“If you had told me, I could have been with you through all of that. I just don’t understand. Is it because I hurt you?” he asked, the tortured expression returning.
“Oh, Banton…no. That had nothing to do with it! I don’t remember any of that. It has to do with me. I’m still struggling with it.”
“Struggling with what, Sweetheart? Please, I want you to tell me,” he whispered. I gazed into his eyes, the flecks of gold sparkled with his unshed tears. I reached up and touched his cheek.
“I didn’t want to ever talk about it. But I know once I tell you, we can put it behind us. I remember the one thought I had after the attack was that what he’d done, he’d done to you as well as to me.”
Banton nodded furiously, understanding my meaning. As I watched the emotion run across his face, I almost lost my resolve.
“No, baby…go on. You need to do this,” he urged me.
“Dante sent Lucien a couple of times to bring the babies to me, and to check on me. Lucien is the one who broke my ribs, the first time, when he kicked me. Then he sent Noah, and food for me and the babies. That’s something else I want to talk to Everett about,” I said as he raised an eyebrow at me.
“I questioned Noah about what we were feeding the babies. The mixture had human blood in it,” I admitted as a sick look crossed Banton’s face.
I immediately choked up as guilt took over. “Banton, I had no choice. They waited forever to bring anything to feed them, and they were starving,” I rushed out as I sobbed.
“No, Andie…I don’t blame you. You couldn’t help it, you’re right. Shh. It’s okay,” he soothed as my hysterics ceased.
“I’ve been so worried about what effect drinking human blood might have on them, and what they might remember. Then the morning Dante came himself, he sent Noah to get the babies and take them back to another part of the cargo bay. Then he struck me several times, because I didn’t obey him fast enough.”
My breathing began to escalate as I replayed the awful memories for Banton. Drawing my breath in, I whispered, “He dragged me over to a mattress and ripped my clothes off. I tried to steel myself against feeling anything, hoping I could block it all out.” I watched his eyes widen in horrified shock. “I guess that angered him more, and he struck me again, so hard my head bounced off the wall. I don’t remember anything else until I woke more than a day later. I was sore and covered in blood.”
I shook with sobs now, and I wasn’t even sure Banton could understand me, my voice seemed so garbled.
“God, Chandler…I’m so sorry! I can’t stand what that monster did to you!” he ground through his teeth as he tightened his arms around me even tighter. I winced as my ribs protested, he wasn’t even aware of how tight he was holding me.
“I want to make it go away for you, baby. I can’t stand that we couldn’t have gotten to you sooner! I feel like I totally failed you. It was the one thing I wanted to protect you from.” He became silent as his tortured gaze fixed over my head.
“When Dr. Renault gave me the results of the amnio, he told me he’d visited with Noah. Noah told him he didn’t think Dante had been able to do much after he’d knocked me unconscious. He said that he left in a fury soon after. When he told me that, I decided most of the horror, the revulsion…was in my own imagination. I’m luckier than Brie. I was unconscious, I don’t remember the attack. Brie wasn’t so lucky,” I whispered as he nodded at me, large tears slipping down his cheeks. I reached and wiped them away.
“I told you all of this so you could understand why I’ve reacted to you, to your touch. From the moment I woke all I wanted was to scrub it all away. I begged Noah to take me to a tub they had in the cargo hold. I scrubbed myself with soap until I bled that night. When I woke with you and the babies, my only thought was that I needed to bathe. I didn’t want you to touch me until I was clean. I imagined I could feel your revulsion as you touched me.”
“No…I never felt that way! I’m so, so sorry,” he murmured as he cupped my cheek in his hand. “I don’t know what that son-of-a-bitch was able to do to you, but it was him, not you. Don’t you think for one minute anything he could have done to you would make me feel differently about you.”
I nodded and smiled through my tears at him. “A lot of it has gone away, with the knowledge the baby is yours. I’m just so relieved. I feel like the baby protected me in a way,” I realized as he nodded.
Banton took a deep breath and placed his lips to my forehead. I tightened my arms around him. After a while, he loosened his hold on me, drawing back to gaze down at me.
“Chandler, your eyes are glowing. They’re so beautiful, but are you upset? Why are they glowing?’ he asked as he stroked my cheek.
“I guess I’m afraid.”
“Afraid of what, sweetheart?”
“What you are thinking. You haven’t said anything about the baby. I know it’s a lot to take right now,” I whispered as I searched his eyes.
“I meant it, when I said if it was meant to be…and I guess God knew best. And the amnio, it said it’s a girl?’
I nodded as he broke out in a grin. “And you want to name her Collins?’
“It’s a name you picked last time, remember? I picked the twins names, so it was your turn,” I said as I reached up and brushed his dimple with my thumb. He shook his head and then placed a chaste kiss on my lips.
“Your poor body has been through so much. I can’t believe you have to endure this again,” he said as I shook my head.
“I actually haven’t had any pregnancy problems, except the break-through bleeding last month. There are no tears, even after the attack. Dr. Renault thinks maybe because I’ve already transformed so much, I don’t have that ‘inner battle’ going on this time. Although I told him in looking back, I have been fighting a lot of nausea.”
“What did he say about that?” he asked, concerned.
“That the old-time doctors say the sicker the mom, the healthier the pregnancy and the baby. He said they might have been right,” I sighed as he chuckled.
“Well, I’m sorry you have that problem, but I’m relieved to hear things might be more normal for you this time.”
“So…you’re happy about the baby?” I asked, holding my breath.
“Of course I am.” He moved his hand over and caressed my abdomen. “Oh, Andie…the twins won’t even be a year old when Collins gets here!”
“I figure they will be about ten and a half months apart,” I murmured as I shook my head.
“Well…I guess this means Olivia and Patrick were right. You are fertile,” he teased as he widened his eyes at me.
“Or I’m just married to a real-live stud,” I retorted as he puffed his chest out. “Seriously, Banton…I just feel so blessed.”
He nodded and leaned down and kissed me again, this time opening his mouth slowly as he explored my lips softly with his. I opened my mouth invitingly, and he carefully traced just inside my lips with the tip of his tongue. I slid my arms up around his neck and tightened my grip. As he tugged on my bottom lip with his teeth, I moaned, the sound vibrating into his mouth. Still holding me in the crook of his left arm, he gently slid his right hand into my hairline, caressing the side of my face with his thumb as he continued his soft, gentle kiss. He withdrew and searched my eyes. I could feel his apprehension, the tension thick in the air.
I smiled up at him as I traced his lips with my index finger. “We’re okay. You are really good at that ‘loving me back to being me again’ thing. You know just what to do,” I whispered as he relaxed and grinned down at me.
“Do you know how scared I was when I realized you’d been taken?” he murmured, continuing to rub my cheek with his thumb.
I shook my head.
“All I could think of was I’d been so brusque with you about Texas and Alex showing up…Constance told me you saw me hug her on the porch. Then I didn’t kiss you before I left. I was terrified I would never get the chance to tell you how sorry I was!” His voice wa
s husky as if he were fighting a lump in his throat.
“I know, Banton. I was tortured about that too…how childish I felt after we’d quarreled, how selfish I sounded, whining about Laurilee’s wedding when you had Will’s funeral, your sister, Reed’s murder…all of that on your shoulders! I’m so sorry,” I whispered as he shook his head.
“We never fight,” he said as I nodded.
“I know. And I don’t want to fight with you, ever.”
As he gazed at me, his eyes were so intense, sparkling with the flecks of gold fringed with his dark lashes. I could feel his heart clench. I could feel how much he loved me.
“Banton, may I come in?” Everett’s voice drifted through the door.
“Please, come in. It’s open,” Banton answered.
Everett pushed the door open and walked slowly toward the bed as he gazed at me. His eyes glowed with an intensity I’d rarely seen as he saw me for the first time since the kidnapping.
“Bebe, you have no idea how happy I am to see you alive…in one piece,” he whispered, leaning over the bed to kiss my forehead. I reached up and cupped his cheek.
“Thank you, Everett. Banton told me we almost lost you,” I whispered, choking on the words.
“I have to say, next to the saber wound on the battlefield, this was the closest I’ve come to the pearly gates,” he replied. “I guess God has other plans for me, sweet Bebe.” He smiled down at me and sat down gently on the bed beside us.
“How are your wounds?”
“Healing. Lucky I’m an Aldon, or I would be working a bionic arm out of a wheelchair right now, if I was alive at all. I guess I’m not as agile as I used to be. I’m getting a little rusty. I let those Orco bastards get the best of me this time,” he growled.
“Seriously, Everett, I’ve never seen anyone, SEAL or Aldon, take on that many Orcos at one time. You fought like a madman,” Banton said as I watched him curiously. “I thought I’d lost you too, when that Orco snapped your neck and you dropped in front of him.”
“He would have finished me off, too, if Sam hadn’t appeared. He took that Orco out just as I heard you shout Matty’s name. I knew at that moment the babies and Chandler would be safe.”
“I almost lost her, Ev. I watched her drown right in front of me,” he whispered as his eyes filled with moisture again.
I reached up and touched his face again. “Hush, I didn’t drown. You saved me, remember? I have the broken shoulder to prove it. Thank goodness you didn’t give up, and you did whatever it took to get me out.” I smiled as a pained look crossed his face. “You saved all four of us. You are my hero…my knight in shining camo,” I said as Everett chuckled. Banton shook his head as Everett cleared his throat.
“Um, Bebe…you said, all four of you?”
“Yes,” I whispered as I turned to look at him. “Me, Matty, Elly, and Collins.” I placed my hand across my abdomen protectively as Everett’s eyes widened.
“Sweet Jesus, Holy Mother and the Pope in Rome! You mean to tell me… you and Banton…that we are…I’m going to be an Uncle again?” he squealed as Banton winced.
“Yes, Ev, and you found out before John did this time,” I told him as his eyes twinkled.
“And who else knows?’ he asked, the wheels turning in his protective, mother-hen, mischievous Aldon head.
“Just you and Brie. No one else,” I said as he rubbed his hands together. “We’ll tell everyone else when everything calms down.”
“Well, I must say, when you Gastaneaus and LeBlances get together, things move along quite rapidly, indeed! Mr. Lon is still reeling, and I think this one might just do him in.” Everett teased as Banton winced again.
“Mr. Lon’s been good to me. I don’t want to upset him anymore this week,” Banton began as I gave him a sideways glance.
“He will just have to get over it, Lieutenant. It’s a done deal.”
“Yes, I guess it is,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss me again.
“Well, I’m glad you are home and doing so well, Bebe. Mother and Grandmother will be so pleased to hear it. They would like to come and see you, when you are up to it.” He rose and leaned over to kiss me once more.
Banton raised his hand, and as Everett shook it, he whispered, “Thanks for helping me save our girl. I couldn’t have done it without you,” he said fervently. “I love you, Ev.”
“I love you too, dear boy. Now, I think I will go and see to my dear Claudia,” he replied, warily casting a glance at Banton. Banton smiled and nodded at Everett. “Please do, Ev…with my best wishes.”
After Everett had left the room, Banton turned back down to me, looking at me as if he hadn’t been with me all afternoon. I shook my head at him.
“What?” he asked, a slight grin on his face.
“Just when I think I couldn’t love you more, you show me more of the beautiful man you are inside.”
He raised an eyebrow at me and pulled me up to his face as he kissed me softly.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Banton helped me slowly down the last two steps of the back staircase.
“Sweetheart, are you sure about this?”
I smiled up at him and nodded.
As I rounded the stone wall of the hearth, Julia squealed, “Chandler!”
“Hey, look who’s up and around! Should you be walking?” Cade asked, rising to help me.
“I’ve got her…here, Chandler, sit down,” Banton urged as he pulled a barstool over in front of the kitchen island.
“What would you like for breakfast, Chandler? I made omelets,” Mrs. Elaine offered. I felt my face go green. Banton sensed my unease and squeezed my hand.
“Mom, maybe just some dry toast and coffee,” he suggested. Constance’s brow furrowed as she studied me and her gaze widened. As she started to open her big mouth, Banton caught her eye and shook his head. She closed it and then glared at him.
“Did I miss something?’ Claudia asked, sitting down with a cup of coffee.
“No, just Constance being her usual, nosey self,” Banton chided.
“Well, there sure is a lot of intrigue around this house lately. Just keep your little secrets. I’ve got errands to run. Just remember who’s helping you out,” Constance shot at Banton as she rose and headed out the back door.
I turned and gave Banton a quizzical look as he held his hands up.
“Well, you all are as entertaining as a morning show, but I have no idea what is going on,” Mrs. Elaine shook her head as Julia rolled her eyes.
“And don’t roll your eyes at me, miss. I had to cover for you two when you weren’t back at two-o’clock this morning,” she warned as she placed a piece of toast and a cup of coffee in front of me. “Your father might be aware you are twenty-one, but you are still his baby.”
Banton stared at Cade, and he ducked his head and looked at Mrs. Elaine. “Um, sorry, Ma’am. We were here, just not in the house,” he murmured as Julia elbowed him.
I took a few bites of the toast and drank a bit of coffee, unsure whether it would stay down or not. I glanced up at Claudia, and she was watching me silently.
“Be careful, Cade…just be smart and safe…she’s my little sister and I don’t want our families feuding,” Banton warned as Cade nodded.
“Could you all be any more embarrassing? I’m in the room for gripe’s sake,” Julia exclaimed as she stalked off down the hallway. Cade immediately ran after her as Claudia laughed.
I couldn’t stand it anymore and I giggled, immediately regretting it as I grabbed my ribs.
“Oh, I’m sorry. We should re-wrap those,” Banton murmured, placing a kiss in my hair.
“See, here she is. Mommy’s up,” Aunt Sue whispered as she descended the staircase with Ellyson.
“Where’s Matty?” Banton asked. Aunt Sue handed me Elly.
“He’s still asleep. This little one just yelled out at me as I walked by the nursery so I brought her down.”
“We just checked on them. She must have just woken u
p,” Banton replied as he reached down and kissed her on top of the head.
“Mommy,” Elly blurted out as she placed her hand on my cheek.
“Elly,” I called back as I kissed her hand, making her giggle.
“Here, I have her breakfast all ready,” Mrs. Elaine offered, holding her arms out to me.
“Please, I haven’t fed her in days. I’ll do it,” I said as Mrs. Elaine nodded.
“I just don’t want you to hurt your ribs,” she admonished.
Banton reached out and took her from me. “Let me carry her into the living room and you can rock her.”
I took the bottle from Mrs. Elaine as she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.
“Welcome home, my dear. I’m so relieved to have you here and in one piece. We’ve had quite enough loss in one family for a while.”
Claudia placed her hand on my good shoulder. “We love you so much, Chandler. Welcome home,” she said.
Banton led me into the living room and then helped ease me down into the rocker by the fireplace. After he’d placed Elly in my good arm, he grabbed her blankie off the back of the sofa and tucked it around her as she pulled the bottle I offered up to her mouth.
I rocked her gently as I sang to her. She smiled crookedly, letting go of the nipple as she grinned up at me. She placed her hand lovingly on my cheek as I continued.
Banton knelt down beside the rocker and lit the fireplace and sat back into the floor with his knees drawn up and his ankles crossed. I leaned my head over on my right shoulder and gazed down at him. He looked so sexy in his tight white t-shirt clinging to his muscular chest, pajama pants that hung low off his hipbones, his bare feet…I looked back up into his eyes, and they were twinkling as if he was laughing at me.
“What?” I asked as I blushed.
“Ogling your husband, now, Mrs. Gastaneau?” He grinned at me and almost made me catch my breath. The sexy stubble on his face made me want to touch him.
“Well, he’s such a hot stud and all…I was just checking him out,” I retorted as Elly cackled to get my attention.
“And your daughter just thinks your funny,” I added. Elly cackled again and dropped her bottle as she sat up in my lap.
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