Wrecked (11 page)

Rocking her sleeping baby girl in her arms, Elizabeth wept.
For six long years she had waited to marry Andrew and now the dream had been
destroyed. Andrew was dead. She would never again have the opportunity to tell
him how much she loved him. She desperately hoped that he’d known.

What Elizabeth didn’t know, however, was that Andrew stood
next to her as she sat in the wooden rocking chair and cuddled with her child.
She didn’t know that he also wept, knowing that they would never have the life
they’d both desired. She didn’t know that he would remain by her side for the
rest of her days.

He stood beside her as she threw dirt onto his casket as his
body was lowered into the ground. Lizzie sobbed as dirt filled the hole. Andrew
accompanied her each time she visited his grave and placed yellow wild flowers
on his headstone. Each time it ripped a bigger hole in his heart, unable to
comfort her and tell her he was right there.

Andrew sat on the floor with Andie while she played with her
wooden blocks. He walked alongside his beloved and his child while they picked
wild flowers, or walked to town to buy ribbon and candles. He sat at the table
while they ate their supper and read from the bible. He laughed as Lizzie gave
Andie her bath and she splashed her mama with water and heard her sweet little
giggle. It was one of the best sounds he’d ever heard. And he laid beside
Lizzie and watched her as she slept night after night after night.

He became worried when the cold weather came early and the
slight cough that Lizzie had suffered from for a couple of weeks became worse
and worse, never getting better. It kept her awake most nights and when she
began coughing up blood, Andrew realized that her mortal life was coming to an
end. Having visited his daughter, and seeing how ill she’d become, William sent
one of his maids to tend to her and his granddaughter. The doctor visited
several times and would just shake his head. There wasn’t anything he could do
for consumption. They would just try to make her as comfortable as possible.

Andrew was devastated, not only for the situation he was in,
unable to help and becoming angrier by the minute, but for his child. She was
to grow up without her father and now without her mother, too. Would Andrea
remember her at all? Who would tell her about her father? Would William ever
allow her to learn of her parentage?

One evening, long after dark and Andie was sound asleep in
her bed, Andrew once again laid down beside his beloved Lizzie. She was pale
and weak and it was just a matter of time before she would draw her final
breath.

“You must tell her about me,” he pleaded. “She must know how
much we loved her… and wanted her. She must not grow up not knowing where she
came from. She must know that she was conceived with love.”

With a rare moment of clarity, it seemed that Elizabeth
looked straight at him.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“Caroline?” Lizzie called. “I need paper and ink.”

“Now, ma’am?” the maid appeared in the doorway.

“Now.”

My dearest Andrea,
You will read this long after I am gone and in the earth. I want you to know
how much my heart hurts knowing I will not see you grow into the beautiful
young woman I am sure you will become. You are the light of my life and I am
grateful for the time I have had with you, even though it has been far too
short. I love you and always will.

I want to tell you about your father, Captain Andrew
Wentworth. He never got to see you or hold you and for that I will be forever
sorry. I wish you had known him as he was a great man and would have been a
wonderful father to you. Although he was not a man of means, he went to sea in
the Navy to serve his King and make his fortune so that we could marry and he
could provide a good life for our family. He died a few months ago just a short
distance from our home when his ship wrecked on the wicked rocks at the base of
the cliff. I stood at his grave and vowed that when you were older, I would
tell you all about him, but it seems that my plan will not come to fruition for
I am soon to be lain beside him and return to dust.

You must always remember and never forget that we both
love you very much and wish that we could have been the family we so desired.

Love forever,
Mama

*****

Two days later, Elizabeth asked Caroline to fetch her
father. Her time had run out and she needed to say her goodbyes. William rushed
straight over and sat at Elizabeth’s side, her hand in his, and Andie playing
with her doll at the end of the bed. Andrew stood and watched the emotional
scene before him.

“Father?” Lizzie whispered, her lungs too weak to do much
more.

“Don’t talk, my dear. Save your strength,” William pleaded.

With a stern expression, Lizzie continued. “You must promise
me that you will tell Andie about me.”

“Of course I will.”

“And you must tell her about Andrew. Please?”

William nodded.

“Promise me,” she begged.

“I promise.”

Elizabeth pulled the letter she’d written from under her
pillow and handed it to her father. “Give this to her when she is older.”

William took the folded paper and placed it carefully in the
breast pocket of his coat. “I will love her and make sure she has the best of
everything.”

“All she needs is to know that she is loved.”

“That she is,” William smiled sadly. He held her hand until
she drifted off to sleep and then instructed Caroline to bring Andrea to him
once Elizabeth was gone. And he left.

Andrew sat on the end of the bed and watched his love sleep
and his daughter play quietly.

“This is not how life was supposed to go,” he cried
silently.

Andie looked up at him – directly at him – and smiled.
“Papa,” she pointed.

A miracle of all miracles. She had seen him. How? He didn’t
question. Andrew didn’t care. Just knowing that his daughter had seen him was
enough.

“I love you, Andie.”

“Love you,” she smiled back. And then she went back to
playing with her doll, climbing off the bed and asking Caroline for a drink.

Andrew didn’t leave Lizzie’s side until, in the early hours
of the morning, she awoke and coughed, alerting Caroline.

“Miss Elizabeth? Do you need something?”

“Behind the bricks in the fireplace is the string of pearls
from Andrew. They must go to Andie. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, Miss.”

The coughing grew worse over the next several minutes and
her handkerchief became soaked in her blood. Just as Lizzie took her last
breaths, Andie cried out. She’d fallen and hurt her leg. Andrew rushed to her,
hoping she would see him again and calm her, but just as he sat on the floor
beside his daughter, his legs crossed in front of him and reaching for his
daughter, Caroline cried out in sorrow. Lizzie was gone.

“Mornin’ beautiful,” Ethan grinned as he brushed Bess’s hair
from her eyes.

That made her chuckle. “Nothing about me is beautiful first
thing in the morning.”

“Oh how wrong you are.” If it was physically possible, he
pulled her closer and kissed her hair.

“I’d roll over and show you but I’m not sure I’ll ever move
again. I am so damn twisted in this robe and the duvet, I don’t think even
Houdini could escape.”

“I don’t want you to move yet,” Ethan sighed into her hair.
“I love having you right here in my arms.”

“You’re in luck. I can’t move. I’ve tried and it’s no use. I
am at your mercy,” Bess laughed.

“Well, if that’s the case, we might not ever move!”

“I have to be at work tomorrow,” Bess reminded him.

“So do I.” And they fell into silence as they laid together,
Bess running her hands up and down his arms as they gripped her tightly around
the waist.

“You know,” Ethan eventually said, “I don’t think I have
slept that well in a long time. You are like a human sleeping pill.”

“I’m not sure that’s a compliment,” she laughed.

“Don’t worry. It is,” he smiled. “Damn!”

“What is it?” Bess asked.

“Nature calls. I have to leave you for a minute.” Ethan
carefully, and grudgingly, extricated himself from Bess and the duvet and
disappeared into the bathroom. It gave Bess the chance to attempt to straighten
out her robe and unravel her long hair.

As she remembered she was naked under her robe, Bess was
startled at her behavior in the morning’s early hour when she knocked on
Ethan’s door without thinking through the consequences of such an act, hence,
waking up in his bed. Even though he’d been the perfect gentleman and had kept
his hands to himself, Bess still felt very awkward and nervous of the situation
she’d placed herself in… and she only had herself to blame.

“Ah,” grinned Ethan as he appeared in the room. “I drank too
much last night.” He jumped on the bed and made Bess bounce. She laughed in
surprise. “I love hearing you laugh. It’s one of my favorite sounds.”

Embarrassed, Bess quieted and blushed.

“Seriously?” he teased as he scooted up the bed so he was
straddling her legs. “How can you not realize how much I like you? Last night I
even told you I loved you. You are the woman I want to be with… and I want to
compliment you every chance I get. You have to get used to it,” he winked.

“Thank you?” Bess squeaked.

“Better,” Ethan laughed. “What do you want to do today?”

“Eat? I’m starving.”

“Done!” Ethan dove off Bess and reached for the room service
menu on the bedside table. He picked up the phone and ordered pretty much one
of everything, which had Bess shocked.

“Who is going to eat all that?”

“You said you were starving,” he chuckled. “Gotta make sure
my girl is fed.”

Bess took the opportunity to escape to the bathroom and
freshen up. She ran her fingers through her hair as best as she could and
squeezed a little toothpaste on her finger and ran it over her teeth and
tongue. It would have to do. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she
silently told herself to relax and take deep breaths. The whole situation was
making her more nervous than she could remember being.

When there came a knock on the hotel door, she realized just
how long she’d been hiding in the bathroom. Breakfast had arrived and she
couldn’t avoid Ethan any longer. Tightening the tie of her robe, Bess opened
the bathroom door and found the bed covered in plates of food. She couldn’t
help but laugh when she saw his expression.

“This should satisfy your empty stomach,” he grinned
proudly. “We can just eat all morning.”

And they pretty much did just that.

“Ugh! I’m so full!” Bess grunted as she fell back onto the
bed. “I ate too much.”

“There is still lots here,” chuckled Ethan. “We can’t be
done yet.”

“You can keep going, but if I eat another bite I’ll be
sick!”

“How about another mimosa?”

“Ooh, yes please,” Bess grinned and sat back up. “I always
have room for a mimosa!”

Ethan continued to pick from several plates and Bess sipped
on her drink as they chatted about everything from the hospital to favorite
singers and movies, to exotic places they’d like to visit. And by ten o’clock,
Ethan gave up on trying to finish the copious amount of food he’d ordered and
stacked the plates back on the cart room service had left behind. He wheeled it
into the hallway and returned to the room.

“Coffee?” Bess asked, as she poured herself another cup.

“Sure, thanks. We still have two hours before we have to
check out. What would you like to do to pass the time?”

Bess froze. She thought she heard in his voice a desire that
she’d been fearing all night. It was a desire she also felt deep in her core
but was trying her best to ignore it. Opening herself up… willingly and
knowingly putting herself in a vulnerable position was the last thing she
wanted to do, yet she couldn’t deny the tug in her heart.

Ethan had articulated to her how he’d felt. He’d said those
three magical words – I love you – and Bess hadn’t responded. It didn’t appear
to have bothered him, which came as a great relief, but she knew that she felt
the same way – she just didn’t have the courage to admit it.

“Did you have something in mind?” she asked, but it sounded
way too suggestive. She hadn’t anticipated that.
Damn!

“It sounds like you do,” Ethan grinned.

“No!” she exclaimed, horrified.

Trying not to laugh, Ethan pretended to cough, but Bess was
not fooled. Eventually, the mortification drained from her face and she was able
to smile, just a little. Ethan walked to her and placed his hands on her
shoulders.

“You know I would never pressure you into anything.”

“I know,” Bess nodded.

“May I kiss you?”

With surprise, she looked up. Ethan gazed at her with an
expression she’d never seen before. With the slightest nod of her head, he
lowered his head and his lips found hers. It was the lightest of kisses, his
lips barely grazing hers. It was enough to stoke the fire and he kissed her
again, this time swiping his tongue across her bottom lip. The inaudible moan
he felt from her was all the permission he needed. He wasted no time letting
her know his intentions. There was heat and fire in his next kiss as he quickly
parted her lips with his tongue and tasted her thoroughly. She captured his
moan and returned it with eagerness. Her brain had no control over her
reaction. Her body was calling the shots and it wanted Ethan. Her heart was
also willing, even though it was terrified of being ripped out and stomped on.
But that was a thought for another time.

His fingers threaded her hair and he kissed her with an
intensity that almost frightened Bess. The number of males that had kissed her
could be counted on one hand, but nothing could ever have prepared her for the
almost uncontrollable reaction her body had as his kisses became more
passionate. Her breasts strained against the confines of her robe and the pulsating
between her legs was like nothing she’d ever felt.

Ethan’s kisses were verging on frantic, as though he
couldn’t get enough of her or close enough to her. But after several minutes of
the best kiss of her life, he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to get so out of hand,”
he gasped.

“Don’t be sorry,” Bess whispered. “I liked it.”

“More then?” he grinned enthusiastically.

“More.”

Twenty minutes later, Ethan once again pulled away. His
breathing was labored, Bess’s lips red and swollen. “Time to get dressed and
head home,” he breathed heavily.

A stunned Bess stood in front of him.

“It is certainly not that I wouldn’t like to take this a
step, or ten, further,” he chuckled. “But when I make love to you for the first
time, I’m going to take all night, not a rush job before check out time.”

Bess grinned.

“Now, I need to take a
very
cold shower, and you need
to get back to your room and get dressed. I’ll come and get you in about
fifteen minutes, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed, reaching for her keycard on the coffee
table and marched out of Ethan’s room and back to her own.

Yes. I am going to take all night, Elizabeth Williams.

*****

Andrew was worried. Bess hadn’t come home last night and
that wasn’t like her. He’d sat on the windowsill of the bedroom at the end of
the hall upstairs and watched for her all night long, although time meant
nothing to him.

Over the few months he’d allowed her to see him, Andrew had
become close to Bess as he’d gotten to know her. He knew there were things in
her past that caused her to be fearful and untrusting, but he knew that deep
down she would blossom like a rose when she found someone with whom she could
open her heart. Early signs were looking like Ethan might be that someone.

Relief washed over him as he saw the car pull up and park.
Ethan helped Bess from the passenger seat and Andrew noted the way he held her
hand as he walked her to the front door.

“I see that he’s done something right,” Andrew smiled.

The idea that Bess could be happy made Andrew full of hope.
He knew what it was like to be alone and didn’t want that future for her. She
should have the life that was denied him… the life that she deserved.

Ethan and Bess disappeared from view as they entered the
house. Andrew was curious but stayed put. He wouldn’t intrude. He would wait
for Bess to come and find him and tell him all about her date.

“Hang tight,” Bess told Ethan as she closed the front door.
“I’m going to change out of my gown into normal clothes,” she grinned. “Then
I’ll make some coffee.”

“How about iced tea?” suggested Ethan.

“Even better,” she yelled over her shoulder as she walked to
her bedroom.

Ethan set to work in the kitchen, whistling as he filled the
kettle and pulled tea bags from the canister on the counter. He was happy and
nothing could dampen his spirits. It was just a matter of time and Bess would
be his. Dreams of a future with her were filling his thoughts.

As he waited for the water to boil, there was a knock at the
door.

“I’ll get it,” he yelled as he walked to the foyer.

“Hello?” he asked as he opened the door.

“Does Elizabeth Williams live here?”

“Uh, who’s asking?” Ethan frowned as he looked at the older couple
in front of him.

“None of your business,” the disheveled man grunted.

“Ah, it is. This is
my
house and
my
property.
Tell me who you are.” Ethan wasn’t going to back down.

“Does she live here or not?” the man demanded. He looked
older than he probably was, Ethan surmised. His scraggly beard was stringy and
appeared dirty because of its coloring. Yet the woman was neat and clean, but
looked tired.

“Who is it?” Bess asked as she ran to Ethan, now wearing a
pair of capri yoga pants and a tank top, her hair up in a ponytail.

“Elizabeth?” the woman yelled, trying to peer around Ethan
and into the house.

Bess stopped dead in her tracks. Her mother was outside.