Stanton Bliss: Stanton (19 page)

Natasha smiles up at me with love in her eyes. “Josh.” She smiles. “Look what we made?”

“I love you so much,” I whisper as I sit on the bed and watch her feed our child. For half an hour, we stay silent and still as we watch our baby. I am in awe. There is nothing on Earth that could ever compare to this feeling. Natasha hands her back to me and I sit and stare at her in my arms. I know I should go outside and tell everyone the news, but I don’t want to break this moment. This is time that I can never get back and they are all going to have to wait.

“Can I take a shower?” Natasha asks. “I feel like I have just fought ten rounds with Mike Tyson,” she murmurs.

“Of course,” the nurse replies. “I will–”

I cut the nurse off. “I will take care of Natasha.”

I lay Jordana in her little wheel around crib and help Tash out of bed, and then I push the crib as I help Tash. It seems weird having two people to look after now.

“You can leave the baby here. I will watch her.” The nurse smiles.

“I can take care of them both,” I reply. Now more than ever, my protective instincts have kicked in. I’m not leaving either of them alone for even a minute.

I park Jordana into the corner of the bathroom and lead Tash into the shower, helping her wash the blood from her body gently.

She’s so swollen and she has lots of stitches. “Oh, baby,” I whisper, this is horrific. “Are you ok?”

She nods and holds me tight.

To be honest I’m feeling a little fragile myself, that whole birthing thing is other worldly.

She kisses me, and it’s as though our relationship just hit a whole higher level of intimacy.

“I have never loved you more than I do today,” I whisper.

We stand alone in the shower in each other’s arms, selflessly blocking out the rest of the world as we kiss and celebrate the making of a perfect little girl.

Jordana May Stanton.

Four Years Later

Natasha

“Jordy why are you in different clothes?” I ask as she flits around the kitchen in a little pink ballerina costume.

“I got dirty,” Little Miss replies.

I shake my head at Joshua and he smirks. This is her fourth outfit today. Jordana, A.K.A, Jordy, Jay or Jay bird, is… hmm, what’s the word for it? Strong willed, just like her father.

She gives the word defiant a whole new meaning. She’s super intelligent and super bossy.

We live at Willowvale now with Jordy and our other two children. Estella, who we call Ellie, is two and a half, and Blake, our son, is one. We are outnumbered. There are more little people in this house than adults and we don’t stand a chance of getting out of here alive.

The beautiful mansion that I once thought was a museum is now strewn with toys, highchairs and nappy wipes. Joshua’s office has
Lego
on the floor and tiny little handprints are all over the windows. Ellie waddles after Joshua and holds her hands up. He picks her up without thinking. Ellie is the only placid child we have, and Joshua says she’s the only drama free person in the house. Being attracted and married to a dominant male is hot… but bringing up his two dominant children is just damn hard work. Ellie points to the walk in pantry and Joshua walks over and opens it for her. I watch them together. In fact, I watch him with all of our children. This huge, muscular man is a pussycat at the mere mention of the word daddy.

“A banana?” he asks as he holds one up.

She shakes her head. She has sandy hair that curls on the ends, and large blue eyes. She is fairer than the other two

“Yogie,” her little voice tells him.

“Yoghurt?” he questions.

She smiles broadly and nods as he takes it from the fridge. He fills her a bowl and sits her in her high chair, placing everything out for her to devour.

He watches her lovingly for a moment as she spoons it into her mouth. This one has him wrapped around her little finger.

Jordy and Blake look like Joshua with darker hair and darker skin and blue eyes. They are like him in personality, too – strong willed and unmanageable. Joshua is getting payback, and I love every moment of watching him try to control them. It’s a battle of the wills, constantly.

The dog barks and we hear the crunch of tyres. Jordy’s eyes widen in excitement and she runs to the front of the house to peek out the window.

“Mercy is here!” she yells excitedly.

Mercy… also known as Murphy, as in Adrian Murphy.

Jordy heard the boys calling him Murphy once and couldn’t say it, so she started calling him Mercy and it stuck. Now the other kids just think that’s his name.

The door opens and Jordy squeals in delight and he picks her up, laughs and spins her around. Cameron is behind him and he growls like a monster, chasing them up the hall as Adrian runs with her in his arm.

“He’s scary.” Adrian laughs. “Hide me, Jordy. Hide me.”

She laughs out loud as Cameron pretends to chase them. Jarvis follows them in, carrying a couple of suit bags. They burst into the large kitchen area. We have extended and now have another living room off the kitchen, seeing how we seem to be here all the time with the kids. Cameron swoops Blake off the floor and kisses Ellie gently on the head as she continues eating her yoghurt. The boys all dote on the children. They come to visit them weekly, not us, I’m sure of it.

Bridget is living in Australia and so is Abbie. Bridget is coming for a visit next week with Mum, not that I’m counting the days or anything. Mum lives between here and Australia. She has met a nice man from the village here who she calls her friend. Cameron is back at University to be a surgeon and Adrian is running the company for Joshua and living in L.A.

Joshua works from home for four days and in the office in L.A. on the other day. I have opened a small psychology practice in town here but I only open two days a week. Birgetta helps Joshua with the kids on those days.

Ben has returned to South Africa after he went and worked with my brother, Brock, for a while. Oh, and get this: Jesten works with my brother. There are five ex Special Forces men working together in his security company named Marx. Pretty cool, hey?

“Did you remember the dresses?” I ask Adrian.

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, that’s the reason we came, isn’t it?”

He puts Jordy down and she runs upstairs while Jarvis retrieves the suit bags for Adrian. I smile broadly and kiss Jarvis on the cheek as I take them from him. He has become so dear to all of us and I am beyond grateful that Joshua brought him into our lives.

Joshua stands behind me, slips his arms around my waist and kisses my temple. I smile against his lips. How did I ever get so lucky? Cameron spins Blake around and he laughs out loud.

“You are growing up, little man.” He smiles broadly.

Blake puts his hands on Cameron’s face and squeals with laughter and then he spots Joshua and all is forgotten in the world. He holds his arms out to him and scrunches his little hands open and closed. Joshua takes him from Cam and kisses the top of his head.

“Dad, Dad, Dad.” He smiles.

Adrian opens the suit bags on the kitchen table.

“So, we have this one.” He pulls out a black dress and Cameron and Joshua roll their eyes at each other. Jarvis smiles and flops onto the lounge.

“This is important!” I snap.

We have opened a charity: The Stanton Mental Health Institute, and we have our first annual ball next week. I’m speaking and I’m as nervous as hell. I have to look amazing. Nicholas is on the committee and we are following his lead from his work in Australia.

He pulls out a black gown.

“Oh, wow.” I smile, and I hold it up to me. “This is gorgeous.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Adrian smiles. “But I think I like the pink one better.”

He starts to unzip the bag but we are interrupted by Jordy.

“I’m going riding,” she announces. She is wearing her full riding kit, jodhpurs, boots, a little hard hat with her two dark plaits hanging down.

Everybody smirks. What next?

“No, you are not. We already went riding this morning,” Joshua tells her.

“Yes, I know. I’m going again. I need to practice to get better, Dad.”

I smirk, like Joshua, Jordy is mad for horses.

“No, you are not. You can go again later,” Joshua replies.

“I am. Max will take me.” She heads out the back door.

“Jordana,” Joshua calls after her. “Come back here now.”

“No!” she yells as she marches down toward the stables.

“This fucking kid,” Joshua mumbles under his breath, and we all laugh. He takes off after her and we hear them have a full stand up argument on the path.

I smirk and turn the jug on. “You want some tea, boys?” I watch Joshua and Jordy fight on the pathway. His plan for six children could be the very death of him, and he would die if he knew I suspected that I’m pregnant again.

“Yes, please.”

“Jordy still whipping his ass around Willowvale?” Cameron smirks.

I smile. “Trying to.”

Jordana comes marching through the door in tantrum, tears everywhere, followed by Joshua.

“You can go up to your room, thank you,” Joshua says sternly.

She folds her arms in a huff. “I am going to my room,” she cries. “And I’m slamming my door.”

Joshua’s eyes narrow. “Don’t you dare.”

“I am!” she yells as she storms past us.

Cameron and Adrian smile into their tea. It really is fun watching Joshua having stand up arguments with a sweet looking four-year-old girl. Most grown men don’t cross him.

“I can’t fucking wait until she’s sixteen, man. It is going to be on like Donkey Kong.” Cameron smiles.

Joshua fakes a shiver.

We all laugh. Let the games begin.

Natasha

My eyes flick over to Joshua who stands at the bar with his father, mum, Bridget, Cameron and Stephanie. Stephanie is Joshua’s father’s new girlfriend. She’s beautiful and only four years older than Scott.

Margaret is here to support us, although the invitation didn’t extend to her fiancé, James Brennan. I’m happy that she’s happy, but I will never get over the lies she told. They went on for far too long. I tolerate her for the sake of my children, but who knows what the future will bring? I don’t want them to see me have contempt for my mother-in-law. It’s a daily struggle, one that I would walk away from if I didn’t know how hard we fought to keep the family together. My eyes look around at the opulent ballroom in amazement. This is something out of this world. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished.

We are at the first Stanton Mental Health Institute charity ball and I am flitting around the room with my committee. Nicholas and I have joined forces and we make a mean team.

The voice echoes from the stage. “Can I please welcome to the stage, Natasha Stanton.”

The crowd clap and I make my way through the throes of people, walking nervously up to the stage.

I take my place behind the microphone and I feel my heart swell with pride. This is what I was meant to be doing. This is my calling. I have never felt so strongly about anything as I do about being an advocate for mental health.

I am wearing a heavy lace fitted black dress and my hair is out and full. Adrian has done well with this little number. I feel confident and comfortable.

I smile nervously and give a little wave to the crowd

Everyone laughs softly, and my eyes search the crowd for my man.

“Hello. I would, once again, like to thank you all for coming tonight.”

This is my second speech of the night. The first one I gave had people in tears.

“The Stanton Mental Health Institute has one goal and one goal only. To advocate, care for and create funding for research on mental health. With your help, we can break down the stigmatism and create hope and quality care.”

I open the envelope and smile broadly as I read the next line. Oh my God, is this the true figure?

I look up and find Joshua in the crowd and I feel myself tear up.

“It is my great pleasure to announce that, thanks to your generosity, we have raised eleven point two million dollars tonight.”

The crowd all cheer and I drop my chin to my chest to hide my emotion. The committee and everyone involved have worked so damn hard on this project. Cameron, his father and Joshua have called on every contact they know to make this a success. We are all so proud of this charity.

I can’t do anything but stand and applaud along with the audience for an extended time.

I raise my hand to the committee and the crowd continues to clap.

“From all of us at the Stanton Mental Health Institute, we give you a huge thank you. Tonight’s funding will change so many lives,” I announce through my tears. I bow softly and the crowd clap and cheer and I exit the stage to find my man.

I arrive back with my family and smile with happiness. They are all celebrating the monetary figure.

Cameron kisses my cheek. “Fucking hell, Tash. Eleven million!” he whispers.

Dad shakes Joshua’s hand aggressively. “Well done, son.” He turns and kisses me. “Well done, Natasha.” He smiles.

I smile again broadly as I feel lips on my cheek and a hand slide around my waist. I turn to see my handsome husband and I kiss him gently on the lips.

“Did I sound ok?” I ask.

“Perfect.” He smiles. “I’m so proud of you, Presh,” he whispers.

I smile and put both of my arms around his neck. “The formalities are over. Please get me a drink, my Lambo?”

He smiles and drops his hand to my behind. He cracks his neck hard as he gives me that look that he does so well.

His eyes drop to my breasts that are pushed up against his chest, and I feel his cock harden up against my body through his dinner suit.

“You just got yourself a ticket to Pound Town, Mrs. Stanton,” he whispers in my ear.

My lips linger on his and his sweet scent surrounds me.

“Please,” I breathe as I subtly rub my body up against his erection.

“I want the scenic route,” I whisper.

He smiles broadly. “We will always take the long way, Presh.”

He kisses me again.

“You know it, baby.” I smirk.

I will never get enough of this man.