“She may never leave because she may get accustomed to this life that I definitely won’t be able to provide for her.”
I wanted to jump up in celebration but I had to be cautious because I could get really hurt in the end.
“You will have a degree and you will get a job and find a place then you will get all the things she has here, so it is not as difficult as you might think. Finding a good job is the key. Get the moisturizer, please. The room is across the hallway.”
“Oh right,” she said and ran to it while I finished putting on Kaci’s diaper.
I thought about the two plotters downstairs and wondered what other hate-filled moves the had up their sleeves for Rachel. She had done nothing to them so I did not understand why they didn’t like her. She was a powerful woman and maybe because she did not laugh at their corny jokes, they thought she was unfriendly.
“Here you go.”
“Open the drawer and choose your favorite footie,” I smiled at her and she ran out again.
Kaci was not happy with the speed with at which we were moving and started to cry. I rapidly moisturized her and her mother returned with a beautiful purple and white outfit. I complimented her choice and quickly got it on while Victoria tidied up. We took her downstairs and Jill almost broke her leg coming to get her.
“Kaci, oh my precious baby girl. Come to Auntie Jill,” she said taking her from me. “Are you going to be the flower girl? Huh? Are you coming to the wedding?”
“What wedding?” Victoria asked.
“I have scheduled a time for you both, tomorrow at ten in the morning...I have the details right here. A marriage certificate is issued at the same time. I have already initiated the addition of your wife and step-daughter to your insurance with your agent and they are just waiting on a copy of your marriage certificate, the social security number for both Victoria and Kaci, and ID for Victoria, then they will send the paperwork for you to sign and choose your doctor. I guess both of you will use the same one, however, one needs to be selected for Kaci. And by the next day, we will have a temporary card which one of you will go with me to pick up and we are all set to get you both checked out,” Stewart said almost out of breath.
They were all looking at me to respond. My heart was racing because this was the last thing I wanted to do to Rachel, but I felt like I would feel worse if I didn’t do everything in my power to help Victoria and Kaci.
“Tomorrow at ten?” I asked and I could see Jill and Stewart holding their breaths. Stewart nodded because he couldn’t speak. “OK. We’ll be there.” I said and both of them released their breaths.
“Ahm...Lea, may I talk to you in the kitchen...please?”
“You can speak right here, Victoria. We are all friends and there are no secrets…” Jill said.
“In the kitchen is fine, Victoria,” I said and walked away.
Victoria followed behind me.
“Lea...please. I would feel so bad if you are trying to help me and get in trouble. Rachel is going to be really mad.”
“I know, but I won’t tell her we got married. I will wait until the six months is up and you find a job to get your own insurance, then we will get a divorce or something like that. Please stop worrying so much. I am a big girl. I can manage my situation. I need to take care of Kaci and I can’t do that without taking care of you. So, please let me help her.”
She looked at me and I prayed that the tears did not spill out because I would not be able to stop myself from pulling her in my arms.
“You love her, don’t you?”
“From the moment I saw her.”
“OK. So tomorrow at ten?”
“Tomorrow at ten. Please call Janet and let her get your things together. I will send your cheerleaders to go pick them up.”
Victoria laughed and went to get her phone. I stood looking as Jill and Stewart was just gushing affection at Kaci and I felt badly for leaving the others out of it. That would be fixed soon, but for now, I had to think about this major step I was about to take in my life. A few days ago, it was just Rachel and me. We were going to get married as a next step in our two years of being together, and out of nowhere my life took a U-turn. I was about to be married and with a child that I was legally responsible for. I smiled at the thought because, although it did not come the traditional route, it was still something I get to experience, even for a short while, and it was as exciting as hell!
CHAPTER 6
Victoria had insisted on going to school two days after the doctor’s visit, despite the fact that she was on medication for the infection she had developed in her uterus. I had asked one of the drivers from my company to take her in the mornings and Stewart would get her in the afternoons. She had a driver’s license, as that was the ID she presented at our wedding and was also given to Stewart to proceed with the insurance. Stewart suggested I get a car for her as a surprise because she would never accept it if I told her to pick one out. It should be ready in a day or two, however, I would not allow her to drive an hour away until I was sure she remembered how to handle a car. So for the first few days of driving, I would be going with her.
Her antibiotic was to be taken every eight hours so initially, I had called her to find out if she took it on time. She told me she did, then went on about how special it felt to have someone concerned about her. She was currently staying in the downstairs bedroom because having her upstairs when Rachel returned would not be a good idea. The interior decorators were expected to finish the nursery today and Kaci could officially move into her room. She slept through the noise they made and I was so proud of how good she was. I looked at the monitor that I had ordered so that I didn’t have to keep running up to see if she was awake, although, I missed her so much sometimes that I ran up to look anyway.
I had not heard from Rachel in two days and I took it that she was still upset with me for not answering her whenever she called. It was not deliberate, I just kept missing them. I tried to explain that to her but she did not accept my explanation. The worse was the day of my wedding. There were fifteen missed calls from her, possibly while I was at the altar marrying someone else. I felt badly for deceiving her like this because, despite the fact that my friends didn’t like her, she was good to me and did not deserve this. Our relationship was not over. I just needed her to bear with me until Victoria got herself on her feet.
I touched my lips...as I had done every day since Victoria and I got married. We were instructed to kiss the bride and I meant to do something quick but meaningful so that the minister did not feel like he just conducted a fake wedding. But, when it was time to pull away, I couldn’t. At that moment, I saw her as my responsibility, my wife...and the mother of my child. I could not hold back. She had brought light and laughter into my life and I dreaded the day that she would take Kaci and leave.
She admitted to never kissing a woman before but she liked it. She said it felt good to her, and I had caressed her face and kiss her forehead.
“That is so disappointing!” she had laughed. “I just told you I enjoyed kissing a woman and you kissed my forehead?”
The driver and his front passenger had their ears planted around the back seat of the car and had their contribution to make.
“It was really a beautiful kiss, wasn’t it Stewart?” Jill had asked.
I had to tell them to mind their own business and keep their eyes on the road. They were so in love with Victoria and Kaci that if they could kill Rachel and not get into trouble, they would. They had a lot of reason to love them though because they were so true and opened to be loved. I enjoyed waking up and seeing them both and found myself kissing them a lot, but only on the cheeks or forehead because I did not want to scare Victoria nor did I want to feel worse about my situation with Rachel. But, I could not take my eyes off her lips because the memory of how the tasted was imprinted in my mind.
I looked at the clock to see how far the day was because I wanted her to hurry home. Dinner was almost ready and I looked f
orward to that special moment with her every day. She always had something to say and she never failed to make me laugh. I had asked if Janet was coming to visit her because I did not want her to alienate her only friend, but Janet was afraid to come because I knew that she was the one who told Victoria to take the baby to me. She had no idea that it was the best thing she could have ever done...for all of us. I decided that one day I was going to call and invite her myself. Maybe she would come then.
“Lea?” I heard Jo, the decorator, calling me.
“Yes. In the kitchen.”
“I would like you to come and take a look,” she said with a bright smile on her face, which told me she was pleased with her work.
I had told her I was not interested in seeing it until it was done.
“Are you finished?”
“Yes. As long as you are OK with it.”
I hurried up the stairs in excitement. I opened the door and it was as if I had walked into a princess room at Disney World. It was spectacular! Beautiful life-size princesses adorned the walls and her crib, rocking chair, chest of drawers...everything was pink and absolutely breathtaking. I did not want her to see me cry so I swallowed hard and tried to get my words out.
“It...it is more than I could have dreamed. I love it. Thank you,” I said without the excitement I was feeling inside.
“I aim to please,” she said. “Well, I am off to a meeting so you have my card. Call me if you need anything.”
“Did Stewart gave you that final check?”
“First thing this morning. So we are all set.”
“OK. Thanks again and I will definitely call you if I need anything else.”
I could not contain myself. I need to speak to Victoria. As I picked up my cell phone, a call came in on the house phone.
“Hello?”
“Good afternoon, I am calling from Dr. Green’s office. May I speak with Victoria McGuire-Davis?”
“She is not home at the moment. Is everything alright?”
“Who am I speaking with?”
“I...I am her wife,” I said knowing that was the only way to get whatever information she had.
“OK...so you are Lea McGuire-Davis?”
“Yes, I am.”
“OK. Dr. Green is asking that Mrs. McGuire-Davis comes in to redo her pap test as the result of the one she did came back inconclusive.”
“Oh no...should we be worried?”
“Not at all. It was possible that the uterine infection she had might have compromised the sample. So please have her call us to set up an appointment as soon as soon as possible.”
“OK. We will. Thank you.”
I was so scared just now. I just wanted them to be OK. Reality was starting to set in. Victoria McGuire-Davis. She had added my name for authenticity, but I had no reason to have changed mine...but I did. Kaci was legally my stepchild but I wanted to adopt her and I thought that all three of us having the same last name was the best way to go. Her insurance card said Kaci Louise McGuire-Davis and I was so proud to see my name there. Stewart applied for the name change within the window the hospital had given so it was easy to adjust on her birth certificate. He had even started the adoption paperwork and I had not even spoken to Victoria about it. He was so sure that she would not object that he did not wait for an answer. I needed to speak to her so he could get her signature for my lawyer.
I still had plans to continue with Rachel because after Victoria was settled with her life, which I would see to because Kaci would be my daughter and I had to take care of her...who was I kidding? I would never let Kaci out of this house...nor Victoria. I could no longer hide from the truth, Rachel and I were over. There was no way for us to survive this. I had thought that if she understood the situation and willing to wait for me to sort them out then I would get a divorce and we could move on, but still have Kaci and Victoria in our life, and hopefully she would start to love Kaci as well. That was all wishful thinking. I had to face reality, but I had a few more weeks to deal with that, but for the time being, Kaci and Victoria were my concern.
I finally dialed her number and it was so refreshing and peaceful to hear her voice.
“Hi...Lea,” she said and sounding as if she wanted to use some endearment but was afraid. Both of us were not sure how far we should go with each other.
“Kaci’s room is finished. Prepare to be blown away!” I said in excited.
“Honey!” she shouted then pulled back. “Sorry...that just...I am so excited! I am almost home. How far away are we, Stewart?”
“Fifteen minutes,” I heard Stewart say.
“We will be home in fifteen minutes. I can’t wait to see it,” she said.
“How are you feeling?”
“I am feeling fine. No more of that sticking, uncomfortable feeling. I finished my meds and I am as good as new.”
“I’m glad,” I said and decided to wait for her to get home to tell her about the call from the doctor’s office. “We miss you.”
“I miss you too. That is why I skipped my evening class so that I come home to both of you.”
“That’s sweet, but I don’t want you skipping classes…”
“No, that one I can skip. I am done getting all the credits I need. I just go there for participation.”
“OK. Well, see you soon.”
It was the weekend and I would have her home for two days and I was happy for that. I realized that I wanted to be with her all the time. She was like the air I needed, and when she was not around, I felt like loneliness was suffocating me; only Kaci was keeping me alive until Victoria came home.
I heard Kaci crying over the monitor and knew it was time for her bottle. I decided to just change her and hold her off until Victoria came home so we could feed her together. Fifteen minutes really looked long when you are anxious for it to come. I walked around with Kaci then finally I heard the front door opening and my heart danced.
“Oh my baby!” she said running over to us.
She kissed me on the cheek, kissed Kaci on her forehead and ran into the powder room to wash her hands. She returned and stood looking at me.
“This is such a beautiful sight,” she whispered.
“What is?”
“You standing there with our baby, waiting for me to come home.”
“O-our baby? She is my baby too?” I asked and I felt the tears burning my eyes.
“Of course she is. Maybe more. I can’t imagine what her life would be if she had not found you. She is our baby. She has your name,” she whispered so close to me that I could hardly breathe. I felt her hands caress my folded arms with Kaci inside them and I could not speak. “I also have your name and wished every day that there was no Rachel. But I have to respect her position in your life...I don’t know how this will end but I know you will always be Kaci’s mother, even if I am no longer your wife.”
Finally, the tears came down and she gently wiped them away.
“I want to adopt her. I don’t want the fear of divorce to…”
“Lea, I already signed the papers this morning. Stewart gave them to me. I thought you told him to.”
“He said I did?”
“Yes. He said you want to adopt Kaci and you are asking me to sign the papers to take to the lawyer so I did. When he came to pick me up, I asked him if your lawyer got the papers and he said yes.”
“Stewart!” I yelled.
“Honey, please. He meant well.”
“Mrs. McGuire-Davis...the yelling...with the baby in your arms...that’s not good.”
“You are such a liar!”
“I don’t know of which you speak...anyway I have to run,” he said and bolted to the door.
“Stewart!” I called as he closed the door behind him. “That fucking…”
“Lea! Why are you so upset? Didn’t you want this?”
“Of course, baby, I do. I just wanted to ask you myself and he had no right.”
“I think he is just speeding things along before Rachel gets
back. He has an obsessive love for you and he will do anything to protect you. Don’t let him feel badly for loving you. Please.”
“OK. I love him too,” I sighed. “My mother gave him to me as my assistant years ago and I believe he is the best thing she ever did for me. I am just a little annoyed with them because they hate Rachel so much that they are just running with any opportunity they get to push her out. But I know they mean well.”
She smiled and caressed my hair then looked down at Kaci.
“Why is she sucking the pacifier so hard? Is she due a bottle?”
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