by Ellen Hutton
Taylor laughed for the first time since the day before. Leave it to her mother to bring that up.
“Mom, please be serious” she insisted. “What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to have your baby and you’re going to bring it to me so that I can spoil him or her,” her mother replied proudly.
Taylor shook her head.
“About Conner?” she asked.
“He’ll come around,” her mother said. “If he loved you, he’ll come around and you guys can become a happy family.”
Taylor doubted it. It was highly likely that Conner would be on to the next woman by now. He was the type and she knew he loved life in the spotlight. She only hoped he would be around for their child. Her hand went to her stomach and she felt such a happiness that she had never felt before. This was her baby. It was a kind of thrill she never experienced before, and she didn’t mind if she had to do it alone.
Chapter 14
Conner walked into his boss’s office wondering why he had been summoned. After the previous night, he was concerned that leaving so abruptly had given the wrong impression.
“Hey what’s up?” he asked when he walked in.
“Come in, sit down,” his coach said. “I wanted to talk to you about that girl of yours.”
Conner sat down and let out a sigh. The last thing he wanted to do was think about Taylor. She had left him. His life had been going great, he was happier than he had ever been, and everything in his life had seemed to be in order. And then she had walked away. She accused him of being the one unable to commit, but she was the one who left him. He ran another hand through his hair and sighed.
“What’s this about?” he asked.
“We like her,” his coach said. “We want to use you two for promotions and other things.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“We’ve been looking for a nice little family to be the face of our team and once you two get married, you guys can campaign so you can get more sponsors.”
Conner sat up and looked at the man.
“I’m not interested,” he replied. “I’m fine.”
“She might be into it, though” the coach replied. “I talked to her about the plan last night, she didn’t seem to mind that she was the one you chose to get your career back on track.”
“Wait, what?” he asked
“I talked to her about the plan we made,” he said, “and she seemed fine with it.”
It suddenly clicked to Conner what his boss was saying. He thought that he was using Taylor to improve his image.
“It’s not like that,” he replied. “She’s not like that.”
“I’m sorry it just looked like you two were putting on a show,” the coach said. “I didn’t know you really had feelings for her.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” he replied. “She was just someone I dated.”
“If that’s not how you look at someone you’re not in love with or using for the publicity, then what are you doing, Conner?” Daniel asked.
Conner ran a hand through his hair once more. He didn’t know what he was feeling for Taylor. All he knew was that his life was worse now that he knew she wouldn’t be in his life anymore. His life had been fine before she came along but now, he didn’t even remember what his life had been like before he met her. It was as if he existed in a state of darkness and she was this beautiful light he didn’t even know existed.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
“Hey, do you love her?” Daniel asked.
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
“What do you know?” Daniel asked.
Conner thought about it for a moment.
“I know I want to be with her all the time. I know that I’m worse off without her and I know I’m angry at you for even saying anything to her last night,” he replied.
Daniel laughed.
“She ended it,” Conner said.
“Well, why did you let her go?” Daniel asked. “If you feel worse without her, then you should chase her.”
Conner shrugged
“I wouldn’t know what to do,” he said. “I’m not even sure what this was.”
“If a woman loves you, Conner, you don’t have to worry about what it is,” Daniel said. “If you don’t love her, you can let her go. If you do love her, then you should do whatever it takes.”
Conner shrugged yet again. Was it possible that he could love Taylor? Could he ever love again?
“I should go,” he said. “I have lots to figure out.”
He walked out of the office and left. He wanted to figure things out, but he wasn’t sure exactly what to do. He didn’t think it possible to have fallen in love with Taylor. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He drove home as quickly as he could and rummaged to his study drawer. He found what he was looking for and called the number on the card.
“Hello.”
The soft sultry voice surprised him, but he knew it well.
“Yolanda,” he said, “nice to hear from you.”
“Oh my, is this Conner?” she asked.
“Yes, it is,” he replied. “Can you to talk?”
“Sure” she replied. “How are things?”
“I was sitting here and I thought I should call you,” he said. “I need someone to talk to.”
“And you called me?” she asked. “I never thought you would ever talk to me again.”
“I didn’t, either” he replied. “Actually, I needed some advice.”
“What about?” she asked.
“Did you ever really love me when we were going out?” he asked.
It was a strange question that put him in a vulnerable position, but he needed to know. He needed to go back to the place where he had lost the last shreds of his heart.
“I’m sorry for the way that went down,” she said. “You were such a great guy, such a great guy.”
“I know, but you haven’t answered my question,” he pressed on.
“You loved me,” she replied, “but I didn’t love you.”
The words should have hurt him. In fact, he had known it all along and it had hurt for many years but today, he felt nothing. It was as if she hadn’t broken his heart into a million pieces and destroyed him for any other woman.
“Conner,” she said.
“Yeah, I’m still here,” he responded.
“Why did you have to do all that back then?” he asked. “You really messed me up.”
“I was lost, Conner” she replied. “I didn’t know what I was doing and I used a good guy.”
He smiled. At least she was honest.
“Why are you asking all these questions now?” she asked. “You haven’t spoken to me for so many years.”
“I think I may be in love,” he replied, admitting it out loud for the very first time.
“You do?” she asked. “Wow, what’s she like.”
“She’s beautiful,” he replied, letting out an exasperated sigh, “and smart and kind and funny.”
“She sounds like a real keeper,” she replied.
He could picture her smiling up at him at that moment and he wondered how stupid he could have been to lose such an amazing woman.
“I might have messed it up,” he replied. “I just thought it was too good to be true.”
“Not everyone is out to get you Conner” she replied. “That was your biggest problem when we were dating.”
“What do you mean,” he asked.
“I get you had a sad childhood and a horrible father but at the end of the day, you made something of yourself. You allowed me to use you because you didn’t want to confront the fact that you knew I didn’t love you all along.”
“You can’t pin this on me,” he said. “You broke my heart.”
“I broke your heart Conner, but you didn’t really love me either,” She replied
“How can you even say that?” he asked, “I would have given you everything.”
“What did I study?” she
asked.
Conner thought back to their time in university. He could almost remember her face and her voice, but he couldn’t remember what she had studied.
“I don’t remember,” he admitted.
“That’s because you never really cared,” she said. “All the signs were there, Conner. If a woman truly loves you, you’ll know and if you love her, then you have to let her know.”
Conner thought about it for a moment and knew it was true. He had been vulnerable, but he had also used her to fill a void that had been there since he was a child. He found it childish now that he thought about it and he couldn’t believe that he had almost let something as simple as that cause him to lose the only woman he had ever truly loved.
“So, what are you going to do about this lady you love?” she asked.
“I’m going to have to man up,” he replied.
“Hey, Conner,” she said, “thanks for being a great guy. That’s something I always regretted not saying. You’re one of the best and you’re going to make this woman very happy.”
“Thanks,” he replied. “I hope you find happiness.”
“I’m happy, Conner.” She replied, “I found a man whom I love, he’s a lawyer, and we’re having a baby.”
He was surprised to hear that but he had to realize that she was no longer the girl who broke his heart. She had moved on and it was now his time to move on and find love.
She hung up and he was glad that things were finally clear. He knew what he was going to do. She had told him in so many ways that she loved him, and he knew what she wanted. She wanted the thrill and she wanted to feel things she had never felt before. He would make her happy and the only thing he could hope for was that she appreciated his love.
Chapter 15
Taylor was driving home from work two days after figuring out that she was pregnant. She was trying to fathom how she would tell Conner that she was having his baby. She hadn’t seen him since she walked out on him two days earlier and she wondered what he was doing. There was nothing in the papers about him and she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“Stop,” she said to herself.
She turned unto their street and was surprised to see balloons along the pavement leading up to her house. She was a bit concerned about her mother openly planning her a congratulations party for her baby when she hadn’t even told the father as yet. She drove up to her house where the balloons stopped and weas a bit surprised when she didn’t see anything different in her driveway. She instinctively looked over at Conner’s garage, but she didn’t see his car. Her heart sank. Had he already moved on to someone else? With a sigh, she drove into her garage and parked. When she came out of her car, she looked around and got the shock of her life. Standing outside were her parents holding balloons. She shook her head to check if they were ghosts because she hadn’t seen them when driving in.
“Mom, dad, what’s going on?” she asked.
“Ah, well, we can’t say,” her mom replied. “We’re just here to watch.”
She felt a bit concerned but she walked into the house where she saw more balloons. They were white and gold and hung mid-air anchored by tiny stones. The room was full of them, but she looked towards the center and saw Conner. Her heart soared, and tears filled her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Well, I know you wanted something spectacular,” he said, “and so I thought this would be a great way to do it.”
Then he motioned her forward. She walked towards him, bumping into balloons as she went by.
“What is this all about?” she asked.
“Let me explain,” he said. “I’ve been a complete fool. I thought I could never love again and then I met you. I was such a fool to think I could ever let you go. You’re the perfect woman.”
“And this is not just for your team’s sake?” she asked. “That’s what your coach said.”
“He did tell me to do that” he replied. “I was doing it, with the woman I had at my house before, but not with you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
“I didn’t remember” he replied. “I didn’t think he would see you and assume that you didn’t mean the world to me.”
“Do I?” she asked.
“You mean the world to me.” He replied, taking a step towards her, “and to prove it.”
He bent down on one knee in front of her and pulled out a black box.
“I know we haven’t known each other very long,” he said while opening it to reveal a beautiful ring, “but do you think you could be my wife?”
She felt her heart flutter and tears fell down her cheeks. She could hardly breathe and she thought she would burst from happiness.
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.
She covered her mouth with her hands and watched as his brows furrowed.
“You’re what?” he asked.
She lowered her hand and felt more tears running down her cheeks.
“I’m pregnant” she whispered, “are you mad?”
He looked up at her and shook his head.
“How could I be?” he asked. “I love you.”
She fell to her knees and clung to him knowing she couldn’t stand the pressure much longer.
“I love you too” she replied, “I love you so much.”
She felt his body shaking and looked up and realized that Conner was laughing.
“Leave it to you to get pregnant the first time you do it,” he said as he pulled her into his lap as he sat on the ground amidst the balloons. He kissed her cheeks and wiped her tears before slipping the ring unto her finger.
“I thought you weren’t into the long-term,” she said, resting her head against his chest.
“I thought so too,” he replied, “but I couldn’t lose the woman I love.”
“I was so sad” she replied, “I couldn’t help picturing you with other women moving on without me.”
“Hey, there is no other woman for me.” He said tipping her chin up she was looking at him.
“I know” she replied, “I just didn’t think you would get it.”
He laughed and she joined him. He placed his hand on her stomach and everything felt right all over again.
“I bet it’s a boy,” he said.
“You think so?” she asked. “As a doctor, I can tell you from a medical perspective that it feels like a girl.”
“I’m not a doctor but I know that’s not right,” he said.
“Wait, don’t you have a game tonight?” she asked.
“Have you been keeping up with me?” he asked, flashing her a teasing look.
“No, I just wanted to know all the places to avoid,” she replied.
“Sure, I believe that” he replied. “That’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I decided to end my contract,” he replied.
“Wait, you’re not going to be playing basketball anymore?” she asked. “Why?”
“I don’t think I want to anymore” he replied, “plus I don’t really need to. I’ve made billions of dollars on my investments alone.”
She coughed when she heard him reel off the amount.
“You’re a what?” she asked.
“Wait, didn’t you know?” he asked. “I thought that was the reason you slept with me.”
She slapped him, which made him laugh even louder than before.
“Obviously, I didn’t know,” she replied.
“Oh, so you didn’t Google me?” he asked, “How can I be with a woman who hasn’t even Googled me.”
“I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt,” she replied. “Now I know I was wrong. I will be Googling you from now on.”
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” he replied
“How did you make all that money?” she asked.
“I started investing when I was eighteen,” he replied. “My father gave me the money my mother
left to me after her death and someone told me to invest it, which I did. The returns on some didn’t pan out but for others, it was very profitable.”
“Wow,” she replied, “so you’re rich! If you don’t play, what will you do?”
“I was planning to go back to law, maybe,” he replied. “I loved it but I never took the time to pursue it.”
“Is that what you really want?” she asked.
“I’m young,” he replied. “I’m not that popular and I don’t want to spend my life away from my wife and child.”
“As long as you’re doing this for you,” she warned. “I don’t want you to stop because of me.”
“I want to stop because of you,” he replied. “I don’t need basketball anymore. I don’t need to use it to conceal my feelings when I have the woman I love right by my side.”
“I love you,” she whispered. “How did you get my parents here?”
“Well, I just Googled you,” he said.
She couldn’t help laughing.
“I needed them here to give me access to the house. Your mom helped with the setup.”
“That part I can believe,” Taylor replied. “It’s more than I ever expected.”
“I can do it again in a million ways” he replied. “I was thinking about using roses the next time.”
She laughed
He pulled her to her feet and together with her parents, they got rid of the balloons. On the street, children began removing the ones he had placed on the sidewalk. When everything was done, Paige came over.
“Oh, I knew you two would get together,” she said. “You’re so perfect for each other
“You’re lying,” Taylor said, nudging her friend. “You told me to stay away from him the first day we met.”
“What I do know” Paige replied, “is that you two are perfect for each other. He’s frantic and you’re grounded.”
“I see,” she said, looking across the room to where Conner was chatting with her father.
In her wildest dreams, she had never expected to ever be this happy. She had the man of her dreams, he loved her, and they were about to get married and have a child. This was the happiest she had ever felt, and all of her energy was focused on not losing her face from all the smiling she was doing.
