” Aunt Claire said. She was much easier to hug at least a foot shorter than Uncle Charlie and so much closer to my size.

Tyler stuck his tongue out at me when no one was looking and I just ignored him. I was too mature for his childish games.

Then we heard a baby crying and we all turned around to see Aunt Amy and Uncle Dan walking up each of them carrying one of the twins. Mom always said it was funny that they had twins, but I wasn’t really sure why. The little bundle Aunt Amy was carrying was quiet and still, but Uncle Dan’s bundle was restless and making a lot of noise.

Expertly they switched babies as they walked and Aunt Amy began softly cooing to the wriggling baby in her arms. They didn’t even miss a step, it looked like they’d done that move a hundred times. By the time they reached us both babies were quiet.

“Happy Birthday, Destiny” Uncle Dan whispered.

“My turn!” Mom whispered excitedly reaching for the sleeping baby. Uncle Dan gladly passed over the baby he was holding and looked relieved to have his arms free momentarily.

Just then Dad walked back up to us holding out a set of keys.

“We’re all set.” He declared and he led the way down the long dock.

When he came to a stop in front of a yacht we all gasped. Especially Mom.

“Michael!” I heard her whisper, she was still holding the sleeping baby. “I thought you said a boat?” She was giving Dad the stern look that she used when she thought he’d gone overboard.

“This is a boat.” Dad replied winking at me. “She only turns 10 once Katie.” He said smiling. She reluctantly smiled back, Mom could never stay mad at Dad.

We all climbed aboard and the boat pulled away from the docks. I’d never been on a yacht before. It was so cool! I immediately began exploring the immense ship. Of course Tyler followed me everywhere. But I didn’t mind too much. Sometimes he was ok, when he wasn’t being totally annoying.

When we found our parents again the twins were the center of everybody’s attention. They were 3 months old and just starting to laugh and smile, so all the grown ups were circled around the two little girls making faces and playing peek-a-boo. It was so funny how silly grown ups would act just to make a baby smile.

“There’s the birthday girl!” Aunt Amy exclaimed when she saw us wandering up.

“Tyler, where have you been?” Aunt Claire demanded. She didn’t look happy.

“I was exploring with Destiny.” Tyler said sheepishly.

“You shouldn’t wander off without telling me.” Aunt Claire scolded.

“I told you they would be together.” Dad interjected before she could continue.

“Destiny’s little shadow.” Uncle Charlie laughed. I could tell Tyler didn’t like the nickname his dad had just given him.

“Well you need to stay where I can see you.” Aunt Claire continued still upset with Tyler.

“Relax, Claire. We’re on a boat. Where’s he going to go?” Uncle Charlie was trying to calm her down.

“Oh, I don’t know, into the ocean!” She exclaimed turning her frustration on him. He just rolled his eyes.

“Mom, I’m fine.” Tyler muttered looking embarrassed.

“Who’s hungry?” Mom spoke up, changing the subject to most everyone’s relief.

Uncle Charlie put his arm around Aunt Claire and she seemed to calm down as we all sat down for lunch. She made Tyler sit right next to her, and I could tell he really didn’t like that. He didn’t say anything all through lunch.

After lunch it was time for my portrait. Every year Dad would paint a picture of me on my birthday. This year he had me stand in my sailor dress holding the captains wheel. I was an old pro at this, I knew how to hold very still while Dad sketched my picture. It was hard to hold perfectly still though, because we had left the harbor and the open ocean had some big swells. The boat rocked back and forth, but I was doing pretty good at keeping my balance. The captain said I had good sea legs.

It didn’t take Dad long to finish his sketch. I knew he would turn it into a beautiful painting in his art studio back home. Dad was an amazing artist. My favorite painting was the one he had done of Mom when she was pregnant with me. It hung over the stone fireplace in our living room and I loved to sit on Dad’s lap and hear him tell the story of how he would secretly paint her every night while she slept.

After Dad finished his sketch it was time to open my presents. Aunt Claire actually allowed Tyler to leave her side and come sit by me while I unwrapped my gifts. He still looked kind of weird though. I wondered if he was still mad.

Everyone else oooh’d and awww’d as I opened and displayed the beautiful clothes Aunt Amy had bought me. But Tyler just sat next to me, still looking funny. He didn’t react to anything, not even to make stupid little jokes like he usually did. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, until suddenly he turned and threw up all over my pretty birthday dress. I guess he didn’t have such good sea legs! I was totally grossed out, but not surprised. Tyler always ruined everything!

Despite the disgusting ending to my 10th birthday party it had otherwise been a perfect day. Much like the first 10 years of my life had been. Occasionally Tyler would show up and knock over my cake or throw up on my dress, but the rest of the time I was exceptionally happy. I was surrounded by people who loved me and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I had always felt lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life, but it wasn’t until I was faced with losing what meant most to me that I really appreciated how lucky I was.

One night as I made my way down the corridor towards my parent’s bedroom I overheard my mom sobbing. Instantly I froze not sure how to react. I’d never heard her cry before.

“Oh, Michael.” Her voice was muffled and I crept a few steps forward to peer through the bedroom door. My parents sat on the edge of the bed, my dad had his arm around Mom as she cried into his shoulder.

“It’s all going to work out Katherine, Fate has a way of working these things out. We just have to have faith and take a chance.”

“Those would make good names.” My mother murmured, “Faith or Chance.” and it sounded like she laughed a little.

I strained closer to see her face, still trying to gauge the situation. She was smiling up at my father now.

What could possibly be going on that would have my mother crying and smiling at the same time? And what was she saying about names?

“What are we going to do?” my mom sighed, her smile fading again.

“We’re going to have a baby.” My dad replied and for some reason they both started laughing.

A baby?

I took several involuntary steps forward as I tried to process what I’d just heard.

“Oh Destiny!” my mom exclaimed when she saw me. Quickly she wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled brightly. She extended her arms to me and instinctively I ran to her burying my face in her hair. Tears of confusion sprang into my eyes before I could stop them.

“There, there.” My mother soothed rocking me and stroking my head “What’s wrong Sweetheart?”

“You were crying.”

“Oh, Sweetheart, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. See.” She pushed me out at arm’s length to look me in the face and she smiled comfortingly at me. The ache in my heart eased a little.

“We have some great news, Destiny.” My dad said “We’re going to have another baby. You’re going to be a big sister!”

The words finally sunk in and I looked back at my mom, she was still smiling cheerfully at me.

“But I thought you couldn’t? I mean didn’t you say that the doctors said you couldn’t?” I asked my mom, beginning to tremble as the panic sunk in.

I remembered her telling me the story of how difficult her labor had been with me; she’d almost died and had been told not to have any more children.

“Oh it’s going to be fine!” my mom exclaimed a little too cheerfully.

“Then why were you crying?” I was only 10, but I wasn’t stupid.

Mom’s shoulders slumped a little and her smile wavered.

“There is a risk Destiny.” My mother said seriously, all false cheeriness gone from her voice. “But there’s also a chance that everything will go fine.” She assured me trying to smile again.

“What kind of risk?” I asked, my hands were visibly shaking now. I couldn’t even think about the possibility of losing my mother, she was everything to me and to my dad. I looked over at him desperately. He was smiling too, but his eyes were wary.

“Destiny, your Mom is going to be fine. Her doctor knows all about her medical history, he’ll know how to take care of her.” It almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself by saying it out loud.

I buried my face back against my mom’s chest and she hugged me tightly. I felt Dad’s arm come around us both and I let myself cry. Even at 10 I realized how much I could lose. I had never before imagined it was possible to lose my mother, but suddenly she seemed so fragile everything seemed so fragile. I realized how easily my entire life could change in a heartbeat. Everything I had could be taken away from me. I had never experienced so much fear.

Eight months later Chance Michael Carter came into this world without a single complication. My mother swore that he smiled at the nurse who delivered him.

“Already has his Daddy’s charm.” She boasted.

I wasn’t sure what to think about having a little brother at first. For the previous eight months I’d been riddled with panic and the fear of losing my mother, I hadn’t really thought about what it would be like to have a sibling.

Now that the worst was over and I knew Mom was safe, I began to finally consider the possibilities of being a big sister. Of course I thought immediately of how obnoxious Tyler always was, but when I looked down at my new baby brother I just couldn’t believe anything so tiny and cute could ever be that bad.

“Tyler, did you remember to pack your toothbrush?” my mother asked me for the third time.

“No, I think I’m just going to let my teeth rot. All the kids are doing it these days.” Mom just rolled her eyes at my sarcastic comment as she wandered off looking for Dad, probably to make sure he’d packed enough underwear.

I zipped up my suitcase and lugged it out to the car. As I passed my parent’s room I could hear Mom badgering poor Dad.